The Far WestChapter 11Section 1

I. Oregon Country

A. Control of Oregon Country

• US and England signed a treaty sharing Oregon in 1818

• Treaty was renewed in 1827• Few British settlers moved to Oregon

B. People in Oregon

1. Mountain

Mena. Made their living selling furs.

b. Rendezvous – yearly meeting where they would sell their furs

c. When fur trade died out, they worked as trail guides

2. Missionariesa. Went to Oregon to convert

Native Americans to Christianityb. Marcus & Narcissa Whitman –

killed by Cayuse Indians after members of the tribe died from disease

II. The Trails

A. The Oregon Trail

1. 2,000 + Miles2. Started in Independence Missouri

3. Took 6 to 8 months4. Cost about $600

B. California Trail

1. Branched off the Oregon trail2. Passed through the Sierra Nevada

Mountains3. Destination was usually Sutter’s Fort

C. Donner Party1. Got Lost taking a short cut2. Trapped in the mountains3. Almost half died

D. Santa Fe Trail1. Ran between Independence, MO

and Santa Fe NM

2. Mainly a trade route

E.

a. Founder of the Church of Latter Day Saints

b. Radical beliefs led to religious persecution.

c. Smith moved his church four times.

d. Murdered in 1844

1. Joseph Smith

2. Brigham Young

c. Pioneered idea of water conservation to restrict its use.

a. Moved the church to Utah – establishing the Mormon Trail

b. Founded Salt Lake City

F. Dangers

• Shortages of supplies• Natural barriers (swollen rivers/snow blocked

mountains)• Weather (rain and snow)• Hostile tribes (least likely)• Getting lost• Extreme heat• Disease (#1 cholera) Danger

F. Why go West?• Cheap land • Bad economy in the East• Gold• Spreading Christianity