Chapter 13: Manifest DestinyChapter 13: Manifest DestinySection 1: Trails WestSection 1: Trails West

Would anyone like to know about Would anyone like to know about JacksonJackson’’s s ““Tariff of AbominationsTariff of Abominations””??

Or the Or the ““crisis of nullificationcrisis of nullification””?? William Henry HarrisonWilliam Henry Harrison’’s run for the s run for the

presidency against John Tyler?presidency against John Tyler? The rise of the Whig party?The rise of the Whig party?

Then read about it in your book – weThen read about it in your book – we’’re re not not going over it going over it in classin class

The west was really beginning The west was really beginning to open up in the mid 1800to open up in the mid 1800’’ss

Some of the first white Some of the first white people in the west people in the west were were ““mountain menmountain men””

These men were These men were independent, tough, independent, tough, adventurous, willing to adventurous, willing to take on anything.take on anything.

Many of them were Many of them were trappers – looking for trappers – looking for animal skins to animal skins to eventually send east.eventually send east.

TheyThey’’d spend their time trapping animals.d spend their time trapping animals. TheyThey’’d agree to meet traders from the east once in d agree to meet traders from the east once in

a while. a while. These meetings were called the These meetings were called the ““rendezvousrendezvous””

system.system. (a rendezvous is a meeting)(a rendezvous is a meeting) TheyThey’’d then get supplies to last them while they d then get supplies to last them while they

hunted some more.hunted some more.

The next wave of people went The next wave of people went west because of landwest because of land

Land speculatorsLand speculators bought huge areas bought huge areas of land.of land.

They would divide They would divide it up and smaller it up and smaller pieces to pieces to newcomers in the newcomers in the west and make a west and make a good profit.good profit.

The next group came west as The next group came west as farmers – good productive farmers – good productive

land.land. Then came groups Then came groups

of people like of people like merchants and merchants and manufacturers – manufacturers – trying to make trying to make money by selling money by selling farmers products.farmers products.

How would you get west?How would you get west?

On one of the several On one of the several main trails west main trails west

The Oregon TrailThe Oregon Trail The California TrailThe California Trail The Santa Fe TrailThe Santa Fe Trail The Old Spanish TrailThe Old Spanish Trail The Mormon TrailThe Mormon Trail

The one you took The one you took depended on the depended on the purpose of your trippurpose of your trip

For example: The Santa Fe For example: The Santa Fe TrailTrail

Was for American Was for American businessmen who businessmen who hoped to make a profit hoped to make a profit selling new products in selling new products in Mexico – and some of Mexico – and some of them became them became VERYVERY rich.rich.

When people heard how When people heard how much money you could much money you could make, lots more went – make, lots more went – thatthat’’s the first time you s the first time you hear of the hear of the ““prairie prairie schooner.schooner.””

From Missouri to Mexico From Missouri to Mexico was about 800 miles was about 800 miles and the trip might take and the trip might take 2-3 months.2-3 months.

One most people have heard One most people have heard about: about: The Oregon TrailThe Oregon Trail

The first white men The first white men to Oregon were to Oregon were missionaries.missionaries.

Then came stories Then came stories about the rich land about the rich land and thousands and thousands decided that decided that Oregon was the Oregon was the place to go.place to go.

Today… if you decide you want to go Today… if you decide you want to go to Oregon, you might fly, or at least to Oregon, you might fly, or at least

get in a car and take a couple of days get in a car and take a couple of days to drive there.to drive there.

But in 1840 it But in 1840 it wasnwasn’’t that easyt that easy..

Indians?Indians? Animals?Animals? Sickness/disease?Sickness/disease? Accidents?Accidents? Starvation/no water?Starvation/no water? Freeze to death in Freeze to death in

the mountains?the mountains?

Your packet has aYour packet has a““11stst person account person account”” of the Oregon Trail of the Oregon Trail

Why that might be Why that might be a good description a good description of what happened:of what happened:

Why that might be Why that might be a bad description a bad description of what happened:of what happened:

The one group people sometimes talk The one group people sometimes talk about were about were ””the Donner partythe Donner party””

They became trapped in the Sierra They became trapped in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and were forced Nevada Mountains and were forced to build a winter camp with little to build a winter camp with little food to sustain them. When the food to sustain them. When the food ran out, some survived by food ran out, some survived by eating the corpses of their eating the corpses of their companions. It was several weeks companions. It was several weeks before rescue parties could be sent before rescue parties could be sent to help because of the Mexican to help because of the Mexican War. Even after the war ended, not War. Even after the war ended, not everyone could be rescued at once everyone could be rescued at once because of the harsh weather because of the harsh weather conditions and difficult terrain. The conditions and difficult terrain. The last of the survivors reached last of the survivors reached Sutter's Fort (now Sacramento) Sutter's Fort (now Sacramento) almost exactly one year later. Of almost exactly one year later. Of the 87 members of the Donner the 87 members of the Donner Party, 46 survived. Party, 46 survived.

And… the Mormon TrailAnd… the Mormon Trail

MormonsMormons are from the are from the ““Church of Jesus Christ of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day SaintsLatter Day Saints””

Their religion claims Jesus Their religion claims Jesus came to Vermont to Joseph came to Vermont to Joseph Smith and told him to start a Smith and told him to start a new Christian church in the new Christian church in the Americas.Americas.

Mormons had some ideas Mormons had some ideas that others didnthat others didn’’t like: such t like: such as polygamy as polygamy (many wives) (many wives)

The Mormons were chased The Mormons were chased out of New England and out of New England and moved to Illinois (Nauvoo).moved to Illinois (Nauvoo).

In Illinois, an anti Mormon mob killed Joseph In Illinois, an anti Mormon mob killed Joseph Smith and they decided they needed a place Smith and they decided they needed a place

to live where no-one would bother themto live where no-one would bother them

This place was out west This place was out west – to the Utah Territory – to the Utah Territory (their new leader was (their new leader was Brigham Young).Brigham Young).

Utah at that time was Utah at that time was actually part of Mexico.actually part of Mexico.

When they got there, When they got there, they settled by the they settled by the Great Salt Lake – and Great Salt Lake – and theythey’’re still there today.re still there today.

Today, Utah is about 60-Today, Utah is about 60-75% Mormon75% Mormon