Weekly Plans 9.8-9.11Mr. Armstrong

Tuesday | September 8th

Topic/ Focus: Towns in the West, Gold Rush & Ripple EffectAIM #5: What were the drawing factors in “the west” that had settlers picking up everything and embarking on an unknown journey into wilderness.

DO NOW:1. Take a copy of tonight’s HW (GRA 18-3 p. 542-

547) & copy it into your planner2. Begin answering the question below the primary

source document on today’s handout3. Toward the end of the period, we’ll be taking a

PRACTICE QUIZ, which will not count toward your grade

**Reminder: Unit 1 QUIZ this FRIDAY, 9/11. Study GRA HW’s and class notes**

Possible do now answer:

• Settlers were willing to leave everything behind and travel west with the hopes that they would find what appear to be an abundance of gold, and become wealthy. This idea is expressed in the article when it states; “Gold has been found in almost every part of the country.”

How are new towns going to be established in the west? What will they be built around?

What types of problems will settlers encounter along the way?

How will transportation improve to ensure a quicker journey across the country?

Who is going to become wealthy? Why?

Who or what groups are going to suffer? Why?

Wednesday | September 9th

Topic/ Focus: Settling the WestAIM #6: Making use of what’s around; How did those traveling west use their resources to their advantage?

DO NOW: 1. Take out last night’s HW (GRA 18-3) and leave it on

your desk for me to check2. Copy down tonight’s HW (GRA 18-4, p. 548-551), which

can be found on the podium when you walk in the room3. Begin answering the questions on today’s handout

regarding sod-homes

**Reminder: Unit 1 QUIZ this FRIDAY, 9/11. Study GRA HW’s and class notes**

Possible do now answer:

• 1. The structure appears to be made out of some type of material from the earth. It looks like there is some type of grass on the roof of the building.

• 2. It appears that structures like these were made of the earth, specifically dirt and grass. These homes may have also housed entire families, as they were built in manageable locations along the trails heading west.

What is a sod home?

•Sod Home: Homes or shelters made primarily from sod, dirt and wood. Most commonly associated with the Mid-West region of the United States during Westward Expansion.

What were these people called?

•Sodbusters

Sod home materials:

•1. Sod or rectangle pieces of the earth•2. Dirt•3. Wood or lumber (if any could be found)•4. Normal windows and doors (if family could afford them)

•5. Stucco or plaster

Interior• Furniture was often kept outside because there was

usually very little room in the one room sod homes.

Thursday | September 10th Topic/ Focus: New Means of TransportationAIM #7: How did the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad impact the growth of the nation?

DO NOW:1. Take out last night’s HW (GRA 18-4) and place it in your

assigned bin in the back of the room2. Copy down tonight’s HW (Study for tomorrow’s quiz using

HW & handouts from class)3. Begin answering the questions on the front side of today’s

handout

**Reminder: Unit 1 QUIZ this FRIDAY, 9/11. Study GRA HW’s and class notes**Extra Help: Tomorrow before school, 7:30-8:00am

Discussion Questions:

1. What is represented by the picture on the left? On the right?

 

2. What prompted this change in the way people traveled?

3. What type of impact do you think a shift toward railroad becoming the main form of transportation had on the following:

 - Individuals:

 

- Economy:

 

- Size of the Nation:

Transcontinental Railroad OverviewThe First Transcontinental Railroad was built crossing the western half of America and it was pieced together between 1863 and 1869. It was 1,776 miles long and served for the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the United States to be connected by rail for the first time in history. The Transcontinental Railroad was also known as the Pacific Railroad for a while and later on as the Overland Route – after the main passenger transport service that operated the line.

The idea of building such a line was present in America for decades before the construction was authorized by the Pacific Railroad Acts of 1862 and 1864. This was the time of the American Civil War and the southern Democrats who opposed the idea before were now absent from Congress so the Republicans used the opportunity to vote the construction of the transcontinental railroad without them.

They chose two independent companies, the Union Pacific Railroad and Central Pacific Railroad and supported the project by issuing US government bonds. The land through which the railroad was supposed to pass was mainly worthless desert, although some portions of good farming land had to be crossed as well. The workers involved in the building operations were mainly army veterans from the Civil War, along with immigrants from Ireland and China. Engineers and supervisors were mostly Union Army veterans, experienced in operating and maintaining trains during the Civil War.

The Transcontinental Railroad was finished and opened for traffic on May 10, 1869. The transcontinental transportation network revolutionized the American economy because the transport of goods was made much faster, cheaper and more flexible

Annotate/ Highlight the Text

Recall Questions:

1. What year was the Transcontinental Railroad completed?

2. What did the Transcontinental Railroad connect? 

3. What was for the Transcontinental Railroad also known as?

4. What were the two companies which operated the Transcontinental Railroad? 

5. Who was involved in the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad? 

6. What type of impact did this have on the American economy?

EXIT TICKET:On a piece of loose-leaf paper, address the following question from today’s AIM #7 in at least 3, but no more than 5 sentences. Your heading should look like this

AIM #7: How did the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad impact the growth of the nation?

Friday | September 11th Topic/ Focus: Homestead Act & UNIT QUIZAIM #8: How did the acquisition of land via the Homestead Act impact the growth of America?

DO NOW: 1. Copy down this weekend’s HW (Homestead Act

WKSHT)2. Begin answering the questions on today’s handout 3. Be ready to take our UNIT 1 QUIZ

- Never forget -

What is the overall message being promoted through this poster/propaganda?

What government “act” does this poster represent?

Passed on May 20, 1862, the Homestead Act accelerated the settlement of the western territory by granting adult heads of families 160 acres of surveyed public land for a minimal filing fee and 5 years of continuous residence on that land.

The Homestead Act, enacted during the Civil War in 1862, provided that any adult citizen, or intended citizen, who had never borne arms against the U.S. government could claim 160 acres of surveyed government land. Claimants were required to improve the plot by building a dwelling and cultivating the land. After 5 years on the land, the original filer was entitled to the property, free and clear, except for a small registration fee. Title could also be acquired after only a 6-month residency and trivial improvements, provided the claimant paid the government $1.25 per acre. After the Civil War, Union soldiers could deduct the time they had served from the residency requirements.

After the quiz… Once you’ve finished the quiz, you may begin working on this weekend’s HW (Homestead Act WKSHT). This should be done independently through the end of the period.