The American West Topic Summaries

The problems of migration

GCSE > History > AQA > GCSE History: The American West (1835-1895) > Early settlement (1835–1861) > The problems of migration
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Key terms
  • Migration was dangerous and difficult, with risks from weather, disease, and poor planning.
  • The Donner Party (1846):
    • A group of 300 migrants set out on the Oregon Trail. 80 took a shortcut recommended by Lansford Hastings, but the route led to disaster.
    • Trapped by snow in the Sierra Nevada in November when oxen were exhausted, only 40 survived, resorting to cannibalism. Those that survived were rescued in February 1847.
  • The Mormon migration (1846-47):
    • This expedition was led by Brigham Young after Joseph Smith’s death. Persecuted for their beliefs (including polygamy), the Mormons travelled 2,250 km to Salt Lake City, Utah. The journey was highly organised: families were divided into groups of 100, waggons travelled in columns, and everyone had a specific role. Between 1847 and 1869, 70,000 Mormons followed the ‘Mormon Trail.’
    • The Mormon Church owned all water, land, and timber, which was allocated to families.
    • They dug irrigation ditches for farming and attempted to transform the state around salt lake to be called the ‘desert.’ Salt Lake eventually became part of the US.
    • In 1847, Young led an advance party of 150 people with skill to pick out the best route for the next 1500 Mormons. They picked out the best trial and marked water and grass resources for animals.

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