Mid-Nineteenth Century Life

Worksheet Description

This worksheet invites students to step into the shoes of individuals living during the mid-nineteenth century who were moving westward to establish new homes. Rather than providing historical facts or context, it presents an open-ended, imaginative exercise. Students are prompted to consider where they might be headed, their motivations for making the journey, the nature of the trip itself, and their aspirations for their new lives once they reach their destinations. The design of the worksheet, with its expansive blank space, provides ample room for students to express their thoughts in detail.

The main aim of this worksheet is to foster a deeper, more personal connection to the historical topic of Manifest Destiny. By asking students to imagine and describe their own westward journey, it encourages them to think critically about the real challenges, motivations, and aspirations of those who embarked on such journeys in the past. This exercise in historical empathy helps students develop a nuanced understanding of why people made the choices they did during this era of American expansion. Additionally, by offering an open-ended prompt, the worksheet cultivates creative writing skills, allowing students to blend historical knowledge with imaginative storytelling.