Early California Pioneers (Pre-1846)

The settlers from the United States thought California was _________.

• another state.
• Indian territory.
• the frontier
• too mountainous.

In the early 1800's, the only people from the Unite States to visit California  were ____________________.

• explorers
• trappers
• traders
• pioneers

Who were the first to cross the Sierra Nevada mountains?

• Junipero Serra and the Spanish
• Jedidiah Smith and his crew
• Abel Sterns
• The Donner Party

In 1844 & 1845 John C. Fremont, a U.S. army officer, spent time in California making (a)   .

This man was a slave turned mountain man, trapper, explorer and trader. He discovered an easier pass through the Sierra Nevadas. Who was he?

• James Beckwourth
• Elisha Stephens
• John C. Fremont 
• George Donner 

A person who first explores or settles a new region, leading the way for others to follow is called a ___________________.

• traveler
• hiker
• pioneer
• nomad

The main obstacle to settlers trying to get to California by land was ___________.

• Death Valley.
• the Great Plains.
• the Mojave Desert.
• the Sierra Nevada.

John Bidwell, a teacher, left Missouri and led a wagon train west. What would the route he followed become known as?

• the Oregon Trail

• the Bidwell Trail

• the California Trail

• the Missouri to California Trail

The Donner Party was

• a big celebration when the settlers made it to California.

• a group of people who sailed to California to become wealthy.

• a family that took a short cut from the trail to California and got lost for 4 month in the snow.

• A group of 87 explorers that made it to California

What made crossing the Sierra Nevada difficult for pioneers?

• the mountains were steep and there were no paved roads

• there were too many bears and mountain lions

• the tolls for the roads were expensive

• there wasn't anything difficult