Driving Question: Why do Americans want to move and settle west of the Mississippi River?
Section 1: Trails to the West
If YOU were there...
You live in Ohio in 1840. A few months ago, you and your family heard stories about a wonderful land in the Northwest, with sparkling rivers and fertile valleys. You all decide to head West. You travel to Independence, Missouri, planning to join a wagon train on the Oregon Trail. In Missouri, you're surprised to find hundreds of other people planning to make the trip.
What would you expect your journey West to be like?
You live in Ohio in 1840. A few months ago, you and your family heard stories about a wonderful land in the Northwest, with sparkling rivers and fertile valleys. You all decide to head West. You travel to Independence, Missouri, planning to join a wagon train on the Oregon Trail. In Missouri, you're surprised to find hundreds of other people planning to make the trip.
What would you expect your journey West to be like?
Building Background: Many Americans at this time were restless, curious, and eager to be on the move. A variety of Americans were interested in moving to the American West in search of things such as wealth and adventure, rich farmland and new homes.
Americans Move West
In the early 1800s, Americans pushed steadily westward. They moved into territory that did not belong to the United States at the time. They traveled by canoe and flatboat, on horseback, and by wagon train. Some even walked much of the way.
The rush to the West started, in part, because of a hat that became popular in the United States and Europe. This hat was called the "high hat". It was made of water-repellent beaver fur. While acquiring fur for the hats, companies gradually killed off the beaver population in the East. Companies then moved west in search of more beavers. Most of the first Americans to travel the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Northwest were fur traders and trappers.
These fur traders and trappers became known as mountain men. These adventurers were some of the first easterners to explore and map the Rocky Mountains and lands west of them. Mountain men lived lonely and often dangerous lives. They trapped animals on their own, far from towns and settlements. Mountain men had to survive many hardships during their search for wealth and adventure. To survive on the frontier, mountain men adopted Native American customs and clothing. In addition, they often married Native American women. The Indian wives of trappers often worked hard to contribute to their success.
Pioneers saw that frequently bringing furs out of the Rocky Mountains was expensive. They asked traders to stay in the mountains and meet once a year to trade and socialize. This practice helped make the fur trade more profitable. The yearly meeting was known as the rendezvous. At the rendezvous, mountain men and Native American trappers sold their fur to fur-company agents. Americans, Canadian French, Europeans, and Indians of nearly every tribe in the Rocky Mountains attended this rendezvous each year. The rendezvous was filled with celebrating and storytelling. At the same time, the meeting was also about conducting business.
The rush to the West started, in part, because of a hat that became popular in the United States and Europe. This hat was called the "high hat". It was made of water-repellent beaver fur. While acquiring fur for the hats, companies gradually killed off the beaver population in the East. Companies then moved west in search of more beavers. Most of the first Americans to travel the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Northwest were fur traders and trappers.
These fur traders and trappers became known as mountain men. These adventurers were some of the first easterners to explore and map the Rocky Mountains and lands west of them. Mountain men lived lonely and often dangerous lives. They trapped animals on their own, far from towns and settlements. Mountain men had to survive many hardships during their search for wealth and adventure. To survive on the frontier, mountain men adopted Native American customs and clothing. In addition, they often married Native American women. The Indian wives of trappers often worked hard to contribute to their success.
Pioneers saw that frequently bringing furs out of the Rocky Mountains was expensive. They asked traders to stay in the mountains and meet once a year to trade and socialize. This practice helped make the fur trade more profitable. The yearly meeting was known as the rendezvous. At the rendezvous, mountain men and Native American trappers sold their fur to fur-company agents. Americans, Canadian French, Europeans, and Indians of nearly every tribe in the Rocky Mountains attended this rendezvous each year. The rendezvous was filled with celebrating and storytelling. At the same time, the meeting was also about conducting business.
American Fur Trading
American merchant John Jacob Astor created one of the largest fur businesses, the American Fur Company. His company was one of the companies that bought skins from mountain men at the rendezvous. In 1811, John Jacob Astor founded a fur trading post called Astoria at the mouth of the Columbia River. Astoria was one of the first American settlements in what became known as Oregon Country. Americans Indians occupied the region, which was rich in forests, rivers, and wildlife. However, Britain, Russia, Spain, and the United states all claimed the land as their own. The United States based its claim on the exploration of merchant captain Robert Gray, who had reached the mouth of the Columbia River in 1792.
Recognizing the huge economic value of the Pacific Northwest, the United States made treaties with Spain and Russia to give up claim to some of the land in Oregon Country. The United States also made a treaty with Britain allowing both countries to occupy Oregon Country, the Columbia River, and its surrounding lands.
By the 1840s, the era of American fur trading in the Pacific Northwest was coming to an end. The demand for beaver furs had fallen because fashions changed. Too much trapping had also greatly reduced the number of beavers. Some mountain men gave up their work and moved back east. Their daring stories, however, along with the treaties made by the U.S. government, inspired other Americans to move West. Attracted by rich resources and a mild climate, easterners poured into Oregon Country in the 1840s. These new settlers soon replaced the mountain men on the frontier.
Recognizing the huge economic value of the Pacific Northwest, the United States made treaties with Spain and Russia to give up claim to some of the land in Oregon Country. The United States also made a treaty with Britain allowing both countries to occupy Oregon Country, the Columbia River, and its surrounding lands.
