Question

Choose two of the groups that were featured in this lesson (missionaries, Mormons, Chinese immigrants, and forty-niners) and think about what their individual experiences may have been like as they forged new lives on the western frontier. Put yourself in their shoes as you review what you have learned about this era. Then write a "letter home" from each of these two people from their unique points of view. Directions: Use the questions below to help you brainstorm ideas for each letter about a member of a specific group of settlers. Letter 1

What details of their life out west would they want to share with folks back home?
What kind of work are they doing?
What do they miss about their birthplace?
What challenges do they face in their new lives?
What interesting events they have witnessed since leaving home?

Answer 1

The Mormon settler's letter would emphasize community building and religious commitment, whereas the Chinese immigrant's letter would likely focus on the struggles of laborious works and discrimination, and the strength drawn from tight-knit immigrant communities.

Step-by-step explanation:

Writing from the perspective of a Mormon settler, the letter home might discuss the challenges faced in establishing new settlements out West, communal efforts in building up towns, and maintaining religious practices. Work would likely include farming, construction, and setting up local governance.

The settler would probably share feelings of missing their birthplace while expressing hope in building a community aligned with their beliefs despite the obstacles they encounter.

On the other hand, a Chinese immigrant writing back might speak about the arduous labor on the railroad or in mining camps, while facing significant racial discrimination and legal constraints like the Chinese Exclusion Act.

The letter might express longing for family and cultural traditions, difficulties adjusting to life in America, and the support found within Chinese immigrant communities. Despite hardships, the immigrant may convey a determination to persevere and create a sustainable life in this new landscape.