What were the three main reasons that settlers traveled west?

What were the three main reasons that settlers traveled west?

Suggested Teaching Instructions

• Gold rush and mining opportunities (silver in Nevada)
• The opportunity to work in the cattle industry; to be a “cowboy”
• Faster travel to the West by railroad; availability of supplies due to the railroad.
• The opportunity to own land cheaply under the Homestead Act.

What did pioneers do in the West?

As western settlement grew, certain common details began to emerge. Most pioneers traveled in wagon trains, groups of wagons containing settlers and their families. They banded together for common defense and to combine their efforts. Pioneers in the East often had to clear the land, owing to lush forests there.

Why did families travel west?

One of the main reasons people moved west was for the land. There was lots of land, good soil for farming, and it could be bought at a cheap price. There were many different opportunities to get rich, such as: logging, mining, and farming that could not be done in the east.

How did pioneers travel west?

The safest way for the pioneers to travel was with a wagon train. They would pack their most treasured belongings, furniture, and what they needed for the journey into a covered wagon. Wagonmasters led the train, cowboys rode along and helped the wagons as they crossed tough terrain and rivers.

How did the pioneers that traveled to the West change America?

Early pioneers extended American settlements to the Mississippi Valley. Later pioneers settled the Great Plains and the West Coast. Along their way west, American pioneers passed famous landmarks and forts, including Chimney Rock, Fort Laramie, Independence Rock, and Fort Bridger.

What were some ways an American family could get land out west?

Overview. Land, mining, and improved transportation by rail brought settlers to the American West during the Gilded Age. New agricultural machinery allowed farmers to increase crop yields with less labor, but falling prices and rising expenses left them in debt.

Why did the pioneers go to the west?

Although pioneering was usually initiated by men, they were by no means the only ones engaged in that endeavor. Many single men—and married men acting as temporary bachelors—seduced by the thought of rich lands and lodes, traveled west; but settlement was often contingent on the possibility of making and maintaining families there.

How did people get land in the west?

Hundreds of thousands of people obtained land through the Homestead Act: through it, the US government transferred more than 270 million acres of public lands into private hands. The discovery of precious metals and minerals also drew people to the West. Miners discovered gold, silver, and copper in several western states.

Where did my knowledge of the westward expansion come from?

Until recently, my knowledge of the westward expansion, the Western frontier, and pioneers mainly came from the popular Little House on the Prairie books and the pioneer computer game Oregon Trail. (I naively thought all pioneers died from dysentery out on the plains!)

What did farmers do during the westward expansion?

New agricultural machinery allowed farmers to increase crop yields with less labor, but falling prices and rising expenses left them in debt. Farmers began to organize in local and regional cooperatives like the Grange and the Farmers’ Alliance to promote their interests. Who owns the West?