Hardships Of Immigrants During The 1800s

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During the early 1800s, nearly 40 percent of the nation’s population lived on the western side of the country. A majority of these people traveled from the east and were in search for land and job opportunities. Despite the many hardships that filled their journey, the emigrants eventually created new settlements to start their new life. First, one of the main hardship that settlers faced was traveling by oxen, horse, or foot. For many people, traveling west meant journeying for 2,000 miles. These trips could’ve taken months, or even years at a time. Another hardship was that many settlers got sick or caught diseases. Their children had to feed and take care of younger siblings. Furthermore, most settlers didn’t have enough food or supplies to last through the journey, which led to starvation and dehydration among the emigrants. Some families sold surplus amounts of provisions, but at very high prices. Many of their companions couldn’t afford these extravagant necessities to provide for their family. …show more content…
Martha Williams Reed was an Oregon pioneer who migrated west with her family. Many cabins and houses that she saw in Oregon were built from logs in the woods. However, in the present-day time period, most houses are built from bricks and wood. The bricks keep the house safe and secured, while the wood keeps the house stable. Another distinct difference between Martha and the current generation is that she never went to school because of her house distance. Today, there are multiple schools in each district so that each child can get the appropriate education. Finally, one major contrast is that Martha got married when she was only fifteen years old, while most kids today tend to focus on marriage after their education