1. Westward Movement United States: Manifest Destiny And Trials West
Mrs. Candy 8th Grade Social Studies

2. Notes Set up 1. Manifest Destiny- 2. Who moved- 3. When- 4. Why move-
5. Trails to take-
6. Traveling-
7. Daily life-
8. Dangers-
9. Mission Accomplished-
10. Legacy

3. Manifest Destiny
Manifest Destiny- belief in the s that Americans needed to expand the boundaries of the United States to the Pacific Ocean.
Individuals and families migrated to the West for a variety of reasons
Eventually US will acquire lands in Oregon, Texas, California, Utah and all of the South West.
John Gast: American Progress

4. Who moved when?
Earliest settlers were fur trappers from Appalachian region looking for new hunting territories.
1841 US government passes Homestead Act
Person could purchase 160 acres for very cheap, had to build home and live on it for 5 years.
estimated 290,000 people moved to the American West and settled.

5. Why move West??? Inexpensive land Individual Freedom Religious Freedom
Gold Rush
Manifest Destiny

6. Trails to Take

7. Traveling the Trails
Groups left in caravans using covered Conestoga Wagons.
Groups were organized and had written agreements.
Emigrants would work together, this was key to a successful journey.
Cost
$50 per person
$350 for wagon supplies
$30 in tolls and fees

8. Daily Life
-Started before sunlight to get the oxen and wagons prepared.
-all goods were carried in the wagon and most everyone would walk the entire trail on foot. (15 miles a day)
-Evening activities included schooling children, singing, dancing and on Sunday’s church services.
-Laundry and bathing was done by fresh river beds.
-2,000 total miles from start to finish.

9. Dangers on the Trail
Weather: hailstones, lighting, tornadoes, high winds, deserts, muddy/dusty trails
Diseases: sickness- cholera, small pox, dehydration, hypothermia and scurvy
Accidents: exhaustion, guns, animals, drowning, broken wagon parts
Native Americans: were the least of the emigrants worries. Tales of hostile encounters overshadowed actual incidents.
1/10 people who set off on the Oregon Trail did not survive.

10. Mission Accomplished! For those who survived:
Oregon Country had cheap farm land.
California prospectors could mine for gold
Plain states travelers could set up farms.
Mormons could practice religious freedom
Ex-slaves could start over with freedom in free territories.

11. Legacy
Helped to expand the United States from Atlantic to Pacific Ocean
“from sea to shining sea”
2. Manifest Destiny was in full swing and with the expansion of the Rail Roads in the 1870’s Americans moving West would only increase.
3. Territories would eventually become states.
4. Today Interstate 80 travels the same route as the Oregon Trail.