Background
- The Oregon Trail was an overland route used by migrants traveling from the Eastern US to California & Oregon territories
- The 2,000 mile long trail began in Independence, Missouri and ended in Willamette Valley, near Fort Vancouver, in Oregon Territory
- First wave of migrations began in 1843 and went well into the 1890's
Why Did This Happen?
- Among all the settlers there was a new growing sense that the nation's westward expansion was inevitable and this feeling led to the expression "manifest destiny"
- The westward expansion also led to the the annexation of territories controlled by the French, Spanish, and British that now make up the USA
- American fur trader, John Jacob, was trying to find a route to the Pacific Ocean and through out this period other fur traders were traveling by rivers and mountain routes which later on would play a part in the westward migrations
The Journey Along the Trail
- Missionaries started off on the Oregon Trail in 1843 only traveling in groups of 2 or 3 wagons which will soon turn into into thousands of hopeful migrants traveling and collecting along the new cities
- The migrants learned to wait for the right time of year to begin their travel or their ox and mules would not have enough food growing on the ground to make the 4-6 month journey
- Deaths by accident were also quite common on the journey such as drowning, being crushed under wagon wheel, and Cholera
To learn more about The Oregon Trail click on the link below to go on a trail tour
...or test your luck to see how you would do surviving on The Oregon Trail!