Reasons for migration up to 1851 Flashcards
Explain the difference between a “push factor” and a “pull factor”
Push factor = when someone is “pushed out” of the area where they are currently living
Pull factor = when someone is “pulled towards” a new area
Describe two consequences of the economic crisis that hit the east and south of the United States in 1837
Any two from:
1) Banks collapsed - people lost their savings
2) Businesses failed - thousands lost their jobs
3) Unemployment reached 25% in some areas
4) Those who kept their jobs faced wage cuts of up to 40%
What happened to the price of corn in southern states like Mississippi during the economic crisis of 1837?
It started to fall
What did traders and fur-trappers say about the land and climate in California and Oregon?
There was rich farming land and the sunny climate of California was ideal for fruit farming
Give two reasons why the sea route to Oregon was inconvenient for potential migrants
1) It cost $300 (a farm labourer earned $11 a month)
2) It took a whole year to make the trip
What was the name of the only practical overland route for migrants to travel West through the mountains before 1851?
The Oregon Trail
How many migrants had used the Oregon Trail by 1869?
400,000
Who were the first migrants to travel the Oregon Trail with a wagon? When did they travel, and why did they travel?
Narcissa and Marcus Whitman, and Henry and Eliza Spalding
1836
To convert tribes in Oregon to Christianity (they were migrants)
How many people used the Oregon Trail to migrate in:
1841
1842
1843
1841: 60 people
1842: 100 people
1843: 900 people
Why did the US government encourage migration to Oregon in the 1840s?
They wanted to establish Oregon as US territory, rather than sharing it with the British
How much money did the government provide in 1841 to help map the Oregon Trail?
$30,000
Who led the government-funded expedition to Oregon in 1842?
John Fremont
How did John Fremont encourage other people to travel along the Oregon Trail?
He wrote reports that made the trail sound exciting and achievable, which were made into a guidebook for migrants to use
Which state became part of the US in 1848?
California
How many people had travelled to California in pursuit of gold by April 1849?
100,000 people
What was California’s population by 1855?
300,000
How did the growth of California’s population affect the economy?
It grew rapidly as the prospectors needed equipment, food, drink and entertainment
Describe “Manifest Destiny”
It was God’s will for white Americans to populate all areas of America from coast to coast, and make it productive and civilised
What would happen to Plains Indians under Manifest Destiny?
They would be cleared out of the way
Describe five problems with migration using the Oregon Trail
1) Landscape: very rocky and often damaged wagons
2) Disease: dysentery, cholera and typhoid were caused by contaminated food and water
3) Food: migrants had to bring enough food to last the journey
4) Accidents: wagons were heavy and difficult to control
5) Other migrants: arguments and fights were common
