People went to Oregon hoping to claim land and to settle in the fertile Willamette Valley. These people hoped to farm in this region. Other people went to Oregon for the adventure of going to new places. Oregon was not a part of the United States at the time.
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Why did Americans visit Oregon Country?
In the early 1800s, people went to the Oregon Country to try to make money. People reported that there was a lucrative fur trade in the area. They wanted to get involved in the trading of furs, hopefully profiting from it. Other people went to the Oregon Country to claim land.
Why did the Pioneers move to Oregon?
There were many reasons for the westward movement to Oregon and California. Economic problems upset farmers and businessmen. Free land in Oregon and the possibility of finding gold in California lured them westward.Most of the pioneer families either followed the Oregon-California Trail or the Mormon Trail.
Why did people go to Oregon Country quizlet?
Americans wanted control of the Oregon country to gain access to the Pacific Ocean.
Why did they go to the Oregon Trail?
Travelers were inspired by dreams of gold and rich farmlands, but they were also motivated by difficult economic times in the east and diseases like yellow fever and malaria that were decimating the Midwest around 1837.
Why did the Oregon Trail start in Independence Missouri?
The 2,000-mile Oregon Trail began to be heavily traveled in 1843 by settlers wanting to establish new homes in the northwest, while others split off on the equally long and grueling California Trail to seek their fortunes in the gold fields.
Why did Americans move west for kids?
Pioneers and settlers moved out west for different reasons. Some of them wanted to claim free land for ranching and farming from the government through the Homestead Act. Others came to California during the gold rush to strike it rich. Even others, such as the Mormons, moved west to avoid persecution.
Why did American pioneers move west?
Pioneer settlers were sometimes pushed west because they couldn’t find good jobs that paid enough. Others had trouble finding land to farm.The biggest factor that pulled pioneers west was the opportunity to buy land. Pioneers could purchase land for a small price compared to what it cost in states to the east.
Why did several countries lay claim to Oregon Country?
the oregon country was the huge area that lay between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains north of California.the Spanish agreed to set limits of their territory at what is now California’s northern border and gave up any claim to Oregon.
How did America take over Oregon?
In 1846 the Oregon Treaty was signed between the US and Britain to settle the boundary dispute. The British gained the land north of the 49th parallel, including the Vancouver Island and the United States received the territory south of the parallel.
Why do the US and Great Britain both want Oregon Country?
Many Americans wanted to be able to get to the Pacific Ocean. One way to do this would be to control Oregon.The United States and Great Britain agreed to joint occupation. This meant that settlers from both countries could live there.
What was the Oregon Trail and why was it important?
The Oregon Trail, which stretched for about 2,000 miles (3,200 km), flourished as the main means for hundreds of thousands of emigrants to reach the Northwest from the early 1840s through the 1860s. It crossed varied and often difficult terrain that included large territories occupied by Native Americans.
What were two purposes for the forts on the Oregon Trail?
During the 1800’s, the U.S. Government and other companies built forts along the Oregon, Califor- nia and Mormon Trails to protect the emigrants traveling west and to also provide supplies for these wagon trains.
What did they bring on the Oregon Trail?
They took preserved foods such as hard tack, coffee, bacon, rice, beans, and flour. They also took a few basic cooking utensils such as a coffee pot, some buckets, and an iron skillet. The pioneers didn’t have room for a lot of fancy items. They only had room to pack two or three sets of tough clothing.
What was the starting point of the Oregon Trail?
Independence, Missouri
While the first few parties organized and departed from Elm Grove, the Oregon Trail’s primary starting point was Independence, Missouri, or Kansas City (Missouri), on the Missouri River.
What was the ending point of the Oregon Trail?
Oregon City was the end of the trail for many because it was where land claims were granted for Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Wyoming.
Why did settlers on the Oregon Trail travel in groups?
While wagon trains frequently traveled together by choice, factors such as weather and trail conditions often resulted in unintended “bunching” along the route. One of the main reasons for this phenomenon was that groups generally had to embark at approximately the same time each year.
Why did settlers move to California?
Commentary. Settlers flocked to the Far West for many reasons. They sought adventure, farmland, an escape from the constraints of civilization, and new starts. California was attractive because of its climate and the fact that the Spanish and Mexicans had begun to organize the territory through the mission system.
How did settlers travel west?
Most groups traveled at a pace of fifteen miles a day. Few traveled the overland trails alone; most settlers traveled with their families. Large groups of settlers joined together to form “trains.” Groups were usually led by “pilots” who were fur trappers or mountain men that would guide them on the trails.
When and why did many people migrate west?
In the 50 years following the end of Reconstruction, African Americans transformed American life once more: They moved. Driven in part by economic concerns, and in part by frustration with the straitened social conditions of the South, in the 1870s African Americans began moving North and West in great numbers.
Why did missionaries decide to move west?
Missionaries moved west to convert American Indians to Christianity. Crossing the steep Rocky Mountain terrain in wagons was difficult, but proved that women were capable of making the journey. The missionaries were sometimes attacked by hostile Indian warriors.
