History Questions?

Question

Homework help please!

Why did people on Wagon Trains draw up contracts?

Between 1847 and 1854, 1.6 mil irish people came to America. Why did most of them leave Ireland?

Answer 1

People hiring a guide and scouts for a wagon train drew up a contact (usually verbal) specifying what route, what protection, who dealt with Indians or other travelers, who was responsible for damage or loss in bad weather,/rivers/ bad terrain, and what to do when animals or people were lost. Most agreements were verbal and the wagon master determined how many wagons, how many people, and what animals (sheep, oxen, cows or horses) could reasonably be expected to arrive alive. It was also understood that no one in the wagon train would disobey or challenge the wagon master unless they chose to go back home.

The Irish came to America because England ruled their country and would not give up the wheat and other crops when the Irish potatoes suffered from blight. It was either emigrate or die.

Answer 2

Famine. During that time Ireland was under British control and the Irish were tenet farmers. Meaning they got to live in a shack most times and land to farm. They farmed grains for the landlord (get it Land Lord) in exchange for their "rent" and they also grew potatoes for themselves. Between 1847 and 1854 a fungus attacked the potato crop almost completely wiping it out. They were not allowed to keep any of the grains they grew, so they were starving. Many people died in grass they were trying to eat to stay alive. Life here in the US wasn't much better. They faced cramped (like a family of 7 in one room) housing, discrimination, and disease due to poor sanitation in the housing tenements.

Answer 3

It was the time of the great Irish potato famine and most people came to America to start a new life .

Answer 4

2nd Question --- Irish left home because of the potato famine. Their staple food would no longer grow, in Ireland.