Expanding West Trails to the West Chapter 11, Section 1 Pages

Building Background Many Americans in the Jacksonian Era were restless, curious, and eager to be on the move. The American West drew a variety of settlers. Some looked for wealth and adventure. Others dreamed of rich farmland and new homes.

Americans Move West In the early 1800s, Americans pushed steadily westward, moving even beyond the territory of the United States. They traveled by canoe and flatboat, on horseback, and by wagon train. Some even walked much of the way. The rush to the West occurred because of the demand for beaver pelt – used in making “high hats.” Most of the first non-Native Americans who traveled to the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Northwest were fur traders and trappers.

Mountain Men American merchant John Jacob Aster created one of the largest fur businesses. His fur company bought skins from western fur traders and trappers known as Mountain Men. These men were some of the first easterners to explore and map the Rocky Mountains and the lands west of them. They lived lonely and often dangerous lives. They trapped animals on their own, far from towns and settlements.

Rendezvous Mountain men survived on the frontier by adopting Native American customs. Mountain men would stay in the mountains and only come out to meet once a year in order to sell their furs. The yearly meeting was known as the rendezvous. At the rendezvous, mountain men and other trappers sold their furs to the agents of trading companies. This gathering was also filled with celebrating and storytelling.

Oregon Country In 1811, John Jacob Astor founded a fur-trading post called Astoria at the mouth of the Columbia River. Astoria was one of the first American settlements in what became known as the Oregon Country. Even though American Indians occupied the region, the territory was claimed by Britain, Russia, Spain, and the United States. The U.S. based its claim on the exploration of merchant captain Robert Gray who had reached the mouth of the Columbia River in 1792.

The Oregon Trail Many settlers moving to the Oregon Country and other western areas follow the 2,000 mile-long Oregon Trail. The trail followed the Platte and Sweetwater Rivers over the Plains. After it crossed the Rocky Mountains, the trailed forked. The northern branch led to the Willamette Valley in Oregon. The other branch became known as the California Trail.

Traveling theTrail Traveling the trail challenged the strength and determination of pioneer families. The cost of the trip was about $600 for a family of four. Families joined wagon trains – usually several dozen wagons drawn by oxen, mules, or horses. The trip would normally last as long as six months – the season dictated as to when the trips would begin. By 1845 some 5,000 settlers had relocated to the Willamette Valley.

The Santa FeTrail The Santa Fe Trail was another important path west. The Santa Fe Trail led from Independence, Missouri to Santa Fe, New Mexico. It followed an ancient trading route first used by Naive Americans. Traders loaded their wagons with their goods hoping to establish business with the Mexican traders in Santa Fe. Although the trip was perilous, it was profitable. Some traders reported a 2,000 percent profit on their goods.

Mormons Move West One large group of people moved West seeking religious Freedom – the Mormons. Founded in 1830 by Joseph Smith. Forced to move from one location to another because people were not willing to accept the Mormon’s religious practices. In 1844 Smith was killed by a mob in Illinois and Brigham Young took over the church. The Mormons eventually relocated to the Great Salt Lake area in Utah.