Why West?
Why did people move west?
Free land, Adventure and escape, Rumors of gold!
How much money did the US spend on the Louisiana Purchase?
$15 million
What was the transcontinental railroad connecting?
connecting the East Coast to the West Coast
who was the first person to discover gold?
James Marshall
The Oregon Trail covers how many miles of the western United States, stretching between Missouri and Oregon or California?
2,000 miles
How did people travel when moving west at the start of the westward expansion?
Wagons!
Most families packed up their valuables and their necessities in a covered wagon. Groups of wagons called “wagon trains” often traveled together. Family members took turns riding in wagons and walking beside the wagons. Captains often led these “trains”
Who did the US purchase this from?
France
where did the railroad meet?
utah
Why were the people who moved west called the 49ers?
because in 1849, 85,000 people moved west to find gold
Why did the US government wanted Americans to settle in Oregon?
in order to keep British settlers out of the region.
What dangers did they face when traveling west?
Lack of food, water, and shelter
Lack of protection from the weather (floods, storms)
Lack of medical care
Exposure to Native Americans who felt threatened by the presence of settlers
Conflict with other settlers- they sometimes were competing for the same land and resources (water, animals, trees). Sometimes small “range wars” broke out. These were feuds between neighboring settlers.
What did the US really buy?
They bought the RIGHTS to the land
what happened after people would lay a mile of tracks?
Paid around $50k
why did the US go to war with mexico?
To get more land/move west and gain new states
The US government paid explorers to do what?
learn about the land, map it, and promote it for potential settlers.
What was life like on the prairie?
Many arrived to find huge empty areas of land
Built homes (log or sod houses)
Found sources of water and food…some lived near creeks or rivers while others had to make windmills to pump water out of the ground
Many were miles from their nearest neighbors or trading posts…lonely
Harsh weather that they weren’t used to
Different soil for raising crops and animals
After the purchase, this gave the US full control of which river?
Mississippi
what were the benefits of the railroad?
Travel time became much faster!
More people could move west. It was easier and faster to travel with your family and belongings by train.
Goods could be shipped more easily. This helped businesses grow and towns develop across the country.
how much land did Mexico give? What were some of the states?
Mexico ceded 55 percent of its territory, including the present-day states California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, most of Arizona and Colorado, and parts of Oklahoma, Kansas, and Wyoming.
In the spring of 1843, approximately 1,000 pioneers made the journey at one time—this journey is called what?
the Great Migration.
What happened to Native Americans from this land?
Many Native Americans were unfairly driven from the lands that they’d lived on for many, many years because the U.S. government claimed it. They were forced to move to reservations.
when was the louisiana purchase?
1803
How long would it take to travel the country from the railroad?
a trip from coast to coast could take just a few weeks instead of months.
Why did the gold miners lose their money?
Because they spent it all on supplies, so the store owners ended up gaining riches
The average journey by wagon took how long?
four to six months (at 15 miles a day).