Why move west? (Edexcel GCSE History): Revision Notes
Why move west? (c1835-c1862)
During the mid-19th century, thousands of Americans packed up their belongings and headed west across the vast American frontier. Understanding why people made this dangerous and difficult journey is crucial to grasping how the American West developed. The movement was driven by a combination of push and pull factors that made the West seem like a land of opportunity compared to the struggling East.
What attracted people to move west? (Pull factors)
Several appealing opportunities drew Americans westward during this period:
Major Pull Factors Drawing Americans West:
Land and space: The West offered vast amounts of fertile, unclaimed land where families could establish farms and build new lives. Unlike the crowded eastern states, there was plenty of room to spread out and create something of your own.
Economic opportunities: Reports from the West told exciting stories of gold discoveries and the chance to strike it rich. The promise of wealth motivated many to risk the dangerous journey.
Freedom and independence: Moving west meant escaping the restrictions and social pressures of established eastern communities. People could start fresh and live life on their own terms.
The Oregon Trail: This established route made westward travel more feasible, providing a known path that waggon trains could follow to reach their destinations.
What pushed people to leave the East? (Push factors)
At the same time, difficult conditions in the eastern United States made staying put increasingly unattractive. The combination of economic hardship and social pressures created a perfect storm that drove people to seek new opportunities elsewhere.
Critical Push Factors Forcing People to Leave:
Economic hardship: The collapse of wheat and corn prices left many farmers facing financial ruin. Without profitable crops, families struggled to make ends meet.
Overpopulation: Eastern farming regions became overcrowded, making it harder to find good land or establish successful businesses.
Unemployment: Job losses reached devastating levels, with some areas experiencing unemployment rates as high as 25%.
Religious persecution: Some groups, like the Mormons, faced harassment and discrimination that eventually forced them to seek new homes elsewhere.
Timeline of key events
Understanding the sequence of events helps explain how westward migration gained momentum. Each development built upon previous ones, creating an unstoppable wave of westward movement:
- 1824: Explorer Jedediah Smith rediscovered the South Pass through the Rocky Mountains, opening up a practical route west
- 1836: The first migrant waggon train successfully completed the journey on the Oregon Trail
- 1837: A severe financial crisis and economic depression hit the eastern states, motivating more people to seek opportunities elsewhere
- 1841: The government funded an expedition that mapped the Oregon Trail and published guidebooks for future migrants
- 1846: Illinois officials told Mormon communities to leave the state, spurring their westward migration
- 1848: Gold was discovered in California, triggering the famous Gold Rush
- 1858-59: More gold discoveries in the Rocky Mountains continued to attract fortune-seekers
- 1874: Gold found in the Black Hills of present-day South Dakota brought another wave of migration
The financial crisis of 1837
A major economic disaster struck the eastern United States in 1837 when cotton prices collapsed and banks began failing. This financial panic had devastating consequences that pushed many Americans to consider moving west.
The 1837 Economic Collapse:
Banks ran out of money and closed their doors, causing people to lose their life savings. Businesses shut down across the eastern states, leaving workers without jobs. The economic depression was so severe that unemployment soared to 25% in some regions.
While the East suffered through this economic nightmare, exciting reports were coming back from the West about available land and gold discoveries. This stark contrast made westward migration seem like the logical solution to eastern economic problems. The timing couldn't have been more perfect - just as people were losing hope in the East, the West was opening up with new opportunities.
Agricultural troubles in the Midwest
Farmers in the Midwest faced their own crisis in 1837 when corn prices suddenly collapsed. Many farmers who had borrowed money to expand their operations now found themselves unable to pay their debts.
The situation was made worse by overcrowding in these fertile farming areas. As more people had moved into the region, competition for good land increased and profits decreased. Some farmers realised they could potentially find better, less crowded farmland in the West where they might rebuild their fortunes.
The power of Manifest Destiny
Beyond economic motivations, many Americans were influenced by a powerful ideological force that provided moral justification for their westward movement.
Manifest Destiny Defined:
Manifest Destiny was the widespread belief that God intended white Americans to spread across and control the entire North American continent. This ideology provided moral justification for westward expansion and helped convince people that moving west was not just beneficial for them personally, but was actually their divine duty.
The US government actively encouraged this belief as it supported their goals of territorial expansion. This powerful idea helped transform what might have been seen as dangerous land-grabbing into a noble, divinely-sanctioned mission.
However, it's important to understand that Manifest Destiny was built on deeply racist assumptions. It treated Indigenous peoples as inferior and justified taking their lands and destroying their traditional ways of life. This belief system had devastating consequences for Native American communities across the West.
Government support for migration
The federal government played a crucial role in encouraging and facilitating westward migration, transforming what had once been nearly impossible journeys into manageable ventures for ordinary families.
Government Actions Supporting Migration:
In 1841, they funded an important expedition that carefully mapped the Oregon Trail and produced detailed guidebooks for potential migrants. These government-sponsored guides provided essential information about supplies needed, distances between stops, and potential hazards along the route.
By making this information widely available, the government significantly reduced the risks and uncertainties of westward travel, encouraging more families to attempt the journey.
Key Points to Remember:
- Push and pull factors worked together to drive westward migration - economic troubles pushed people from the East while opportunities pulled them towards the West
- The 1837 financial crisis was a major turning point that motivated thousands to seek new opportunities in the West
- Government support, including mapping expeditions and guidebooks, made westward travel safer and more appealing
- Manifest Destiny provided ideological justification for expansion, though it was based on racist ideas about Indigenous peoples
- Multiple gold discoveries between 1848-1874 created ongoing waves of migration as people chased the dream of striking it rich