Mormons and The Forty-Niners
Another reason that people were emigrating to the West were for religious reasons. The Mormons were founded in the 1830’s and soon had many followers. However, much of their beliefs angered people in the east; therefore, in 1847, about 12,000 Mormons set out on the Oregon Trail with their leader, Brigham Young (Matthews, 1990). After traveling thousands of miles, Young and his followers entered the Great Salt Lake Valley. When Young saw it he declared, “This is the place!” Later, Young proposed, “I move that we call this place ‘the Great Salt Lake City’ of the Great Basin, North America" (Dary, 2004). For many years it was a place where the Mormons had a place of their own. In 1896, their settlement became the state of Utah (Matthews, 1990).
In 1849, reports of gold in California had emigrants rushing to make the long trip to California by way of the Oregon Trail. On April 16, the first wave of gold-seekers left from Independence, Missouri. A few days later, more emigrants lined up to make the trip. The Gazette observed that “roads in every direction were lined with wagons from the lower countries of Missouri, and from Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois" (As cited in Dary, 2004, p.203). The gold rush was just beginning.
Another reason that people were emigrating to the West were for religious reasons. The Mormons were founded in the 1830’s and soon had many followers. However, much of their beliefs angered people in the east; therefore, in 1847, about 12,000 Mormons set out on the Oregon Trail with their leader, Brigham Young (Matthews, 1990). After traveling thousands of miles, Young and his followers entered the Great Salt Lake Valley. When Young saw it he declared, “This is the place!” Later, Young proposed, “I move that we call this place ‘the Great Salt Lake City’ of the Great Basin, North America" (Dary, 2004). For many years it was a place where the Mormons had a place of their own. In 1896, their settlement became the state of Utah (Matthews, 1990).
In 1849, reports of gold in California had emigrants rushing to make the long trip to California by way of the Oregon Trail. On April 16, the first wave of gold-seekers left from Independence, Missouri. A few days later, more emigrants lined up to make the trip. The Gazette observed that “roads in every direction were lined with wagons from the lower countries of Missouri, and from Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois" (As cited in Dary, 2004, p.203). The gold rush was just beginning.