Final answer:
In "Western Wagons," the travelers heading west consist of White Americans, European immigrants, particularly from Northern Europe, and African Americans seeking a new life away from the South's racism. These diverse groups braved hardships like diseases and traveled through paths like the Oregon Trail, influenced by the concept of Manifest Destiny.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the poem "Western Wagons", the people who are traveling west are of various nationalities. Most settlers in this initial wave of western migration were White Americans of means, including European immigrants, particularly from Northern Europe, and African Americans escaping the racism of the South. The journey westward was not only a search for prosperity but also a symbol of spread of Protestant ideals and national enlightenment, as depicted in the allegorical painting "American Progress". The Oregon Trail was one of several paths taken by these diverse groups seeking new lives in the West.
Despite the hardships and dangers of the journey, such as disease and potential altercations with Native Americans, the determination of these migrants from different backgrounds formed the complex tapestry of cultures that shaped the emerging new America.