Motivations for Moving As the young United States grew,

Americans became interested in the unknown wonders of the western part of the country. Eastern cities became more and more crowded, making the West Coast an attractive place to move. Of course, every westward traveler had his or her own reason for migrating west. However, Eastern newspapers worked hard to spread the idea that the West was a land of plenty. These reports were meant to create i nte re st i n we st wa rd t ra ve l . T hey accomplished this goal by describing the West as a land full of opportunities and resources. Golden Coast

The newspapers made the West sound like a dream: full of gold, perfect weather, rich soil, and countless forests. There were plenty of other reasons for Americans to travel westward, too. Fur trade was increasing at this time. The wide-open west seemed to offer an endless supply of furs. There was also plenty of cheap land for settlers to build a farm on. Another motivation for traveling west was religious freedom. Mormons faced discrimination in the East. The “Golden Coast” provided a place for them to set up their own communities. Rough Ride

While the West seemed appealing, the journey to get there was very difficult. Travelers faced a four or five month-long trip across the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains. They often did not have what they needed to survive the trip. For example, many travelers carried too many weapons rather than packing more essential items.

The travelers sometimes did not pack enough food because they worried too much about Native American attacks along the trail and packed more weapons instead. Travelers also used flawed guide books to find their way across the country. These books often took them to the wrong places and put them in danger. In order to protect themselves, travelers often rode together in long wagon caravans. These wagon trains provided protection, company, and help when it was needed. However, caravans also made the settlers slow-moving targets for Native Americans who were angry at the white settlers. In addition to Native American attacks, American settlers also had to worry

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about starvation and sickness. Many people died from diseases and not enough food.

The Oregon Trail was the most popular route to the West, but many travelers took the California Trail and the Santa Fe Trail as well. Thousands of people hoping to become rich from gold traveled on the California Trail. These pioneers were known as 49ers due to the year that the many of them moved westward (1849). They mined millions of dollars’ worth of gold in a very short period of time. The flood of settlers led to the creation of boomtowns throughout the West. More and more people filled up these towns. The resources seemed to be unlimited! Manifest Destiny

The idea of Manifest Destiny also pushed pioneers out West. Manifest Destiny was the idea that white American settlers were destined to settle the North American continent, from East Coast to West Coast. Americans believed it was their right to move westward, even if it meant forcing Native Americans to move. Americans felt like their way of life and government would be better for the Native Americans than their existing way of life.

Overall, there were many motivations that encouraged settlers to travel West. However, the journey was long and difficult. Today, California is the most populated state in the U.S. It has more people living inside its borders than twenty-one other states together!

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