Motivations to Migrate West
What were the motivations and methods of migrants and immigrants as they moved west?
Manifest Destiny
Settlers moving west, often called pioneers or migrants, moved into new territories both before and after the United States’ government acquired them. Their settlements helped establish claims for the United States for these lands that, at the time, were claimed by other countries (such as France, Spain and England.) Native Americans began to justify their westward expansion with the idea of Manifest Destiny; a God-given right to expand and claim lands from coast to coast.
Settlers moving west, often called pioneers or migrants, moved into new territories both before and after the United States’ government acquired them. Their settlements helped establish claims for the United States for these lands that, at the time, were claimed by other countries (such as France, Spain and England.) Native Americans began to justify their westward expansion with the idea of Manifest Destiny; a God-given right to expand and claim lands from coast to coast.
Motivations to Migrate West
Besides nationalism, or pride for one’s country, pioneers were motivated to explore and move to the West because of personal economic opportunity. The land between the Atlantic Ocean and the Appalachian Mountains was becoming more populated. There were many economic opportunities in trade for pioneers moving west that were different from the industrial north and large southern plantations. There were plenty of furs to be hunted in the vast wilderness of the West. Pioneers could then sell the furs to those who traded with Europe for a profit. There was also plenty of inexpensive, rich farmland in places such as Oregon. Farmers could move there and own their own land and become self-sufficient. Many southerners moved to Texas to acquire rich farmland where they could plant and grow cotton. The push for westward expansion caused a big economic advancement in the towns and cities that were being established leading west. The California Gold Rush brought many new migrants to the West. These migrants were looking to get rich quick and then return home to their families. Because these miners who traveled west needed food and supplies, merchants followed them. Some settlers moved West because they just wanted a start a new life in a new place. In order to escape religious discrimination in the United States, the Mormons eventually settled in present-day Utah for freedom of religion.
Besides nationalism, or pride for one’s country, pioneers were motivated to explore and move to the West because of personal economic opportunity. The land between the Atlantic Ocean and the Appalachian Mountains was becoming more populated. There were many economic opportunities in trade for pioneers moving west that were different from the industrial north and large southern plantations. There were plenty of furs to be hunted in the vast wilderness of the West. Pioneers could then sell the furs to those who traded with Europe for a profit. There was also plenty of inexpensive, rich farmland in places such as Oregon. Farmers could move there and own their own land and become self-sufficient. Many southerners moved to Texas to acquire rich farmland where they could plant and grow cotton. The push for westward expansion caused a big economic advancement in the towns and cities that were being established leading west. The California Gold Rush brought many new migrants to the West. These migrants were looking to get rich quick and then return home to their families. Because these miners who traveled west needed food and supplies, merchants followed them. Some settlers moved West because they just wanted a start a new life in a new place. In order to escape religious discrimination in the United States, the Mormons eventually settled in present-day Utah for freedom of religion.
Hardships Moving West
While there were many economic opportunities in moving West, the migrants often experienced hardships on their journey. They often had broken axels on their wagons, all different kinds of accidents, bad weather, rough river crossings, a limited food supply, people and animals dying of sickness and diseases, bandits who robbed them, and/or unfriendly Native Americans. The trip was especially difficult on women and children. Most settlers traveled the West in wagon trains. The success or failure of the trip out West usually depended on two main factors: 1) the amount of cooperation and lack of conflict between the travelers, 2) timing in regard to the seasons and the weather.
While there were many economic opportunities in moving West, the migrants often experienced hardships on their journey. They often had broken axels on their wagons, all different kinds of accidents, bad weather, rough river crossings, a limited food supply, people and animals dying of sickness and diseases, bandits who robbed them, and/or unfriendly Native Americans. The trip was especially difficult on women and children. Most settlers traveled the West in wagon trains. The success or failure of the trip out West usually depended on two main factors: 1) the amount of cooperation and lack of conflict between the travelers, 2) timing in regard to the seasons and the weather.
Documents
4-5.2_motivations_to_migrate_west_notes.pdf |
4-5.2_motivations_to_migrate_west_notes.docx |
Sources
Text: ed.sc.gov
Image 1: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/12/American_progress.JPG
Image 2: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c6/Panning_on_the_Mokelumne.jpg
Image 3: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/c3/ef/df/c3efdf0cb15ed169b5be8b53271d8cd9--covered-wagon-westward-expansion.jpg
Text: ed.sc.gov
Image 1: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/12/American_progress.JPG
Image 2: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c6/Panning_on_the_Mokelumne.jpg
Image 3: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/c3/ef/df/c3efdf0cb15ed169b5be8b53271d8cd9--covered-wagon-westward-expansion.jpg