Donner Party Research Paper

During the gold rush many Americans cross the country to get to California. Many of whom died along the way. Because of this there should be a memorial to remember them by. For without them America wouldn’t be as it is today.

This is a passage about one of the first basketball players to ever set foot on a basketball court. He was a great hero during the Civil Rights Movement.

The Donner party started out in the year, 1846 in Springfield, Illinois. Why did they head out west? Reasons from economic opportunity to a “fresh start”. The party was made mostly up of two large families: The Donner and the Reeds. During this time period in the United States, the country was growing and expanding, cities in the American east were booming and “filled to the brim” with people. The West was untouched by man and filled with clean land. Manifest Density and the American dream, were all “pushing” the Donner party to go west. But there was a lot of risks involved. Their Health, Lives, and Fortunes. All of these risks were put on “jeopardy” by going out west. By having the courage to risk it all shows the human spirit is one of bravery and boldness.

In April of 1846 90 emigrants led by Jacob and George Donner left Springfield Illinois in hopes of using a quicker, shorter route to Oregon. The party took the regular trail up to Ft. Bridger, Wyoming. There they were supposed to meet a trail guide, Lansford Hastings, to take them but he was gone, leading another party along the mountains. There was a note for the Donner’s to follow a trail to Weber Canyon, Hasting claimed it was an easier route to Oregon. So the 89 emigrants and 20 wagons left Ft. Bridger for Weber Canyon.

The libertarian party was originated in Westminster, Colorado and was founded in 1971 by David Nolan. They stand on a platform that puts individual rights first. They are known as the “Party of Principles”, which is a representation of their beliefs that individual rights, if honest, peaceful, and not interfering or harming other individuals, should not be limited by government interference. This is illustrated by their platforms on personal and economical liberty and securing those liberties.

On our trip to California, we (the Donner Party) were forced to face many unexpected hardships. At Alcove springs Grandmother Keyes died. Just past Fort Bridger we took the Hastings Cutoff, which we were informed saved 400 miles. The information was wrong. The shortcut added 100 miles to the journey.

The Donner Party had a great effect on the way pioneers traveled later on in time. The Miller and Reed families left on April 26, 1846 (Rosen). The Donners’ arrive at Independece, Missouri on May 10, 1846 (Rosen). The emigrants who would later form the Donner Party traveled with the Russell Party from Independece, Missouri to Alcove Springs in the Indian territory, which is now Kansas (Rosen). On Sunday November 1, 1846 the Donner Party decided to stay in Nevada for the winter (Rosen).

Traveling hundreds of thousands of miles through dangerous paths American pioneers took on hardships as they sought westward in hopes of a better life. The journey westward began in the early 1800s when the US exploded with new territory’s nearly tripling the US’s size. It all started in 1803 when the US bought the Louisiana Territory from France. Quickly, many farmers picked up their belongings and headed out west to the rich, fertile land for a fresh start. Next, Andrew Jackson invaded Florida claiming it for the US which was also another opportunity for settlers to begin a new life. The last major territory the US gained was the Pioneer Paradise, Oregon County. Many people of all different backgrounds headed there for all different reason

One of the Donner’s was 62 and had moved five times before settling in Springfield, Illinois. He and his brother Jacob decided to make another commute to California which would sadly be their last. Ironically the same day that the Donner party the Hasting’s prepared to go east from California to see what his shortcut was like.

Finding gold would be a good way to make some easy money. Well that’s not always true. In the late 1850’s people started finding a lot of gold in California. But people didn’t realize the challenges they would face. Some challenges people would have to go through during the California Gold Rush were the travel, the crime, and actually becoming successful.

politician. There is a lot of reasons of why someone may stand for office as an

I believe that I should be inducted into the National Junior Honor Society, because of the qualifications I have in character, attitude, education and service to Cliffside Park Middle School and our community. Being inducted into the National Junior Honor Society will help me grow as a person and will provide me with new challenges and skills. I will learn to become more responsible, to have time management, and will have the opportunity to help those in need. My service to the Cliffside Park has helped me learn to help others and to give to others.

The emigrants on the trail looked for a new life in America. Some emigrants went looking for religious freedom, others went for land and power. They were not prepared for the dangers and difficulties that the trail presented. The emigrants on the oregon trail faced the most difficulty trying to survive and thrive in the west because of disease, accidents, and weather.

“I don’t care who does the electing as long as I get to do the nominating.” Said the oh so famous Boss Tweed. Tweed is known for corrupting most of New York in a short amount of time. Tweed’s power lasted from 1860 to 1876. Tweed will always be a legend for his power over New York city. To this day people still mention him taking a great role during the Gilded Age. People will forever call him Boss Tweed, with the help of the Tweed Ring. To get all this power Tweed had to start somewhere.

I would like to thank you for considering me for National Junior Honor Society. It is a tremendous honor to be recognized for not only my academics, but also my leadership, service, citizenship, and character. Admittance into this club is something I would take great pride in and I will surely represent myself with the utmost class, dignity and respect that the club represents.