Understanding History and Society through Images, 1776-1914

CONTENTS OF CURRICULUM UNIT 14.01.03

  1. Unit Guide
  1. Introduction
  2. Rationale
  3. Objectives
  4. Overarching Essential Question for Unit
  5. Strategies
  6. Classroom Activities
  7. Content Background
  8. Teacher Resources
  9. Appendix
  10. Bibliography
  11. Notes

Whose Destiny? Viewing America's Westward Expansion through Artful Eyes

Margaret Mary Deweese

Published September 2014

Tools for this Unit:

Objectives

There are multiple skills and content that I want students to take away from this unit. The objectives for the unit are as follows:

  • Students will be able to critically analyze art and image in order to make determinations about a pivotal event in American History, namely "manifest destiny" and westward expansion.
  • Students will be able to determine through their analysis of multiple art works the impact of westward expansion on the American nation and on Native Americans in particular.
  • Students will be able to use their knowledge and understanding of a variety of primary and secondary sources, including visuals, in order to evaluate whether manifest destiny was justified and be able to support their evaluation with evidence.
  • Students will examine the concept of manifest destiny as a motivation and justification for westward expansion in the United States.
  • Students will be able to experience art for its beauty and other inherent qualities and recognize art masterpieces from America's westward expansion era.

Comments:

Caitlin Orintas

October 17, 2020 at 2:29 pm

Thank you!

Thank you so much for this very thoughtful, thorough, and innovative unit. I am so excited use your framework and modify it for my 4th graders who are studying Manifest Destiny and life in the American West in this. Now more than ever, we must provide the whole story and illuminate all perspectives. I was curious to learn more about the supporting materials that you use for the introductory Talking Statues activity. When you interview the students, do they have notes provided by the teacher to read from or are you expecting them to make inferences and improvise their answers? Thanks!

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