Westward Expansion and the Pony Express
By Jana Holt
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Pg. 2
Louisiana Purchase
Pg. 3
Lewis and Clark Expedition
Pg. 4
Manifest Destiny
Pg. 5
Communication from East to West
Pg. 6
The West is Settled
Pg. 7
The Pony Express
Pg. 8
The Riders and Route
Pg. 9
The Supplies
Pg. 10
The Impact of the Pony Express on Westward Expansion
Pg. 11
Glossary
Pg. 12
Bibliography
Pg. 13
Chapter 1: All About Westward Expansion Louisiana Purchase In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson made a purchase that would double the size of the United States overnight and begin the Westward Expansion movement. Thomas Jefferson made a deal with France’s emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte, to buy the land that stretched from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains. It was called the Louisiana Purchase. The cost of this land? A mere $15 million. A small amount for a big impact on American lives.
Lewis and Clark
After the Louisiana Purchase was made, Thomas Jefferson sent Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to explore the “Great Unknown.” The expedition began on May 14, 1804 and traveled along the Missouri River to the Pacific Ocean in hopes of finding a water route to the west coast. Along the way, Lewis and Clark gathered information on the land, Native American tribes, plants and animals. With the new knowledge gained by Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery, more Americans became tempted to explore and settle the west.
Manifest Destiny Manifest Destiny ​ was the idea that it was our destiny to live out west even though Native Americans still lived there. During the 1800’s, thousands of pioneers traveled west to achieve that destiny. They were going to look for gold, land or religious freedom. The trails that were most popular were the Oregon Trail, the California Trail and the Mormon Trail. Pioneers, or those who are first to live in or explore a place, traveled by wagons in wagon trains. Many walked the whole way there. As they traveled along these trails, the pioneers had to cross deserts, prairies, mountains, rivers and other dangerous terrain. Along the way, they had to leave behind treasured possessions and even loved ones who had perished. By 1890, the United States declared that the west had been explored and many areas had been settled by the brave men and women who journeyed west. The United States consisted of 44 states and included farms, ranches, towns and cities and stretched from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. Native Americans had been forced off their land and onto reservations. The environment was changing quickly due to the growing towns and settlements. This westward movement forever changed the face of the United States.
Chapter 2: All About The Pony Express The Pony Express was started on April, 3 1860 by William H. Russell, William B. Waddell and Alexander Majors. It was used as a way to get mail and news from St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California. The idea was to create a series of stations between Missouri and California for riders on horseback to relay between and carry the mail out west in as little as nine days. At the height of business, the Pony Express had as many as 400 horses and 180 riders willing to face unthinkable dangers along the route.​ The Pony ​ Express, although valuable, was short lived. What was the cause of its demise? The Transcontinental Telegraph system put an end to the Pony Express. It lasted only 18 months and the last mail was delivered on October 24, 1861.
The Riders
The idea of the Pony Express was a great one and the most important part of this endeavor was the riders themselves. “Wanted—Young, skinny, wiry fellows, not over 18. Must be expert riders. Willing to risk death daily. Orphans preferred.” This ad appeared in newspapers everywhere and young men, aged 11-45 years old answered its call. The small, but brave men made about $100 a month and endured a dangerous ride. They rode in bad weather and across rough terrain, including crossing the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada Mountains. In the winter, the ride would take two days longer than a summer ride. Only one rider and shipment was lost during the 18 month existence of the Pony Express. Mark Twain said it best when he said “though small, these riders had the heart of a lion.”
The Route The route these courageous riders took stretched from St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California. It was 1,900 miles long and included 184 stations that followed the Oregon and Mormon Trails. The concept was based around a series of relays and stations that were scattered every 75-100 miles heading east to west. The rider would leave a home station carrying the mail. Every 10-15 miles, he would switch horses and continue on. Upon reaching the next home station, he would hand the mail off to a new rider. He would then wait for a rider coming the opposite direction so that he can head back home carrying a new load of mail. The fastest delivery on record took 7 days and 17 hours. It was to deliver President Abraham Lincoln’s inaugural address. This is a great example of how important it was to keep up communication between the east and west coasts. At a time of civil turmoil , we had to remain a united country as best we could.
Supplies The mail and news was the most important item a Pony Express rider carried. He did not carry much else at all. In order to carry the mail, a special, lightweight saddle was designed and used a mochilla to hold the important documents. A mochilla was made of leather and fit over the saddle so that it was secure during the ride. It had 4 pouches that held the mail and could be taken off and put on the saddle easily. They started at a home station, which was usually a small building made of sod, logs or adobe . These home stations are where the riders would get their load and were also able to rest and eat. They ate bacon, beans, biscuits, and coffee and could give their horses hay and water. The horse was the second most important part of the ride. The riders could be seen on mustangs and thoroughbred ponies. The horses had to be strong and able. One rider would use 6-8 ponies on one ride.
Chapter 3: The Impact of the Pony Express on Westward Expansion The Pony Express had a major impact on the continuation of Westward Expansion in the United States. During this time in our country, as a civil war was emerging, keeping up with current and political events was crucial. Without the courageous and determined acts of the Pony Express riders, pioneers who had made the difficult journey westward would have had to wait months to hear news of what was happening back home in the eastern part of the country. Now that news and mail was so readily available and people were better able to communicate with their families back home, they were more willing to attempt the journey out west. The Pony Express, though short lived, played a part in keeping Westward Expansion alive during the 1800’s.
Glossary expedition – A journey undertaken by a group of people with a specific objective cantina – the pockets that carry the mail on a the mochilla Manifest Destiny – The idea that the land out west was the American’s to settle no matter if others lived there first. mochilla – the special saddle bags designed to carry the mail for the Pony Express riders. telegraph – A communication tool that sent messages over a wire in code. thoroughbred – A pure bred horse known for its speed and endurance.
Bibliography Domnauer, Theresa. Life in the West. New York: Children’s Press, 2010.
Ducksters. “Westward Expansion and the Old West.” Online. 2-23-14. http://www.ducksters.com/history/westward_expansion/.
Eyewitness to History. “Pony Express Rider, 1861.” 2008. Online. 2-23-14. http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/history/ponyexpress. htm.