Think about it…Read the poem about a traveler on the Oregon Trail. After you finish reading and reflecting on

the poem, answer the questions below. 

Oregon Trail 

In our wagoncutting through the trail

not much food to be bragginnor water in our pail

Nothing but trees in our viewone lame horse

and another that lost a shoelight fading to darkness

We see stonesof others that fellnot here to roamdoing our best

going to sit up homein the west

 --Earnest Clary

Oregon Trail

Where do you think this pioneer is traveling to?   What problems might he encounter?   Why would pioneers make the journey

westward?

Today’s Question:

Would you take the dangerous journey into the western United States?

Why or why not?

Activities:

1. Notes/class discussion: why did people move west?

2. 5 minute break

3. Diary of a Pioneer Girl

4. Dangers on the trail

5. What would you bring in your covered wagon?

Why did people move west?

Manifest Destiny: The idea that _________ was good and right for the country

Why did people move west?Economic factors that influenced migration

In the mid-1800s, the population in the eastern states was _________ quickly.

There was plenty of cheap, fertile ________ available out west.

The west had more natural resources: _________ for logging and fertile _________for farming

Why did people move west?Economic factors that influenced migration

In 1848, _________ was discovered in California. People from the eastern United States, Mexico, China, and South America came pouring in for the California gold rush.

Why did people move west?Economic factors that influenced migration

__________ __________traveled west in search of freedom.

How did they get there? Geographic factors that influenced westward migration

Transportation was becoming ______ and _______--steamboats--canals (Eerie Canal)

Knowledge of overland trails increased:--_______ Trail--_______Trail --_______ Trail--_______ Trail

Cheaper, faster transportation made going west easier

Pioneers used overland trails:Oregon, Santa Fe, Mormon and California

5 minute break!

What problems did pioneers have during their journey’s west?

Catherine Sager: the Diary of a pioneer girl

In April 1844 Catherine and her family took part in the great westward migration and started

their journey along the Oregon Trail.

Listen closely to each diary entry.After we read each section, answer the questions

in the boxes.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePL2bZCzjFQ 16:10

Sager Family

What happened?

During the journey, Catherine’s mother and father both lost their lives and left their seven children orphaned. Later adopted by Marcus

and Narcissa Whitman, missionaries in what is now Washington, the children were orphaned a second time, when both their new parents were

killed during the Whitman massacre in November 1847.

Other deadly problems on the trail21:24

What would you bring in your covered wagon?

Draw a picture of a covered wagon and the things you would put in it.

• Think about the reasons people moved west and the dangers they faced on the journey.

• What would you bring in your covered wagon to help you on the journey?

• Be historically accurate! What would people during that time have had available?