The Oregon Trail played an important part in American history because it was the first path to western land. This route enabled the United States to fulfill its idea of Manifest Destiny, which was the expansion of United States territory from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.
What was the purpose of the Oregon Trail?
Oregon Trail. History >> Westward Expansion. The Oregon Trail was a major route that people took when migrating to the western part of the United States. Between 1841 and 1869, hundreds of thousands of people traveled westward on the trail.
How did people travel westward on the Oregon Trail?
History >> Westward Expansion. The Oregon Trail was a major route that people took when migrating to the western part of the United States. Between 1841 and 1869, hundreds of thousands of people traveled westward on the trail. Many of them traveled in large wagon trains using covered wagons to carry their belongings.
When did the Oregon Trail start and end?
Between 1841 and 1869, hundreds of thousands of people traveled westward on the trail. Many of them traveled in large wagon trains using covered wagons to carry their belongings. The Route. The Oregon Trail began in Independence, Missouri and ended in Oregon City, Oregon.
What happened to the wagon trains on the Oregon Trail?
With the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in Utah in 1869, westward wagon trains decreased significantly as settlers chose the faster and more reliable mode of transportation. Still, as towns were established along the Oregon Trail, the route continued to serve thousands of emigrants with “gold fever” on their way to California.
What was the significance of the Oregon Trail to westward expansion?
Without the Oregon Trail and the passing of the Oregon Donation Land Act in 1850, which encouraged settlement in the Oregon Territory, American pioneers would have been slower to settle the American West in the 19th century.
What was the Oregon Trail and why was it important?
The Oregon Trail, which stretched for about 2,000 miles (3,200 km), flourished as the main means for hundreds of thousands of emigrants to reach the Northwest from the early 1840s through the 1860s. It crossed varied and often difficult terrain that included large territories occupied by Native Americans.
What were the main advantages of the Oregon Trail?
It had reliable rainfall, copious timber, and fertile soil. Its inhabitants didn't suffer from malaria and other endemic diseases that still killed many in the 19th century. Last but not least, the land was almost free.
Why was the Oregon Trail important for migration?
The Oregon Trail was the main route that migrants used to travel from the east of the USA, to the west. First published by explorer Jedidiah Smith in 1825, it was the only practical way for migrants to make this journey.
Why did everyone want to go to Oregon in the 1800s?
Travelers were inspired by dreams of gold and rich farmlands, but they were also motivated by difficult economic times in the east and diseases like yellow fever and malaria that were decimating the Midwest around 1837.
When was the Oregon Trail most heavily used?
The Oregon Trail went from western Missouri across the Great Plains into the Rocky Mountains to Oregon City, Oregon. It was most heavily used in the 1840s, 1850s, and 1860s. It was the longest historic overland migration trail in North America.
What were the pros and cons of the Oregon Trail?
1 Pro: Established Route. The biggest pro in favor of taking the Oregon Trail was that it was an established route with many other pioneers taking it. ... 2 Pro: Army Protection. The United States actively encouraged the settlement of the West. ... 3 Con: Indian Raids. ... 4 Con: Disease.
What were the benefits of traveling west in 1800s?
Gold rush and mining opportunities (silver in Nevada) The opportunity to work in the cattle industry; to be a “cowboy” Faster travel to the West by railroad; availability of supplies due to the railroad. The opportunity to own land cheaply under the Homestead Act.
What was the main weakness of the Oregon Trail?
Such diseases as cholera, small pox, flu, measles, mumps, tuberculosis could spread quickly through an entire wagon camp. Cholera was the main scourge of the trail.
Why was the Oregon Trail important quizlet?
The Oregon Trail was a major route that people took when migrating to the western part of the United States. Between 1841 and 1869, hundreds of thousands of people traveled westward on the trail. Many of them traveled in large wagon trains using covered wagons to carry their belongings.
Can you walk the Oregon Trail today?
In some places, the historic trail is a current modern-day hiking trail. In others, it could be a modern-day asphalt road. Experiences vary, so please check with individual locations for more details.
What are some fun facts about the Oregon Trail?
Check out nine surprising facts about the route that once served as the gateway to the American West.The Oregon Trail didn't follow a single set path. ... A pair of Protestant missionaries made one of the trail's first wagon crossings. ... The iconic Conestoga wagon was rarely used on the Oregon Trail.More items...•
Where was the beginning of the Oregon Trail?
Though emigrants could start the journey west anywhere, the official beginning of the Oregon Trail was in Independence, Missouri. The trail ended i...
Who first discovered the Oregon Trail?
The Oregon Trail was first established by fur traders and trappers in the early nineteenth century. John Jacob Astor and his Astorians were the fir...
What are the 3 main trails that led to the West?
The three main trails that led to the West were the Oregon Trail, the Mormon Trail, and the California Trail. They were established as part of Mani...
