Wagon trains westward expansion

During the 17 and 1800s, the conestoga wagon was a reliable way to transport a large amount of productsaround 12,000 poundsbetween stores and settlements. A wagon train is a group of wagons traveling together. You will also find great westward expansion books and free printables for homeschoolers. Which expression best explains why pioneers traveled in wagon trains. No longer would people travel in long wagon trains that took months to reach california. Westward movement of people in the united states was largely made possible by the use of wagons and animal teams. The men of the south road expedition the applegates and other emigrants formed the south road expedition in 1846. The group included 120 wagons, about 1,000 people and thousands of livestock. Wagon trains from tennessee and alabama enter texas. Supplies learn what pioneers took on their oregon trail. This video is about the groups trails west, and the oregon california trail assocations, groups that hunt for and mark the old wagon train roads along the california and oregon trails.

The overland journey from independence, missouri, to oregon or california meant a sixmonth trip across 2,000 miles of hard country. By 1859, the trail became an established wagon route through the front range of the rocky mountains. The female in the center is called progress and on her head is what crofutt calls the star of the empire. Pack your wagon lesson plan bureau of land management. Westward expansion timeline for kids james polk was the 11th american president who served in office from march 4, 1845 to march 4, 1849. Westward expansion wagon project for oregon trail unit. Describe the experiences of a covered wagon pioneer. Westward expansion provides me with wonderful period music. Describe how new forms of transportation and communications impacted the westward expansion of the united states ss02s01c0504.

The trail centers merchantile store is the place where you can select your supplies for your journey along the trail. History of the covered wagon elko, nv california trail. As the population of the colonies grew and expanded, westward migration began and never really stopped. Interesting facts about the oregon trail and the pioneers. Joseph is a modern wonder a city of 60,000 inhabitants, eleven railroads, 70 passenger trains each day, 170 factories, thirteen miles of the bestpaved streets, the largest stockyards west of chicago, a wholesale trade as large as that of kansas city and omaha combined. Westward expansion timeline for kids american historama. Hard times of 1830s launched first wagon trains westward. The importance of the period of railroad expansion westward along the course of the santa fe trail from its eastern terminus in 1865 to its arrival in santa fe in 1880, lies in the fact that it witnessed the change in character of overland trade along the trail. Over the years, other wagon trains used westport, leavenworth and st. Wagontrain migrations are more widely known and written about than wagon freighting, which also played an essential role in an expanding america. Between 1841 and 1869, hundreds of thousands of people traveled westward on the trail.

A pioneer family traveling from independence, missouri to oregon along the oregon trail in the 1840s took about four to six. Wagontrain transportation moved westward with the advancing frontier. The oregon trail, life on the wagon trains for kids and. Discuss the influence of the railroads on western expansion and on the trail drivers. If the ground was muddy, the might spend an entire day moving forward one mile. Burials often were done right in the middle of the trail, where wagons could roll over and animals trample it down in order to erase the scent so wolves could not pick up the scent. Santa fe trail highway to the southwest legends of america. When we think of the western expansion of the united states in the 19th century, were conditioned to imagine the loner. The oregon trail was a roughly 2,000mile route from independence, missouri, to oregon city, oregon, which was used by hundreds of thousands of american. We made a salt dough map, a covered wagon, crackers, and tried line dancing as fun hands on history projects. Wagon trains were composed of up to 200 wagons, though more common were trains of 30 or less wagons. A wagon train was a group of covered wagons that traveled together, headed west, in a straight line.

Plus all the necessary food, clothing and utensils needed for survival. One of the important events during his presidency was the notion of the manifest destiny of the united states and the continuance of the westward expansion. Reveals the experiences of a pioneer family on their journey from illinois to the midwestern plains. The film opens by establishing that, as young boys, david cook and twin brother tom are poles apart in. With the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in utah in 1869, westward wagon trains decreased significantly as settlers chose the faster and more reliable mode of transportation.

Identify some of the landmarks that guided travellers west. Great classroom video depicting wagon trains, covered wagons and settlers traveling west. Wagon trains for kids free american history lesson plans. Wagon train on the santa fe trail in 1821, the land beyond missouri was a vast uncharted region called home to great buffalo herds and unhappy indians, angered over the continual westward expansion of the white man. I look for music that would have been popular between 18501880. The wagon train would travel at around two miles an hour. Pack your wagon an oregon trail lesson in group decision making, and what impacts our choices for teachers. Wagon trains had large numbers of livestock accompany them.

