How Westward Expansion Divided America

Miacademy & MiaPrep Learning Channel

This educational video explores the complex history of Westward Expansion in the United States during the 19th century, linking the concept of Manifest Destiny to the eventual outbreak of the Civil War. It examines how the drive to settle the frontier was motivated by a desire for land, freedom, and the spread of democratic values, while simultaneously exposing deep hypocrisies regarding the treatment of Native Americans and the expansion of slavery. The narrator details the political mechanisms of statehood, such as the Northwest Ordinance, and explains how the addition of new territories upset the delicate balance of power in Congress. Key historical themes include the ideology of Manifest Destiny, the democratization of voting rights for white men, the forced removal of indigenous populations (Trail of Tears), and the economic entrenchment of slavery in the South. The video specifically highlights critical turning points like the Missouri Compromise of 1820 and the election of Abraham Lincoln, demonstrating how territorial growth fueled sectional tensions between the North and South. Ideally suited for middle and high school U.S. History curriculums, this video serves as an excellent primer on the causes of the Civil War. It encourages students to think critically about American values by contrasting the ideals of the Declaration of Independence with the realities of Indian Removal and slavery. Teachers can use the built-in guiding questions to facilitate class discussions on how geography shapes politics and how economic interests can drive social conflict.