Travel West

1
Travel West Southern Society

• Travel West
• Why?
• Religion, Land, Gold
• How?
• Justifying Slavery
• Biblical
• Historical
• Social/Economic
• The South
• Southern Society
• Why Fight?

• Key Terms
• Mormons
• Joseph Smith
• Brigham Young
• Donation Land Claim Act
• Gold Rush
• Oregon Trail
• Paternalism
• Small Farmer Model

2
Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day
Saints(Mormon Church)
The Churchs Founder

• It was founded in 1820s
• Followers moved to Illinois in 1830s
• In 1844 Smith was killed

Joseph Smith (1805-1844)
3
Mormon Church

• To escape persecution, settlement in Utah began
  in 1847.
• Who led this migration?

• By 1877 over 100,000 lived in Utah Utah became
  a state in 1896.

Brigham Young (1801-1877)
4
Donation Land Claim Act(1850)
Free land in Oregon

• White, male citizens over 18 were entitled to 320
  acres of land.
• If married, the family could receive an
  additional 320 acres.
• The land had to be occupied four years improved.

• Between 1850-1855 2.5 million acres of land was
  parceled out.

5
California Gold Rush

• 1848 gold was discovered.
• Population explosion
• 1848- 14,000
• 1852- 225,000

John Sutter
6
California Gold Rush
San Francisco 49ers
More money was made selling items to miners than
was dug from the ground.
7
Travel West

• Some traveled by Sea.

• Most took overland trails (Oregon Trail)
• 1840-1860 300,000

• It was a 4-6 month trip (about 15 mi/day).
• A wagon, oxen other supplies had to be
  purchased.
• In general the death rate was less than 5.

8
Slavery The Bible

• Various passages were used to justify slavery.
• Curse of Ham

9
Slavery History

• Ancient Greeks Romans owned slaves.
• US Constitution protected slavery
• 3/5 Compromise
• Fugitive Slave Provision

10
Slavery Social Justification
Paternalism

• Slaves were like children (family) in need of
  help.
• Slaves were provided with food and shelter.
• Civilization and Christianity were brought to
  people considered heathens.

11
Southern Society

• Society was very stratified (pyramid).
• Great Planters (20 slaves)
• Small Farmers (0-5 slaves-most common)
• Landless Whites
• Slaves
• About 75 of Southern whites did NOT own slaves.

12
Small Farmer Model
Why would a Southern white male fight to protect
slavery if he didnt own slaves?

• Large plantation was the social center of life.

• Large planters lent small farmers a helping
  hand VERY often.
• A small farmers goal to become a big planter!

• The entire system was based on slave labor!

13
Travel West Southern Society

• Travel West
• Why?
• Religion, Land, Gold
• How?
• Justifying Slavery
• Biblical
• Historical
• Social/Economic
• The South
• Southern Society
• Why Fight?

• Key Terms
• Mormons
• Joseph Smith
• Brigham Young
• Donation Land Claim Act
• Gold Rush
• Oregon Trail
• Paternalism
• Small Farmer Model