Why did people go West?

1. The Oregon Trail

1.1. Pull factor

1.2. By 1869, 400,000 people had already migrated to the West

1.3. It had been discovered that Oregon and California had rich soil for farming, and California had large amounts of gold

1.3.1. This encouraged many families to move to the West. They could have a well lived life there

1.4. On-land routes were more convenient to the migrants

1.4.1. The sea route was expensive, and wagons were an inexpensive way to carry everything they needed

1.5. The key route was publicised by Jedediah Smith in 1825

1.5.1. With an increased amount of people using this route, it started to have a dug path and vegetation was removed

1.6. The first migrants to travel the Oregon Trail were the Whitman and Spalding families who travelled as missionaries

2. Government help

2.1. Pull factor

2.2. The American government pushed Americans to start a new life in Oregon, so they could establish the land as American, not British

2.3. $30,000 was provided by the government for an expedition to map the Oregon Trail and publish reports to assist migrants

2.3.1. This encouraged families to move, showing the journey wasn't that dangerous as many people had done it before

2.4. By 1846, more than 5,000 people had migrated west along the Oregon Trail

3. The Gold Rush of 1849

3.1. Pull factor

3.2. 100,000 people left the East to travel to California due to the newly discovered gold in Sierra Nevada

3.2.1. These people were called gold prospectors

3.3. Thousands travelled from America and across the world to find a better, more wealthy life in California

3.4. California's population reached 300,000 by 1855

3.5. Many people were unsuccessful, and either travelled home or settled in California

3.5.1. Most of these settled families turned to farming

4. Economic conditions in the East

4.1. Push factor

4.2. Economic crisis in 1837

4.2.1. Lasted until mis 1840s

4.3. In some areas, unemployment levels were as high as 25%

4.4. People with jobs faced salary cuts of as large as 40%

4.5. People lost savings, businesses and jobs

5. Farmland in Oregon

5.1. Pull factor

5.2. Free rich farming land

5.3. With economic conditions worsening in the East, the West was a good escape from this

6. Manifest Destiny

6.1. Pull factor

6.2. The belief God wanted them to use the land to it's fullest

6.3. The white race had been given a mission by God to civilise America