America History Into the West, Episode 2 – Film Analysis

American History Honors

Please answer the following questions in complete sentences and submit online to Schoology by the due date. Remember that you should write in third person, avoid contractions and use proper grammar.

This assignment will count twice in the activities category and will be graded on the completeness of your answers.

1. From the beginning of the episode, what do you believe are some reasons why people would be willing to travel the long journey west? Provide several reasons.

2. What made travel so difficult on the western trails? Provide several examples from the film.

3. What disease was common on the prairie?

4. How did alcohol destroy Native American culture?

5. When Jacob finally made it to California, what conflict did he get “caught up with”? Who was the leader of that cavalry?

6. How effective was this episode in portraying not only the history of westward expansion in the 1840s, but also life in the west?