Creator: Michael Porath | visit site
Grade Range: 5 - 11
Manifest Destiny is an excellent interactive map site demonstrating the growth of the United States from March 1789 through the present. Click on each of the maps to view and highlight changes. Click on highlighted words to view areas on the map. Use the legend on the right side of the page to help interpret what each color represents on the map. Jump ahead to the Civil War (or a few other notable US History events), by clicking the links on the main page. Read "about" to learn about the Swiss information scientist who created this page from information available on Wikipedia.
In the Classroom
Use Manifest Destiny as a resource for any American History unit. Share the maps on your projector or interactive whiteboard. The many maps are an excellent visual demonstration of the growth of the US. Use information from the site to have students create timelines (with music, photos, videos, and more) using Timeline JS, reviewed here. Include this site in lessons about information literacy and evaluating sources in your history course. Challenge students to verify the accuracy of the information depicted. Was Wikipedia right?
At Home
Share this site with your student as a resource for understanding the growth and development of the United States since the 1700’s. Compare a map from the Civil War to a map of present-day USA. What are the main differences?
Tags
booklet, civil war, maps, colonization, 1800s, 1900s, 20th century,
Subjects
American History, Geography (US/World), Government/Civics: U.S, History & Culture: The Americas, Information Literacy/Research, Social Studies, Social Studies,