Bryan Nie
Key People
Marcus Whitman and Elijah White impacted the expansion of the U.S.
Meet The Key People
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Marcus Whitman
Marcus Whitman was an American physician and missionary. In 1836, Marcus Whitman led a party of more than 1000 immigrants to the West. He also led many more missions west.
Elijah White
Dr. Elijah White was a missionary and agent for the United States government in Oregon Country. He led the first wagon party along the Oregon Trail.
Marcus Whitman
One of the first settlers who traveled along the Oregon Trail was Marcus Whitman, a significant pioneer who led many missions west. In 1838, Whitman led a group westward. Once they settled in Oregon, Whitman then headed back to the east to encourage more people to move westward. Whitman then led a group of nearly 1,000 settlers west, one of the largest groups of migrants who moved west in Oregon history. He was later murdered by the Cayuse Indians, on November 29, 1847.
"Whitman Massacre" by Frances Fuller Victor, 1847
"Oregon Trail Emigrants" by William Henry Jackson
"Starting Point" from the National Oregon/California Trail Center
"The Oregon Trail" by Albert Bierstadt, 1869
Elijah White
Also, another key person was Elijah White, a missionary and agent in Oregon Country. In 1842, Elijah White led the first wagon train group of 125 people on the Oregon Trail. Because Elijah's mission was successful, this caused thousands of pioneers and families to leave for Oregon which became known as the Great Emigration of 1843.
"Native American Wagon Train" from Getty Images, 1900
In conclusion, key people were an important part of the U.S. expansion because Marcus Whitman and Elijah White led big missions that caused other people to move to the west. This also leads to a big expansion of the West.
"Sand Hills of the Platte" from the National Park Service