The Early Pioneers Flashcards
Did the first wave of people settle on the plains?
No, the first wave of people considered the plains to be nothing more than a useless obstacle.
Where did the Early Pioneers want to get to?
They wanted to get to the West.
Who lead the way first?
The mountain men or ‘trappers’ were the first people to go west.
Why did the mountain men go West?
Fur trade flourished in the 1820’s to 1840’s. In the West there was a high population of Beavers etc, which resulted in the trappers going to hunt them.
Which Early Pioneers came after the mountain men?
The Californian and Oregon settlers.
What pushed the Californian and Oregon settlers to go west?
They felt crowded in Mississippi. There was an economical crisis if the East with banks collapsing. The price of wheat collapsed, with many farmers facing ruin.
What were the “pull” factors for the Californian and Oregon settlers?
Many people were coming home with stories of how amazing the west was. The west had huge quantities of unowned land which was sold for very reasonable prices.n
What problems were faced by those moving west?
They had to travel in wagons which were liable to break. Some Indians would kill them. It was very easy to get lost. They had to live in very close quarters, so disease spread rapidly. If they didn’t make it in time before winter, they could die from starvation or the cold
Give an example of a party that went west?
The Donner party
