Westward Vision: The Story of the Oregon Trail (Bison Book)

?In one very real sense,? David Lavender writes, ?the story of the Oregon Trail begins with Columbus.? This opening suggests the panoramic sweep of his history of that famous trail. In chiseled, colorful prose, Lavender illustrates the ?westward vision? that impelled the early explorers of the American interior looking for a northwest passage and send fur trappers into the region charted by Lewis and Clark. For the emigrants following the trappers? routes, that vision gradually grew into a sense of a manifest American destiny. Lavender describes the efforts of emigration societies, of missionaries like Marcus and Narcissa Whitman, and of early pioneer settlers like Hall Jackson Kelley, Jason Lee, and Thomas Jefferson Farnham, as well as the routes they took to the ?Promised Land.? He concludes by recounting the first large-scale emigrations of 1843?45, which steeled the U. S. government for war with Mexico and agreements with Britain over the Oregon boundary

“in One Very Real Sense,” David Lavender Writes, “the Story Of The Oregon Trail Begins With Columbus.” This Opening Suggests The Panoramic Sweep Of His History Of That Famous Trail. In Chiseled, Colorful Prose, Lavender Illustrates The “westward Vision” That Impelled The Early Explorers Of The American Interior Looking For A Northwest Passage And Send Fur Trappers Into The Region Charted By Lewis And Clark. For The Emigrants Following The Trappers’ Routes, That Vision Gradually Grew Into A Sense Of A Manifest American Destiny. lavender Describes The Efforts Of Emigration Societies, Of Missionaries Like Marcus And Narcissa Whitman, And Of Early Pioneer Settlers Like Hall Jackson Kelley, Jason Lee, And Thomas Jefferson Farnham, As Well As The Routes They Took To The “promised Land.” He Concludes By Recounting The First Large-scale Emigrations Of 1843–45, Which Steeled The U. S. Government For War With Mexico And Agreements With Britain Over The Oregon Boundary. 

Title Page Dedication Copyright Page Prologue to the Bison Book Edition: A Sense of Place Contents Prologue: The Long Quest One: Dreamers and Schemers 1. The Fabulous Land 2. The Mountains That Shine 3. The Great River Ourigan 4. The Strangling of Spanish Louisiana Two: The Route That Didn't Work 5. The Americans Try 6. Wishful Thinking 7. The First Mountain Men 8. The Ordeal of the Astorians 9. Rediscovery Three: The Gateway 10. Stampede For Furs 11. The British Barrier 12. The Amateurs 13. Salvation Bound Four: Sunbonnets 14. Civilization's Advance Guard. 15. Sky of Brass, Earth of Iron16. Hate Ye One Another 17. The Fever Catches 18. God's Gadfly 19. Destiny's Men 20. Trail's End Acknowledgments and Bibliography Books by David Lavender. Illustrates the 'westward vision' that impelled the early explorers of the American interior. This title describes the efforts of emigration societies, of missionaries like Marcus and Narcissa Whitman, and of early pioneer settlers like Hall Jackson Kelley, Jason Lee, and Thomas Jefferson Farnham, and the routes they took to the 'Promised Land'. This is "not only a history of the Oregon Trail up to the Gold Rush days, but a general picture of western exploration by Indians, mountain men, priests, fur-hunters, and others." Describes the emigrations over the Oregon trail and explains the reasons for the migrations