Importance of

Question 1

importance of the oregon trail for migration ? (7)

Answer 1

• first publicised in 1825 by jedediah smith for fur trappers
• first migrants crossed in 1836
• enabled large family groups to move westwards and became main route for east-west migration
• 3200km long, took four months
• gov encouraged migration + John Fremont mapped route for migrants to prove it was manageable
• 1846-5000 migrated
• 1869 over 400,000 used it then was replaced

Question 2

why was the civil war important for settlement in the west (4)

Answer 2

• southern states couldn’t block the northern states
• led to Homestead Act with 6 million acres of land settled
• led to railroad act with 45 million acres of land given to railroad companies for free to settle; by 1880 200 million acres settled
• northern states won civil war and banned slavery so ex slaves and ex soldiers used Homestead Act