Essential The American West 1840-1895

Summary:
Essential The American West is an entry level textbook for Schools History Project GCSE specifications. The American West depth study is offered by all the English examination boards.



This book covers the essential content and skills required for success with any specification.



Chapter 1 investigates the lives of the Sioux Indians prior to the arrival on the Great Plains of the incoming settlers.



Chapter 2 looks at why people moved on to the Plains and compares the impact of the different waves of settlers on the lives of the Plains Indians.



Chapter 3 examines law and order in the American West.



Chapter 4 analyses the definitive conflicts between the settlers and the Indians and considers the reasons why the Indians lost and the US government won.



The book features Exam Busters - a student-friendly guide to how to understand and meet the demands of GCSE. Using a range of thinking-skill strategies and active learning techniques, exam preparation becomes both fun and relevant to students' wider learning objectives. As they revise they also become better thinkers.

• An entry level textbook for the popular SHP GCSE depth study
• Engaging tasks using a variety of learning styles
• 'Exam Busters' feature provides effective revision strategies and advice on how to tackle the most common exam questions
• Stunning new artwork helps lower ability candidates access the key ideas

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1 The Plains Indians
1.1 The Great American Desert?
1.2 Culture shock! Meeting the Plains Indians
1.3 How to survive on the Plains
Chapter 2 The settlement of the West
2.1 What was America’s ‘Manifest Destiny’?
2.2 Passing through: why did the early settlers cross the Plains?
2.3 The Mormons: who made the biggest contribution – Joseph Smith or Brigham Young?
2.4 Staying there: why did homesteaders settle on the Plains?
2.5 The cattlemen and the cowboys
2.6 Who had the most impact on the Plains Indians?
Chapter 3 Law and order
3.1 Crime wave! Could the vigilantes solve the problem?
3.2 Would you pardon Billy the Kid?
3.3 The Johnson County War
Chapter 4 Conflict on the Plains
4.1 Why did war break out on the Plains?
4.2 Case study: the Battle of the Little Big Horn
4.3 Why did the Indians lose control of the Plains?
4.4 The overall picture: what have you learned?

About the Author(s):
Dave Martin is an experienced history trainer having served as history Adviser in Dorset and most recently in West Sussex. He also edits the Open University's online professional development history website.
Nigel Watt is Head of History at All Saints School in Weymouth.

Readership:
Students preparing for Schools History Project specifications from all boards.