Pearson Edexcel · GCSE · History

    Course version: 1HI0 · Version from Sept 2016

    Key topic 1: The early settlement of the West, c1835–c1862 - 2 Migration…

    Full specification wording

    Option P3: Key topic 1: The early settlement of the West, c1835–c1862 - 2 Migration and early settlement: Early migration to c1850, including the experiences of the Donner Party and the Mormon migration, 1846–47.

    Early migration westward before 1850 was fraught with extreme peril, requiring meticulous planning and resilience.

    Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 1HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .

    • Point 2 of 3
    • 4 key terms

    Study notes

    From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    The idea

    Early migration westward before 1850 was fraught with extreme peril, requiring meticulous planning and resilience. The Donner Party (1846) exemplifies the catastrophic risks of the journey; after taking an untested shortcut (Hastings Cutoff), they became trapped by snow in the Sierra Nevada, leading to starvation and infamous resort to cannibalism. In stark contrast, the Mormon migration (1846–47) led by Brigham Young demonstrates successful, highly organised movement. Fleeing religious persecution in the East, the Mormons meticulously planned their route to the Great Salt Lake, building way stations and travelling in disciplined groups, ensuring the survival of thousands of followers.

    What earns the marks

    • Detail the specific challenges faced by early migrants, including disease, weather, terrain, and supply shortages.
    • Explain the failure of the Donner Party as a consequence of poor leadership, taking an unproven shortcut, and severe weather conditions.
    • Describe the push factor of religious persecution that drove the Mormons out of Nauvoo, Illinois.
    • Analyse Brigham Young's leadership and the highly organised nature of the Mormon migration, including the use of advance parties and way stations.

    Common mistakes and how to put them right

    • Stating the Donner Party failed solely because of bad weather.

      Put it right: Emphasise that poor decision-making, specifically taking the Hastings Cutoff, delayed them and caused them to be caught in the winter snows.

    • Claiming the Mormons migrated to find gold or better farming land.

      Put it right: Specify that the Mormons migrated primarily to escape religious persecution and find an isolated place to practice their faith freely.

    • Describing early migration as a chaotic rush.

      Put it right: Contrast the chaotic experience of the Donner Party with the highly disciplined and structured migration of the Mormons.

    Exam tips

    • Use the Donner Party and the Mormon migration as contrasting case studies of failure and success in early western migration.
    • Highlight Brigham Young's specific logistical decisions (like wintering at Omaha and building way stations) to explain the Mormons' success.
    • When discussing the dangers of the journey, use the Donner Party's experience in the Sierra Nevada as concrete evidence of the geographical challenges.

    Try the lesson

    The start of the Option P3: Key topic 1: The early settlement of the West, c1835–c1862 - 2 Migration and early settlement: Early migration to c1850, including the experiences of the Donner Party and the Mormon migration, 1846–47. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    Have a go first

    What was the primary cause of the disaster that befell the Donner Party during their migration west in 1846?

    Listen

    Early migration westward before 1850 was fraught with extreme peril, requiring meticulous planning and resilience. The Donner Party (1846) exemplifies the catastrophic risks of the journey; after taking an untested shortcut (Hastings Cutoff), they became trapped by snow in the Sierra Nevada, leading to starvation and infamous resort to cannibalism. In stark contrast, the Mormon migration (1846–47) led by Brigham Young demonstrates successful, highly organised movement. Fleeing religious persecution in the East, the Mormons meticulously planned their route to the Great Salt Lake, building way stations and travelling in disciplined groups, ensuring the survival of thousands of followers. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Detail the specific challenges faced by early migrants, including disease, weather, terrain, and supply shortages. Explain the failure of the Donner Party as a consequence of poor leadership, taking an unproven shortcut, and severe weather conditions. Describe the push factor of religious persecution that drove the Mormons out of Nauvoo, Illinois. Analyse Brigham Young's leadership and the highly organised nature of the Mormon migration, including the use of advance parties and way stations. A common slip: Stating the Donner Party failed solely because of bad weather. Instead, Emphasise that poor decision-making, specifically taking the Hastings Cutoff, delayed them and caused them to be caught in the winter snows. Exam tip: Use the Donner Party and the Mormon migration as contrasting case studies of failure and success in early western migration.

    See it

    A top-down flowchart. The top node, early migration west before c1850, branches into two case studies. The left branch is the Donner Party, 1846, which leads to taking the untested Hastings Cutoff, then to being delayed and trapped by snow in the Sierra Nevada, and finally to starvation and cannibalism. The right branch is the Mormon migration, 1846–47, which leads to fleeing religious persecution in the East, then to Brigham Young's organised leadership, then to a planned route with way stations and disciplined groups, and finally to the survival of thousands of followers at the Great Salt Lake.
    Contrasts the disastrous Donner Party journey with the organised Mormon migration led by Brigham Young.

    Key words

    Say what each word means before you turn the card.

    Hardship and survival

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Religious persecution

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Leadership and organisation

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Geographical challenges

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    See every definition
    Hardship and survival
    Early migration westward before 1850 was fraught with extreme peril, requiring meticulous planning and resilience, with challenges including disease, weather, terrain and supply shortages.
    Religious persecution
    The push factor that drove the Mormons out of Nauvoo, Illinois, fleeing persecution in the East to find an isolated place to practise their faith freely.
    Leadership and organisation
    Brigham Young's highly organised movement of the Mormons, using advance parties, way stations and disciplined groups, ensuring the survival of thousands of followers.
    Geographical challenges
    The dangers of the journey west, shown concretely by the Donner Party becoming trapped by snow in the Sierra Nevada after taking the Hastings Cutoff.

    Label the diagram

    Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.

    The diagram again, with 3 boxes numbered instead of named. A top-down flowchart. The top node, early migration west before c1850, branches into two case studies. The left branch is the Donner Party, 1846, which leads to taking the untested Hastings Cutoff, then to being delayed and trapped by snow in the Sierra Nevada, and finally to starvation and cannibalism. The right branch is the Mormon migration, 1846–47, which leads to fleeing religious persecution in the East, then to Brigham Young's organised leadership, then to a planned route with way stations and disciplined groups, and finally to the survival of thousands of followers at the Great Salt Lake.

    • 1Box 1

    • 2Box 2

    • 3Box 3

    0 of 3 labelled

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