Women on the Overland Trail

Seminar paper from the year 2010 in the subject American Studies - Culture and Applied Geography, grade: 1,3, Dresden Technical University, language: English, abstract: Contents

1. Introduction 3

2. Across the Plains, Deserts and Mountains: The Oregon and California Migrations 5

2.1. Land Rush and Gold Fever 5

2.2. Oregon ¿ California Migrants 7

2.3. Motivations of Going West 8

3. Women Accounts of the Overland Trip 9

3.1. The Start: Preparing for the Long Journey 9

3.2. Trail Occupations and Responsibilities 11

3.3. Hardships and Concerns 13

3.4. Frontierswoman - Indian Interactions 15

3.5. The Western Nature and Landscape 17

3.6. Light at the End of Tunnel: Fulfillment of Expectations 18

4. Conclusion 20

Bibliography 21