The Far West Chapter 11 Section 1
I. Oregon Country
A. Control of Oregon Country US and England signed a treaty sharing Oregon in 1818 Treaty was renewed in 1827 Few British settlers moved to Oregon
B. People in Oregon
1. Mountain Men a.Made their living selling furs. b.Rendezvous – yearly meeting where they would sell their furs c.When fur trade died out, they worked as trail guides
2. Missionaries a.Went to Oregon to convert Native Americans to Christianity b.Marcus & Narcissa Whitman – killed by Cayuse Indians after members of the tribe died from disease
II. The Trails
A. The Oregon Trail 1. 2,000 + Miles 2. Started in Independence Missouri 3. Took 6 to 8 months 4. Cost about $600
B. California Trail 1. Branched off the Oregon trail 2. Passed through the Sierra Nevada Mountains 3. Destination was usually Sutter’s Fort
C. Donner Party 1. Got Lost taking a short cut 2. Trapped in the mountains 3. Almost half died
D. Santa Fe Trail 1. Ran between Independence, MO and Santa Fe NM 2. Mainly a trade route
E.
a.Founder of the Church of Latter Day Saints b.Radical beliefs led to r eligious persecution. c.Smith moved his church four times. d.Murdered in Joseph Smith
2. Brigham Young c.Pioneered idea of water conservation to restrict its use. a.Moved the church to Utah – establishing the Mormon Trail b.Founded Salt Lake City
F. Dangers Shortages of supplies Natural barriers (swollen rivers/snow blocked mountains) Weather (rain and snow) Hostile tribes (least likely) Getting lost Extreme heat Disease (#1 cholera) Danger
F. Why go West? Cheap land Bad economy in the East Gold Spreading Christianity