Westward Expansion1820 - 1860

1-Oregon Country2-The Republic of Texas3-California and the Southwest4-The Mexican War5-Americans Rush West

Objectives

• Explain why settlers and trappers were attracted to Oregon and the Far West.

• Describe how mountain men helped explore lands in the Far West.

• Describe the role missionaries played in the settlement of Oregon.

• Discuss the hardships settlers faced on wagon trains to the West.

The Lure of Oregon

• Settlers headed West for good land/climate• Oregon Country – region West of Rocky Mountains

(Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, western Canada)

Pacific Coast: soil fertile, mild temps, rainfall plentiful (Willamette River)

Mountain Range: dense forests, fur-bearing animals (fur trappers 1st to Oregon County)

Coastal to Rockies: barren & dry, home to neither fur trappers or farmers

• 1818 – US & Britain occupy Oregon jointly• Citizens of each nation have equal rights

Fur Trappers in the Far West

• Mountain Men – settled in Oregon, trapped & lived off land

• Admired as “rugged individualists” (follow own independent course in life)

• Wore animal hides, porcupine quills, long hair• Dangerous job, food scarce, learned from Native

Americans

• Fall/spring – tended traps• July – Rendezvous (wilderness meeting point to

trade)• Trading began to fail, mountain med began

leading settlers across trails to Oregon

Exploring New Lands

• Jedediah Smith – led settlers across Rockies through South Pass (Wyoming)

• Manuel Lisa – Latino fur trader, led trip up Missouri River in 1807, founded Fort Manuel (1st outpost)

• James Beckwourth – AA, travelled West from VA to escape slavery, Chief Crow Indians, discovered Sierra Nevadas (California)

Missionaries in Oregon

• 1st settlers in Oregon• Marcus & Narcissa Whitman - misson

Columbia River, worked w/Cayuse Indians• 1840 – many to Oregon• 1847 – measles outbreak to Cayuses

(children), Indians attacked mission, killing Whitmans and 12 others

Wagon Trains West

• “Oregon Fever” – 1843, wagon trains every Spring to Oregon on Oregon Trail

• Pioneers covered 2000 miles in 5 months• Dangers – drowning, heat, snow blocked trails,

Cholera spread quickly• Native Americans traded w/pioneers• 1840-1860: 50,000 people reached Oregon,

outnumbered British• Leads to U.S wanting Oregon solely