Gone West: The Growth of a Nation

Understanding "westward expansion" is key to American and world history, and this half-hour program neatly sums up the Old World's territorial claims in the New, and shows how young America spread from the Atlantic seaboard to the Pacific. Emphasizing America's growth from the Colonial to post-Civil War era using costumed re-enactments and historic paintings and photos, the video also expertly utilizes maps and graphics to help students follow the confusing puzzle of which nation claimed what territory when. While the tape does not discuss how the slavery issue shaped the West, as did America's Westward Expansion (VL-9/96), it does mention the Gadsden Purchase from Mexico, which was not covered in the other title. The video comes with a comprehensive teacher's kit consisting of a twenty-three page teacher's guide and twenty-one pages of blackline masters. Highly recommended. Aud: J, H. (R. Reagan)