Seminar paper from the year 2010 in the subject American Studies - Culture and Applied Geography, grade: 1,3, Dresden Technical University, language: English, abstract: Contents 1. Introduction3 2. Across the Plains, Deserts and Mountains: The Oregon and California Migrations5 2.1. Land Rush and Gold Fever5 2.2. Oregon – California Migrants7 2.3. Motivations of Going West8 3. Women Accounts of the Overland Trip9 3.1. The Start: Preparing for the Long Journey9 3.2. Trail Occupations and Responsibilities11 3.3. Hardships and Concerns13 3.4. Frontierswoman - Indian Interactions15 3.5. The Western Nature and Landscape17 3.6. Light at the End of Tunnel: Fulfillment of Expectations18 4. Conclusion20 Bibliography21