The Oregon Trail: Independence. Missouri River flows into the Mississippi, the town of Independence grew rapidly as a trading post. By the 1840’s, it was the most popular “ jumping off” point for pioneers to stock their wagons with supplies before heading out to Oregon or California.
Why did so many trails start in Independence Missouri?
The 2,000-mile Oregon Trail began to be heavily traveled in 1843 by settlers wanting to establish new homes in the northwest , while others split off on the equally long and grueling California Trail to seek their fortunes in the gold fields.
Why did the Oregon Trail start in Independence Missouri?
The initial jumping-off spot for emigrants to Oregon was Independence, Missouri. Its location on both the Missouri River and the Santa Fe Trail destined it for this status. ... Overcrowding at the Wayne City landing for Independence, followed soon by a cholera epidemic, left emigrants looking for other jumping-off spots.
Did the Oregon Trail begin in Independence Missouri?
Tens of thousands of American pioneers took their first steps west in Independence, MO . Long before the days of President Harry S. Truman, the pioneers made Independence the most popular starting point for the Oregon Trail.
Why was the Oregon Trail created?
Determined to spread Christianity to American Indians on the frontier , doctor and Protestant missionary Marcus Whitman set out on horseback from the Northeast in 1835 to prove that the westward trail to Oregon could be traversed safely and further than ever before.
Why didn’t most pioneers ride in their wagons?
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. It was even hard on the wagons, which usually had to be repaired several times during the trip.
What was the biggest danger on the Oregon Trail?
Major threats to pioneer life and limb came from accidents, exhaustion, and disease. Crossing rivers were probably the most dangerous thing pioneers did. Swollen rivers could tip over and drown both people and oxen. Such accidents could cause the loss of life and most or all of valuable supplies.
What is a group of wagons called?
A wagon train is a group of wagons traveling together. ... In the American West, settlers traveling across the plains and mountain passes in covered wagons banded together for mutual assistance.
How many miles a day did they travel on the Oregon Trail?
When pulled by teams of oxen or mules, they could creak their way toward Oregon Country at a pace of around 15 to 20 miles a day .
In which two states did most of the Trails End?
Officially, according to an act of Congress, it begins in Independence, Missouri, and ends in Oregon City, Oregon . To the settlers, though, the trail to the Oregon Country was a five-month trip from their old home in the East to their new home in the West.
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.
What is not one of the six states the Oregon Trail passed through?
The trail from Independence to Oregon City crossed portions of six present-day states. The first 16 miles were in Missouri, then the trail crossed into Kansas for 165 miles, Nebraska for 424 miles, Wyoming for 491 miles, Idaho for 510 miles and finally Oregon for 524 miles.
How long did it take to cross the Oregon Trail?
Perhaps some 300,000 to 400,000 people used it during its heyday from the mid-1840s to the late 1860s, and possibly a half million traversed it overall, covering an average of 15 to 20 miles (24 to 32 km) per day; most completed their journeys in four to five months .
Can you still hike the Oregon Trail?
In some places, the historic trail is a current modern-day hiking trail. In others, it could be a modern-day asphalt road. Experiences vary, so please check with individual locations for more details.
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.
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.
