THE OREGON TRAIL AND

WESTWARD EXPANSION

Ms. Duncan1 February 2011

What was the Oregon Trail?

Trail that led from mid-United States into the Oregon territory

Left from “jumping-off points” Independence, Missouri = prominent

“jumping-off point” Led from MO, across N Kansas and into

Nebraska; from NE to Wyoming; across Rocky Mountains into Idaho; NW into Oregon

What was the Oregon Trail?

What was the Oregon Trail?

Who went on the Oregon Trail? First Americans were soldiers in 1832 Nathaniel J. Wyeth led first settler party;

interested in fishing Wyeth built Fort Hall in 1834 Missionaries were prominent in wagon

trains (Manifest Destiny) Strong and able-bodied: Emigrants did

not ride in the wagons; they walked all 2,000 miles

How long did the journey take? The journey took six months across 2,000

miles Started in the Spring in order to arrive in

early fall The journey could be delayed due to bad

weather conditions; the wagon trains had to maintain a schedule and would only give one day for birthing, sickness, death and fixing broken wagons

What did the trail look like?

The trail started in the Great Plains

Tall prairie grasses; grasses grew as tall as a man

Grasses made it difficult for wagons to pass; scouts had a difficult time seeing over the tall grasses; children could be lost if they wandered too far

This was for 200 miles

What did the trail look like?

Platte River or “Big Muddy” Water very sandy; not the best for drinking,

washing Followed for 450 miles into what is now

WY

What did the trail look like?

Landscape became drier and more open-”a barren trackless waste”

Emigrants saw prairie dogs and buffalo herds as far as the eye could see Buffalo were dangerous but useful-provided

meat and “buffalo chips” for fires

What did the trail look like?

Emigrants begin to see large rock outcroppings

Chimney Rock becomes an important landmark along the trail

What did the trail look like?

Crossed Rocky Mtns at South Pass in WY Followed the Snake River NW into Idaho River was fast-moving and dangerous;

trail was steep and treacherous

What did the trail look like?

Crossed the Blue Mtns into NE corner of Oregon Though not as tall as the Rockies or Sierra

Nevadas, they were extremely rugged So steep in places the emigrants had to

unload their wagons and carry their goods to the top by hand-the oxen could not carry the load

The men had to lower the wagons with ropes on the other side

What to take: Wagons MOST important piece Most wagons were 10 ft. long and 4 ft.

wide with canvas around bands for the “cover” Wagons could carry a load of 2500 pounds Emigrants had to carry spare wheels, buckets

of axle grease and barrels of tar (to waterproof the wagons)

What to take: Most wagons were pulled by oxen, not

horses Oxen can pull more weight and are better

equipped to pull a wagon over tough terrain

Wagon needed 8-10 oxen; whenever possible more were brought to replace those that died on the trip

Many also brought horses, cattle, chickens, pigs and dogs for when they arrived in the new territory

What to take: They would need at least:

200 pounds of flour 150 pounds of bacon 20 pounds of sugar 10 pounds of salt 10 pounds of coffee

What to take: Other items:

Seeds and a plow Tools to fell trees Spinning wheels and looms Blankets Shoes Lanterns Needles and thread Mirrors Matches Writing paper and ink Medicines

What to take:A family of 8 with 2 wagons took for the trip

and the new homestead: 1,000 pounds of flour A large box of cornmeal 7 bags of beans Several hundred pounds each of bacon and sugar 1 bag each of dried apples and peaches A keg of honey Clothing, bedding, a tent, cooking utensils, the

iron parts of a plow, several types of seeds, spinning wheel and 4 rifles

What to take: Many emigrants started the trip with

furniture and family heirlooms, but as the trip progressed, many of those were thrown out of the wagons to lighten the load for the oxen

The prairie was dotted with old dressers; rocking chairs; trunks of books, dishes and other non-essential household goods

The end: The first trans-continental railroad was

completed in 1869; this marked the beginning of the end for wagon trains west

By the 1880’s, nearly all Westward Expansion tapered off: the country was settled from “sea to shining sea”