Think about what it would be like to be a pioneer moving to the West during the 1800s - Essay Example

As a pioneer in the 1800s If I lived in the pioneer times, I would have chosen to move to the west. Many Europeans were moving into the eastern states making it hard for one to get a job or buy land for farming due to the increased population. Industries and cities were emerging in the eastern states attracting many people who were searching for jobs. This led to overcrowding and problems such as insecurity. On the other hand, the west promised to compensate for the things that the eastern states lacked (Josephson 14).

The west, however, did not have as many people as those living in the eastern states and therefore had relatively low competition for jobs and no overcrowding. Missionaries, explorers, and traders of the 1830s discovered that the west had fertile land for farming and good hunting opportunities. In the 1840s, miners discovered minerals in the west such as gold, silver, lead, nickel, and iron, factors that provided increased chances for pioneers to get a job in these mines. The forests of the west provided timber for construction and sale to the people in the eastern states.

The west also provided good sceneries’ for exploration and adventure and these would inform my decision (Josephson 15). Once I decided to move to the west, I would have prepared for the difficulties I would encounter on my way there. Pioneers packed supplies to last them the length of the journey lest they starved and failed to make it to their destination. Pioneers had to endure cold and snow on their way to the west. Some of their wagons broke down and delayed their arrival. I would confirm my baggage to ensure a successful journey to the land that had great prospects (Josephson 16).

Works CitedJosephson, J. Growing up in pioneer America, 1800 to 1890. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications. 2003. Print.