The Oregon Trail

Multiple Choice

What was the main purpose of the covered wagons used on the Oregon Trail?

• To carry people's belongings during migration

• To serve as homes for settlers

• To transport gold and silver

• To be used as shops along the trail

Open Ended

Why do you think so many people decided to travel westward on the Oregon Trail during the 1800s?

Multiple Choice

Which states did the Oregon Trail pass through?

• Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon

• Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, California

• Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin

• Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, California, Oregon

Multiple Choice

What were some of the other trails that branched off from the Oregon Trail?

• California Trail and Mormon Trail

• Santa Fe Trail and Pony Express Trail

• Lewis & Clark Trail and Appalachian Trail

• Chisholm Trail and Butterfield Overland Trail

Open Ended

Explain why covered wagons were sometimes called 'Prairie Schooners.'

Multiple Choice

Which animals were commonly used to pull the settlers' wagons?

• Oxen and mules

• Horses and camels

• Buffalo and donkeys

• Dogs and goats

Open Ended

What were some of the main dangers faced by travelers on the Oregon Trail, and how did Native Americans interact with them?

Multiple Choice

Which preserved food was commonly taken by pioneers on their journey west?

• Hard tack

• Fresh fruit

• Cheese

• Chocolate

Open Ended

What were the main responsibilities of captains and scouts in wagon trains?

Multiple Choice

Which president signed the Homestead Act, and what did the act provide to citizens or future citizens?

• Abraham Lincoln; up to 160 acres of public land

• George Washington; free passage west

• Thomas Jefferson; free food for pioneers

• Ulysses S. Grant; free covered wagons

Multiple Select

Select all statements that are true about the Oregon Trail based on the slides.

• The trail was littered with items people cast off.

• It took about five months for a wagon train to make the journey.

• The first major migration happened in 1869.

• Around 300 miles of the trail have been preserved.

Open Ended

Would you have made the trip West on the Oregon Trail? Why or why not? Use examples from the slides to support your answer (3-4 complete sentences)

Multiple Choice

What was the main purpose of the Oregon Trail for people in the 1800s?

• To migrate to the western part of the United States

• To trade goods with Native Americans

• To explore new territories for fun

• To hunt wild animals