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American Progress | BRIdge from the Past: Art Across U.S. History

Description

If you lived in 1872, would this painting inspire you to pack up and move west? Mary is joined by Jotwan Daniels, 2019 BRI Teacher Council Member and high school teacher in Breckenridge, Colorado, as they explore John Gast's "American Progress" (1872) and America's rapid push westward following the civil war. What does this painting tell you about America's values at the time? Is it really documenting progress for everyone?

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By the end of this section, you will compare attitudes toward the use of natural resources from 1890 to 1945.

To What Extent Were Manifest Destiny and Westward Expansion Justified?

Did the positives outweigh the negatives as the concept of Manifest Destiny drove western expansion during the nineteenth century? A. James Fuller and Andrew Fisher debate this question.

BRIdge from the Past: Art Across U.S. History Video Playlist

BRIdge from the Past: Art Across U.S. History is a new YouTube series for students that explores an important historic image every episode to gain insights into the culture, politics, and society of a particular time in U.S. history. Host Mary Patterson will explain how each primary source is its own “window to the past,” revealing new areas for contemplation and discussion.