Era Of Westward Expansion

In the nineteenth century, society believed that women were physically weak, timid, and dependent on their husbands. Many people viewed women as domestic workers caring for their husband and children. Men were supposed to go out and do physical labor all day to provide for their family. During the 1840 to the late 1860s, an era of westward expansion took place in the United States. Many families wanted to go west because there were unclaimed land in Oregon. Many families packed their belongings on a covered wagon and followed the dangerous routes and trails to the west. Despite the dangerous journey, many families wanted to claim vast land and farm in the fertile lands to get rich. Different women had very different life experiences during
Family members such as their husband died, leaving the mother to care for the children and take over the wagon. In one of Rachel Fisher Mills letters she writes a letter to her parents back home of all the tragic events and what her live is now. In her letter she wrote about her daughter and husband’s death while on the journey and had to take charge of the wagon. At this period of time there were many children and adults dying. Her husband and daughter died from a sudden illness. “Soon after eating she became feverish which increased very rapidly her lameness became very painful,… and died about noon. The disease seemed strange but it was not more so then it was distressing” (Butler 103). She expressed her emotions in the letter that she was lonely after their death (Butler 104). Later, when she arrived in Oregon, she worked on her farm field. This shows that after her husband and daughters, she became independent and had to take care of herself. She wrote that the weather was nice all year round and could grow vegetables all year round. “Women work is from one to three dollars per week… Vegetables grow well here. (Mother I have lived this winter where I could have mustard and other greens all the time)” (Butler 106-107). This shows that women were not domestic workers. They worked in farm fields and other jobs. In the West women realize that there was more than just cooking and taking care of the children. Women in the
They encounter bad and heavy weather. During her journey, she had to face a lot of rainy and cold weather (Pg140). Her husband is also sick and it was hard for Elizabeth to take care of her husband and children. “Nov 30 raining this morning I ran about trying to get a house to get into with my sick husband…” (Butler 144). Elizabeth was not a passive person. She took action to help her husband find a place to recover. However, eventually her husband dies. “Now I know what none but widows know that is how comfortless is that of a widows life especially when left in a strange land without money or friends and the care of seven children” (Butler 146). After her husband died, she became a widow and had to do everything by herself. However, this did not stop her from her their journey. She had to take care of her children. “I had to sit down my babe and help to keep the wagon from turning over when we got to the top of the mountain we descended through mud up to wagon hubs…sometimes I would be behind out of sight of the wagon carrying and tugging my little ones alone…” (Butler 147). This shows that Elizabeth is strong, independent, and brave. She had to carry the wagon up the mountain alone when usually the men did the physical labor. In addition to the wagon she watched and took care of her child up the mountain. Many people believed that women were weak and dependent, but this clearly shows