The American Frontier

The land west of the Mississippi River, and the nations who already lived there.

Warm-up, learn, try it together, practice, then a quick check. About 15 minutes.

What children learn in Level 21

In 1800, most Americans lived east of the Mississippi River. The land to the west was the frontier: land past the edge of where most of the country's people lived.
But the frontier wasn't empty. Many American Indian nations, like the Mandan, the Lakota, the Shoshone, and the Nez Perce, had lived there for thousands of years.
Farmers near the frontier sent their crops down the Mississippi River on boats, to the city of New Orleans. Rivers were the best roads.
In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson bought a huge piece of land from France. It was called the Louisiana Purchase.
It made the United States about twice as big! But the American Indian nations who lived there were never asked.
Jefferson wanted to learn about the new land: its rivers, mountains, plants, animals, and people. So he sent explorers west.
Try it with a grown-up! Find the Mississippi River on a map. Name a state on its west side.

Georgia Standards of Excellence in Social Studies:

SS1G1.b — American frontier (Lewis & Clark and Sacagawea)
MGS.7 — Map and Globe Skill 7: use a map to explain impact of geography on historical and current events (introduced in Grade 1)