The Reason Why Pioneers Go In Groups?

In May 1842, Whitman encountered a large wagon train headed for Oregon, consisting of 120 wagons, 1,000 people, and thousands of livestock. The term “pioneers” often refers to the first individuals to establish in an organized group travel. Most emigrants joined a wagon company, typically consisting of immediate family members. Farmers dissatisfied with their prospects in Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee hoped to find better lives in the supposed paradise of Oregon. The following year, several dozen pioneers led by John Bartleson and John Bidwell were the first emigrants credited with using the nascent Oregon Trail to migrate to California by wagon train.

Travel west in a covered wagon was a bold, daring, and extraordinary journey for the pioneers of the 1800s. The Oregon Trail is the most famous of the Overland Trails used by thousands of American pioneers who emigrated to Oregon and other western territories. Westward expansion began with the Louisiana Purchase and was fueled by the Gold Rush, the Oregon Trail, and a belief in “manifest destiny”. After the discovery of gold in California in 1848, an even larger group of people set out on the overland trails for California.

One of the main reasons for this phenomenon was that groups generally had to embark at approximately the same time each year. Factors such as the need for smaller parties to travel with greater expediency and allow time for natural resources at wagon stops to replenish for the next groups. The journey westward was highly dangerous for early pioneers due to harsh conditions and great distance. Some peaceful encounters occurred between pioneers and Native Americans, such as Native Americans teaching them how to handle bears or the fertile land provided by the government.

How did people go to the bathroom on a wagon train?

Cholera was a common illness among pioneers during the Oregon Trail, who drank water from nearby streams and rivers, and dug holes for toilets without washing their hands. The water was contaminated by rain, and the food was contaminated by handling without washing hands. Cholera enters the gut, causing vomiting, muscle cramps, and severe diarrhea. This dehydration can lead to a sudden shutdown of the body, causing a pioneer to go from healthy to dead within hours.

Why did pioneers go all the way to Oregon?

The westward movement to Oregon and California was driven by economic issues, free land in Oregon, and the prospect of gold in California. Eastern churches also sought to teach American Indians European ideas of “civilization”. The first group to emigrate to Oregon left the Missouri River in 1841, and by 1843, nearly 1, 000 completed the trip. Most pioneer families followed the Oregon-California Trail or the Mormon Trail. Mormon pioneers began their trek to Utah in 1847 to escape religious persecution.

Gold discovery in California in 1872 led to thousands of “Forty-Niners” rushing across the continent. The journey took nearly one month for a wagon train to cross Nebraska and four months for the 2, 000-mile trip to either California or Oregon.

Why did pioneers flock to Oregon?

The Oregon Trail was a significant expansion in the American West, driven by the notion of Manifest Destiny and the lure of the fertile Willamette valley for farmers and prospectors. Many were fleeing economic hardships, especially after the late 1830s panic, or seeking escape from the American Civil War after 1860. However, many people saw the Oregon Trail as a manifestation of their parents’ pioneering instincts.

The overland journey was a defining experience for these individuals, and their journeys affected the lives of thousands who followed them. The pioneers led the way in molding and unifying the country, and their settlements opened the American West.

Why did the pioneers make the journey?

Pioneers had various reasons for heading west, including the rich farmland in Oregon, escaping economic recession in Eastern cities, or seeking a change in climate to overcome chronic ailments. In 1836, Marcus and Narcissa Whitman, newly married, traveled from St. Louis to the Walla Walla Valley with fellow missionaries Henry and Eliza Spalding. They followed the trail along the Platte River and took the South Pass through Jedediah Smith’s mountains.

Narcissa and Eliza became the first white women to cross the Rocky Mountains. The Whitmans arrived at the Walla Walla River on September 1, 1836, and decided to start a mission to minister to the Cayuse people. The Spaldings started their own mission in present-day Idaho. The Whitmans were enthusiastic about their work and optimistic about their mission. Marcus, trained as a doctor, practiced medicine, conducted church services, and constructed buildings, while Narcissa ran the household, assisted with church services, and taught at the mission school.

Why did people walk alongside the wagon train?

Motion pictures often depict wagon trains in the West with people riding in big wagons pulled by horses. However, smaller and lighter prairie schooners were more suitable for long-distance travel than the heavy Conestoga wagons of the East. Mules and oxen were better suited for their endurance and less likely to be stolen. Most people walked, as it allowed their wagons to carry more weight and endure constant jolting and lurching on rough trails and roads.

Several techniques were developed for taking wagons down inclines, such as leaving oxen hitched to the wagon to check its speed, using ropes to create winches, or using trees as drags. Top-heavy wagons were also used for traversing steep slopes, with ropes secured to the upper side of the wagon to maintain strain.

Fording rivers involved caulking wagon boxes, raising them with blocks on axles, and having eight or more teams hitched to one wagon for deeper water crossings. Unfamiliar fords were scouted and crossed in advance, with a rope often carried along and fastened on each side of the river to guide swimming animals.

Why did so many people travel together on a wagon train?

The formation of wagon trains was a strategic measure designed to guarantee the safety and security of the travelers, particularly in light of the prevailing threat of Native American attacks. By traveling in a cohesive group, the settlers could better defend themselves against potential adversaries.

What was the purpose of pioneers?

Pioneers, often driven by family interests, moved westward for land claims or commercial reasons, such as trapping. The pioneer figure has been a significant figure in American culture, literature, and folklore. Similar to other iconic figures like cowboys, trappers, prospectors, and miners, the pioneer represents those who ventured into unexplored territory to establish permanent settlements. Pioneers are typified in American folklore and literature, with notable figures like The Deerslayer in the Leatherstocking Tales series and Little House on the Prairie in novels. Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett are real-life icons of pioneer history.

Why did so many people flock to Oregon?

The rich farmlands of Oregon attracted thousands of settlers, who were drawn to the area’s potential for establishing the Oregon Territory. The Willamette valley, particularly in Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri, was a popular destination for those farming on marginal lands. The British, Russians, and Americans also claimed the Oregon Territory. The US issued a patriotic plea for American settlers to settle in the Oregon Territory, aiming to establish the United States’ claims to the territory. As a result, most of the Oregon Territory went to America. The Oregon Territory’s rich farmland and its potential for expansion were a significant factor in the US’s colonization of the region.

Why didn’t most pioneers ride in their wagons?

The unpaved roads and the lack of suspension in the wagons resulted in a bumpy journey with limited space for passengers. It was only in instances where travelers were too ill or tired to walk that they opted to ride in a wagon, with the majority of nights spent in tents or bedrolls outside the wagon.

How many total died on the journey West?

The Oregon/California/Mormon Pioneer Trails, a 2, 000-mile journey, claimed an estimated 350, 000 emigrants, with disease potentially claiming up to 30, 000 victims. The trail, known as “the nation’s longest graveyard”, saw an average of 10-15 deaths per mile. Nearly one in ten emigrants who set off on the trail died, with main causes including disease, gunshot wounds, accidents, river crossings, drowning, and weather. Emigrants feared death from various causes, including lack of food or water, Indian attacks, accidents, or rattlesnake bites.

However, disease was the number one killer, with poor sanitary conditions and personal contact being the most dangerous. Diseases usually came quickly and painfully, with 6-10 of all emigrants succumbing to some form of illness.