Andy'sUSHistory

     The western frontier was a place where hard work was necessary and harsh conditions could be dangerous to people.  The person in this narrative, Jean Slauson , lived in early Portland Oregon.  She describes the large amount of snow in the winter.  In the cold, she describes a necessity for fire in her household, stating that because their firewood had been wasted, they went without light in the house for several days.  Because of the cold weather, the family farm animals would spend particularly harsh nights with the family.  There are accounts of women being oppressed, particularly in church.  The author's aunt was told about "women keeping quiet in the temple of the Lord."  The women prayed for the day they would receive political equality.  It is repeatedly stated that women played no part in politics.  Politics actually played an important role in the lives of the community and was discussed often between residents o...

     This article, "Letters of Western Expansion" by Kathryn Burke, states that the only way for communities to communicate over long distances were through letters.  These letters reveal the gravity of the decision to leave home to travel to the West.  One settler, Anna Briggs, traveling to the West to start a new life, says she uses letters to " keep up a kind of acquaintance and not feel like a stranger in my own dear native land, if ever I should visit it again.”  The phrase implying that she might not return home was due to the to travel technology in the 19th century.  Another popular group of settlers were the missionaries, who would teach native Americans about their religion.  Some missionaries experienced retaliation and were killed, even after living with them for years, due to the spread of diseases that the missionaries and white people had given them.  However, there was another form of expansion in the country, employment expa...

   The newspaper in Sacramento is similar to what a person would see in their local news broadcast.  This daily paper consists of a bunch of interesting stories about the normal people in town.  It also consists of stories of crimes or outlaws in the town, telling people to lookout for these people causing damage to the community.  There is even specific details about the legal process and court system putting a single convict to jail, and the lawyers involved in the case.  However, these are not the main place on the paper where one's focus would be drawn towards.  The largest items in the newspaper are definitely the adds, especially those about miracle tonics and elixirs.  This goes to show the demand in the West for cures to diseases and illnesses, because of an abundance of them.  There is also an entire section dedicated to the times and locations of various religious services.  This illustrates the importance of the role that rel...