The Oregon TrailThe Oregon Trail8th Grade United States History8th Grade United States History

Mrs. JamiesonMrs. Jamieson

Why Oregon?Why Oregon?

Pioneers traveled to Oregon for several reasons Pioneers traveled to Oregon for several reasons including: to find fertile farmland, to bring including: to find fertile farmland, to bring Christianity to the Native Americans, for Christianity to the Native Americans, for business and trade opportunities, and to head to business and trade opportunities, and to head to California for gold.California for gold.

Most gold seekers came overland along this trail Most gold seekers came overland along this trail but many others came from Mexico, South but many others came from Mexico, South America, Europe, and Australia. Three hundred America, Europe, and Australia. Three hundred Chinese man also came to America, establishing Chinese man also came to America, establishing California’s Chinese American community.California’s Chinese American community.

What was What was the Oregon Trail?the Oregon Trail?

““Oregon fever” began in the early 1840s and Oregon fever” began in the early 1840s and lasted until 1869 when the transcontinental lasted until 1869 when the transcontinental railroad made traveling across the country railroad made traveling across the country quicker and easier.quicker and easier.

The Oregon trail began along the Mississippi The Oregon trail began along the Mississippi River and followed 2,000 miles across the River and followed 2,000 miles across the continent. After making in through the South continent. After making in through the South Pass of the Rocky Mountains, pioneers followed Pass of the Rocky Mountains, pioneers followed the Columbia River into Oregon Country the Columbia River into Oregon Country (modern day Washington and Oregon).(modern day Washington and Oregon).

MapMap

What was What was the Oregon Trail?the Oregon Trail?

The trip west lasted five or six The trip west lasted five or six months. Pioneers began in the months. Pioneers began in the spring in order to complete the spring in order to complete the trip before winter snows trip before winter snows blocked the mountain passes. blocked the mountain passes. The trail crossed difficult terrain The trail crossed difficult terrain and the pioneers walked across and the pioneers walked across plains that seemed like they plains that seemed like they would never end, forded would never end, forded through lively rivers, and through lively rivers, and climbed up high mountains.climbed up high mountains.

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What was the Oregon Trail and why did What was the Oregon Trail and why did people want to travel to Oregon?people want to travel to Oregon?

The Oregon Trail was ______________.The Oregon Trail was ______________.

________________ is one reason people ________________ is one reason people traveled to Oregon.traveled to Oregon.

What was the What was the Journey Like?Journey Like?

Do you think the travel along the Oregon Do you think the travel along the Oregon trail was easy? NO!!trail was easy? NO!!

Dangers included: fierce animals, attacks by Dangers included: fierce animals, attacks by Native Americans, difficult weather, Native Americans, difficult weather, dangerous terrain, robbery, and disease.dangerous terrain, robbery, and disease.

About one out of every ten pioneers died About one out of every ten pioneers died on the trail from either disease, overwork, on the trail from either disease, overwork, hunger, or accidents.hunger, or accidents.

WagonsWagons

18 feet long18 feet long

11 feet high11 feet high

4 feet wide4 feet wide

Curved floor to Curved floor to prevent cargo prevent cargo from spillingfrom spilling

Tough, white Tough, white canvas covercanvas cover

SuppliesSupplies

• In order to successfully complete the journey, In order to successfully complete the journey, you would need: one or two sturdy wagons, 6-you would need: one or two sturdy wagons, 6-10 oxen, plenty of clothes, 1-2 milk cows, 600 10 oxen, plenty of clothes, 1-2 milk cows, 600 pounds of flour, 120 pounds of biscuits, 400 pounds of flour, 120 pounds of biscuits, 400 pounds of bacon, 60 pounds of coffee, 4 pounds of bacon, 60 pounds of coffee, 4 pounds of tea, 100 pounds of sugar, and 200 pounds of tea, 100 pounds of sugar, and 200 pounds of lard, plenty of rice, beans, and pounds of lard, plenty of rice, beans, and dried fruit, utensils, furniture, stoves, guns, dried fruit, utensils, furniture, stoves, guns, and farming/household supplies.and farming/household supplies.

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What was the journey along the Oregon Trail like?What was the journey along the Oregon Trail like?

Traveling along the trail was ____________.Traveling along the trail was ____________.

Pioneers needed supplies such as:____________.Pioneers needed supplies such as:____________.

Early SettlersEarly Settlers

John Jacob Astor of New York established the John Jacob Astor of New York established the American Fur Company. Beaver skins were in great American Fur Company. Beaver skins were in great demand because the fur was used to make hats demand because the fur was used to make hats which were very popular at the time, especially in which were very popular at the time, especially in Europe.Europe.

Early SettlersEarly Settlers

Mountain men such as Jedidiah Mountain men such as Jedidiah Smith were men who knew how to Smith were men who knew how to live in the Oregon wilderness and live in the Oregon wilderness and trap beavers. Many of them had trap beavers. Many of them had Native American wives and adopted Native American wives and adopted native ways of life. native ways of life.

These men had to be skillful and These men had to be skillful and resourceful to survive. One man resourceful to survive. One man once held his hands “in an anthill once held his hands “in an anthill until they were covered with ants, until they were covered with ants, then greedily licked them off.”then greedily licked them off.”

Famous TravelersFamous TravelersDr. Marcus Whitman and his wife Narcissa went to Dr. Marcus Whitman and his wife Narcissa went to

Oregon in 1836 to build a mission among the Cayuse Oregon in 1836 to build a mission among the Cayuse people in what is now Walla Walla, Washington. The people in what is now Walla Walla, Washington. The Cayuse attacked the mission in 1847 because they Cayuse attacked the mission in 1847 because they blamed the Whitmans for bringing a measles epidemic blamed the Whitmans for bringing a measles epidemic that killed many of their children.that killed many of their children.

Famous TravelersFamous Travelers James K. Polk was the president who went to war with Mexico, James K. Polk was the president who went to war with Mexico,

ultimately winning California and New Mexico because he wanted ultimately winning California and New Mexico because he wanted to fulfill Manifest Destinyto fulfill Manifest Destiny

The Donner Party was a group of 87 pioneers who became The Donner Party was a group of 87 pioneers who became trapped in the Sierra Nevadas and ultimately resorted to trapped in the Sierra Nevadas and ultimately resorted to cannibalism in order to survive.cannibalism in order to survive.

James Marshall and John Sutter built a sawmill on the American James Marshall and John Sutter built a sawmill on the American River (present day Sacramento). Marshall saw something glowing River (present day Sacramento). Marshall saw something glowing in the water and before long the secret was out!in the water and before long the secret was out!

The Forty-Niners were the people who arrived from all over in The Forty-Niners were the people who arrived from all over in 1849 looking for gold!1849 looking for gold!

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What kind of people successfully made it to Oregon and What kind of people successfully made it to Oregon and what did they achieve there?what did they achieve there?

___________ made it to Oregon where he/they ___________ made it to Oregon where he/they ___________.___________.

ModelModel

The wagon is shown to represent a wagon, such as the The wagon is shown to represent a wagon, such as the famous Conestogas.famous Conestogas.

The house is shown to represent the houses they The house is shown to represent the houses they wouldwould’’ve built in towns along the way or once they ve built in towns along the way or once they settles in Oregon Country.settles in Oregon Country.