WebQuest (C16)
"The Western Frontier: Myth vs Reality"
Introduction
When we think of the American West, we often think of the Wild West, Cowboys and Indians, and the Gold Rush. There is a certain romanticized view of the American West that has been perpetuated over the course of our history through art, literature, television shows, and film. Many historians are now discussing this view as an American Myth and calling their studies the "New Western History”. Our overall objective in this WeQuest is to answer one question: What is the Myth versus the Reality of the American Western Frontier?
You can use your textbook and notes to help in this WebQuest. I have also included links to extra websites that may be useful at the bottom of the page
Submit this assignment on Google Classroom. There is an assignment created titled 'C16 Webquest'.
You can use your textbook and notes to help in this WebQuest. I have also included links to extra websites that may be useful at the bottom of the page
Submit this assignment on Google Classroom. There is an assignment created titled 'C16 Webquest'.
Task
This WebQuest introduces a section on The American West and explores these questions:
- Why did Americans migrate west?
- What other cultures were in a clash with the new white American migration?
- What images do we have of the frontiersman, cowboys, ‘Indians’, etc…?
- What is the Myth versus the Reality of the American Western Frontier?
Process
1. The Myth of the Frontier (Article)
Click on the link to the right and read "The Myth of the Frontier: Progress or Lost Freedom" by John Faragher. *When you are finished, create an outline of this article. 2. Debunking the Myth of the West (Article) Click on the link to the read and read "Debunking the Myth of the American West' by Dina Secchiaroli who created this information for her lessons through the Yale-New Haven Teacher Institute. *When you are finished, create an outline for this article 3. The Western Myth Video (2m 21s) Click on the right to watch the video on this webpage titled 'The Western Myth' which includes historians Patricia Limerick and Richard White. *According to Limerick and White, why was the myth of the American West needed for those on the east coast? 4. Eric Foner Interview (1m 9s) Watch the video interview of Eric Foner on the right. *According to Foner, why is there an American Western myth? 5. Crash Course: Westward Expansion (12m 43s) Watch the Crash Course video on the right. * Give a summary of John Green's presentation. 6. Buffalo Bill (4m 21s) Watch the short video on the right about Buffalo Bill. *What was the influence of Buffola Bill on the myth of the American West? 7. Western Art (1m 40s) Watch the video to the right which shows you western art. *Choose 1 photo you think supports the myth of the west and another you believe gives a more accurate image. Explain your choices 8. Westward Expansion Video (9m 36s) Use the link to the right to watch the Education Portal video on Youtube. The Portal 2 button gets into Turner's Thesis in the 2nd half of the video. *Explain the Homestead Act and Turner's Frontier Thesis 9. Opinion 9a. Why do you think we have so many myths about the American West? 9b. How did Buffalo Bill and Turner's Frontier Thesis help to perpetuate these myths? 9b. What did you discover to be the reality of the West? |
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Copy and Paste this link for Western Myth Video
https://dlc.dcccd.edu/history2-2/the-real-west _ _
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Conclusion
Hopefully you have a better understanding of the realities and myths of the American Western Frontier in the late 19th century. This subject is much broader than we have even discovered here. In class we will look at the what you have learned and discuss the various groups that made up our expansion westward.