Who traveled the Oregon Trail and why?
Travelers on the Oregon Trail were initially fur trappers and traders. Later, pioneers who sought new economic opportunities or land in the West, r...
Why did the Oregon Trail open?
The Oregon Trail opened at a time when the westward settlement and development of the trans-Mississippi West had stalled at the Missouri River; Mexico still claimed all of California, and Alaska remained Russian territory. Everything from California to Alaska and between the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean was a British-held territory called Oregon. The trail pointed the way for the United States to expand westward to achieve what politicians of the day called its “Manifest Destiny” to reach “from sea to shining sea.”
When was the Oregon Trail laid down?
Fur Trappers Lay Down The Oregon Trail. From about 1811-1840 the Oregon Trail was laid down by traders and fur trappers. It could only be traveled by horseback or on foot. By the year 1836, the first of the migrant train of wagons was put together.
Why did the Oregon emigrants cross the Blue Mountains?
Crossing the Blue Mountains in 1843 was particularly slow-going for the Oregon emigrants because of the forests and poor weather.
How long was the Oregon Trail?
Oregon Trail summary: The 2,200-mile east-west trail served as a critical transportation route for emigrants traveling from Missouri to Oregon and other points west during the mid-1800s. Travelers were inspired by dreams of gold and rich farmlands, but they were also motivated by difficult economic times in the east and diseases like yellow fever ...
What was the trail of emigrants?
The trail pointed the way for the United States to expand westward to achieve what politicians of the day called its “Manifest Destiny” to reach “from sea to shining sea.”. In 1843, the trickle of emigrants into Independence, Missouri, began to swell.
Where did the emigrants camp in 1843?
By May 13, 1843, more than 900 emigrants bound for Oregon were encamped on the prairie at Fitzhugh’s Mill, several miles from Independence , preparing to embark, dividing into companies, electing wagon masters and engaging veteran and self-proclaimed frontiersmen who professed to know the country to guide them.
How many Indians were killed in the Oregon Trail?
It is estimated that prior to the 1849 California gold rush, only 34 whites and 25 Indians were killed in fighting on the Oregon Trail.
What was the Oregon Trail?
The Oregon Trail was a major route that people took when migrating to the western part of the United States. Between 1841 and 1869, hundreds of thousands of people traveled westward on the trail. Many of them traveled in large wagon trains using covered wagons to carry their belongings. The Route.
What are some interesting facts about the Oregon Trail?
Interesting Facts about the Oregon Trail 1 In 1849, a guide was published describing the overland journey to California. 2 There were reports of the trail being littered with items that people cast off along the way. These included books, stoves, trunks and other heavy items. 3 It took about five months for a wagon train to make the journey. 4 The first major migration took place in 1843 when a single large wagon train of 120 wagons and 500 people made the trip. 5 The trail was popular until the transcontinental railroad connected the east to the west in 1869. 6 In 1978, the U.S. Congress officially named the trail the Oregon National Historic Trail. Although much of the trail has been built over through the years, around 300 miles of it has been preserved and you can still see the ruts made from the wagon wheels.
How many miles of the Oregon Trail have been preserved?
In 1978, the U.S. Congress officially named the trail the Oregon National Historic Trail. Although much of the trail has been built over through the years, around 300 miles of it has been preserved and you can still see the ruts made from the wagon wheels. Take a ten question quiz about this page.
How much did a wagon weigh?
The oxen were slow, but steady. Sometimes mules were used as well. A fully loaded wagon could weigh as much as 2,500 pounds. A lot of the time the pioneers walked alongside the wagons. Traveling wasn't too bad with the wagons on the flat terrain of the prairies, but once the settlers reached the Rocky Mountains, getting the wagons up and down steep trails was very difficult.
How long did it take for a wagon train to travel?
It took about five months for a wagon train to make the journey. The first major migration took place in 1843 when a single large wagon train of 120 wagons and 500 people made the trip. The trail was popular until the transcontinental railroad connected the east to the west in 1869. In 1978, the U.S. Congress officially named the trail ...
What was the real danger of the Conestoga wagon?
The real danger was from a disease called cholera that killed many settlers. Other dangers included bad weather and accidents while trying to move their heavy wagons over the mountains . Conestoga wagon on Oregon Trail. from the National Archives.
What did the wagons take?
The covered wagon was mostly filled with food. It took over a 1,000 pounds of food to feed a family of four on the trip out west. They took preserved foods such as hard tack, coffee, bacon, rice, beans, and flour. They also took a few basic cooking utensils such as a coffee pot, some buckets, and an iron skillet.
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Outline Question: What did the pioneers on the Oregon Trail face and what history was made and is still known today? Thesis: The Oregon Trail was not an easy trip. The pioneers faced many problems along the way such as Cholera and dysentery. The Native Americans did not make the trip and easier for them either.
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