1.1.2 Motives and Challenges for Westward Migration

In this lesson, we will look at how westward migration in 19th-century America was driven by a mix of opportunity, ideology, and necessity. From religious persecutionHarsh treatment or discrimination due to religion or beliefs. to the promise of free land, many groups sought a new life in the expanding frontierThe edge of settled territory, beyond which lies unsettled or unfamiliar land.. However, the journey west posed immense challenges, including harsh terrain, conflicts with Native Americans, and economic uncertainty.

Motives

Brigham Young and the MormonsA religious group who migrated westward to escape persecution and practise their faith freely.

Brigham Young, the successor to Joseph Smith, led the Mormons after the death of their founder. Facing persecution and violence in the East, the Mormons sought a place where they could freely practise their religion.

They embarked on an arduous journey from Illinois to Utah, where they established Salt Lake City. Salt Lake City was isolated, so they could keep their distinct religious practices intact. The land there was fertile with good access to water, so it was a valuable place to settle. This journey took a lot of planning and it began in February 1846 and by the end of 1847 around 2,000 Mormons had reached their new headquarters and built a thriving community.

‘Manifest Destiny’

The concept of ‘Manifest Destiny’ was coined by Journalist John L Sullivan and emerged as a belief that the United States was destined to expand its territory from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.

This belief was fuelled by a sense of nationalism, the belief in American exceptionalism, and a desire for economic opportunities in new territories. It was seen by many as God’s Plan and although some White Americans may have felt some guilt for taking land from Native Americans, the process was seen as part of ‘Manifest Destiny’.

The white race was supposedly carrying out God’s ideas to help ‘civilise’ America. This ideology justified the acquisition of new lands and influenced policies and actions during westward expansion.

Pioneer Migrant Farmers

The promise of fertile land, economic opportunities, and the chance for a better life drove many pioneer migrant farmers to move westward. The Homestead ActA U.S. law passed in 1862 offering settlers 160 acres of land for free if they farmed it for five years. of 1862 provided 160 acres of land for free if they lived and worked on the land for five years. This encouraged settlers to establish farms and homes in the West.

The Railroads

The completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869 was crucial for the development of the West. It connected the eastern and western parts of the United States, allowing the movement of people, goods, and resources. This prompted further and easier expansion than before.

Literature and Art

In the late 1800s and early 1900s literature and art began to romanticise the West, including the Great Plains, making it seem like the land of opportunity and adventure, despite its many challenges.

Challenges

The Journey West

Pioneers embarked on long and difficult  journeys to reach their desired destinations in the West. They used well-known routes like the Oregon TrailA path used by migrants travelling from one place to another., California Trail, and Santa Fe Trail. These journeys often took several months and were fraught with dangers such as disease outbreaks, scarcity of food and water, and hostile encounters with Native Americans defending their traditional lands.

The MinersPeople who searched for precious metals such as gold.

The California Gold RushA mass migration to California between 1848 and 1855 by people hoping to find gold and become wealthy. of 1848–1855 drew thousands of fortune-seekers to California from around the world. These miners, known as ‘forty-ninersNickname for people who migrated to California in 1849 during the Gold Rush.,’ hoped to strike gold and become wealthy. However, only a few found significant amounts of gold, and many faced harsh living conditions in crowded and lawless mining camps.