They
packed candles for lighting and a rifle to hunt with along the way
. Other items included tents, bedding, and basic tools such as an axe and a shovel. Although the Oregon Trail was the most used wagon trail, there were other trails that led out west.
What did the pioneers bring with them?
The pioneers would take with them as many supplies as possible. They took
cornmeal, bacon, eggs, potatoes, rice, beans, yeast, dried fruit, crackers, dried meat
, and a large barrel of water that was tied to the side of the wagon.
What did a typical family carry in their wagon?
Research suggests that a typical family of four carried
800 pounds of flour, 200 pounds of lard, 700 pounds of bacon, 200 pounds of beans
, 100 pounds of fruit, 75 pounds of coffee and 25 pounds of salt. The wagon also had to carry a shovel and cooking utensils. … The wagon train would travel at around two miles an hour.
What did settlers use on the Oregon Trail?
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.
What was the main cause of death on the Oregon Trail?
Shootings, drownings, being crushed by wagon wheels
, and injuries from handling domestic animals were the common killers on the trail. Wagon accidents were the most prevalent. Both children and adults sometimes fell off or under wagons and were crushed under the wheels.
Did pioneers eat bear meat?
Pioneer food was often stodgy, plain, or altogether absent. …
In summertime or fall, pioneers might feast on bear meat
(Laura’s favorite), buffalo, venison, elk, and antelope, unconstrained by the big game laws of the Old World. But in winter, when nothing grew or could be hunted, pioneers were vulnerable.
Why didn’t most pioneers ride in their wagons?
Teams of oxen or mules pulled the wagons along the dusty trail. People didn’t ride in the wagons often,
because they didn’t want to wear out their animals
. Instead they walked alongside them, getting just as dusty as the animals. The long journey was hard on both people and animals.
How many pioneers are Mormon?
An estimated 60,000 to 70,000 pioneers
traveled to Utah during those years. Hundreds of thousands of other emigrants traveled to other points in the West, primarily California and Oregon.
How many died on the Oregon Trail?
Combined with accidents, drowning at dangerous river crossings, and other illnesses,
at least 20,000 people
died along the Oregon Trail. Most trailside graves are unknown, as burials were quick and the wagon trains moved on.
Can you walk the Oregon Trail today?
The 2,000-mile Oregon Trail was used by pioneers headed west from Missouri to find fertile lands. Today,
travelers can follow the trail along Route 66 or Routes 2 and 30
.
Why did Pioneers go to Oregon?
There were many reasons for the westward movement to Oregon and California.
Economic problems upset farmers and businessmen
. Free land in Oregon and the possibility of finding gold in California lured them westward. … Most of the pioneer families either followed the Oregon-California Trail or the Mormon Trail.
Why is the Oregon Trail so important?
The Oregon Trail has attracted such interest because it is
the central feature of one of the largest mass migrations of people in American history
. Between 1840 and 1860, from 300,000 to 400,000 travelers used the 2,000-mile overland route to reach Willamette Valley, Puget Sound, Utah, and California destinations.
What was the most feared disease on the Oregon Trail?
While
cholera
was the most widely feared disease among the overlanders, tens of thousands of people emigrated to Oregon and California over the course of a generation, and they brought along virtually every disease and chronic medical condition known to science short of leprosy and the Black Death.
What was the most common problem on the Oregon Trail?
Throughout the trail’s existence, numerous accidents were caused by negligence, exhaustion, guns, and animals.
Wagon accidents
were the most common, with both children and adults sometimes falling off or under wagons and being crushed under the wheels.
How did they treat cholera on the Oregon Trail?
This disease was the main cause of death on the Oregon Trail. It took one third of the people who died on the trail and could kill in less than a day. To cure a person diagnosed with cholera,
pioneers gave laudanum and immediate rest
.
What did pioneers do with leftovers?
Soup
. Do you ever look around your kitchen, eyeball the leftover meats and vegetables from the week, and think, “This is perfect for a stew”? So did the pioneers. Soups and stews were a great way to serve a hot and tasty meal without too much effort.
