The Oregon Trail Powerpoint

The Oregon Trail
Ith Grade United States History Mrs. Jamieson Why Oregon?
—  Pioneers traveled to Oregon for several reasons including: to find fer@le farmland, to bring Chris@anity to the Na@ve Americans, for business and trade opportuni@es, and to head to California for gold. —  Most gold seekers came overland along this trail but many others came from Mexico, South America, Europe, and Australia. Three hundred Chinese man also came to America, establishing California’s Chinese American community. What was
the Oregon Trail?
—  “Oregon fever” began in the early 1840s and lasted un@l 1869 when the transcon@nental railroad made traveling across the country quicker and easier. —  The Oregon trail began along the Mississippi River and followed 2,000 miles across the con@nent. AXer making in through the South Pass of the Rocky Mountains, pioneers followed the Columbia River into Oregon Country (modern day Washington and Oregon). Map
What was
the Oregon Trail?
—  The trip west lasted five or six months. Pioneers began in the spring in order to complete the trip before winter snows blocked the mountain passes. The trail crossed difficult terrain and the pioneers walked across plains that seemed like they would never end, forded through lively rivers, and climbed up high mountains. 30 - 30 - 30
What was the Oregon Trail and why did people want to travel to Oregon? The Oregon Trail was ______________. ________________ is one reason people traveled to Oregon. What was the
Journey Like?
—  Do you think the travel along the Oregon trail was easy? NO!! —  Dangers included: fierce animals, aaacks by Na@ve Americans, difficult weather, dangerous terrain, robbery, and disease. —  About one out of every ten pioneers died on the trail from either disease, overwork, hunger, or accidents. Wagons
—  18 feet long —  11 feet high —  4 feet wide —  Curved floor to prevent cargo from spilling —  Tough, white canvas cover Supplies
•  In order to successfully complete the journey, you would need: one or two sturdy wagons, 6-­‐10 oxen, plenty of clothes, 1-­‐2 milk cows, 600 pounds of flour, 120 pounds of biscuits, 400 pounds of bacon, 60 pounds of coffee, 4 pounds of tea, 100 pounds of sugar, and 200 pounds of lard, plenty of rice, beans, and dried fruit, utensils, furniture, stoves, guns, and farming/household supplies. 30 - 30 - 30
What was the journey along the Oregon Trail like? Traveling along the trail was ____________. Pioneers needed supplies such as:____________. Early Settlers
—  John Jacob Astor of New York established the American Fur Company. Beaver skins were in great demand because the fur was used to make hats which were very popular at the @me, especially in Europe. Early Settlers
—  Mountain men such as Jedidiah Smith were men who knew how to live in the Oregon wilderness and trap beavers. Many of them had Na@ve American wives and adopted na@ve ways of life. —  These men had to be skillful and resourceful to survive. One man once held his hands “in an anthill un@l they were covered with ants, then greedily licked them off.” Famous Travelers
—  Dr. Marcus Whitman and his wife Narcissa went to Oregon in 1836 to build a mission among the Cayuse people in what is now Walla Walla, Washington. The Cayuse aaacked the mission in 1847 because they blamed the Whitmans for bringing a measles epidemic that killed many of their children. Famous Travelers
—  James K. Polk was the president who went to war with Mexico, ul@mately winning California and New Mexico because he wanted to fulfill Manifest Des@ny —  The Donner Party was a group of 87 pioneers who became trapped in the Sierra Nevadas and ul@mately resorted to cannibalism in order to survive. —  James Marshall and John Suaer built a sawmill on the American River (present day Sacramento). Marshall saw something glowing in the water and before long the secret was out! —  The Forty-­‐Niners were the people who arrived from all over in 1849 looking for gold! 30 - 30 - 30
What kind of people successfully made it to Oregon and what did they achieve there? ___________ made it to Oregon where he/they ___________. Model
—  The wagon is shown to represent a wagon, such as the famous Conestogas. —  The house is shown to represent the houses they would’ve built in towns along the way or once they seales in Oregon Country.