Oregon Trail
A Manifestation Of The American Dream
Westward Expansion
Westward Expansion began after the Louisiana Purchase by Thomas Jefferson, which cultivated the idea of Manifest Destiny. Manifest Destiny was an ideology claiming that the United States was destined to expand throughout the entire continent of North America. This ideal would seemingly justify much of what was “necessary” for the goal.
Oregon Trail
Following the Louisiana Purchase, the state of Oregon was established. The Oregon trail was established by traders and fur trappers building upon the trail as they go along. The trail was constantly being improved upon as time passed and was used by hundreds of thousands of settlers.
Creation of the Oregon Trail
As mentioned before the Oregon Trail was established by traders and fur trappers. The Oregon Trail started to take form when Robert Stuart (on the left), was sent back to the east by John Jacob Astor, a fur entrepreneur, to retrieve supplies for the expedition. On his trip in 1812, he discovered the South Pass, the lowest point on the Continental Divide between the Central and Southern Rocky Mountains, in Wyoming. This path was however forgotten until 1824, when it was rediscovered by Jedediah Smith and Thomas Fitzpatrick.
After the Pass was discovered, a group led by Nathaniel Wyeth used the pass inorder to reach Oregon and start their own company. The path that the combined group used to arrive at Oregon would later be coined as the Oregon Trail. Although they were the first people to complete the Oregon Trail, the exact path that they used is not the only Oregon trail: the Oregon Trail had many branches and alternate routes in order to account for the weather.
Significance in American History
Similarly to the immigration to North America, the Oregon Trail was yet another time in which people sought better lives and pursuited the American Dream. Many sought to start their own businesses, attain a fortune, and settle down. Although they faced many hardships they were able to bring about a strong American Population in the West. The creation of this Trail is one of the most necessary advancements in order to attain the current United States.
In the early 1800s Oregon was joint ruled by the United States and Great Britain. However due to the Oregon trail leading large numbers of Americans into the terrority, the United States was able to take control of the State. This mass movement of citizens from the East to the West would create many more US populated areas within the west. With a higher population of Americans, the Annexation of Texas would occur. The Trail also would be the foundation for many more trails to come in the future.
As more trails emerged following the Oregon Trail, much more opportunity would be discovered in the west. Following a mass movement of citizens to California, gold was discovered and the Gold Rush was fueled. The Gold Rush would serve as a large patch of dry wood to a flame, cultivating this movement of people and encouraging it. The gold rush and the goal of Manifest Destiny would not have been possible if not for the Oregon Trail.
United States Population Density 1820
Not many people were living farther west
United States Population Density 1860
Still not great numbers living in the west but, the general population was starting to build near the west. 250,000 thousand people have used the California Trail, based around the Oregon Trail.
Hardships while traveling the trail
Accidents were very common killers in this era, anybody under the wheels of these heavy carts would be immediately killed. With the many weapons in these compact spaces, accidents were bound to happen, but typically accidents occured due to children.
One of the biggest threats to travelers would be disease. Disease would be the cause of death for 9 out of 10 travelers on this trail, in such a compact space with dozens of people per expedition it was perfect for the spread of disease. The varying weather conditions also made expeditionists more vulnerable to these diseases. Cholera was an especially deadly disease as it was able to kill the victim within hours and spread quickly.
The trail was thousands of miles long and took months to complete. The citizens with the bravery to travel on this path would be separated from their friends and loved ones for life, following their departure they would lose many more friends and loved ones to disease, accidents, and attacks. Due to the limited resources in a wagon cart, other emigrants would be another threat.
A game was released in 1971 based off of travelers journeys on the Oregon Trail, this game is respectively called "The Oregon Trail". This game amassed much popularity at the time and has mechanics to account for much of what would have occurred to real travelers at the time.
The Diary of J. Henry Brown
"Tears were shed by mother and daughters as they embraced each other for the last time on earth, and the parting kiss was given as the last token of love from the hearts that knew the parting was forever. It was as solemn as a funeral . . ." (loc.gov)
The Diary of Willam H. Ashley
"we were obliged to pass made it extremely difficult and tedious - these may be well called the Rocky mountains for there is nothing but mountains of rocks to be seen partially covered with a dwarf groth of cedar & pines - violent wind with snow & rain" (user.xmission.com)
The Diary of Erza Meeker
"Today we had our first death, that of a small child from whooping cough. Bad Camp. Poor grass and no wood." (henrystrobel.com)
The Diary of J. Henry Brown
"A boy about 8 years old was standing on the wagon tongue driving, when he lost his balance and fell beneath the wheel, which crushed his head, causing instant death." (loc.gov)
Sources
Secondary
“Westward Expansion.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 21 Aug. 2018, www.history.com/topics/westward-expansion.
“Dangers.” National Oregon/California Trail Center, oregontrailcenter.org/dangers.
“Oregon Trail.” HistoryNet, www.historynet.com/oregon-trail.
Hill, William E. “Oregon Trail.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., www.britannica.com/topic/Oregon-Trail.
“Oregon Treaty 1846.” Omeka RSS, projects.leadr.msu.edu/usforeignrelations/exhibits/show/manifest-destiny/oregon-treaty-1846.
Oregon History Project, oregonhistoryproject.org/articles/biographies/nathaniel-wyeth-biography/#.XXSujChKg2w.
“OREGON;” John B. Wyeth's Oregon, or a Short History of a Long Journey, user.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/html/jwyeth.html.
“Oregon Trail, The : MECC : Free Borrow & Streaming.” Internet Archive, 1 Jan. 1990, archive.org/details/msdos_Oregon_Trail_The_1990#loading.
“History & Culture.” National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, www.nps.gov/oreg/learn/historyculture/index.htm.
Primary
“J. Henry Brown Describes His Journey to Oregon - American Memory Timeline- Classroom Presentation: Teacher Resources.” Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactivities/presentations/timeline/expref/oregtral/jhbrown.html.
Ashley, and Willian H. “Diary of William H. Ashley.” Diary of William H. Ashley, The American Mountain Men, 6 Dec. 1997, user.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/html/ashjrnl.html.
“An Oregon Trail Diary, 1852.” Edited by Henry Strobel, Henry Strobel, https://www.henrystrobel.com/saintboniface/oregon-trail-diary.pdf