What happens in a courthouse? Objective 1. To explain why St. Louis was founded on the Mississippi River and the important role the city and its courthouse played in the westward expansion movement; 2. To identify and discuss issues significant to 19th-century railroad expansion to the western region of the nation; 3. To explain how a legal verdict – the Dred Scott Decision – can affect national policy; 4. To identify and describe a historic structure in their own community that has been rehabilitated and reused. Background Time Period: Mid-19th Century Topics: The lesson could be used in teac Duration: 90 Minutes.