Oregon Trail
In this time their was only one main way to get across the Mountains, which was the Oregon trail. This trail stretches across the currently known states of Missouri,Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho, and Oregon. The length of this trail measures to be around two thousand, two hundred miles. Many of those who traveled this route completed it barefoot. Originally this trial was used mainly by fur trappers and traders since the trail could only be traveled by horse back or by foot. But in 1836 Marcus and Narcissa Whitman, and Henry and Eliza Spalding changed that. They were the first travel across the Oregon trail in a covered wagon. After this in 1843 when the 1843 wagon was made their was major boom in the quantity of people embarking on this trail. Around one thousand pioneers made the journey at this time. Most either heading towards Oregon's Willamette Vally or to California for the gold rush. And many died, with one in every ten dieing along the way. Though along the trail contrary to more popular belief the native tribes near by were helpful to these emigrants. The real problems thats these people faced were mainly Cholera, poor sanitation, and accidental gunshots. Along the trial there was some important landmarks like Independence Rock. Independence rock is large piece of granite thats 1,900 feet long by 700 feet wide. This giant rock was used as a clock of sorts since if they started in early spring they should reach it by July 4th and if they didn't they knew that they were behind schedule. It was also called the "Great Register of the Desert", this was because many emigrants once they reached the rock they would rest there are carve their name into the rock. Over 5,000 names of early emigrants are carved there. |
Santa Fe Trail
This trails' long history of use started with William Becknell, who was the first of the traders to use this trail. So from 1821 till 1846 this trail's main use was as a international commercial highway for Mexican and American traders. Then in 1846 the Mexican-American war began and this trail was used by the American troops to invade New Mexico. Then later in 1848 the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the war and this trail was used by the gold seekers heading toward Californa and Colorado gold fields, adventurers, fur trappers, and emigrants. In just six months alone in 1865, 5,197 mean, 6,452 mules, 38,281 oxen, and 4,472 wagons traveled the trail. But then in 1880 when the railroad reached Santa Fe this trail's popularity diminished greatly. |
Mormon Trail
This trail stretches across 1,300 miles of terrain and goes through the five current states of Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska,Utah, and Wyoming. This trail started because of the name, Mormons. The Mormon religion was founded by Joseph Smith, who had visions as a teenager. This religion spread very fast in numbers. But because of persecution they moved first to Ohio, then to Missouri, and finally to Nauvoo, Illinois where they stayed peaceful and prosperous for a while. Though soon some of the other inhabitants of Illinois started to grow intolerant of the Mormons because of their quick growth in numbers and their acts of polygamy. So as a result of this growing unsettlement these people on the 27th of June in the year 1844 Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were killed while they were held in jail in Carthage, Illinois. After this event Brigham Yough took over the leader ship of the Mormons as the successor of Joseph Smith. He chose to further their westward traveling and decided on the Salt Lake region of Utah and in 1846 the migration began. This trail differed from most as it travelers didn't employ professional guides, it was a religiously motivated migration, and this trail went two ways. |
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