History Alive!  Enrichment Resources

Historians often try to determine whether the political and economic choices made by individuals or nations were good ones. One tool they use to make such a judgment is called a cost-benefit analysis. Costs are the expenses paid to achieve a goal. Benefits are the results gained by achieving a goal. Both can be either long term (something that still has an effect many years later) or short term (something that has an effect for only a short time). In this activity, you will play the role of a historian, judging choices made by American politicians in the 19th century. Follow these directions to complete a cost-benefit analysis:

1. On a sheet of paper, set up a T-chart with “Costs” on one side and “Benefits” on the other.

2. Visit the Web sites listed below to research one of the six territorial acquisitions you read about in Chapter 15:

Each of these events forced American politicians to make choices about the future of the United States and other nations. Such choices always have associated costs and benefits.

3. As you research your chosen territorial acquisition, record at least three costs and three benefits on your T-chart. For example, if you research the Louisiana Purchase, one cost might be that the United States paid France $15 million. As a benefit, you might write that the United States nearly doubled in size. Be sure to consider costs and benefits not only for the United States but also for other nations and peoples who were affected by U.S. actions.

4. After you complete your T-chart, write one paragraph that evaluates or judges the actions of the United States. Did American politicians make the right choice?

The Louisiana Purchase - The National Archives has the text of the three agreements completing the purchase of the Louisiana Territory in 1803, as well as images of the actual treaty. Look for Napoleon’s signature!

Annexation: Celebrating 150 Years of Texas Statehood - The Texas Humanities Center organized this online exhibit based on actual artifacts and exhibits at the Capitol Center in Austin. The site contains various images from the annexation period and can be navigated either through a text outline or through a gallery of images. A few learning activities are also available, including one relating to images of the Alamo.

The U.S.-Mexican War - PBS created this site as a companion to their documentary on the war between the United States and Mexico. Dialogues are presented from different perspectives and include a great deal of information on Manifest Destiny. Students can also respond to the dialogues in an online discussion area.

The Avalon Project at Yale Law School - The Avalon Project provides a variety of primary resource documents relating to Manifest Destiny, including the purchase of Florida, the agreement on the Oregon Country, and the Gadsden Purchase Treaty.