Westward Migration Flashcards
What were the pull factors for moving west?
Freedom and independence
Fertile land
Space
Gold
What were the push factors for moving west?
Collapse of wheat prices
Overpopulation
Persecution
Unemployment
When was gold first discovered in California?
1848
When was the gold rush?
1849
What happened as a result of finding gold?
Hundreds of thousands of people travelled to California in hopes of finding gold
Did people find gold?
No, most people were unsuccessful
What were some negative consequences of the gold rush?
Racial tension
Problems of lawlessness
Tension with plains Indians
What were some positive consequences of the gold rush?
Boosted economy
Farming boom
Why was crossing the Great Plains dangerous?
extreme heat, storms, disease, lack of supplies, hostile Indians
When did the Donner party leave?
May 1846
What happened to the Donner Party?
They arrived late in the Sierra Nevada and were trapped by heavy snow
What did the Donner party do to survive?
Eat their dead
When was the Mormon migration?
1846-47
Where did Brigham Young choose to take the Mormons?
The Great Salt Lake
What did Brigham Young do to prepare for the migration?
Split everyone into groups
Gave each group a leader
Gave everyone a specific role
Taught them how to form their wagons in a circle for safety
