Era Of Westward Expansion

In the nineteenth century, society believed that women were physically weak, timid, and dependent on their husbands. Many people viewed women as domestic workers caring for their husband and children. Men were supposed to go out and do physical labor all day to provide for their family. During the 1840 to the late 1860s, an era of westward expansion took place in the United States. Many families wanted to go west because there were unclaimed land in Oregon. Many families packed their belongings on a covered wagon and followed the dangerous routes and trails to the west. Despite the dangerous journey, many families wanted to claim vast land and farm in the fertile lands to get rich. Different women had very different life experiences during
the period of Westward Expansion. In the book “Covered Wagon Women Diaries and Letters From The Western Trails, 1840-1849”, many women wrote diaries reflecting their experiences that they had to face and give up on the journey to Oregon. There were many different obstacles facing their way such as terrains, Indian attacks, illness, and weather. Women’s role during the westward expansion was very important and had a major impact during the westward expansion in the U.S.
During the nineteenth century, many families left their relatives and friends to go west in order to claim their own land in Oregon. In the letter of Tabitha Brown: Letter I, a widow named Tabitha Brown writes to her brother and sister of the horrible experience that she went through during her journey. She was an independent woman because she traveled alone on the journey and had to do everything by herself. During her long journey she was robbed and left with nothing but her horse. There were many problems she faced such as Indian attacks and robbery. “We had sixty miles desert without grass or water, mountains to climb, cattle giving out, wagons breaking, emigrants sick and dying, hostile Indians to guard against by night and by day to keep from being killed, or having our horses and cattle arrowed or stolen”(Butler 52). Despite being robbed and her wagon breaking, she kept her mentality strong. She didn’t give up and proceeded to continue her journey despite being robbed and having no food. “I rode through in three days at the risk of my life, having lost my wagon, and all I had but the horse I was on” (Butler 52). At this time there were many children and adults dying. Many died from fatigue and starvation because fresh food was scarce and mostly ate bread (Butler 53). Tabitha’s courage and strong mentality helped her to finally arrive in Oregon.
During the journey to the west was very dangerous.
Family members such as their husband died, leaving the mother to care for the children and take over the wagon. In one of Rachel Fisher Mills letters she writes a letter to her parents back home of all the tragic events and what her live is now. In her letter she wrote about her daughter and husband’s death while on the journey and had to take charge of the wagon. At this period of time there were many children and adults dying. Her husband and daughter died from a sudden illness. “Soon after eating she became feverish which increased very rapidly her lameness became very painful,… and died about noon. The disease seemed strange but it was not more so then it was distressing” (Butler 103). She expressed her emotions in the letter that she was lonely after their death (Butler 104). Later, when she arrived in Oregon, she worked on her farm field. This shows that after her husband and daughters, she became independent and had to take care of herself. She wrote that the weather was nice all year round and could grow vegetables all year round. “Women work is from one to three dollars per week… Vegetables grow well here. (Mother I have lived this winter where I could have mustard and other greens all the time)” (Butler 106-107). This shows that women were not domestic workers. They worked in farm fields and other jobs. In the West women realize that there was more than just cooking and taking care of the children. Women in the
west started to take on jobs that men had such as farming in the fields. In the letter of Elizabeth Dixon Smith, Elizabeth and her family travels to the west.
They encounter bad and heavy weather. During her journey, she had to face a lot of rainy and cold weather (Pg140). Her husband is also sick and it was hard for Elizabeth to take care of her husband and children. “Nov 30 raining this morning I ran about trying to get a house to get into with my sick husband…” (Butler 144). Elizabeth was not a passive person. She took action to help her husband find a place to recover. However, eventually her husband dies. “Now I know what none but widows know that is how comfortless is that of a widows life especially when left in a strange land without money or friends and the care of seven children” (Butler 146). After her husband died, she became a widow and had to do everything by herself. However, this did not stop her from her their journey. She had to take care of her children. “I had to sit down my babe and help to keep the wagon from turning over when we got to the top of the mountain we descended through mud up to wagon hubs…sometimes I would be behind out of sight of the wagon carrying and tugging my little ones alone…” (Butler 147). This shows that Elizabeth is strong, independent, and brave. She had to carry the wagon up the mountain alone when usually the men did the physical labor. In addition to the wagon she watched and took care of her child up the mountain. Many people believed that women were weak and dependent, but this clearly shows
that some women were quite the opposite. Elizabeth endured a lot of tragic events and was a strong woman. Eventually she and her child arrived in Oregon where she married another man. The diaries of Tabitha Brown, Rachel Fisher, and Elizabeth Dixon Smith shows that covered wagon women were quite the opposite of what society believed that women were dependent, weak, timid, and passive. The women in the diaries faced quite harsh and tragic events. Some women endured loneliness from family death due to illness. They endured being far from their family and relatives. They had to be alert of their surroundings because it was common for Indians to attack and steal goods from the wagon and horses. Covered wagon women had an important role and major impact during the westward expansion. Women in the west helped on the creation of schools and education for children. They also helped on the farm fields. Women during the westward expansion tended to have relatively hard live. They had to survive in areas with little law, few medical services, and very little technology to help them.