What was the main reason settlers traveled along the Oregon Trail?
Travelers were inspired by dreams of gold and rich farmlands, but they were also motivated by difficult economic times in the east and diseases like yellow fever and malaria that were decimating the Midwest around 1837.
How did settlers travel on the Oregon Trail?
Oregon Trail Route Depending on the terrain, wagons traveled side by side or single file. There were slightly different paths for reaching Oregon but, for the most part, settlers crossed the Great Plains until they reached their first trading post at Fort Kearney, averaging between ten and fifteen miles per day.
How many people traveled on the Oregon Trail?
An amazing number of pioneers traveled west. Historians estimate that about 500,000 people followed trails like the Oregon Trail, California Trail, and Mormon Trail. Many travelers journeyed in companies, while others did not. The first pioneer company to travel across the entirety of what was to become the Oregon Trail was the Wyeth–Lee Company.
What did the Pioneers do on the Oregon Trail?
By pulling the string, the wooden circle moves back and forth like a saw. Pioneers also spent time cooking. Their ultimate goal was to have food that would last for days without waste. The following pioneer recipes are some that perhaps could have been found along the Oregon Trail.
Why did the guides write the Oregon trail guidebooks?
Trail guides wrote guidebooks, so settlers no longer had to bring an escort with them on their journey. Unfortunately, however, not all the books were accurate and left some settlers lost and in danger of running out of provisions.
What was life like on the Oregon Trail?
Life on the trail was not easy. Many faced family deaths to sicknesses such as cholera, measles, and smallpox. Starvation, harsh weather conditions, and travel accidents were common and took their toll, no matter which trail pioneers chose to travel or how carefully they prepared.