Who went West?

Who went West?

Pioneer Farmers
1. Oregon and California
  1. Fertile lands attracted farmers
    1. Make more money
    2. More room
2. Early 1840s
3. Troubles
  1. Weather
    1. Plains weather = extreme
    2. Unpredictable snow left them stranded
    3. Rain resulted in stuck wagons
  2. Lack of resources
    1. No water
      1. Had to drink melted snow to survive
    2. No medication
      1. Animals spreading disease e.g. bitten by a mosquito and getting malaria
      2. Many died from illness
  3. Long journey
    1. Rations could run out
    2. Very difficult
    3. Could stop people going
4. Overcrowding in the East
Homesteaders
1. Push
  1. Land shortages/ poverty/ unemployment in many European countries. Thousands migrated to US wanting new life
  2. Jews escaping religious persecution
  3. Newly freed slaves escaping persecution
  4. Expensive/ scarce land in East
2. Pull
  1. Demobilised soldiers wanting a new life
  2. 1862 Homestead Act
    1. 160 acres land - 5 years
  3. Lots of land
  4. Railroads
    1. 1869
Cattlemen
Mormons
1. Practised polygamy
  1. Angered Christians - against their views
2. 'God's chosen people' and everyone else going to hell
  1. Called others 'gentiles'
3. Opposed slavery
  1. Lived in slave owning states so angered people
4. Friendly with indians
  1. Were like enemies with others
5. Founded by Joseph Smith in 1830
6. Their Journey
  1. Nauvoo
    1. Kirtland
      1. Missouri
        They opposed slave owning
        Missouri was a slave owning state!
      2. Bank set up by Smith collapsed
        Believed Mormons couldn't be trusted
    2. People feared polygamy would lead to Mormon population explosion
      1. Sinful
7. Moving to the Great Salt Lake
  1. After Joseph Smith killed, Brigham Young took leadership
  2. Push
    1. Discrimination
    2. Attacks
    3. Different ideas on life/ religion
  3. Pull
    1. Uninhabitated
    2. Owned by Mexico - not US Government
      1. Live how they wanted
      2. Government couldn't interfere with movement
    3. Place to feel safe
  4. Cost subsidised
    1. More Mormons moved
  5. How?
    1. Very structured
    2. Kept together
    3. Spreading the long journey
  6. MORE INFORMATION IN BOOK
Mountain Men
1. Why they went
  1. Opportunities in the West e.g. selling resources
  2. Adventure
    1. Encouraged others who wanted to have an adventure too
2. Dangers and problems
  1. Animal attacks
    1. Grizzly Bears
    2. Snakes
  2. Indian threats
    1. If upset them e.g. destroyed land
    2. Many got along well or married Indians
  3. Very lonely
    1. 6-12 months alone
    2. No companion to help e.g. if danger/ boost morale
3. What they did
  1. Hunt beaver, bear and elk in Rockies
  2. 1820s and 1830s
  3. NOT settlers
  4. Jed Smith
    1. Found South pass through Rockies
      1. Encouraged more people to go West as it was easier
        More people knew how to get there
Gold Miners
1. Gold discovered in California in 1849
2. Why people went
  1. Try make a fortune
  2. Nothing to lose - had been poor/ unemployed/ wanted a better life
  3. Exaggerated advertising
    1. 'El Dorado'
    2. 'Inexhaustable'
    3. Believed gold would be easily accessed but was unture
  4. Adventure
    1. Escape poverty
    2. Lack of opportunity in East
3. Law and Order in Mining Camps
  1. Remote areas
    1. Hard for officials to get there
  2. Grew quickly
    1. No officials/ sheriffs
  3. Claim Jumping
    1. Disputes/ fights over claims
  4. Saloons
    1. gambling/ drinking/ prostitution
      1. Disputes over women/ money/ cheating
      2. Mainly young, single men
  5. Poor conditions
    1. Population changed frequently
  6. Vigilantes
    1. Took law into own hands
    2. No trial - quick
    3. Harsh punishments
      1. Hanging
    4. Wrong person often punished

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