what are some pros and cons about travling west
Answers
Answer:
The Oregon Trail was an east-to-west wagon route first established by fur traders in the 1830s. It was not until after the Civil War that it became a bustling internal immigration route for American pioneers. The trail, if followed all the way to the end, was more than 2,000 miles long and could take around six months for a covered wagon with four horses to complete.
Pro: Established Route
The biggest pro in favor of taking the Oregon Trail was that it was an established route with many other pioneers taking it. If your wagon broke an axle, there was someone else with a spare you could barter for. If you ran short on food, there was an outpost along the way with extra supplies. In addition, your guide did not need to be exceptionally skilled as all you had to do was follow the dirt track, thus lessening the chance of getting lost.
The Oregon Trail was an east-to-west wagon route first established by fur traders in the 1830s. It was not until after the Civil War that it became a bustling internal immigration route for American pioneers. The trail, if followed all the way to the end, was more than 2,000 miles long and could take around six months for a covered wagon with four horses to complete.
Pro: Army Protection
The United States actively encouraged the settlement of the West. This was done both with the Homestead Act and by establishing Army forts along the path to protect the pioneers. The forts provided not just safe havens to rest and repair but also housed cavalry detachments. These mounted units would patrol the trail and establish a semblance of law and order. Because the Western states were still territories, the U.S. Army did not violate the Posse Comitatus Act by patrolling this region.
The Oregon Trail was an east-to-west wagon route first established by fur traders in the 1830s. It was not until after the Civil War that it became a bustling internal immigration route for American pioneers. The trail, if followed all the way to the end, was more than 2,000 miles long and could take around six months for a covered wagon with four horses to complete.
Con: Indian Raids
The Oregon Trail passed through a number of Indian territories. The Indian nations were composed of both native Western Indian tribes and Indian tribes that had fled from the East. The raids added up to almost 5,000 deaths until the Army started putting them on reservations. There was a spike in raids once miners started foraging into the Indian reserves for gold during the Gold Rush, but this too was put down.
The Oregon Trail was an east-to-west wagon route first established by fur traders in the 1830s. It was not until after the Civil War that it became a bustling internal immigration route for American pioneers. The trail, if followed all the way to the end, was more than 2,000 miles long and could take around six months for a covered wagon with four horses to complete.
Con: Disease
The biggest con to taking the Oregon Trail was the prevalence of disease on the trail. While strength in numbers may have helped with fighting off Indians, it also lead to the spread of dysentery and other communicable diseases. Pneumonia was another concern because of the lack of rest pioneers had and the constant cold nights.
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Oregon Trail Facts for Kids
By James McElroy
•••
The Oregon Trail began as a path originally cut by Native Americans, which was later expanded by white fur traders. It later was used during the westward expansion of settlers across North America to the Pacific coast. Here are some interesting kid-friendly facts about the Oregon Trail.
Numbers and Route
Oregon trail in Western Nebraska
The Oregon trail was 2,000 miles long, with branches starting in Iowa and Missouri before they converged in Nebraska and traveled through Wyoming and Idaho. The trail terminated in Oregon's Williamette Valley. The Oregon Trail's "great migration" began in 1843 with a 1,000-pioneer wagon train and would eventually end in 1869 with the completion of the transcontinental railroad, after 500,000 settlers had made the journey.
The Oregon Trail began as a path originally cut by Native Americans, which was later expanded by white fur traders. It later was used during the westward expansion of settlers across North America to the Pacific coast. Here are some interesting kid-friendly facts about the Oregon Trail.
Dangers Real and Imagined
View of Oregon trail with historical wagon wheel ruts
The Oregon Trail was dangerous and often deadly. Historians estimate that as many as 10 percent of settlers who set out on the trail perished before they reached the Williaeaten