Lesson 1. Reading the 1790 Census Data Map

Learning Objectives

• Students will manipulate and analyze a GIS data map showing US population in 1790

Teacher Materials

• Projector connected to a lab computer (to lead discussion with GIS map)

Student Materials

• US Expansion handout #1

Activities

1. Anticipatory Set
   • Display the 1790 US Expansion map from the GIS for History web site on the projector. This was the United States of America in 1790.
   • Make observations about how the map looks. What information does it contain? What information is not there?
   • How does this map differ from a current map of the United States?
   • Conclude by discussing: Americans didn't waste much time in setting their sights toward the West. What do you think those lands were like? Was there anybody living there?
   • We will be using census data maps, and historical writings and speeches,to answer these questions about US expansion:
     • When did Americans decide to move beyond these borders? Where did they go?
     • Why did they want to leave home (push forces)? What was attracting them to the West (pull forces)?
     Was the territory you see on this map all that Americans were fighting to free from British control?
2. GIS Tutorial
   • Introduce Geographic Information Systems by discussing what each of the three words means.
   • GIS can help us examine history from a quantitative perspective. Remind students that the word quantitative comes from the word quantity. The data in the GIS, taken from the US census, are displayed by geographic location and time. By manipulating those two variables (location and time) in the GIS, we can answer some historical questions.
   • Show students how to access www.gisforhistory.org from the desktop. Once at the site, show students how to access the U.S. Expansion GIS map:
     • Click on "STUDENT"
     • Select "US Expansion
     • Click the "MAP" tab
   • Go over some key GIS actions: reading the map (including the grey areas of the map), reading the legend, zoom in, zoom out, full map, turning layers on and off, and reading the query history.
   • You may wish to go through some of the tasks on Handout 1 as part of the tutorial.
3. Working alone or with a partner, students complete Handout 1.

Homework

Students complete Handout 1 if they are not done in class.