Exploration, Trade, and Early Encounters in the West

Examine the prehistoric civilizations, geographic adaptations, trade networks, and enduring cultural sovereignty of American Indian nations in Utah.

Analyze early European and American expeditions, the fur trade economy, and their impacts on indigenous populations.

Understand the push and pull factors behind diverse migrations to Utah, patterns of settlement, and the human geography of frontier communities.

Analyze 19th-century conflicts among native peoples, settlers, and the federal government, and trace Utah's fifty-year journey to statehood.

Investigate how the transcontinental railroad, mining booms, immigrant labor, and the Progressive movement transformed Utah's economy and society.

Analyze how 20th-century national and global crises shaped Utah's economy, civil liberties, military role, and communities.

Examine the shared and distinct roles of local, state, and federal governments while celebrating the cultural and ethnic groups that enrich Utah.

Evaluate natural resource stewardship, public land use, the economic impact of tourism, and methods for solving contemporary community issues.

Analyze Utah's economic sectors and demographic trends to make predictions and recommend sustainable growth policies.

Conduct civic research and write actionable policy proposals to local, county, tribal, and state governmental entities.