It was an actual trail, mostly connected, created by indians and trappers. Before that time, westward expansion was made in small stages much like the rest of the. For a modern trip along the oregon trail you wont need a covered wagon full of supplies. They could now travel faster, safer, and cheaper by train. The number of deaths which occurred in wagon train companies traveling to california is conservatively figured as 20,000 for the entire 2,000 miles of the oregon. I add a few cowboy songs and i end up with a great list that my students love. Westward expansion supply list the journey west required much planning from the route to travel to the supplies needed. In the beginning, pioneers used a wagon that was dubbed the prairie schooner, due to the canvas covers which looked like ship sails. History american pioneering experience covered wagons and westward expansion. My students need handsonmaterials to plan their route west, build their wagons, and create crafts projects related to the historical period. For purposes of protection and efficiency, traders and emigrants of the transmississippi west before 1880 customarily gathered their wagons into more or less organized caravans or trains. With roots in the heavy conestoga wagon developed for the rough, undeveloped roads and paths of the colonial east, the covered wagon spread west with american migration.

Emigrants, trail blazers and personalities emigrant lists. Sep 06, 2017 during the 17 and 1800s, the conestoga wagon was a reliable way to transport a large amount of productsaround 12,000 poundsbetween stores and settlements. She lays a telegraph wire with one hand and carries a school book in the other. There were a variety of reasons why families made this momentous decision. Teamsters, best known as bullwhackers or muleskinners, conducted commercial operations on a more or less fixed twoway schedule until replaced by the railroad and the truck. Since the majority of emigrants were farmers with families, they often chose murphy farm wagons as their chief means of transport. The most common wagons used for hauling freight back east were the conestogas, developed in pennsylvania by descendants of german colonists.

With the details button underlined, click the button, show contents of map content. Study the various parts of a covered wagon design with a blueprint. Learners will create a covered wagon out of construction paper, cardboard, and a shoebox. A pioneer family traveling from independence, missouri to oregon along the oregon trail in the 1840s took about four to six months. Many of them traveled in large wagon trains using covered wagons to. Locate and identify the trails used by the pioneers. Whether it was on the oregon trail, the santa fe trail, or another trail westward, covered wagon travelers faced a number of hardships. Sublette, a partner in the reorganized rocky mountain fur company, conducted a ten. The oregon trail, the longest of the overland routes used in the westward expansion of the united states, was first traced by colonizers and fur traders for traveling to the oregon country. Many of them traveled in large wagon trains using covered wagons to carry their belongings. A wagon train traveled approximately 15 miles per day. About how long would it take for a wagon train to go all the way from independence, missouri to oregon. In 1841, the first group of pioneers started traveling along the oregon trail.

This is a brief introduction to the understanding of the aspects of a wagon train explained for kids. A thousand pioneers head west as part of the great emigration. Wagon train, caravan of wagons organized by settlers in the united states for emigration to the west during the late 18th and most of the 19th centuries. The first wagon trains headed westward along the overland trails the most famous was the oregon trail from missouri in 1841, and a major motivation for those making the long, often tortuous journey was economic. The oregon trail was a 2,000 mile wheeled wagon route and trail that connected the missouri river to valleys in oregon. Westward expansion wagon project for oregon trail unit this creative and handson project is a wonderful opportunity for students to show their understanding of pioneers moving west. The covered wagon was long the dominant form of transport in preindustrial america. Feb 27, 2017 great classroom video depicting wagon trains, covered wagons and settlers traveling west. Often, the issue of supplies was a dealbreaker for the journey. History westward expansion the oregon trail was a major route that people took when migrating to the western part of the united states. The applegate train used independence, preeminent since 1827 as an outfitting center. Supplies were needed to last this long or longer due to the lack of very few places if any, to replenish supplies.

Facts, information and articles about the oregon trail, a part of westward expansion from the wild west. Joseph, missouri jumping off to the west legends of. The 2,200mile eastwest trail served as a critical transportation route for emigrants traveling from missouri to oregon and other points west during the mid1800s. By 1843, when the first large wagon train was organized, a route existed across the continent from independence, missouri to the pacific ocean. In the 19th century, manifest destiny was a widely held belief in the united states that its settlers were destined to expand across north america. Discover how a typical family from indiana travel this page lists fantastic books on the american westward expansion for kids. Pioneers traveled along the oregon trail in wagon trains with their horses, oxen, and a few things that were important to them. How was the united states changing between 1800 and 1853. A family that couldnt afford to properly equip itself would often be heading off into danger if not forced to abandon the trip altogether. I find lyrics on the internet and put them in a word document for my students to put in their lyrics notebooks. Trails west, a map of early western migration trails. Most colonists traveled in large parties or trains of up to several hundred wagons led by a wagon master. Images of a covered wagon with large wagon wheels are etched into the minds of thousands when hearing, go west young man. One reason they did this was because they would get free land from oklahoma.

