Trails to the west Chapter 11, Section 1

Americans move west Early 1800s, Americans began expanding West Traveled by canoe and flatboat, on horseback, wagon trains Many traveled West to make money of a fashion trend called “High Hats” “High Hats” were made of water resistant beaver fur and was popular in the US and Europe Travelers wanted to become fur traders and make their fortune

Mountain Men John Jacob Astor created the largest fur businesses called the American Fur Company He made his fortune by trading with Mountain Men Mountain Men were first easterns to explore the Rockies and further West Mountain Men’s lives were extremely dangerous Many took on Native American customs and clothing to survive Many married Native American women, who helped with their success

Rendezvous Groups of MM and Native Americans began making once a year meetings to trade called Rendezvous (Increased Profits) 1811 John Jacob Astor founded a permeant trading post called Astoria Built it at the mouth of the Columbia River to make travel easier for traders Astoria became the first settlement in the Oregon Country

Oregon Country Native Americans, Americans, British, Spanish, and Russians all claimed land in the area United States creates treaties with other countries to gain control of as much land as possible ($$$$$$$) Treaty with Spain and Russia where each gave up land claims to U.S. Treaty with Britain allowing both countries to split land in the area

Mountain men are replaced By 1840s fur trading in the Pacific NW was closing Demand for furs had dried up (fashion changed, beaver population reduced) Mountain Men moved back East Their stories of the West (Resources, Climate, ect) lured many easterners to the Oregon Country

Oregon Trail Many settlers (Pioneers) followed the Oregon Trail to reached the Oregon Country 2,000 mile long trail which crossed over the great plains, rivers, mountains and other strenuous territory After the Rockies the trail split or forked Travelers could go North to the Willamette Valley in Oregon Travelers could also go SW to California on the California Trail

Challenges of the Oregon trail The trail challenged travelers who dared to take it The journey usually took about 6 months The trip was costly as well, $600 for a family of 4 (workers made $1.50 on average) Wagon Trains could have 10 wagons or more than several dozen Wagons were pulled by oxen, mules and horses Delays in the trip could mean not making it

Hardships on the trail Food shortages, low supplies, and water Rough weather and geographic barriers: mountains, rivers, ect Native Americans could be hired as guides and messengers Native Americans also traded with Pioneers Newspapers often wrote fabricated stories of “Indian Massacres” By 1845 5,000+ settlers occupied the Willamette Valley

Santa fe trail Another route taken by early Pioneers was the Santa Fe trail It also left from Independence, MO and led to Santa Fe, NM Mainly followed ancient Native American trading routes Travelers filled wagons with manufactured goods and cloth, which they traded for silver, horses, and mules with Mexican traders Hazards: deserts and rough mountain terrain Huge profits to be had some claimed to make a 2,000 percent profit on their cargo U.S. government helped protect travelers by sending troops with wagon trains

Mormons travel west Another large group traveled west for religious freedom 1830 Joseph Smith founded the Church of Latter-day Saints in western NY Members became known as Mormons Smith claimed to have golden tablets he found and translated containing religious teachings These writings were called the Book of Mormon (famous play now)

Mormons Persecuted Church membership grew quickly Beliefs and practices such as polygamy (practice of one man being married to several women at once, outlawed by church in 1890) caused them to be persecuted Early 1830s Smith and followers were forced to leave New York…then Ohio….then Missouri….then finally Illinois An anti-Mormon mob eventually murdered Smith Brigham Young replaced Smith and led the group to Utah (Great Salt Lake area) By 1860 nearly 40,000 Mormons in Utah