Migrating Westward CHAPTER 5, SECTION 1

Settling the Spanish Borderlands  The Spanish North was sparsely populated compared to present-day Mexico due to he threat of Native American tribes.  Over time, alliances with the tribes and the exchanging of gifts led to greater settlement.  While New Mexico was safe, Texas was not.  It was sparsely populated because it was only needed to act as a buffer zone to the Mexican mines.  In California, the Spanish sought to convert the Native Americans to Christianity for defensive purposes.  Very few Spanish lived there due to its distance from major markets in Mexico.

Americans Look Westward  The revolution of 1821 in Mexico overthrew the Spanish and established Mexico as an independent nation.  Some Americans, known as expansionists, wanted to expand into New Mexico, Texas and California (now Mexico’s) for various reasons.  Viewed Mexico’s government and economy as weak;  Mexicans are inferior  do not deserve the land;  Manifest Destiny= belief that God wanted the U.S. to own all of North America.

Trails Westward  Major trails linking to the west soon appeared, albeit for various reasons.  Santa Fe Trail  Started in Independence, MO  Purpose: Trade with Mexico  manufactured goods for horses, furs, silver.  Ended: Santa Fe, NM

Trails Westward (cont’d)  Mormon Trail  Started in Nauvoo, IL  Purpose: Mormon migration; westward travel  Led by Brigham Young (after the death of Joseph Smith)  Ended: Salt Lake City, UT

Trails Westward (cont’d)  Oregon Trail  Started in Independence, MO  Purpose: westward travel (originally by missionaries); then farmers  Ended: Willamette Valley, OR

Trails Westward (cont’d)  California Trail  Branched off Oregon Trail in southern Idaho  Purpose: fur trade– Mountain Men; started by Jedediah Smith  Ended: Sutter’s Fort, CA

The Journey  Journey was ~2,000 miles, took 5 months to complete.  Most people travelled in wagon trains of 50-1,000 people  Difficulties faced:  Left too late  really cold winters!  Crossing the Rockies  Lack of food  Disease  Getting lost  Donner Party  got lost during the winter; ½ died, the rest resorted to cannibalism

Closing Question  Along which of the four major trails would you have most likely travelled and why?