1. Trails to the West

2. Manifest Destiny? Obvious Inevitable
Americans believed that their movement westward and southward was destined and ordained by God

3. Trails
Pioneers spread out a across plains to hunt, and grazing patches for their animals and avoid the choking dust clouds kicked up by other wagon trains
Santa Fe Trail
Mormon Trail
Oregon Trail

5. Santa Fe Trail
Led 780 miles from Independence, Missouri to Santa Fe, New Mexico, mainly traders
At 15 miles/day, trip took 2-3 months
First 150 miles, wagons travelled alone
Council Grove, Kansas was the last supply point to join a wagon train

6. Frenemies Scouts rode along the side to look for danger
At night traders formed squares by interlocking wagon wheels, corralling horses, mules, and oxen
Teamwork ended near Santa Fe
Each wanted to be the first to enter the Mexican province of New Mexico

7. Mormon Trail Joseph Smith
When people got angry about Mormon polygamy in Illinois, Brigham Young decided to his followers beyond boundaries of the United States
Gave land to each family according to size, held common ownership of water and timber – critical resources
Great Salt Lake – Salt Lake City

8. Oregon Trail
Traders had taken it, considered too dangerous for women and children
Went to Oregon to set up schools to convert Native Americans to Christianity, proved that wagons could travel the Oregon Trail
Wrote colorful letters east praising fertile land and abundant rainfall

9. The Great Migration
The number of emigrants skyrocketed to 1,000 in 1843
Motivated by land, potential gold, a fresh start
4-6 months to get from Independence, Missouri to Oregon or California

10. Conestoga Wagon Pulled by six horses, could carry up to 6 tons
Large, unwieldy, not good for rough terrain on trail
Expensive

12. Prairie Schooners 4ft wide by 10ft long, cheaper, easier to maneuver
Could even be caulked with tar and floated across un-fordable rivers and streams
Capable of carrying over a ton of cargo and passengers
Small, the lack of suspension made rides very bumpy

13. Walkers Most had prairie schooners and walked or rode alongside them
Some walked and pushed hand carts loaded with few precious possessions
Travelled miles per day

16. Trading and Trash
Merchants made a killing by conning frightened pioneer families into buying more provisions than they actually needed
Trails littered with discarded food barrels and wagons
Dead draft animals, books, clothes, furniture

17. Dangers Natives more likely to be traders, allies, and trail guides
Between , only about 400 settlers were killed by Native Americans
Bandits, snake bites, wild animals attacking/eating food, dehydration, extreme weather (hot, cold, flooding) leaving you stranded, rough terrain

19. Disease Disease - dysentery, cholera, infection
Often no treatment for diseases, people usually died within 24 hours
Around 20,000 people died from disease on the trail
No time for elaborate funerals – The Watcher