The Oregon Trail stretched nearly 2,000 miles across the U.S. There were various reasons as to why specific groups wanted to take on this challenge and venture out west. Mountain men will be some of the first non- American Indians to travel to the Rocky Mountains and to the Pacific Northwest. Their primary motivation was for the fur trading and trapping. In the early 1800's fur clothing and hats were very popular therefore companies in the U.S. as well as Europe would hire mountain men to bring back the furs of different animals. Mountain men also explored the west for the wealth and adventure of it. In order to survive some of the harsh conditions mountain men adopted some of the Native American culture and even married American Indian women.

Another group of American settlers out west were the missionaries. Their main motive was to spread Christianity. After the Second Great Awakening, churches also wanted to convert the Native Americans and bring their religion to the far west.

Finally, other pioneers had come in hopes of improving their life. These families moved out west for rich farmland, great forests, rivers full of fish, and good climate. Other pioneers also moved to escape the economic hardships in the east after the Panic of 1837. The territorial government set up in Oregon Country also created land grants promising families who moved out a claim of 640 acres of land. 

Although the journey on the Oregon Trail was difficult, settlers had faith that the opportunities and  resources out west were worth the challenge. 

Assignment: Be sure to have the various reasons as to why the three different groups of American settlers traveled out west. The three groups include: mountain men, missionaries, and the pioneers. Use this google doc to organize the different reasons and resources.