Land Grabbing
Westward expansion after the Civil War
Sarah Brynaert
October 2008
Land Grabbing
 Grade Level: 9-12
 Content: Western American History
 Unit: The American West after the Civil War
Land Grabbing
 Objectives:
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Identify reasons for westward expansion
Analyze the concepts of assimilation and
stereotypes in relation to the American West
Explain reasons for near destruction of Native
American societies in the American West
Land Grabbing
 CIVIL WAR
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Fought between the North and South
After the Civil War was a period known as
Reconstruction
 Many people were displaced or in poverty as
a result of the conflict
 As industrialism and big business expanded,
so did US territory

US Government encouraged citizens to move
west
Land Grabbing: Engage
 You will receive a card which has a symbol
on one side and a list of words on the back
 Please find people with the same symbol as
you.
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This will be your group
Land Grabbing: Engage
 On the back of each of your cards, there is a
list of words
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The list of words will be used to complete the
graphic organizer
 Each student should read the word out loud
in their groups and discuss where the word
belongs in the chart.
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After categorizing the words on the back of the
card add other words which relate to the
graphic organizer
Land Grabbing: Graphic Organizer
On the back of each of your cards is a list of words. Please categorize and write each word
where you think it should belong in the chart below. When you are finished categorizing the
words on the back of your cards, please discuss and list other words which relate to the chart
below.
Native Americans
Miners
Ranchers
Farmers
Land Grabbing: Purpose
 The purpose of this lesson is to evaluate
reasons for westward expansion.
 This lesson will also show you the near
destruction of Native Americans and their
culture during this time.
Land Grabbing: Purpose
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Can anyone tell me what they know about the
American West after the Civil War?
Why did Americans move westward? What
natural resources were available?
What is going on in the west at this time?
Land Grabbing: Explore
 This next portion of the lesson will be used to
play a game
 Split your group into 3 teams
 You will work together to make decisions
people of the time period made
Land Grabbing: Explore
 Background Information
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Many people in the country were displaced as
a result of the Civil War
Some people sought alternative options for
their lifestyles, some chose to move west
 Your team will start with 20 token

You will have to make decisions and
purchases using your tokens
Land Grabbing: Explore
 Situation Card:
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You will play this game by picking “Situation
Cards”
Each situation you will have to make a
decision
Land Grabbing: Explore
 Play “Land Grabbing”
Land Grabbing: Explain
 Return to your Graphic Organizer from the
explore portion of the lesson
 Revisit the terms, would you change
anything?
Land Grabbing: Explain
On the back of each of your cards is a list of words. Please categorize and write each word
where you think it should belong in the chart below. When you are finished categorizing the
words on the back of your cards, please discuss and list other words which relate to the chart
below.
Native Americans
Miners
Ranchers
Farmers
Reservations
Placer Mining
Spurs
Bonanza Farms
Buffalo
Mining Town
Buffalo
Soddie
Nomads
Minerals
Cow Town
Homestead Act
Hydraulic Pumps
Cowboy
Homesteaders
Shallow Pan
Dawes Act
Land Grabbing: Explain
 Reaction to the game “Land Grabbing”?
Land Grabbing: Explain
 Draw a picture of what you thought your
character looked like, what they wore and list
their behaviors
Land Grabbing: Explain
 Turn to neighbor who has a different
character than you
 Give your neighbor a brief summary of their
character situations and explain the drawing.
 Raise you hand if you drew a…
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Woman
Native American
Mexican
African American
Child
Chinese
Japanese
Immigrant
Land Grabbing: Explain
 Most stories from the West supported
stereotypes about men
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Young men could find freedom and
opportunity
Resist the forces of civilization that had made
easterners soft
Toughened the bodies and souls of young
men
 Stereotype is a fixed conception held by
people about others.
Land Grabbing: Explain
 However, there were more than just white
men in the west
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Women also traveled west
Chinese, African American, Japanese and
other immigrants moved west
There were many African American and
Mexican cowhands
Land Grabbing: Explain

The move west nearly destroyed Native
Americans and their cultures
Land Grabbing: Explain

The United States tried to assimilate Native
Americans into the American culture through
Native American Boarding Schools
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Assimilation is the process by which people of
one culture merge into and become part of
another culture
Share some accounts with students
Land Grabbing: Elaborate
Please react to the following:
The common schools are the stomachs of the country in
which all people that come to us are assimilated within a
generation. When a lion eats an ox, the lion does not
become an ox but the ox becomes a lion." … Henry Ward
Beecher*
Land Grabbing: Elaborate
 Write a journal entry as if you were a Native
American student in a boarding school.
Land Grabbing: Closure
 You should draw conclusions about the American
westward expansion after the Civil War.
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Why did people move west after the Civil War?
What resources were available and what occupations did
people choose?
Describe the concepts of stereotype and assimilation?
What were the population dynamics of the American
West?
How did Americans attempt to assimilate Native
Americans into their culture?
Can you see assimilation in other parts of history or in
current events today?
Land Grabbing: Evaluate
 You will make a flip book including key words,
ideas and examples.
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Pg 1:
Pg 2:
Pg 3:
Pg 4:
Pg 5:
Pg 6:
The American West after the Civil War
Native Americans
Miners
Ranchers
Farmers
Assimilation and Stereotypes
 Use information from the entire lesson to finish
this flipbook