1. Westward Migration
American History

2. Manifest Destiny
God has given the right for Americans to spread from coast to coast and govern the American continent.
Term coined in 1845 by John O’Sullivan
Idea that Englishmen and their descendants will control the continent is established much earlier

3. "shall be as a Citty upon a Hill, the eies of all people are uppon us; soe that if wee shall deale falsely with our god in this worke wee have undertaken and soe cause him to withdrawe his present help from us, wee shall be made a story and a byword through the world"
-John Winthrop, 1630

5. Settling New Lands Squatters – settling on land they do not own.
Want to buy land directly from the government.
Preemption Act of 1830 – 160 acres for $1.25/acre
Advances in plows and reapers
- John Deere Cyrus McCormick

6. Breakdown Mountain men – fur traders blaze trails
Settlers follow these trails (i.e. Oregon Trail)
‘Overlanders’ with wagon trains
5 to 6 months – 15 mi./day

8. “I carry my babe and lead, or rather carry, another through snow, mud, and water, almost to my knees. It is the worst road… [T]here was not one dry thread on one of us… I have not told you half we suffered. I am not adequate to the task.”
-quoted in Women’s Diaries of the Westward Journey

9. Encounters with American Indians
Some hostile, mostly friendly
Feared for their food source (Buffalo)
Treaty of Ft. Laramie [1851]
Defined and secured territory for 8 different tribes
Whites can use Platte River Road undisturbed
Government makes payments

13. Mormonism Joseph Smith (b. 1805) Western New York
Prophet
Western New York
Translates golden tablets into Book of Mormon
Belief in Bible as well
Oppose slavery
Against alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine use
Joseph Smith ( )

14. Mormon Tribulations Seeking freedom to practice their religion
Face violence in future settlements
After Smith’s death, most follow Brigham Young west. [1847 – Mormon Trail > Salt Lake]

15. Recap Western settlement continues – ‘Manifest Destiny’
Most stay east of the Mississippi, some continue on
Government encourages this through Preemption Act of 1830 and the Treaty of Ft. Laramie [1851]
Advances in agricultural tools allow for more efficient farming
Mormons settle west to flee violent attacks