The Oregon Trail was a roughly 2,000-mile route from Independence, Missouri, to Oregon City, Oregon, which was used by hundreds of thousands of American pioneers in the mid-1800s to emigrate west. The trail was arduous and snaked through Missouri and present-day Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho and finally into Oregon.
How did pioneers travel across the prairie?
Popular depictions of the Oregon Trail often include trains of boat-shaped Conestoga wagons bouncing along the prairie. ... Most pioneers instead tackled the trail in more diminutive wagons that become known as “prairie schooners” for the way their canvas covers resembled a ship’s sail.
The first method to get there was to use the Sun’s direction of movement . Since the Sun moved to the west, pioneers only had to walk in the direction the Sun traveled. The sun rays would eventually shine brighter in one direction so the pioneers followed the strong rays of light.
How far did pioneers walk each day?
The covered wagon made 8 to 20 miles per day depending upon weather, roadway conditions and the health of the travelers. It could take up to six months or longer to reach their destination.
How did pioneers survive the Oregon Trail?
To be on the safe side, the pioneers drew their wagons into a circle at night to create a makeshift stockade . ... Yet, as with the 1,000-person party that made the journey in 1843, the vast majority of pioneers on the trail survived to reach their destination in the fertile, well-watered land of western Oregon.
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.
Where did pioneers sleep?
Shucks or hay or leaves were placed upon the shelves supported by these crude frames. Most pioneers spent the days in grueling labor so they could rest well about anywhere. That explains how they were able to sleep on such crude beds .
How did pioneers make money?
Into wild country went hunters, trappers, fur traders, miners, frontier soldiers, surveyors, and pioneer farmers. The farmers tamed the land and made it productive.
What diseases did pioneers on the trails suffer from?
Dysentery, smallpox, measles, mumps, and influenza were among the diseases named in diaries and journals, but cholera, mountain fever, and scurvy were probably the biggest killers.
What were the real enemies of the pioneers on the trail?
The real enemies of the pioneers were cholera, poor sanitation and–surprisingly–accidental gunshots . The first emigrants to go to Oregon in a covered wagon were Marcus and Narcissa Whitman (and Henry and Eliza Spalding) who made the trip in 1836.
Why did the pioneers want 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.
What was the main item that pioneers brought with them in their covered wagons?
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.
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.
What were the two main causes of death along the trail?
Nearly one in ten who set off on the Oregon Trail did not survive. The two biggest causes of death were disease and accidents .
How did pioneers know what day it was?
The almanacs were regional, based on meridians and would tell you the precise time in which the sun will crest over the horizon . Sunset can be used in the same way in setting your watches or clocks.
Where did most of the pioneers settle?
Early pioneers extended American settlements to the Mississippi Valley . Later pioneers settled the Great Plains and the West Coast. The Oregon Trail was one of the most traveled trails heading west.
