Chapter 16, Sections 4,5.

Oregon, California, and the Far West

The Mountain Men

• Fur trappers and traders hired by Eastern companies.

• Led isolated and dangerous lives.

• Often married Indian women and adopted their customs.

The Rendezvous An annual event where trappers would sell their furs to Eastern companies. An annual event where trappers would sell their furs

to Eastern companies.

John Jacob Astor

• An American merchant that founded Astoria in the Pacific Northwest.

Oregon CountryMexico, Russia, Britain and the US all laid claim to

the territory.

The United States made deals with everyone except the original Indian inhabitants.

Missionaries• Marcus and

Narcissa Whitman tried to convert Indians at Waiilatpu.

• They were slaughtered for attracting settlers with diseases.

The Oregon Trail

A 2000-mile path across the Great Plains and through the Rocky Mountains. After the Panic of 1837, many Americans took this route.

Challenges

Pioneers faced:

• Shortages of food and water

• Rough weather• Natural barriers• Confusion over

directions

The Donner Party split off from the Oregon Trail, got lost, and

had to camp for the Winter. They ran out of supplies.

Sutter’s FortColony started by Swiss immigrant John Sutter near the

Sacramento River (CA). He offered assistance to settlers, and was featured in guidebooks.

Frontier Artists

George Catlin Alfred Jacob Miller