In the 1840’s, many Americans chose to uproot their lives and move out west to California in order to live what they thought would be better lives. To cash in on the Americans migrating west, a man named Lansford Hastings wrote a book called ‘The Emigrants’ guide to Oregon and California’ to guide others on a shortcut that he himself had never taken. A group on the way to California soon learned why. On July 19th, 1846, The Donner Party, a group of 87 people, mainly families, moved out west from Illinois. In the party “were James and Margaret Reed, Margaret's mother, their four children, five employees and one friend, from Springfield, Illinois. Also from Springfield were two brothers and their families, George and Tamsen Donner and Jacob and Elizabeth Donner, and between them, thirteen children and three teamsters. From Keokuk, Iowa came Patrick and Margaret "Peggy" Breen, their seven children and a …show more content…
William and Eleanor Eddy and their two children were from Belleville, Illinois. Lewis and Philippe Keseberg set out with one child and expecting another” (Donner Party Diary). A newspaper article published their departure wishing them good luck, "The company which left here last week for California embraced 15 men, 8 women and 16 children. They had nine waggons. They were in good spirits, and we trust they will safely reach their anticipated home,” (Donner Party Diary). This was not the case as the group would face horrible scenarios and deaths. The Donner Party faced many hardships along the way to California because of their lack of judgment and lack of knowledge. When Hastings book was released the group decided to take the shortcut along the Oregon trail which led to their eventual