The Great Oregon Migration: On 22 May 1843, 120 wagons and 875 people left Independence, Missouri, for Oregon.
The '49-ers: In 1849, around 80,000 people travelled West to California.
The Frontier Movement: Some people moved multiple times, following the advancing Frontier.
Reasons for Moving West:
- : Trappers like James Bridger, Kit Carson, and James Beckwourth went west for beaver fur in the 1820s–1830s; after the fur trade declined, they guided settlers.
- : In 1837, banks collapsed, wages dropped 40%, and unemployment rose; Midwest farmers faced ruin in the 1840s due to low wheat and corn prices.
- : Population in Missouri grew rapidly, from 14,000 in 1830 to 353,000 by 1840.
- : Stories about the West as a land of opportunity spread, often from missionaries, land speculators, and adventurers like Lansford Hastings.
- : Printed 10,000 copies of the Oregon Trail to encourage settlement and drive out the British.
- : Fertile soil and good climate in California and Oregon attracted farmers.
- Land in the East was : Younger sons struggled to afford it.
- : West offered freedom from government, laws, and taxation, plus excitement and a fresh start.
- : Groups like Mormons and former slaves moved west to escape persecution.
- : In 1843, Senator Lewis Linn’s Oregon Bill promised a square mile of land FREE to settlers over 18 who lived there five years.
- : In May 1843, Missionary Marcus Whitman guided a wagon train to Oregon.
- : Gold discovered in California in 1848 drew many westward.
The Great Oregon Migration: On 22 May 1843, 120 wagons and 875 people left Independence, Missouri, for Oregon.
The '49-ers: In 1849, around 80,000 people travelled West to California.
The Frontier Movement: Some people moved multiple times, following the advancing Frontier.
Reasons for Moving West:
- MOUNTAIN MEN: Trappers like James Bridger, Kit Carson, and James Beckwourth went west for beaver fur in the 1820s–1830s; after the fur trade declined, they guided settlers.
- ECONOMIC DEPRESSION: In 1837, banks collapsed, wages dropped 40%, and unemployment rose; Midwest farmers faced ruin in the 1840s due to low wheat and corn prices.
- OVERCROWDING: Population in Missouri grew rapidly, from 14,000 in 1830 to 353,000 by 1840.
- PROPAGANDA: Stories about the West as a land of opportunity spread, often from missionaries, land speculators, and adventurers like Lansford Hastings.
- GOVERNMENT: Printed 10,000 copies of the Oregon Trail to encourage settlement and drive out the British.
- FARMING OPPORTUNITIES: Fertile soil and good climate in California and Oregon attracted farmers.
- Land in the East was EXPENSIVE: Younger sons struggled to afford it.
- ADVENTURE: West offered freedom from government, laws, and taxation, plus excitement and a fresh start.
- PERSECUTION: Groups like Mormons and former slaves moved west to escape persecution.
- OREGON BILL: In 1843, Senator Lewis Linn’s Oregon Bill promised a square mile of land FREE to settlers over 18 who lived there five years.
- MARCUS WHITMAN: In May 1843, Missionary Marcus Whitman guided a wagon train to Oregon.
- GOLD: Gold discovered in California in 1848 drew many westward.
