Journeying on the Oregon Trail

1. Journeying on the Oregon Trail Do you have what it takes to make the journey?

2. Using the West • People used the west for different reasons. • Use section 2 of chapter 13 to explore two of these groups. Financial Gain • Who was John Jacob Astor, and what made him the richest man in America? • What were the name of the men who collected fur for Astor, and what were their living conditions like? Spreading of Religion • What was the purpose of missionaries moving west?

3. You have decided to try your luck west. • You have decided to journey west. • You will be writing from the perspective of a pioneer who is keeping a journal of your trek west. • All of your answers, and observations will be written down as if they are entries in your travel journal.

4. Jumping off point • Every journey has a beginning, Jumping off points were where pioneers went to buy supplies and join wagon trains to begin their journey. • Use the information found at this website to create a journal entry of what you would see at one of these jumping off towns (at least 2 sentences). • http://www.isu.edu/~trinmich/Jumpingoff.html

5. What to take with you? • You only had so much room, and you had to try to bring enough supplies to last as many months as possible. • Describe in your journal what are some supplies that your family is brining for your trip. • Describe two personal items that you would bring. • Remember, you are imagining that you are a pioneer from Oregon trail period. • http://library.thinkquest.org/6400/supplies.htm

6. What will your wagon look like? • Pioneers would pile all of there belongings and supplies into a wagon to help transport their belongings and supplies west. • Use this website to learn more about what a covered wagon looked like. • Use what you have learned to describe in your journal what your wagon looks like. • http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0210182/supplies.html

7. Hardships along the way • Walking 2,000 miles was the easy part. • Pioneers had to deal with many hardships as they made their way west. • Using the website below create a journal entry describing two hardships that your party might face while making your trek. (2 sentences each) • http://www.isu.edu/~trinmich/Hardships.html

8. At the end of the trail • You have survived the trail • Look at page 451 in your textbook, and learn more about what life was like once you reached the west. • Write a final journal entry about what you life might be like now that you have reached the west. (at least 2 sentences)

9. Think back to the beginning • Who was John Jacob Astor, and what made him the richest man in America? • What were the name of the men who collected fur for Astor, and what were their living conditions like? • What were missionaries purpose for moving west? • Knowing what you know now, would you move to the west? Do you think the potential gains outweigh the hazardous traveling conditions? Explain your reasoning.

10. What life was like • Now that you are finished, please take the a day in the life quiz. • http://pbskids.org/stantonanthony/frontier_girl.html