wagons roll

• people moving to west coast in 1840s

  • 1820s-30s: west explored by mountain men who hunted ani als to sell skin - did not settle, but established trails to use
  • 1830s:missionaries were one of the earliest settlers on west coast- aim to convert the plains indians into christians
  • larger groups of people who wanted to make new lives for themselves went to the west coast
  • 1839: one of the first groups who moved were peoria party
  • 1840s: other people followed using oregon & california trails
• great migration of 1843: sudden increase in settlers, party of around 1000 people moved west coast because life in east coast was hard.
• problems in the east:

  1. economic problems: recession in 1837 caused banks to collapse and businesses to fail- wages and profits fell and unemployment rose.
  2. Overpopulation: high levels of european immigration (especially in 1846-1854) led to overcrowded cities, fewer jobs and lack of land for people to farm
  3. Disease: overcrowding and poor sanitation systems led to epidemics of yellow fever and cholera.
• attraction of the west:

  1. new start: land was fertile and cheap
  2. gov encouragement: passed acts which allowed settlers to claim land in oregon- wanted people to settle in west to strengthen usa claims to land there
  3. gold: was found in california in jan 1848. In 1849, there was a gold rush as ten thousand of people made the journey to california hoping to make a fortune
• manifest destiny: many us citizens believed that they were destined to occupy and govern all of north america, saw it as their god-given right.

  believed they were superior to the plains indians and that they should civilise them.
• journey to west coast, difficult

  • took 5 months to complete 2000 miles journey to west coast. had to be completed before the winter
  • journey made by wagon but it was very dangerous- 10% died on the way
  • mountains and rivers to cross- wagons were heavy
  • suffered from food , water shortages and diseases like cholera
  • accidents were common.
  • many travelled by boat which brought difficulties like crowding, sickness and storms