Reading 46 Going West and East

The Emigrants – Many of the emigrants that migrated far west were white and American born and they usually headed to where slavery was prohibited they traveled from the Midwest and the upper south by 1840, more than 11,000 slaves toiled in Texas and 20,000 in Arkansas this was because emigrants coming from the deep south usually selected Arkansas or Texas as their destination and when they migrated they took their slaves with them. During the gold rush years was when people headed to the west independently otherwise migration was usually a family experience.

Question: why do you think slaveholders took their slaves with them on the journey why didn’t they just sell them before leaving?

Migrant motives – Emigrants migrated to the far west for a simple reason the wide variety of opportunity that the gold rush brought. Thousands of emigrants sought riches in the form of gold others west in order to make a fortune as shopkeepers, peddles and merchants most migrants dreamed of bettering their life by cultivating the land. The preemption acts allowed many emigrants to settle so did the homestead act and the Oregon land policy. These were helpful because it provided alluring price for land that many emigrants took advantage of. Some emigrants went west because of health issues, many were suffering from diseases and was told by their doctors that a good out- door trip would help cure them.

Question: What’s the difference between the Oregon land policy and the homestead act?

Emigrants also migrated west because of religious or cultural missions. Missionary couples would set out to find followers bring Protestantism and education west and morons went to establish societies that was in conformity with their religious belief. Though many emigrants were migrating west it doesn’t mean that this trip was free and easy to make their were many considerable expenses. Trips by sea were the most comfortable and also the most expensive while the cost of traveling over land was less comfortable but less money. Though this trip was made by many the trip was not made by the very poor because the financial cost was too great.

Question: who went on the journey west (specify as to what class)?

American citizens weren’t the only ones to make this trip west. Chinese immigrants came to America seeking a better life and some emigrants did fid a better life, that why so many more immigrants came because a few others before them came to America and achieved success. In the 1860’s the Chinese immigrants would work on the railroads for a month and earn a $30 pay.

Overland Trail – emigrants began their vigorous journey’s west at the points in Iowa and Missouri. Emigrants usually got about 15 miles a day. The trip was what most expected to encounter until the 1850’s conflict with the native Americans. While on the journey men would drive and repair the wagon if needed, while women would take care of domestic work and the young children would stay out of the wagons way and older children would lend a hand where needed. While on the trail disease struck and animals died, families had to lighten the load conditions got worse for many families. But when their destination was reached the families were happy and relieved that they were some of the few that made through the long hard trip.

Question: What effect do you think the Native Americans have on the travelers of the overland?

Important vocabulary

Preemption acts (1830’s and 1840’s) – These acts gave “squatters” the right to settle public lands before the government offered them for sale and then allowed them to purchase these lands at the minimum price once they came on the market.

Homestead act (1862) – Offered 160 acres of government land free to citizens or future citizens over 21 who lived on the property, improved it and paid a small registration fee.

Oregon’s land policy (1862) – Awarded a single man 320 acres of free land and a married man 640 acres, provided he occupied his claim for four years and made improvements.