US History - Into the West

Into the West
Episode One: 1827-33 – Wheel to the Stars
The year is 1827. In Virginia, young Jacob Wheeler dreams of adventure. Leaving his family behind, he joins renowned mountain man Jedediah Smith on an expedition to California. Meanwhile, a young Lakota holy man, Loved By The Buffalo, receives disturbing visions about the coming of the white man and the demise of the buffalo. When his sister, Thunder Heart Woman, is saved by Jacob, the lives of the two families become forever intertwined.

This episode of Into the West is on Yahoo Movies. You may have to give each section of the movie a few minutes to load to avoid annoying starts and stops.

• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3
• Part 4
• Part 5
• Part 6
• Part 7
• Part 8
• Part 9

Questions:

1. How are Native Americans portrayed in this episode?
2. How are white settler portrated in this episode?
3. What are the push/pull factors for westward expansion/settlement.