OregonTrail+Info.JM09

Slide 4:[[http://www.42explore2.com/oregon.htm| "Families usually began their journey at Independence, Missouri near the Missouri River. The journey in a covered wagon took six months, following a winding 2,000 mile trail (3,200 kilometers) through prairies, deserts, and across mountains to the Pacific Northwest. The journey was a severe test of strength and endurance. Settlers often had to cross flooded rivers. Indians attacked the wagon trains; however, of the 10,000 deaths that occurred from 1835 to 1855, only 4 percent resulted from Indian attacks. Cholera, smallpox, and firearms accidents were the chief causes of death on the trail. Food, water, and wood were always scarce, and the travelers often encountered contaminated water holes."
 * http://www.42explore2.com/oregon.htm**]]

Slide 1: -some went to Oregon's Willamette Valley in search of farmland -some went to california in search of gold -obtain supplies, rifles, and equipment for the journey  - scalping knives, pipe tomahawks, and an iron boat frame "portable soup," medicine, special uniforms made of drab cloth, tents, tools, kettles, tobacco, corn mills, wine, gunpowder in lead canisters, medical and surgical supplies, and Indian presents -train for journey - 15 rifles, 24 pipe tomahawks, 36 tomahawks for Indian presents, 24 large knives, 15 powder horns and pouches, 15 pairs of bullet molds, 15 wipers or gun worms, 15 ball screws, 15 gun slings, extra parts of locks and tools for replacing arms, 40 fish giggs such as the Indians use with a single barb point, 1 small grindstone and the collapsible iron frame for a canoe
 * Beginnings:**
 * Reasons why so many went west.
 * The beginning of a typical journey west: preparations; starting out

Slide 2: -about 11 ft. long, 4 ft. wide, 2 ft. deep -bows supported the bonnet above which was 5 ft. high -most everyone walked along side with their herds of cattle or sheep -many traveled in groups with relatives or people from their hometown -groups had "rules" to follow in order to keep organization and agreement
 * wagons

Slide 3: -woke before dawn and ate coffee, bacon, and dried bread for breakfast; prepare food for the later lunch -secure and reload wagon -stop at noon to eat a cold lunch of coffee, beans, and bacon or buffalo -by 5 o'clock they would have traveled and average of 15 miles -at 5 o'clock they stop-men secure animals and make repairs; women prepared dinner-hot tea and boiled rice with dried beef or codfish -in the evening the children were schooled, there was singing and dancing, and story telling around the campfire -they rested on Sundays-gave the animals a break and women did laundry and other basic chores
 * everday life

Slide 5: Hardships- -they walked large distances with no stopping-an entire 2,000 mile jouney on foot -accidental deaths-from falling under the wagon -diseases-such as cholera hit many travelers -weather-lightning strikes, pounding rains made it difficult to travel b/c of no shelter and wagons leaked -river crossings were difficult because many drowned while trying to cross the major rivers


 * Across the Plains – Independence, MO to Ft Laramie Wyoming: **
 * Starting points
 * Landmarks along trail
 * Problems of wilderness camping
 * Buffalo 
 * Encounters with Native American tribes
 * Accidental death
 * Through the Moutains – Fort Laramie Wyoming to Fort Hall Idaho: **
 * Fort Larami
 * The scourge of Cholera
 * Problems of trail overcrowding
 * The great trek of the Mormon pioneers
 * Difficulties faced in the mountains
 * Cutoffs and alternate routes
 * Arrival at Oregon/California – Ft Hall to End **<span style="font-size: 7.5pt; color: rgb(51,51,51); font-family: Verdana;">:
 * <span style="font-size: 7.5pt; color: rgb(51,51,51); font-family: Verdana;">Role of the British
 * <span style="font-size: 7.5pt; color: rgb(51,51,51); font-family: Verdana;">49ers on the Oregon Trail
 * <span style="font-size: 7.5pt; color: rgb(51,51,51); font-family: Verdana;">Indian hostilities in the Trail's later years
 * <span style="font-size: 7.5pt; color: rgb(51,51,51); font-family: Verdana;">Importance of the Trail