TRAILS TO THE WEST Trails to the West

TRAILS OF THE WEST Santa Fe Trail Oregon Trail Mormon Trail Spanish Trail

FUR TRAPPING TO TRAILBLAZING  As the East increased their demand for fur Mountain Men like Jedediah Smith and Jim Beckwourth tried to meet the demand  Smith and Beckwourth would trap animals in the far west and sell them for profit  William Henry Ashley established trade sites for trappers to trade fur for money increasing trade  Fur Trade would prosper until the silk trade replaced fur trading  As the fur trade increased and animals died out exploration of the west increased  The explorations provided information leading pioneers west along new trails  Jedediah Smith discovered the South Path through the Rockies to make the route west easier to navigate

LAND SPECULATORS  Most People began to move west to make money with new land  Land Speculators would buy large sections of the Louisiana Territory and sell it off in small plots of land for profit  As Land was sold and people moved west, merchants also moved west to sell goods to the new settlers

THE MISSIONARIES Groups who came West to convert native people to Christianity. The best known missionaries were Marcus & Narcissa Whitman & Henry and Eliza Spalding. They made the journey west from St. Louis in Very few Indians became Christian, but the missionaries reports of a “Pioneer’s Paradise” helped to convince many Americans to make the journey.

MEXICO GAINS IT’S INDEPENDENCE 1821 Mexico gained independence from Spain, opening it’s borders to America. William Becknell set out with hardware, china, clothes, and other goods for Santa Fe. For which he sold and made a large profit. This would prompt a large number of traders to make their way to Santa Fe

SANTA FE TRAIL Becknell’s trail would be know as the Santa Fe Trail Two different routes –What made them different? 1.Had plenty of water but took much longer to get there 2.Had little water but it was much faster

SANTA FE TRAIL A trail between Independence, Missouri and Santa Fe, Mexico that was used for 60 years to carry merchandise to and from the southwest At first, trade improved relations between Mexico and the United States. However, this trade encouraged American settlers to move west and to desire the lands held by Mexico.

THE OREGON TRAIL Ran between Independence, Missouri and the northwest corner of Oregon

THE OREGON TRAIL It was a two thousand mile overland trail that took many immigrants, pioneers, explorers, missionaries, and fur traders to the northwest and other places across the country during the westward expansion. –The trail spanned over 2,170 miles through Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho and Oregon –The trail was used from 1841 to –The average family made it to Oregon City in about four months –Over 500,000 people who made the trip in covered wagons pulled by mule and oxen The father the trail progressed the hard the trail became –Hardest stretch was found at the end of the trail –Discouraging –Despair and death Fort Kearny was built to protect the emigrants on the Oregon trail. It also provided a place for travelers to buy supplies and send mail to friends and family back east. Fort Laramie was built as a resting ground for settlers –After, the settlers journeyed on past Independence Rock. –The south pass is a gap in the Rocky Mountains that stretches for miles. This provided an easier route for the wagon trains to travel.

IDAHO AND THE OREGON TRAIL The Oregon Trail extended through what is now Idaho. – It was also in this area that the trail split and the California trail began. – The California trail was started after Gold was discovered in California in Many people were lured to California by dreams of striking it rich. Those who continued on the Oregon Trail, came to Fort Hall. – This fort was originally built as a trading post for the fur traders. – After leaving Fort Hall, they traveled on through what is now Idaho and were faced with an important decision. Should they cross the Snake River or take the overland route. Some chose to cross at Three Island Crossing. This was a direct route to Fort Boise and saved some time, but the crossing was difficult and dangerous.

HARDSHIPS ON THE OREGON TRAIL While traveling this trail, most children along for the journey did not attend school Instead of burning wood, many travelers on the trail burnt buffalo chips, the dried out manure from the American buffalo Dysentery and Natives did not really harm that many travelers. Biggest Threat: Cholera and bad weather Another threat was the terrain around the steep Rocky Mountains. (injuries)

THE COVERED WAGON Covered Wagon: 10 foot long by 4 foot wide by 2 feet deep Weighed over 2,000 pounds

THE MORMON TRAIL Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints founded in N.Y. by Joseph Smith in Wherever they settled, they were persecuted by the neighbors who disagreed with their beliefs or resented their growing wealth and power. In 1844, an angry mob killed Smith & Brigham Young took over as leader. Young decided to move the group to Utah on the Mormon Trail. The group founded Salt Lake City & the church has grown into a worldwide religion with over 7 million members.

SPANISH TRAIL Old Spanish Trail The trail starts in Los Angeles and ends at Santa Fe. –Santa Fe was a trading hub and California provided access to foreign markets via her seaports 1,100 miles crossing California, Nevada, and Utah. linked two provinces of Mexico separated by such difficult topography and climatic extremes –despite attempts beginning as early as 1776, a route was successfully opened only in 1829.

FREMONT’S SPANISH TRAIL Americans became aware of the trail with the publication of John C. Fremont’s Report of his 1844 journey from California to the States, –Fremont took the Spanish Trail across to Utah –Fremont’s Report created a sensation in Washington, already struck with Manifest Destiny fever. -Called it the ‘Spanish Trail’ and the name stuck – Recognizing that a large area of the interior desert had no connection to the sea, Fremont first called it the “Great Basin”, another name used ever since – in his report

SPANISH TRAIL: COWBOY AND INDIANS Outlaws used the trail to raid the California ranchos Raids for Indian slaves became common, with victims sold at either end of the trail despite official condemnation of the practice. –The traffic in human beings reverberated among the peoples who lived along the trail for many years longer than the caravans plied their trade.

THE END OF THE SPANISH TRAIL The Spanish Trail name and use lapsed after the War with Mexico ended in 1848 There was no longer any need to link Santa Fe with Los Angeles by this difficult mule trail; other, wagon-friendly routes were opened. The Spanish Trail was not a route of major emigration to the West; –trails to the north and south of it were preferred for this wagon traffic. Spanish Trail caravans continued to trade with the Mormons in Utah, but by 1853 they were no longer welcome there. –The New Mexican caravans were out of business.

HARDSHIPS ON THE TRAIL Biting insects Venomous snakes Dangerous animals Harsh weather conditions Unpredictable storms Dangerous trail conditions Hostile Native Americans