The Problems With Migration: The Donner Party (Edexcel GCSE History)

Why was Westward Migration so Challenging in the 1840s? - Timeline & Summary

The Oregon Trail was 3,200 km long. The journey to California was 3,800km. This presented a lot of challenges for migrants making the trip.

1. Migrants needed to complete the journey before winter. It was cold enough to freeze to death in the Rocky Mountains. However, they needed to wait until April when grass grew. This gave their animals food for the journey. Migrants took oxen on their trip as they were strong. They were also very slow and might not complete the journey before winter.

2. Many types of food would not last the whole trip. Lots of migrants took salt pork as it does not rot.

3. It was vital for settlers to find a clean water supply. This was incredibly challenging. Groups used the same spots as campsites. They used the rivers for water and as a toilet. This polluted the rivers, spreading diseases such as cholera.

4. Migrants travelled in large groups. This provided safety. Potential attacks from indigenous peoples concerned migrants. This very rarely happened. Travelling in groups also provided the range of skills needed to survive the Oregon Trail.

5. At least 20,000 people died on the Oregon Trail. Accidents, like being crushed by wagons, occurred. Other common causes of death were being trapped in mountains in the winter, running out of supplies or becoming ill.

Who were the Donner Party?

• The Donner Party came from Springfield, Illinois

  • Multiple families had left Springfield in the 1840s to settle in the West

• The brothers George and Jacob Donner led a group of 300 migrants on the journey

  • The group started the Oregon Trail in May 1846

  • They had 60 wagons

  • They were well-equipped

  • The group had a larger-than-normal proportion of children, women and elderly people

What Happened to the Donner Party?