Geography and Terrain of the Western Frontier

Settling the Frontier: Migration, Railroads, and Western Industries

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Explain how principal mountain ranges, the Great Plains, rivers, and arid climates posed challenges to westward travelers.

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Settling the Frontier: Migration, Railroads, and Western Industries

4th Grade · Social Studies · US-WV-SS

7 lessons

Goal

Examine the geographic challenges, transportation developments, and major industries such as farming, ranching, and mining that drove westward migration.

7 lessons

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Geography and Terrain of the Western FrontierYou are here
The Homestead Act and Farming the Great PlainsUp next
Building the Transcontinental RailroadNot started yet
Chinese and Irish Immigrant Railroad WorkersNot started yet
The Cattle Kingdom: Cowboys and RanchersNot started yet
Mining Boomtowns and the Search for Gold and SilverNot started yet
Conflicts on the Range: Ranchers, Miners, and FarmersNot started yet

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Learning standards covered

SS.5.14West Virginia Social Studies Standards · All ages

Explain how aspects of the terrain (e.g., the principal mountain ranges, rivers, vegetation and climate of the region, etc.) affected westward travel and settlement.