How the U.S. Expanded: Government Policy and Migration Patterns

Miacademy & MiaPrep Learning Channel

This educational video provides a comprehensive overview of United States territorial expansion and internal migration patterns from the late 18th through the 20th centuries. The lesson is divided into two main sections: the role of the government in expanding national borders and the motivations behind individual migration within those borders. It explores how the U.S. grew from the original 13 colonies to 50 states through various methods including purchases, treaties, military conquest, and annexation, while effectively using maps to visualize these changes over time. The video introduces key historical and geographical concepts, specifically distinguishing between "push factors" (reasons to leave) and "pull factors" (reasons to go). It covers significant historical events such as the Louisiana Purchase, the Mexican-American War, the Homestead Act, the Gold Rush, the Trail of Tears, the Great Migration, and the Dust Bowl. The content addresses sensitive historical topics, including the forced removal of Indigenous peoples and discrimination against minority groups, framing them within the context of migration causes. For educators, this video serves as an excellent foundational lesson for U.S. History or Geography units. It offers clear definitions of academic vocabulary like "annexation" and "internal migration" and includes built-in pauses for guided note-taking. The structure allows teachers to easily separate the content into a lesson on government policy (Manifest Destiny) and a lesson on human geography (migration dynamics), providing opportunities for students to analyze maps, evaluate historical ethics, and apply push/pull concepts to various historical scenarios.