Response questions about Westward expansion

2. Moving West (258-260) – Why did many people want to migrate to the west, and where did those Western settlers come from? a. Describe the contrasting cultural influences they brought to the region.

3. What was the Homestead Act and why was it such a significant factor in the westward migration?

4. Conflict with Native Peoples (261-267)

A Clash of Beliefs – In Lesson 1 of this course we discussed the role of beliefs in determining how people act and behave. We also looked at how many conflicts between different groups of people were due to their vastly different beliefs about themselves, to other peoples and to the land. The question was asked: “What beliefs influenced Europeans’ views of themselves and other cultures, and how do these beliefs affect their actions?” These inevitable conflicts of beliefs have shaped American history. This question remains relevant as we study the continued conflicts between the native peoples and the mostly white settlers as the latter moved westward. Keep this idea of beliefs in mind as you answer these questions.

a. What caused changes in the life of the Plains Indians?