Westward Expansion

Mountain Men in Oregon Country

The Oregon Trail

The Manifest Destiny

Mexican-American War

Mormons in Utah

California Gold Rush

Mountain Men were fur trappers who used their survival skills and knowledge to live off the land and explore Oregon. Their role in the Westward Expansion was creating forts and trails, also by leading travelers across the mountain trails and into Oregon.

Pioneers left Independence, MO and followed the Oregon Trail west. They faced rough terrain, disease , and lots of death. 50,000 people reached Oregon from 1840-1860.

Americans believed they were better than other people. They believed they had the best government and culture, and that it was their God-given destiny to spread it across North America. The idea of Manifest Destiny inspired Americans to expand westward.

When America annexed Texas it angered Mexico because they still wanted control over the territory. Because of this America fought a 20 month war against Mexico. After the war America gained California, New Mexico, and Arizona.

Mormons were being killed in the east so they left for refuge in Utah. They built homes there, resulting settlers to want to go there.

When gold was found in California in 1848, a rush of people traveled to there from all over to find gold themselves. Very few got rich, but thousands of people established homes in California.