Think about it Read the poem about a

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 wagon cutting through the trail not much food to be braggin nor water in our pail Nothing but trees in our view one lame horse and another that lost a shoe light fading to darkness We see stones of others that fell not here to roam doing our best going to sit up home in 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-1800 s, 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

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=e. PL 2 b. ZCzj. FQ 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 trail 21: 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?