American Progress
Chromolithograph by George A. Crofutt
After 1872 painting of the same title by John Gast
Library of Congress

American Progress, the title of a painting by John Gast is one that can inspire much conversation in a classroom. Our fifth graders have discovered how an idea can spur a movement and have many positive and negative repercussions.  We have explored how one simple invention can change the economy of a region and then the dynamics of a culture. 

The topics explored on this project are some of the turning points in American history after the ideas of Manifest Destiny were born.  We began with this painting and went forward into our history to see the events affected by this idea.  Some of the projects are the results of these turning points much later in time. 

We hope you enjoy our efforts!

Ms. Garrido & Mrs. Lebenson
April 2007

• 19th Amendment by Anita
• 19th Amendment by Lila
• Alaska Purchase by Jack
• American Space Programs of the 1960s by Enrico
• Children and the Great Depression by Kevin
• The Civil War by Tong
• Cuban Missile Crisis by Marcelo
• Ford Motor Company by Beni
• History of Alaska by Javan
• The Holocaust by Rachel
• Inventions of the Wright Brothers and Eli Whitney by Nicholas
• The Elevator by Harold
• Inventions of Thomas Edison by Timothy
• Kristallnacht by Rachel
• Lewis & Clark by Casey
• Lewis & Clark's Trip by Alexandra
• Martin Luther King Jr. by Austin D.
• Model T by Liam
• Effects of the Model T by Bryan
• Panama Canal by Austin T.
• Panama Canal Treaties by Scott
• Rosa Parks by Joey
• Russian Space Programs of the 1960s by Austin G.
• Texas by Kelly
• Texas by Megan
• The Cold War by Cindy
• The Central Pacific Railroad by Lisa
• The Gold Rush of 1848 by Devin
• The Gold Rush of 1849 by J.D.
• The Gold Rush in other Places by Jake
• A Period of Depression by Alex
• The Great Depression by Kevin
• The Louisiana Purchase by Natalia
• The Louisiana Purchase by Aimee
• Spanish American War  by Christopher
• Union Pacific Railroad by Daniel
• War of 1812 by Oscar
• War of 1812 by Chris

Ms. Garrido's Class  |  Mrs. Lebenson's Class
Pocantico Hills School