The Mississippi River as the Highway of the West

Begin with the area math sheet to show how large the purchase was, then move to the river map. Pair the peace medal and Chinook sheets to discuss what written records leave out.

Label a Mississippi trade map and explain why closing New Orleans hurt western farmers. The directions on the page read: Read the text. Then answer the questions. An answer key is included.

Yes, both. We made it for 8th grade Westward Expansion and Trails, and it works the same at home or at school. At home, a student can work through it alone and then go over it with you, which shows quickly what is solid and what needs another look. In class it works as independent practice, homework or a warm-up, and you can print one copy or a full set.

Before steamboats, farmers floated flour, whiskey and salted pork down the rivers to New Orleans, because hauling goods east by wagon cost far too much. When Spain closed the lower Mississippi, all of that trade was at risk.

It was a silver medal with Jefferson's portrait that Lewis and Clark gave to Native leaders in formal councils. Its back shows a pipe crossing a tomahawk, and students infer what the symbols meant and whose point of view the medal records.

The explorers table lists Zebulon Pike, Wilson Price Hunt, Stephen Long, Jedediah Smith, Benjamin Bonneville and others through 1846. Students match clues such as the Great Desert map to each expedition.