Migrants And Miners Flashcards
Why did many migrants move west
The 1837 recession
Area for farming
What were some problems for the migrants settling on the plains
Lots of insects
Bad weather conditions for farming
Lack of shelter
Crops from the east often failed to survive
What did the settlers live in
In houses made from sods
What was the main way people moved west
The Oregon trail, in 1841 the government even posted a map for it
In1843, the great migration of over 100 people occurred on this trail (Oregon- Missouri)
When was gold first found and by who??
In 1848 by James Marshall
Where did the gold rush begin
In California, near the Sierra Nevada mountains
How many people were thought to have moved west due to the gold rush??
100,000
People even came from china in 1852 but most miners were unsuccessful
Where were the two main places gold was found
Near the Sierra Nevada mountains
In the Rocky Mountains, near the black hills, sacred to the Sioux tribe
Explain what happened to the donner party
In 1846, a small party of around 87, travelling without a guide, tried to take a shortcut with 8 wagons at the Hastings cut off but it was unsuccessful resulting in them being trapped by the snow and stranded, some reports say they resorted to desperate measures to survive (eg cannibalism) 48 out of 87 returned alive
What risks did migrants face??
If they got caught in the winter they could face heavy snowfall and extreme cold temperatures
Sandstorms were common in the summer
Some groups were attacked by plains Indians or buffalo
Lack of supplies and susception to illness
How long did the average journey take
6-9 months
What company first used the Oregon trail??
The pacific fur company
How many people lived in California by 1857
380,000
