Students will be able to summarize the events in westward expansion, including people’s motivation, their hardships, and Missouri as a jumping off point to the west.

Made up of what is now:

• A. Oregon• B. Washington• C. Idaho• D. Parts of

Montana• E. Parts of

Wyoming

free land economic opportunities fur trade adventure searching for gold religious freedom excellent farmland

http://loc.gov/pictures/resource/ppmsc.02029/

Washing gold - 1916

Waterproof canvas top

Wheels smaller in the front to make sharp turns easier

Pulled by oxen (stronger than mules or horses)

Prairie Schooner – looked like boats sailing across the green waves of

grassLibrary of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, DC 20540 USA http://hdl.loc.gov/

Groups of covered wagons headed west together (sometimes 100+ wagons and over 1000 people)

Leader was selected to make major decisions

Council met to discuss and report on different problems that might occur during the trip

Fur trappers and traders who had made the trip before

Knew the best ways to travel the trails

http://loc.gov/pictures/

Jim Bridger

1. Flour & yeast2. Water3. Seeds4. Candles5. Household utilities6. Guns7. Ammunition

8. Favorite dishes9. Family pictures10. Children’s favorite toys11. Clothing12. Notions13. Tools14. blankets

Refers to the location where preparations for the journey to Oregon Country began

Many travelers would join a “wagon train” The trails west started in these cities in

Missouri: Independence Westport Landing (now part of Kansas City) St. Joseph

Oregon Trail 1852-1906 by Ezra Meeker. Fourth Edition 1907

If you left too early. . .

Spring rains might cause the trail to become to muddy and wagon wheels would likely get stuck

Grass wouldn’t be tall enough for the oxen and cattle to eat

If you left too late. . .

Crossing the mountains in early winter snowstorms was difficult and dangerous

Perfect time: After the spring rains when the sun was shining and grass was growing tall

Large flat boats called scows, and seal wagons made with wood, tar, and candle wax mixed with ashes, would carry wagons across rivers

Horses, cows, and oxen had to swim

Indian rafts were sometimes available

Mud (wagon wheels stuck)

Ground too dry (dust) Sicknesses Children and adults

injured or killed when they accidentally fall under a moving wagon

Dangerous mountain passages

Unfriendly, hostile Indians (steal cattle & horses)

Milk cows Get water from river Watch cattle Help cook Wash dishes Help skin & prepare buffalo or deer Collect wood or buffalo chips Shake out blankets & quilts Hang beef jerky to dry

http://loc.gov/pictures/item/200568653

Buffalo Prairie dogs Rattlesnakes Owls Wolves Coyotes Jackrabbits Wild turkeys Sage hens Lizards antelope

Trading at Forts with other pioneers or Indians

• Ft. Laramie (40 days to reach it)• Ft. Bridger (up to 30 more days)• Ft. Hall

The Pony Express stables at Ft. Bridger

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, DC 20540 USA http://hdl.loc.gov/

Oxen

Tie one end of a rope to the back of the wagon, the other end of the rope to a tree, and PULL!

http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?10011929+X-11929

Chimney Rock (Nebraska)

Independence Rock (Wyoming)

Soda Springs

Steamboat Springs

Devil’s Backbone

Continental Divide

(wagons would cross at South Pass, halfway to Oregon!)

Why early settlers traveled west:

Free land Economic

Opportunities Fur trade Adventure To find gold Religious Freedom Excellent farmland

Why do you live in Independence, Missouri?

. . .to be close to your family?

. . .your parents have good jobs here?

. . .cheaper or better housing?

. . .hopes and dreams?

What is YOUR story?

The Oregon Trailhttp://www.isu.edu/~trinmich/Oregontrail.html

Oregon Trailhttp://www.42explore2.com/oregon.html

The Oregon Trailhttp://www.americanwest.com/trails/pages/oretrail.htm

Tracy Hendricksonowensville.k12.mo.us