Oregon country
The Oregon Country was a region of wilderness from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean bounded by Alaska, Spanish California, and New Mexico. Four countries made a claim for the land, the United States, Great Britain, Russia, and Spain. Spain gave up its claim to the Oregon in a treaty used to purchase Florida. Russia also gave up their claim agreeing in a treaty that they would only claim the land above the 54º40' parallel of latitude, the current border of Alaska. The United States and Great Britain agreed to both occupy the territory. President James Polk agreed to a treaty that divided Oregon in half at the 49th parallel.
Oregon trail
When Lewis and Clark found their way to the Pacific Ocean, they thought of themselves as trailblazers, though the path they had taken was much too treacherous for a wagon. Going west was practically unattainable for many people until Jedediah Smith found the South Pass for settlers to travel through the ominous Rocky Mountains. This passage made travel by wagon into Oregon possible. Missionaries were the first group of people to travel into Oregon. As missionaries and some settlers began to make the trek west, glorified accounts of the wonders of Oregon were passed along, inciting Oregon fever. In 1843, 1,000 settlers left everything they knew behind to start over in the west. The following year almost 2,000 people left their homes to travel to Oregon.
People traveled to Oregon for three main reasons gold, God, and glory. Lewis and Clark first made the trip to the Oregon country all of the way to the Pacific Ocean; they traveled for glory. Although the path they took to Oregon was not used by pioneers, Lewis and Clark were very famous when the returned. Many families left there homes for "gold" or wealth. Land in Oregon was very cheap, sometimes free, and very fertile. People were hoping to build prosperous farms with the rich soil to gain wealth.
The difficult journey would take five to six months to travel over Conestoga wagons filled with essential items that could not be found on the trail like nonperishable food (tea, flour, coffee, biscuits), spare wagon parts, weapons, ammunition, medical supplies, clothes, and rope. Abundant amounts of these supplies were necessary for the trip making the wagons very full and forcing most people to walk the trail.
"Over this high spur we were compelled to climb… Part of the way I rode on horseback, the rest I walked. The decent was very long and steep." diary of Margaret A. Frank, 1850
The trip was filled with hardships; one in ten people who were brave enough to make the journey died along the way. Nine of every ten deaths was a result of an illness such as cholera, flu, small pox, mumps, measles, and tuberculosis. Crossing rivers was a dangerous task that could cause the loss of vital supplies, injury, and death. A common injury among adults and children alike was being run over by the heavy wagon wheels. Firearms caused a number of injuries, because they were often fired accidentally. When a member of the traveling party died, they would often be buried right on or near the trail as described by Abigail Jane Scott.
The mosquitoes are troublesome in the extreme: passed four graves.” the diary of Abigail Jane Scott, 1852
People traveled to Oregon for three main reasons gold, God, and glory. Lewis and Clark first made the trip to the Oregon country all of the way to the Pacific Ocean; they traveled for glory. Although the path they took to Oregon was not used by pioneers, Lewis and Clark were very famous when the returned. Many families left there homes for "gold" or wealth. Land in Oregon was very cheap, sometimes free, and very fertile. People were hoping to build prosperous farms with the rich soil to gain wealth.
The difficult journey would take five to six months to travel over Conestoga wagons filled with essential items that could not be found on the trail like nonperishable food (tea, flour, coffee, biscuits), spare wagon parts, weapons, ammunition, medical supplies, clothes, and rope. Abundant amounts of these supplies were necessary for the trip making the wagons very full and forcing most people to walk the trail.
"Over this high spur we were compelled to climb… Part of the way I rode on horseback, the rest I walked. The decent was very long and steep." diary of Margaret A. Frank, 1850
The trip was filled with hardships; one in ten people who were brave enough to make the journey died along the way. Nine of every ten deaths was a result of an illness such as cholera, flu, small pox, mumps, measles, and tuberculosis. Crossing rivers was a dangerous task that could cause the loss of vital supplies, injury, and death. A common injury among adults and children alike was being run over by the heavy wagon wheels. Firearms caused a number of injuries, because they were often fired accidentally. When a member of the traveling party died, they would often be buried right on or near the trail as described by Abigail Jane Scott.
The mosquitoes are troublesome in the extreme: passed four graves.” the diary of Abigail Jane Scott, 1852
For more personal accounts of the Oregon Trail visit:
http://www.oregontrailcenter.org/HistoricalTrails/PioneersTalk.htm
http://www.oregontrailcenter.org/HistoricalTrails/PioneersTalk.htm
When making the trip west, the Conestoga wagons did not travel alone but in large "wagon trains". The Conestoga wagons were often called "the camels of the prairie" or "prairie schooners". A schooner is a small ship; as a wagon went through the prairie grasses it looked similar to a ship.
how did the oregon trail transform the nation?
The Oregon Trail transformed the nation by allowing travel into the Oregon Country. Before the South Pass was discovered there was no feasible way to make the journey into Oregon. Thousands of people traveled into Oregon and began to develop the area. While travelers on the Oregon Trail faced many hardships, they were rewarded with rich, fertile, land and the chance to start over.
Journal Entry
March 1, 1844
Today, my family decided to make the trip along the Oregon Trail. Even though we do not leave until April, my parents have begun making preparations. I am excited to finally see the wonderful land in Oregon that I have heard in stories. The one thing I am upset about is that I will never see my friends again and I am limited in what I can bring on the trip.
April 1, 1844
We traveled by steam train into Independence, a jumping off point into the west. The train was fascinating. I have already had to say goodbye to my friends. Our wagon train leaves in a couple days.
June 5, 1844
My younger brother, Nate, has caught the flu. He is now very weak and has to ride in the wagon with our supplies. I hope he recovers soon.
June 6, 1844
In order to aid Nate's recovery and to give everyone else a rest, we have decided to rest for a couple of days. I really needed the break from walking, my feet are very sore and I was getting tired.
June 20, 1844
We have been traveling on the trail with Nate sick for a little while now, but he has finally recovered. It is great to see him eating well and walking next to the wagon again. We are about halfway through our trip and I am already anxious to see Oregon.
October 20, 1844
Oregon is wonderful with trees and natural wonders everywhere. My family purchased a large piece of land for very cheap. I am so excited to explore the new land, though we do have some work ahead of us to build our house and get our lives going, I can not wait.
Today, my family decided to make the trip along the Oregon Trail. Even though we do not leave until April, my parents have begun making preparations. I am excited to finally see the wonderful land in Oregon that I have heard in stories. The one thing I am upset about is that I will never see my friends again and I am limited in what I can bring on the trip.
April 1, 1844
We traveled by steam train into Independence, a jumping off point into the west. The train was fascinating. I have already had to say goodbye to my friends. Our wagon train leaves in a couple days.
June 5, 1844
My younger brother, Nate, has caught the flu. He is now very weak and has to ride in the wagon with our supplies. I hope he recovers soon.
June 6, 1844
In order to aid Nate's recovery and to give everyone else a rest, we have decided to rest for a couple of days. I really needed the break from walking, my feet are very sore and I was getting tired.
June 20, 1844
We have been traveling on the trail with Nate sick for a little while now, but he has finally recovered. It is great to see him eating well and walking next to the wagon again. We are about halfway through our trip and I am already anxious to see Oregon.
October 20, 1844
Oregon is wonderful with trees and natural wonders everywhere. My family purchased a large piece of land for very cheap. I am so excited to explore the new land, though we do have some work ahead of us to build our house and get our lives going, I can not wait.