Terms to Know:

Episode 3: Westward
Before or after watching this episode, Introduction
encourage students to define and
review the terms below. Students After the Treaty of Paris is signed in 1783 and the new American
may also want to make their own nation is born, a vast continent lies to the west of the mountains,
lists of new vocabulary words and waiting to be explored. This land is not empty – Native American
identification terms as they watch. Indians are spread across the land mass, as are Spanish colonists
and French explorers.
Commodity
Convulsion The conquest of the West by pioneers and trailblazers is a story
Cumberland Gap marked by courage and hardship. Armed with knowledge from
Decree hardened mountain men like Jedediah Smith, millions of Americans
Exploits keep heading westward in the hopes of claiming lands and finding
Frontier prosperity.
Keelboat
Toil
Uncharted

Their journeys by wagon train are fraught with danger, but the allure
of adventure, opportunity and economic gain is strong. While some
struggle to create new lives on the frontier, others are rewarded with
riches as hundreds of thousands of people rush to mine California’s
gold in the mid-19th century.

America now stretches from “sea to shining sea.” The consequences

for Native Americans on the plains are severe.
America The Story of Us is useful for American
History, Social Studies, and Media courses. It is
appropriate for 7th grade students and above,
and is an excellent resource for professional
development.
Discussion Questions:
1. H
 ow would you describe Jedediah Smith? What do you think were his most
important characteristics?

2. Who was Susannah Dickinson, and what role did she play in the Alamo conflict?

3. W
 hat was the significance of Daniel Boone’s clearing of the Cumberland Gap?
How do you think this affected the Shawnee Indians and other native groups?

4. H
 ow did the Louisiana Purchase change the United States? Why was Thomas
Jefferson eager for Lewis and Clark to explore the West?

5. W
 hat were the most important items for trade during the time period
covered in this episode? Why do you think those items had value?

America The STory of Us Episode 3: Westward 2

 ©2010 A&E Television Networks, LLC. All rights reserved. 01601.
Primary Source:

From Jedediah Smith’s Journal

Second Expedition to California

Further Explorations:
13 Jul 1827 – 3 Jul 1828 the
p p e rs w it h in a mile of What else was going on during this time
with the Tra e last Apl. A
bove
20th I went
period? Educators and students can
ri ve r o n th e
struck the rable from th
explore the sites below to learn more
c e w h e re I u t c o n s id e
pla sign b
about the era of U.S. history covered in
at th e re w as no Beaver this episode.
th river
that place. side of the
camp up to e o p p o s it e
indians on th
The War of 1812 and the Star-Spangled
e
I saw some w as q u it e rapid and th Banner
th e y ra n off. The rive
r
s h to m y remembrance http://americanhistory.si.edu/
bu t ght f re es I
e water brou pleasant tim
starspangledbanner
rushing of th seph an d th e u n
hich
s of Mt. Jo the snow w
the cascade d e d b y The Second Great Awakening and links
rr o u n
ere when su
had passed th
about this era
our http://memory.loc.gov/learn//
continued fal
ling.
m y m e n d is couraged and collections/faw/history8.html
reezing, ezing to
My horses f to k e ep from fre
ion nece s s ar y d of all
of riches an
Andrew Jackson and the Bank Veto
utmost exert f th e va n it y
n thought o aths of
www.neh.gov/news/
death. I the m e n in th e perilous p humanities/2008-01/
ts that lead
those objec
KingAndrewandtheBank.html
turn to
adventure. ti m e s li k e those men re ey throw
Places to Visit:
It seems th
at in
e s ti m at e o f things. Th
ake the true e solid
reason and m am b it io n an d embrace th Interested in what you saw in this
baubles of few days of
rest episode? Visiting historic sites is a great
by the gaudy li f e . B u t a on way for teachers, students, and families
f domestic embark again
comforts o to rm an d to learn more about the past. Explore
the s would
ailor forget at like him I
makes the s
these historic sites, or look for local
s u p p o s e th
Ocean and I
historic sites in your town or city to visit.
the perilous st.
e weary of re
soon becom
The Alamo
www.nps.gov/history/nR/travel/tx/
tx29.htm

The Tall Grass Prairie National Preserve

Discussion Questions: www.nps.gov/tapr/index.htm

The Cumberland Gap

1. W
 hat are some of the notable things Smith describes in www.nps.gov/cuga/index.htm
this entry?

2. B
 ased on this reading, how would you describe Smith’s
personality?

America The STory of Us Episode 3: Westward 3