Women+In+the+West

  //Women have stood like rocks from the storm splashed decks of the Mayflower to this present day. Although, she does not receive the recognition or praise that she deserves, cast down in the shadow of the men, she was there. She traveled the miserable journey from her home to the desolated land of the west, empty and hopeless, there they started their life. Without her quick wit and determination, would the west have prospered and grew to what it is today? Certainly not, because without her, who would have encouraged the men to keep going, and been there to help with the details?//

How significant was the role of woman in the settling of the west?   Women played an important role in the settling of the west, but so did the men. Many caravans of people made the journey to the west but without the children that the women bore, the manifest destiny would not have been possible. The advancement of the society would not have occurred. The first people to travel to the west had the hardest time. There were not many people to help them build their homes or harvest their crops. They had to adjust to the new ways. This did not only mean the men but the women and children too. The women often had to take on the challenge of even more responsibilities. The life that they had had was over. The simple task of going to the store for clothes and fabrics became much more complicated. From the day they stepped on the wagon that would carry them to the west, things changed. Not only was the ride uncomfortable for them, but they also had to do their best to keep their children and family as comfortable and healthy as they could. Some women became stronger in character and in order to protect and provide for their family took on jobs they wouldn't have even considered doing in their old life. When they needed to, some women would go hunting with the men. Calamity Jane, on her movement from Missouri to Montana is a good example of this change. When western families reached their destination, they didn't have a home. All they had was an open field, it wasn't even ready to be planted. Because the women, and in a lot of cases, the whole family wanted a house to live in they would often go with the men to gather wood and do their part in the construction. Once there house was up they worked on planting the fields and tending to the animals. Women would sometimes help with the field work and milking the animals. If this went well and their husbands were able to manage on their own after awhile, the women would go back to working in the house. At first, because neighbors and towns were scarce or a long way away, family farms had to be as independent as possible, making almost everything they needed. This put extra responsibilities on the women. They cooked, cleaned, gardened, tended to the children and made things to provide for them. As the years went on and life for westerners became gradually easier with the settling of more people, things began to change. Certainly some women still worked in the fields with their husbands, but because they were not needed as much there they turned their attention towards other things. They had more time to advance their skills and soon enough women began selling what they had made, harvested, or gathered in markets. The community began to change. Some women served as teachers, and others helped with medicines. They helped form shops to develop their society. However, as time continued to move forward, they were needed in even less jobs and the way a "proper" women should act began to change until it was similar to that of there neighbors in the eastern America. That is not to say that some women kept to the Wild West theme, though. Annie Oakley, for example is a classic example of a cowgirl. Annie was a sharp shooter and could "shoot the head of a running quail when she was twelve." Even though the contributions of women gradually decreased in many ways, they still did there part. And without there help in the beginning of the western settlement, the land and society would probably not have flourished or even survived as it is today.

   

Why was this event important to U.S history?

I think that what women did in settling the West is an important part of our country’s history. They did many things that benefited the country. They started schools, churches, and many other events. The women of the west were there to support their husbands and encourage them to start new things. They were there to help civilize the West. (ML-OS) 

 Women were very significant in settling the west; they had many of the hardest jobs. They took care of the children and home with limited resources. Women were the ones that wanted to make the West as civilized as possible, apposed to the men who were focused on other things. Women helped encourage their husbands and others to start schools, churches, and other public meeting places. In many ways women helped bring the West together.

One woman who helped settle the West was Annie Bidwell.Annie lived in what is today Chico, California with her husband John Bidwell. She taught the neighboring Native American women how to sew and taught the Native American children how to read and write English. Along with teaching the Native Americans she was involved in many associations that supported the Native Americans. She also encouraged the building of the first church in. She supported many causes such as giving the women the right to vote and education. Annie Bidwell made many donations that helped support her community.

Many other women like Annie did many things to help settle the West. For many of the schools, churches, and other associations in the West we can thank the women who helped settle it. [|Annie Bidwell]   (ML-OS)

Report By: ebMaximum

Resources: [] [] http://www.cowgirls.com/dream/cowgals/calamity.htm http://www.cowgirls.com/dream/cowgals/oakley.ht