Oregon Trail PowerPoint & Notes © Erin Kathryn 2015

Trails West In 1824, Crow Indians showed a trapper the South Pass, which was a trail through the Rocky Mountains that was wide enough for wagons. By the end of the 1850s, thousands of people had traveled through the South Pass on a route known as the Oregon Trail. © Erin Kathryn 2015

The Oregon Trail The trail was about 2,000 miles long. It started in Missouri and went through the Rocky Mountains into present-day Oregon. The trail was wide and open, but became narrow when it crossed over rivers and mountains. © Erin Kathryn 2015

The First Travelers Marcus & Narcissa Whitman were 2 of the first pioneers to travel the Oregon Trail. They settled in eastern Oregon and wanted to teach American Indians about Christianity. The Whitman mission became a place where travelers could rest. Narcissa was the first woman to travel through the South Pass. © Erin Kathryn 2015

The First Travelers John Fremont helped make maps of the Oregon Trail. He wrote reports describing how beautiful the land was. People on the Oregon Trail used Fremont’s maps and reports as guides. © Erin Kathryn 2015

First Explorers In 1843, the first large group of about 1,000 people set out on the Oregon Trail. They were searching for good, inexpensive land. These people came from Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, & Tennessee. © Erin Kathryn 2015

Wagon Trains Pioneers on the Oregon Trail traveled by wagon train. A wagon train was a line of covered wagons that all moved together. The wagons were often pulled by oxen, mules, or horses. © Erin Kathryn 2015

Trouble on the Trail Travelers often faced injuries, diseases, and bad weather on the trail. One of the biggest problems was the lack of food and water. Despite these issues, many people settled in Oregon. © Erin Kathryn 2015

Oregon Territory President James Polk wanted Oregon to belong to the United States. At this time, it was claimed by both the United States and Britain. In 1846, President Polk signed a treaty with Britain that set the border between the western United States and Canada. The land south of the border became the Oregon Territory in 1848. © Erin Kathryn 2015