Trails to the West
• More people are moving west in hopes of a better less crowed life
• Most people are moving to the region known as Trans-Appalachia• This means across the
Appalachians• Various Routes across
including the Cumberland Road (the first national road
Crossing the Appalachians
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/file:greatvalley-map.jpg
• One of the most famous settlers to the area was Daniel Boone• He worked and tried to build a life in Kentucky• The Transylvania Company employed him to help cut
the Wilderness road that carried thousands to the west including Boone’s family
• In the late 1780’s only a few hundred whites lived West of the Ohio, but by 1830 hundreds of thousands settled into this area.
• The new states were• Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio• In addition to white settlers several African
American’s moved into these area. An estimated 98, 000 slaves were moved West with their owners, even to areas that slavery was forbidden
Settling the Wilderness
As more whites moved into the Western Territory, there was a larger impact on the Natives
Settlers kept pushing the Natives farther into the new Louisiana Territory
By 1840, most Native Americans had resettled onto reservations West of the Mississippi RiverThis area became known as Indian
CountryNative American Land Transfer Before 18
50
Forcing the Natives Out
Americans also swarmed to the South east including Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, even into Florida that only 11 years earlier had become part of the United States
The Pinckney Treaty established our control over part of Florida
Stated The Southern Boarder with Spain as 31 latitude (Leaving most of Florida to Spain, The US would be allowed to use the Mississippi through Spanish Territory, and that both countries together would help control natives
By 1820 though so many American’s lived in Western Florida that they declared the regions independence and shortly after it was annexed to the US
Expanding to Florida
Expansionists wanted the rest of Florida, including the Eastern Portions
As time marched on Spain was involved with their S. Amer colonies that they were not paying attention to the Seminoles who were being to attack colonists
The US gets involved and sends in Andrew Jackson to help put down the rebellions.
In March of 1818 with only 2000 men and quickly put down the Seminole tribe (this becomes known as the first Seminole war)
Within a few weeks, Jackson has possession of the entire western party of Florida.
Remember that Jackson did this without permission so the Spanish are very angry
Secretary of State J.Q. Adams remaindered them that they were in violation of the Pinckney Treaty so Spain had let the issue go
Spanish Rep. Luiz de Onis worked with J.Q. Adams on the Adams-Onis Treaty
Spain will Cede Florida to the US Firmly set the boundary between L.P. and the Spanish Western
Territory This gave us huge amount of territory in South US
The Seminole Wars
Bound for the Pacific
This is known as the land beyond the Rockies that stretches from Northern Cal to Southern Alaska
A growing number of Fur traders such as Jebediah Smith roamed the area hunting pelts and adopting Indian ways. They were known as Mountain Men
By early 1800 four nations claimed land in the area: US, Russia, Spain, and GB
in 1818 with the Convention of 1818 the US and GB claimed joint ownership
With the Adams-Onis treaty Spain gave up its holdings Russia followed suite in 1825
As news of Oregon got back to the people several religious people decided to move out to help convert the natives
Jason Lee in 1834 (Methodist Minister Narcissa Prentiss Whitman and her Dr. husband were Presbyterian Hardly anyone had luck with the conversion
The Oregon Country
Beginning in 1842 organized wagon trains carrying people to the West began
Known as Oregon trail was 2000 miles long and cut through Rocky Mountains
Very expensive around 500-1000 for a family, exhausting, dangerous, and long (between 4-6 months)
Typical path was to find a pass (a low spot in mountain range) and head west through that pass. Some typical routes were
South Pass( Through Wyoming) or Sante Fe Trail (veered South once through Mountains)
Although movies depict travel West as filled with fighting with the natives, most time whites just traded with Natives
By 1845 more than 5000 American’s had migrated to Oregon
Overland Travelers
Joseph Smith (leader of the Mormons) leaves NY to be able to practice faith without being harassed.
Originally moved to Ohio, then Illinois in 1839, then in 1844they begin to experience extreme religious intolerance and move again
They decide to start over and move westThey are led by new leader Brigham
YoungSettle in what is present day Salt Lake
CityStart huge Mormon settlementWithin 3 years, 11,000 Mormon’s have
settled into the area, and by 1860 30,000 lived in Salt Lake City.
Mormon Migration
http://www.salamandersociety.com/interviews/willbagley/
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki /Fi le:Sutters_Mil l . jpg
The Gold Rush
In Jan of 1848 a Carpenter at a sawmill discovered Gold at his mill in California
John Sutter/Sutter’s MillThis led to what is
known as The Gold RushLed to 4000 gold crazed
prospectors heading to the property
News of Gold spread to the East and it set off Gold fever and people rushed west
In 1848 Cal had 14,000 residents a year later it was over 100,000 and went to 200,000 by 1852
http://www.ecv1841.com/JAS.html
Most were unmarried men (only 5% were women and children)
Also had prospectors from China (laborers and servants) and Europeans
Although a few people made it big, most people lost everything in there bid to come West
Led to numerous Ghost Towns http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/
Image:Bodie_ghost_town.jpg
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