- The Oregon Donation Land Claim Act of 1850: This act granted 320 acres of free land to any male settler who was at least 18 years old and had lived in Oregon for at least four years. Married women could also claim land in their own names, which was unusual at the time. This made Oregon especially appealing to families looking to start a new life in the West.
- The discovery of gold in California in 1848: the gold rush brought thousands of people to the West Coast, and many of these people eventually settled in Oregon.
-The Oregon Trail: The Oregon Trail was a network of trails that stretched from Independence, Missouri, to Oregon City, Oregon. The trail was dangerous and difficult and many settlers died along the way from cholera, accidents, and Native American attacks .However, the Oregon Trail provided a relatively easy and affordable way for settlers to travel to Oregon.
Despite the difficulties, the Oregon Trail remained a popular route for settlers until the transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869. By that time, more than 30,000 settlers had made the journey to Oregon.
Difficulties along the way:
- Disease: cholera was the most common cause of death on the Oregon Trail. Other common diseases included measles, dysentery, and typhoid fever.
- Accidents: Accidents were also a major cause of death on the trail. Settlers could be injured or killed by falling trees, stampeding bison, drowning in rivers, or getting lost in the wilderness.
- Native American attacks: While Native Americans were generally peaceful toward settlers they sometimes attacked wagon trains that threatened their land or resources.
