Mining

US History Reconstruction Era and the Western Frontier Mining
Students learn about mining in western states. Then they explain how mining impacted the physical environment. Finally, they map some important mines and explain how mining affected western movement of the population.

This learning experience is designed for device-enabled classrooms. The teacher guides the lesson, and students use embedded resources, social media skills, and critical thinking skills to actively participate. To get access to a free version of the complete lesson, sign up for an exploros account.

1:1 Devices
Teacher Pack

The Pack contains associated resources for the learning experience, typically in the form of articles and videos. There is a teacher Pack (with only teacher information) and a student Pack (which contains only student information). As a teacher, you can toggle between both to see everything.

Here are the teacher pack items for Mining:

Preview - Scene 1
Exploros Learnign Experience Scene Navigation


Engage


Overview

In this experience, students learn about mining in western states. Then they explain how mining impacted the physical environment. Finally, they map some important mines and explain how mining affected western movement of the population.

Objectives:

  • Describe how the boom in gold and silver changed the West.
  • Identify problems that arose on the mining frontier.


As you learned, the discovery of gold in California in 1848 brought tens of thousands of people to the West in search of their fortunes. At the same time, miners began discovering silver, gold, lead, zinc, and copper in many western states including Colorado, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, and the Dakota territories. The rush for riches brought an ethnically diverse group of people together and turned many western towns into boomtowns overnight.


Miners, seated, posing for a photo

Copper Miners


Objectives:

  • Describe how the boom in gold and silver changed the West.
  • Identify problems that arose on the mining frontier.


What are some things that you recall about the California gold rush? If someone has already posted your fact, try to recall something else.


Students may recall some of the information listed below:

  • The population of California increased to almost 400,000 people.
  • Most of the prospectors did not make much money; those who sold supplies made the most money.
  • The economy of California improved.
  • There was an environmental impact caused by the gold rush.


In this experience, you will be learning about the miners who traveled west during the gold rush and the impact they had on the mining frontier.


When everyone is ready to continue, unlock the next scene.

End of Preview
The Complete List of Learning Experiences in Reconstruction Unit.
US History Reconstruction Era and the Western Frontier The
The “New South”
US History Reconstruction Era and the Western Frontier Reconstruction: Vocabulary
Reconstruction: Vocabulary
US History Reconstruction Era and the Western Frontier Railroads and Economic Development
Railroads and Economic Development
US History Reconstruction Era and the Western Frontier Historical Symbols in Modern Culture
Historical Symbols in Modern Culture
US History Reconstruction Era and the Western Frontier Early Reconstruction
Early Reconstruction
US History Reconstruction Era and the Western Frontier Mining
Mining

Reconstruction Era and the Western Frontier: Unit Review
US History Reconstruction Era and the Western Frontier Radical Reconstruction
Radical Reconstruction
US History Reconstruction Era and the Western Frontier Plains Indians Way of Life
Plains Indians Way of Life
US History Reconstruction Era and the Western Frontier The Challenges of Reconstruction
The Challenges of Reconstruction
US History Reconstruction Era and the Western Frontier African Americans in the South and Sharecropping
African Americans in the South and Sharecropping
US History Reconstruction Era and the Western Frontier The Impeachment of Johnson
The Impeachment of Johnson
US History Reconstruction Era and the Western Frontier Failed Promises for Native Americans
Failed Promises for Native Americans
US History Reconstruction Era and the Western Frontier The End of Reconstruction
The End of Reconstruction

Reconstruction Era and the Western Frontier: Review
US History Reconstruction Era and the Western Frontier Reconstruction Review
Reconstruction Review

Reconstruction: Review
US History Reconstruction Era and the Western Frontier Lincoln's Assassination
Lincoln’s Assassination
Would you like to preview the rest of this learning experience, and get access to the entire functioning US History Through 1877 course for your classroom? Sign up using your school email address below.
Back to top