Travelers were
inspired by dreams of gold and rich farmlands
, but they were also motivated by difficult economic times in the east and diseases like yellow fever and malaria that were decimating the Midwest around 1837.
Who were the pioneers on the Oregon Trail?
Pioneers who used the Oregon Trail were
mostly Americans from the Midwest or Mid-South
. Most settled in Oregon, especially in the Willamette Valley, but about 20 percent moved on to Washington (state) before 1870. Others went to California.
Who went on the Oregon Trail?
Portions of what was to become the Oregon Trail were first used by
trappers, fur traders, and missionaries
(c. 1811–40) who traveled on foot and horseback.
Who were the first settlers on the Oregon Trail?
The first person to follow the entire route of the Oregon Trail was
Robert Stuart of Astoria
in 1812-13. He did so in reverse, traveling west to east, and in the process discovered the South Pass, so named because it was south of the pass Lewis and Clark followed over the Continental Divide.
Did people get lost on the Oregon Trail?
Of the estimated 350,000 who started the journey, the trail claimed as many as 30,000 victims or an average of
10-15 deaths per mile
. The main causes of deaths along the Oregon/California Trail from 1841 to 1869 were disease, accidents, and weather.
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 still walk the Oregon Trail?
That’s right,
you too can walk the Oregon Trail
. Several long segments of trail exist that can be backpacked or day-hiked, and there are dozens of short hikes around historic attractions and interpretive centers.
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.
How long did the Oregon Trail last?
The group included 120 wagons, about 1,000 people and thousands of livestock. Their trek began on May 22 and lasted
five months
. It effectively opened the floodgates of pioneer migration along the Oregon Trail and became known as the Great Emigration of 1843.
Is the Oregon Trail still used 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
.
What was the greatest cause of death on the Oregon Trail?
Emigrants feared death from a variety of causes along the trail: lack of food or water; Indian attacks; accidents, or rattlesnake bites were a few. However, the number one killer, by a wide margin, was
disease
.
How much did it cost to cross the Oregon Trail?
The overland journey from the Mid-West to Oregon and California meant a six month trip across 2,000 miles of difficult country. It was also an expensive enterprise. It was estimated that the journey cost a man and his family
about $1,000
.
What would people do with dead bodies on the Oregon Trail?
Graves were
usually shallow to save labor
, resulting in bodies that were washed away or dragged away by animals. … “Sometimes the grave was dug in the trail itself to conceal it from Indians,” Mr. Werner says. Among the unmarked and lost graves along the Oregon Trail, only God can sort out the dead.
Where did pioneers sleep?
Some pioneers did sleep
in their wagons
. Some did camp on the ground—either in the open or sheltered under the wagon. But many used canvas tents. Despite the romantic depictions of the covered wagon in movies and on television, it would not have been very comfortable to travel in or sleep in the wagon.
What were the 3 real enemies of the settlers?
The common misperception is that Native Americans were the emigrant’s biggest problem en route. Quite the contrary, most native tribes were quite helpful to the emigrants. The real enemies of the pioneers were
cholera, poor sanitation and, surprisingly, accidental gunshots
.
