The original ___________________ of the United States were settled along the east coast of North America.

In terms of early expansion,one of the first areas settled was the _________________________ This area today makes up the states of Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois.

In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson bought the ________________________ from the French for $15 million. This was a huge area of land west of the Mississippi River. It nearly doubled the land size of the United States.

President Jefferson sent explorers _________________________________ to learn more about this vast frontier.

Many people in the United States believed it was the country's destiny to expand westward all the way to the Pacific Ocean. This belief became known as the __________________________

The United States continued to expand westward and gain land. After a war with Mexico over the rights to Texas, the country gained much of the ___________________ including the land of California.

They also gained the ___________________________ in a treaty from Great Britain.

Pioneers and settlers moved out west for different reasons. Some of them wanted to claim free land for ranching and farming from the government through the ____________________________________

Others came to _______________________ during the gold rush to strike it rich. Even others, such as the Mormons, moved west to avoid persecution.

As the first settlers and pioneers moved into the west, there was little government. The law was the local sheriff and people had to look to protect themselves against bandits and outlaws. During this time, gunslingers of the west such as _________________________________ became famous.