• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About
    • About Art Class Curator
    • Contact
    • Speaking
    • Media & Press
    • Programs for Schools
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Shop
  • Join
  • Member Login

Art Class Curator

Hands-on and Minds-curious Art Learning

  • Art & Artists
  • Art Connection Activities
  • Art Teacher Tips
  • Elements & Principles
  • Downloads & Resources
Home
  • About
    • About Art Class Curator
    • Contact
    • Speaking
    • Media & Press
    • Programs for Schools
  • Blog
    • Art & Artists
    • Elements & Principles
    • Art Connection Activities
    • Art Teacher Tips
    • Downloads & Resources
  • Book
  • Podcast
  • Shop
  • Join
  • Member Login

john gast

March 23, 2015 7 Comments

Masterpiece Monday: Manifest Destiny Art with Printable

The Art Curator for Kids - Manifest Destiny in Art - Masterpiece Monday - John Gast, American Progress, 1872
The Art Curator for Kids - Manifest Destiny Art - Masterpiece Monday - John Gast, American Progress, 1872

Today is Masterpiece Monday where I show you intriguing works of art and talk about how to use them with your students in your classroom or homeschool. I’ve chosen another great painting that works really well in history lessons. It is American Progress by John Gast. Take a look.

John Gast, American Progress, 1872, Manifest Destiny Art
John Gast, American Progress, 1872

This painting epitomizes the concept of Manifest Destiny in 19th-century America. In the 1800s, many Americans felt it was their justifiable, God-given duty to colonize the American west all the way to the Pacific ocean.

Art Discussion Questions

Take a look at this painting with your child and discuss it. You can use these tips for looking at art with kids. As always, don’t give any information about the painting or what it is about before discussing it with the kids. Let them figure it out for themselves.

Use these questions to guide your discussion.

  • What’s going on in this painting?
  • Compare and contrast the left side of the painting with the right side of the painting being sure to address the following areas: transportation, color, people, land, sky, animals, technology, emotions.
  • Which direction is everyone moving in the painting? Why? What does this represent?
  • Only one group of people look back in this painting. Who is it, and why are they looking back?
  • Who is the woman in the center? What is she doing? What is she holding? What might she symbolize?
  • What is the meaning or message of this painting?
  • What does this painting teach us about the people in 19th century America? How do you think this painting summed up the ideas and thoughts of the people at the time?

Art Analysis

You may have noticed that this is a very straightforward and easy-to-interpret painting. Everything in the painting is traveling to the left (the West). The floating, heavenly woman in the middle looks forward with purpose while she strings telegraph wire across the land. Trains and carriages take over while the Native Americans and animals scatter. The animals are domesticated on the right, and wild on the left. The white men confidently walk, while the Native Americans run and protest. Even the right side of the painting is lighter and brighter than the dark and untamed West. It is definitely clear how the Americans felt about the West.

Learning Activities

As I mentioned above, this is a great artwork to use in history lessons about Manifest Destiny. Here are some more activities you can do to use this artwork in your classroom.

Art Analysis Group Activity

Use this printable worksheet to have students analyze the painting:

John Gast, American Progress, 1872

Free Worksheet!

Manifest Destiny Art Interpretation Activity

Use this worksheet to explore the painting that epitomizes the concept of Manifest Destiny in 19th-century America.

Download

Free Worksheet!

Manifest Destiny Art Interpretation Activity

Use this worksheet to explore the painting that epitomizes the concept of Manifest Destiny in 19th-century America.

They can work alone or in groups to compare the left side of the painting with the right side.

Poetry Activity

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know I love having students write poems about art. With this one, I think it would be fun doing an acrostic poem where you take a word and write a poem with the first letter of each line being a letter from the word. You could use WEST or MANIFEST DESTINY or something like that.

Point of View Writing Activity

Have students write from the perspective of characters in the painting.

  • Have students imagine they are traveling to the West and have them write letters back home.
  • Have students write about their experience as a Native American being pushed off their land.
  • Have students write from the perspective of the floating lady in the picture. What is she thinking about?

History Lessons

There are tons of lesson plans out there for history teachers. I did a search for “American Progress John Gast Lesson Plan” and come up with lots of resources!

Use this artwork in your classroom, and let me know how it goes in the comments!

Filed Under: Art and Artists
Tagged With: john gast

 

Primary Sidebar

Hi! I’m Cindy Ingram, the creator of Art Class Curator and The Curated Connections Library

I’m on a mission to revolutionize education with the power of life-changing art connections. Art is not “extra”. Art is essential. We are empowering teachers to bridge the gap between art making and art connection, kindling a passion for art that will transform generations.

More About Me

Free Resource!

82 Questions About Art

82 questions you can use to start and extend conversations about works of art with your classroom. Free download includes a list plus individual question cards perfect for laminating!

Download

Free Resource!

82 Questions About Art

82 questions you can use to start and extend conversations about works of art with your classroom. Free download includes a list plus individual question cards perfect for laminating!

Enrollment in Curated Connections Library is currently open. Click here to join. Join our list to get more information and to get a free lesson from the vault! If you are purchasing for a school or school district, head over here for more information.

Check Out What’s New In The Shop

Experience Art: Engaging Art Criticism Discussions and Activities for Teachers and Students of All Ages
Call to Art: An Un-Conference for Art Educators
Curated Connections Library Membership
Perspectives High School Curriculum

More Products

Have You Listened to the Latest Podcast Episode?

Falling for Naudline Pierre’s Evocative Art: A Conversation with Madalyn (Part 2)

More Episodes

Testimonials

I like how this program, unlike other art class resource membership programs, feels authentic. It's like art matters more here, and not fancy flash-in-the-pan trendiness. The goal of Art Class Curator seemed to be helping kids develop a lifelong love and art appreciation versus "Hey, look. I painted this fish."
Erin A.
Your questions are helping me to delve into much deeper learning, and my students are getting better at discussion-and then, making connections in their own work. Art Class Curator is awesome!
Denise W.
Interestingly, my lower performing classes really get engaged in these [lessons] and come away with some profound thoughts!
Melissa G.
I had the most amazing 6th grade class today. They were jumping out of their seats with hands raised just to respond and give input. It was as if I was waving candy in front of them! They saw more and more and the ideas and interpretations unfolded. So cool!!! This is what makes teaching art so wonderful – thank you!!
Caroline G.
I just wanted to thank you for the invaluable resource you have through Art Class Curator. Not only do you have thought provoking activities and discussion prompts, but it saves me so much time in preparing things for myself! I feel like I’ve only scratched the surface with your site.
Maryjane F.

Get Art Inspiration To Your Inbox!

Enter your email address to get regular art inspiration to your inbox
plus a BUNDLE OF 6 FREE WORKSHEETS!
We hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe.
Download

Free Worksheets!

*Free Bundle of Art Appreciation Worksheets*

In this free bundle of art worksheets, you receive six ready-to-use art worksheets with looking activities designed to work with almost any work of art.

Copyright © 2025 Ignite Art, LLC DBA Art Class Curator •  All rights reserved  •  Privacy Policy  •  Terms of Service  •  Site Design by Emily White Designs