Journeys West

Congratulations! You chose the role of Fur Trader.

Step One:
Begin your research by reading the passage titled Exploration, Fur Trade and Settlement from the Northern Great Plains American Memory collection. While reading, write down keywords on the Information Gathering worksheet to search the American Memory collections.

Step Two:
Consider the following questions while conducting reseach on your topic:

• What were the motivations of the Fur Traders who traveled west?
• What conditions did Fur Traders encounter as they journeyed west?
• How did the conditions encountered influence their decisions?
• What were the conflicts between the Fur Traders and the native people they encountered
• How did policies of the U.S. government influence westward migration?

Begin your research using the following links:

Step Three:
Try searching the collections by using the following Information Gathering worksheet.

• History of the American West, 1860-1920: Photographs from the Collection of the Denver Public Library

• Maps Collections: 1544-2003

• Pioneering the Upper Mid West: Books from Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin, ca.1820-1910

• The Northern Great Plains

Step Four:
Using the information from your research, write a letter to one of the fur trading companies expressing concerns about the increased competition among fur traders. Edit and revise your letter according to the writing rubric.