Growth in America

  • The Orphan Train

    The Orphan Train

    As immigrants flooded to America from Europe, they discovered that finding jobs and homes was often harder than they’d expected. Thousands of people came to New York City every year and there weren’t enough resources to go around. These people ended up living in the streets, homeless. Their children often…


  • Pioneer Jobs

    If you were a pioneer, what would your job be? Would you go to college? How would you earn money? Would you retire at age 65? Let’s find out. Fun Facts Most pioneer communities were based on an agricultural economy. That means that the communities revolved around farms. Farmers were…


  • Pioneer Society

    Pioneers didn’t have texting, video games, Internet, fast food, or shopping malls. They didn’t participate in sports or after school activities. But that doesn’t mean they didn’t have friends or fun times. Fun Facts Pioneers generally lived in small, remote communities. They were probably accustomed to a quieter, simpler life…


  • Pioneer Medicine

    Pioneer Medicine

    Being a pioneer was dangerous! Snake bites, accidents, frost bite, and food poisoning were all real dangers. Many people died from diseases such as measles, cholera, or smallpox. Doctors were few and far between and some of their cures did more damage than good. Fun Facts For hundreds of years,…


  • Pioneer Fun

    Pioneer Fun

    The pioneers worked hard, but they also had fun. They liked to play games just like children today. Try a few of their games with your friends. Fun Facts Button, Button. One favorite game was “Button, Button,” which is similar to “Hot Potato.” Children sat in a circle and passed…


  • Pioneer School

    Pioneer School

    Imagine traveling with your family across an unknown country to start a new life in a new place. Few people live there. Your family must work hard to build a house and raise food. Schooling would probably be a low priority until your family’s basic needs were met. But then…


  • Life for Pioneer Children

    Pioneer children wanted the same things children want today. They liked spending time with their families, learning new things, and playing with friends. Their lives were very different in other ways though. Fun Facts Pioneers often had large families, although it wasn’t uncommon for at least one child or parent…


  • Conflict with Indians

    Conflict with Indians

    As the pioneers moved west, they built cabins, claimed land for farms, and hunted animals and birds. The Indians felt angry and afraid. They believed the earth belonged to everyone and couldn’t be claimed by one person. They also believed in living simply and using resources carefully, only taking what…


  • Pioneer Houses

    Pioneer Houses

    When settlers headed west, they had little time for building fancy houses. They usually traveled west during the spring and when the weather was good. If they were lucky, they reached their destination with just a few weeks of summer left. They had to plant crops and quickly find shelter.…


  • Traveling West

    Early settlers like Daniel Boone traveled west by foot across the Appalachian Mountains and through the Cumberland Gap. As they entered what is now Kentucky, they found a lush paradise with grapevines, rich soil, forests, and plenty of animals to hunt. Word got out and soon hundreds of pioneers were…