By the 1840s, the era of American fur trading in the Pacific Northwest was coming to an end. The demand for beaver furs had fallen because fashions changed. Too much trapping had also greatly reduced the number of beavers. Some mountain men gave up their work and moved back east. Their daring stories, however, along with the treaties made by the U.S. government, inspired other Americans to move West. Attracted by rich resources and a mild climate, easterners poured into Oregon Country in the 1840s. These new settlers soon replaced the mountain men on the frontier.
The Oregon Trail
Many settlers moving to Oregon Country and other western areas followed the 2,000 mile long Oregon Trail, which stretched from places in Missouri or Iowa, west into Oregon Country. The trail followed rivers over the Plains and crossed the Rocky Mountains. After it crossed the Rocky Mountains, the trail forked (or split). The northern branch led to Oregon. The other branch went to California and became known as the California Trail.
Traveling the trail challenged the strength and determination of pioneer families. The journey usually began after the rainy season ended in late spring and lasted about six months. It cost about $600 for a family of four. This was very expensive at the time since a typical worker usually made about $1.50 per day. Young families made up most groups of settlers. They gathered in wagon trains for the trip. There could be as few as 10 wagons or as many as 36 wagons in a wagon train.
Traveling the trail challenged the strength and determination of pioneer families. The journey usually began after the rainy season ended in late spring and lasted about six months. It cost about $600 for a family of four. This was very expensive at the time since a typical worker usually made about $1.50 per day. Young families made up most groups of settlers. They gathered in wagon trains for the trip. There could be as few as 10 wagons or as many as 36 wagons in a wagon train.
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The wagons were pulled by oxen, mules, or horses. Pioneers often walked to save their animals' strength. They kept up a tiring pace, traveling from dawn until dusk. Settler Jesse Applegate recalled the advice her received from one experienced Oregon pioneer: "Travel, travel, TRAVEL... Nothing is good that causes a moment's delay."
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Some pioneers brought small herds of cattle with them on the trail. They faced severe hardships, including shortages of food, supplies, and water. Rough weather and geographic barriers, such as rivers and mountains, sometimes forced large numbers of pioneers to abandon their wagons. In the early days of the Oregon Trail, many Native Americans helped the pioneers, acting as guides and messengers. They also traded goods for food. Although newspapers sometimes reported Native American "massacres" of pioneers, few settlers died from Indian attacks.
The settlers who arrived safely in Oregon and California found generally healthy and pleasant climates. By 1845 about 5,000 settlers occupied the land in Oregon.
The settlers who arrived safely in Oregon and California found generally healthy and pleasant climates. By 1845 about 5,000 settlers occupied the land in Oregon.
The Santa Fe Trail
The Santa Fe Trail was another important path west. It led from Independence, Missouri, to Santa Fe, New Mexico. It followed an ancient trading route first used by Native Americans. American traders loaded their wagon trains with cloth and other manufactured goods to exchange for horses, mules, and silver from Mexican traders in Santa Fe.
The long trip across blazing deserts and rough mountains was dangerous. But the possibility of making a lot of money encouraged traders to go on the trail. One trader reported a 2,000 percent profit on his cargo. The US government helped protect traders by sending troops to ensure that Native Americans were not a threat.
The long trip across blazing deserts and rough mountains was dangerous. But the possibility of making a lot of money encouraged traders to go on the trail. One trader reported a 2,000 percent profit on his cargo. The US government helped protect traders by sending troops to ensure that Native Americans were not a threat.
Mormons Travel West
One large group of settlers traveled to the West in search of religious freedom. In 1830 a young man named Joseph Smith founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in western New York. The members of Joseph Smith's church became known as Mormons. Smith told his followers that he had found and translated a set of golden tablets containing religious teachings. The writings were called the Book of Mormon.
Church members grew rapidly, but certain beliefs and practices caused Mormons to be persecuted. For example, beginning in the 1850s some Mormon men practiced polygamy - a practice in which one man is married to several women at the same time. This practice was outlawed by the church in 1890.
In the early 1830s Smith and his growing number of converts left New York. They formed new communities, first in Ohio, then in Missouri, and finally in Illinois. All three communities eventually failed, and an anti-Mormon mob murdered Smith in 1844. Following Smith's murder, Brigham Young became head of the Mormon Church. Young chose what is now Utah as the group's new home, and thousands of Mormons took the Mormon Trail to the area near the Great Salt Lake, where they prospered. By 1860 there were about 40,000 Mormons in Utah.
Church members grew rapidly, but certain beliefs and practices caused Mormons to be persecuted. For example, beginning in the 1850s some Mormon men practiced polygamy - a practice in which one man is married to several women at the same time. This practice was outlawed by the church in 1890.
In the early 1830s Smith and his growing number of converts left New York. They formed new communities, first in Ohio, then in Missouri, and finally in Illinois. All three communities eventually failed, and an anti-Mormon mob murdered Smith in 1844. Following Smith's murder, Brigham Young became head of the Mormon Church. Young chose what is now Utah as the group's new home, and thousands of Mormons took the Mormon Trail to the area near the Great Salt Lake, where they prospered. By 1860 there were about 40,000 Mormons in Utah.
Summary and Preview: Some of the first Americans to move West were fur traders and trappers. Settlers soon followed. In the next section you will learn about the Texas Revolution.