Moving Westward

The Oregon Trail

Route of the Oregon Trail

Notes About the Trail: • 2,000 miles long• The trail followed rivers, crossed the Rocky

Mountains

• Trail forked after Rocky Mountains- one path went to Oregon, one went to California

Notes About the Trail:

Travelling on the Trail• hard, tough,

challenging • Journey took 6

months• Cost $600 for a

family of 4 (that was a lot at the time as the average wage was $1.50 a day)

• Families travelled together in wagon trains

Travelling on the Trail

• Wagons were pulled by oxens, mules, or horse

Travelling on the Trail

• Food, water and supply shortages were common

• Large rivers/mountains sometimes made them abandon their wagons

Travelling on the Trail

• From Missouri to New Mexico

• Families went to start a new life

Mormon Migration Westward

• Joseph Smith founded the Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Church

• The followers are called Mormons

• Joseph Smith was murders and Brigham Young became the new leader

• Him and his followers migrated to Utah