What Role Did Music Play in Westward Expansion?
Introduce music and songs from the first half of the 19th century. Present basic music lessons on the different forms that the songs use. Answer the Content Question, What is period music? Have students brainstorm in small groups their answer to, What role did music play in westward expansion? Have one person from each group share the group’s answers with the whole class. Play one song, such as Red River Valley*, and discuss its interesting origin. Ask students to consider which “character” in their group would have been likely to sing this lovelorn song. Play other songs, and, as students listen, have them write descriptive words that come into their minds. Ask students, How does the pioneers’ music reflect their lives? Have students share their thinking and describe the moods, feelings, or images each song evokes. Introduce the Essential Question, How do the arts reflect history? and the Unit Question, What can music teach us about history? Have students write responses from the poin
Related Questions
- Who wrote about the importance of Westward Expansion for America in his work, The Frontier in American History?
- What was the significance that the westward expansion had on economic growth of the United States?
- What were the lives of the Native Americans like before, during, and after the westward expansion?
