American West- Oregon Trail

Question 1

Where was the Oregon Trail?

Answer 1

The trail started in Independence, Missouri, and finished in Oregon City.

Question 2

How did people travel on the Oregon Trail?

Answer 2

PioneerstravelledalongtheOregon Trailbyfoot,horseback,orwithwagons.Theyhadtobringenoughfoodfortheentirejourney,aswellasthethingstheyneededfortheirnewlife.Wagonswereoftenpulledbyoxenastheywere strong,buttheywereveryslow.

Question 3

Why did people travel the Oregon Trail?

Answer 3

People wanted to move west, as they had heard of rich farming lands which they could obtain for free. The economic conditions in the east were not good, so people saw it as a new opportunity.

Question 4

Who established the Oregon Trail?

Answer 4

Jedediah Smith established the Oregon Trail in 1825, when he discovered the South Pass through the Rocky Mountains.

Question 5

What problems were there using the Oregon Trail?

Answer 5

Getting stuck.
Drowning while crossing rivers.
Accidents with wagons.
Illness and disease, such as cholera.
Running out of supplies.
Fear of attack from Native Americans, although there are no recorded accounts of any.
The length of the journey. The average journey on the Oregon Trail took four months.