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The Journeys of Early Migrants to California and Oregon Mormon Settlement…
The Journeys of Early Migrants to California and Oregon
Mormon Settlement of Utah
From 1840, White Americans Developed a Different Vision of the West. People Began Travelling West in Large Numbers From the 1840s. Most Went Across the Plains to the Far West
Very few people had tried to travel to the West before 1838. There were few routes mapped to the West and the journey was as much as 3,000 miles.
Hundreds of thousands of white settlers travelled to the West between 1839 and 1860.
Most of these so-called overlanders (travellers who went overland to the West rather than by sea) went in wagons and travelled to territories in the Far West such as California, Oregon and Washington.
The Mormons were a religious group who escaped persecution and created an entirely new type of settlement in the West at Salt Lake City.
Pull Factors to the West
Explorers and mountain men had begun to map safe routes to make the journey to the Far West. This made it safer and more attractive to make the journey.
Adverts suggested that people could improve their lives by moving West to places like Oregon and California.
In 1841, the 'Pre-emption Act' meant a farmer who built a house and cleared trees could buy the surrounding land making it cheaper to buy land in Oregon.
In 1845, journalists and politicians in the East argued it was the 'Manifest Destiny' for White Americans to settle the whole of North America. Some felt it was God's plan for the continent.
In 1848, the land of California was taken from Mexico in a war and became US land.
Some believed they had a mission to convert Native Americans living in the West to Christianity.
Push Factors From the East
The banking system in the USA had collapsed in 1837 - many people had no money and were unemployed.
Land in the East was beginning to fill up - competition between Eastern farmers was high.
A Typical Journey to Oregon in the 1840s - Those Making the Journey Were Known as Emigrants
A traveller had to decide on a route and which company of travellers to join. Buying the right equipment and travel guides was essential. They often spent the winter on one of the towns along the Missouri River such as Council Bluffs (Iowa) or Independence (Missouri).
Families loaded their possessions into a covered wagon and joined a wagon train (sometimes 20 or more) heading on either the Oregon or California Trails. The wagon needed to carry enough supplies for the whole journey such as flour, bacon, salt, coffee and sugar. Many took guns to defend against Native American attacks - although more injured themselves with the guns.
The first part of the journey was fairly easy but the wagons meant they only travelled 18-20 miles a day. Wagons got stuck and injuries like broken bones or crush injuries were common. People also died of water borne diseases like cholera or typhoid. They had to contend with stampeding buffalo, Native American attacks, swollen rivers, baking heat or torrential rain. When they stopped at Fort Laramie and Fort Kearny for rest they had completed nearly a third of their journey.
Wagons were taken through one of the few passes over the Rocky Mountains. Groups who arrived at the Rockies too late in the autumn had to spend winter on the Plains or risk crossing the mountains. This led to many deaths. Crossing the Rocky Mountains was difficult - they struggled with their possessions, children and animals. Autumn snows could trap them in the mountains which could cause them to starve to death
Having passes through the Rocky Mountains, they arrived at Fort Hall and had to decide whether to follow the southern route to California or northern route to Oregon which had the additional challenge of the Blue Mountains. The final leg into Oregon and California was a little easier. Local Native American tribes often helped to ferry travellers down the rivers. Disease was a major issue - late summer or autumn floods could also kill.
Tensions on the Plains
Migration West created tension with Native Americans who lived along the routes.
In 1851, at Fort Laramie, tribes such as the Sioux, Northern Cheyenne and Crow granted the USA rights to establish forts and safe routes across the Plains in exchange for compensation.
The Sioux's hunting grounds were cut in two - they received greater hunting rights on the south side of the trails.
Other tribes such as the Crow were outraged that the Sioux got better treatment.
Conflict in Oregon - Yakima Tribe
In 1855, The US Government signed treaties with the Yakima and other Native Americans living in Oregon Territory.
The Native Americans gave up huge areas of land to the US settlement. Settlement was supposed to be delayed for 2 years - but settlers arrived after just 12 days. The agreements were broken.
The Yakima felt cheated and began raiding white settlements - the US army was called in.
The Yakima asked a Spanish Christian mission to protect them - but the Mission was burned by the US army.
By 1858, the Yakima lost 90% of their lands and 24 of their chiefs had been kiled.
The relationship was now one of conflict between the Native Americans and White Americans.
The Mormon Settlement of Utah was Very Different From Others, Due to Organisation of the Mormon Church
The Mormons were a religious group set up in the early 19th Century.
Mormons wanted to practise their religion and polygamy (marrying many wives) freely and shared ownership of land.
Their leader was called Brigham Young - he chose Utah territory as the place to build a new settlement at a place called the Great Salt Lake.
Salt Lake City (capital of Utah) was established in the 1840s and by 1852 it had a population of 10,000.
The city was planned really carefully and had irrigation ditches to allow farming to happen.
The Mormon Church decided how much land each family got - nobody was allowed to own water.
The Mormon temple was built at the centre of the city which was modelled on Paris.
In 1850, Brigham Young became the first Governor of Utah.
In 1848, The US Government seized the area around Salt Lake from the Mexicans, which brought the Mormons back into the USA.
Brigham Young applied for Utah to become a US state but it was refused - Utah was added to the USA as a 'territory' and Brigham Young became its first governor.
Mormon settlements continued to grow but this worried many back in the East who feared the growth of the Mormon religion.
In 1857, the Government sent in troops to Utah to force Young to bring it into line with US laws.
A band of Mormons led by John D. Lee massacred some White settlers who they believed were spies - the scandal forced Young to step down and Utah was made to follow the laws of the rest of the USA.