The items include maps, blocks, glue and embroidery floss. By 1865, territorial and state boundaries had become more formalized and would soon be further refined to provide the. Mormon pioneer trail, and also north bank trail we show the mormon trail starting at. Although riding in a wagon was jolting and rough and most travelers avoided it for that reason, the wagon itself was a lifeline of supplies and necessary shelter on an uncertain journey. Without the use of these lightweight wagons, its unlikely that so many emigrants would have survived the long trek. Three of the missouribased routesthe oregon, mormon, and california trailswere collectively known as the emigrant. We are continuing in our history unit on westward expansion for kids.

In 1859 the government published a guidebook written. Oregon trailfacts, information and articles about the. If you want something akin to the original experience, however, consider a road trip that includes camping. What made the need for the wagon trains was the rapid expansion of the united states, especially the louisiana purchase. When the first migrant wagon train was organized, a wagon trail was cleared. Typical farm wagons were merely covered for westward expansion. The focus of the library is the transmississippi west from 1800 to 1880.

The unsung heroes of westward expansion without the use of these lightweight wagons, its unlikely that so many emigrants would have survived the long trek. Upwards of 2,000 cattle and 10,000 sheep joined the pioneers in their westward trek. The conestoga wagon was far too heavy for westward expansion. In search of inexpensive land and opportunity, american pioneers migrated westward by the thousands. Lots of links to the applegates and their route to oregon the applegates. Many pioneers joined in the massive move westward that took place in the 1800s. Because the trail was so narrow, by the 1870s teamsters devised a system whereby supply trains went up the pass in the morning and down in the afternoon. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. History westward expansion the first transcontinental railroad stretched from the east coast of the united states to the west coast. That land had to be settled in order to solidify the fledgling countrys claim on it.

A pioneers typical outfit wasnt terribly expensive. Following the panic of 1837 a fearsome depression by even todays standards, wages throughout america had fallen by 3050 percent. The early british american colonies for the most part hugged the atlantic ocean. The first major wagon train to the northwest departs from elm grove, missouri, on the oregon trail. Conestoga wagons were large, heavy, and had beds shaped somewhat like boats, with angled ends and a floor that sloped to the middle so barrels wouldnt roll out when the wagon was climbing or descending a hill. The painting was commissioned by george crofutt, a publisher of american western travel guides, in 1872 and was been frequently reproduced. Wagon train is an american western series that aired on the nbc television network national broadcasting company, 19571962 and then on the american broadcasting company abc, 19621965. What reasons were given for wanting to move westward. Library of fur trade historical source documents diaries, narratives, and letters of the mountain men the merrill mattes research library and archives over 2,000 trail diaries, letters and first person recollections comprise the nucleus of this library.

Help me bring history to life for my students by engaging them in a simulation about westward expansion. The main route of the oregon trail stopped at the hudsons bay company fort hall, a major resupply route along the trail near presentday pocatello and where the california trail split off to the south. Dangers the national oregoncalifornia trail center in. Conestoga wagons were actually too large and unwieldy to use on the trail, so a smaller wagon of four by ten feet was created and these were pulled by mule or oxen along the trail. One last reason they moved west was because they could transport things easier due to transcontinental railroad. For example, there were often covered wagon accidents caused by damaged wheels or structure breakage. With chester morris, anita louise, buck jones, ona munson. At night, the captain would direct the wagons to form a circle for protection from bandits and other dangers. Emigrants, trail blazers and personalities overland trail. There was a wagon master, called a captain, who was in charge. Originally, westward movement began in small groups, but wellfunded travelers with a hundred or more wagons could employ professional wagon. Food on the oregon trail, has been described by glenda riley as a lively book which puts the reader squarely on the oregon trail baking break in a dutch oven over a campfire, searing buffalo meat, and trading for fresh vegetables and fish.

Wagon train first aired on september 18, 1957, and would eventually place the tv show in the number one spot in the nielsen ratings. The construction of the wagon was very sturdy, protecting goods from damage as the wagon traveled along bumpy roads and through water. This thrilling adventure takes the reader back in time to the pioneering days of wagon trains through color photographs of real objects from the past. The beginnings of the oregon trail were laid by fur trappers and traders and were only passable on foot or horseback. Supply list for traveling the oregon trail usa today. The oregon trail the oregon trail was a long path that started in missouri and went over 2,000 miles west, al the way to oregon. Another reason why people moved west was because they were looking for gold in california. The period 18431855 saw the heaviest traffic on the oregon trail. Mar 31, 2015 what was the cost of the westward wagon trains. The trail, blazed by peter lassen while leading a wagon train of pioneers to california in 1848, was used by thousands of goldseekers and emigrants for nearly a decade.