The Oregon Trail and Westward Movement

Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804-1806)

“In the course of 10 or 12 years, a tour across the continent by this route will be undertaken with as little concern as a voyage across the Atlantic.”-Meriwether Lewis, 1806

• Traveled approximately 8,000 miles• Mapped route to the Pacific• Established good relations with western

Native Americans• Brought back priceless information about the

West and its peoples.

Pike and Fremont In addition to Lewis and Clark Zebulon Pike and John C. Fremont assisted with westward expansion…

Zebulon Pike• Explored the southern part of the

Louisiana Territory • Reports of wealth of Spanish towns in

the Southwest brought many American traders to the region

John C. Fremont• Mapped much of the territory between

the Mississippi Valley and the Pacific• Descriptions of a “land of plenty”

inspired many families to try their luck in the West

The MissionariesLewis and Clark brought back word that the Nez Perce tribe wanted to be taught about the “black book” (bible), soon missionaries prepared to do so…

In 1836, the Whitman’s and Spalding’s traveled together from St. Louis on the Oregon Trail

• Worked with the Cayuse tribe: No converts• Far more successful at converting

Americans to belief that Oregon was a pioneer’s paradise

Henry and Eliza Spalding

• Worked with the Nez Perce tribe• Converted two chiefs in 1839: Successful

missionaries

Goal: large number of Native American Christian convertsReality: Many natives died of diseases that came with the missionaries *Opened the West to settlement

1. Looking at the map, what are some obstacles that you might encounter?2. What are some obstacles you might encounter that are not obvious on the map?

3. What might you bring with you to manage those obstacles?

On the Oregon Trail

• Between 1840-1869, 350,000 people traveled West in wagon trains

• Many met in Independence, Missouri in the Spring

• Journey took 6 months• High Death Tolls: disease and accidents• Could bring little from home• Many left home for good and would

never see their families again

Women on the Trail• Most women were wives and mothers, some were

single seeking homesteads, husbands or other new opportunities

• While on the trail women traveled 15-20 miles per day and were responsible for all usual daily duties that had been done at home

• African American women faced extra challenges

In settlements women were often responsible for: • Schools• Churches • Libraries• Literary Societies• Charitable Groups• Suffrage movements

The MormonsMembers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Founded by Joseph Smith in 1830, eventually taken over by Bringham Young. Young moved the church to Utah.• Salt Lake City • By 1877 Utah had 125,000 Mormons living in 500 settlements

Bringham Young

Joseph Smith

• Mormon Legacy • First Americans to settle the Great Basin• Pioneered farming methods for dry region

• Helped settlers making their way West: important stop on the trail

• Today: worldwide religion with over 7 million member

The Oregon Trail Review…1. How did the Lewis and Clark expedition prepare the way for future settlement?

2. What are some obstacles encountered on the Oregon Trail?

3. Why did missionaries travel to Oregon?

4. What was the legacy of the missionaries?

5. What were women pioneers responsible for in the westward migration?

6. Why did Mormon pioneers travel west?

7. What was the Mormon legacy?

8. What was the significance of the Oregon Trail?