The West and a Growing Nation
westward exploration was on! America saw a dramatic rise in its population. During the 1820’s, only about 500,000 people migrate to the US. Between 1830 and 1860 More than 8 million people poured into the country With a need for space, westward exploration was on!
First Western Explorers The Mountain Men Mapped the Northwest territory Established trading posts Established Indian relationships Many of the trails established by the Mountain Men will be followed by people moving west …. and they will lead them!
The Oregon Trail Established by Nathaniel J. Wyeth - Owns the Hudson Bay Company Builds a fort in Oregon to welcome western settlers 2000 mile journey 10 months to complete 1843 - The Great Migration 1000 people form a wagon train to move west By 1846 - thousands had moved across the trail
Other trails to the West…. The California Trail - trails to San Francisco and Sacramento • The Mormon Trail - From Illinois to Utah - Established Salt Lake City
1200 miles of desert & mountains Very little water along the route Santa Fe Trail - 1200 miles of desert & mountains Very little water along the route Fear of Indian and Mexican attacks Disappears after the railroad arrives in Santa Fe (1880) Old Spanish Trail •from Santa Fe to Los Angeles 1830 - 1848 Established Indian trading posts along the way
The belief westward expansion was inevitable and divinely ordained 1844 - Manifest Destiny! The belief westward expansion was inevitable and divinely ordained Both Southern Dem and Northern Whigs believed they had a right to the resources and opportunities of the West
One question surfaced….. Would new territories be admitted as slave or free states?? Texas was waiting to enter as a slave state, but there were no free states ready for admittance Thank God for……GOLD! January 24, 1848 Gold is discovered at Sutters Mill in California Over the next year, 300,000 men, women and children flooded west to find riches!
San Francisco exploded! • circa 1840 • circa 1851
The miner “Fourty-Niners”
with pressurized water The Mining Process Mining trough Sluice mining Panning for Gold Placer mining - destroyed the land with pressurized water
Within one year, California was ready to be admitted as a state! The Compromise of 1850 Texas admitted as slave state California admitted as free state Further states would be admitted through popular sovereignty …. The people would decide But this decision would soon show its weaknesses!