Introduction

Grab your brain and get ready to head back in time! This Internet exercise will take you back almost 200 years in history to the westward movement along the Oregon Trail. Using the Web allows you to discover tons more than you may have ever known possible! Below is a list of questions about the topic of this page. Surf the Internet links on this page to find answers to the questions. During your searching, don't forget to keep in mind the BIG QUESTION! Have fun and be sure to check out the pictures-- they are really cool!

Questions

1. What were three differences between the Native American Tribes that the captains came in contact with? What would Lewis and Clark explain to a tribe the first time they met them?
   
   
2. Thomas Jefferson funded a small group of people who he called the 'Corp of Discovery.' What was their mission? Who led the group?
   
   
3. Strange and Unusual, but always true! Choose one Fantastic Fact about the Oregon Trail and write a one-paragraph summary about what you learned. You may want to choose a few Fantastic Facts to read before selecting your favorite to write a summary on.
   
   
4. Click on 'Introduction to the Trail' and list three important things you learned in this introduction to the Oregon Trail.
   What national historic treasure are many groups today working hard to preserve?
   
   
5. Choose one of Jackson's paintings. You may click on them to make them larger. Write a diary entry as if you were in the picture. Who are you? What is happening? How do you feel?
   
   
6. Click on 'Jumping Off.' Wow! Check out all the wagons heading west-- pretty amazing, huh? You have heard about cholera in two articles at this point. What is cholera? You may need to use a dictionary to help you. Waiting: Why was it important to wait until April before heading west? Wagons: Sketch a picture of a wagon and label some of the parts which helped to make their trip more comfortable. Be sure to read the sections on Congestion and Overpacking-- I'm sure you will find them interesting!
   
   
7. Click on 'The Route West.' Which would you have preferred to travel in-- a ship or wagon? Why? Be sure to explain and support your answer!
   
   
8. Click on 'Power' and draw a Venn Diagram and chart the similarities and differences between oxen and mules.
   
   
9. Walking 2,000 miles barefoot-- and that was the easy part! Click on 'Hardships.' This source tells about the many hardships pioneers faced as they traveled westward. Put the five hardships in the order you feel would be the easiest to deal with to the most difficult to deal with. One being the easiest; five being the most difficult. Explain why you chose this order.
   
   
10. Click on 'Camping.' This site tells about what it was like for the emigrants to camp day after day after day. Although there are many interesting facts, tell me just one that you learned from this site!
    
    
11. Click on 'Buffalo.' Watch out wagons! With so many buffalo pictured here, how did they almost become extinct?
    
    
12. Click on 'Native Americans.' Relationships: What was the relationship between the Native Americans and the emigrants in the beginning?
    What was the cause of the Grattan Massacre? Who do you think was right-- the emigrants or the Sioux? Why? Read about the other two massacres-- very interesting.
    
    

The Internet Resources

• Jackson's Paintings
• Inside the Corps
• Power
• Camping
• Native Americans
• Native Americans
• The Route West
• Introduction to the Oregon Trail
• Fantastic Facts about the Oregon Trail
• Buffalo
• Jumping Off
• Hardships

The Big Question

After everything you have studied and learned about in the classroom and during this Internet Treasure Hunt on Westward Expansion, what would you consider some main ideas of this topic? Choose three and make a mind map that includes the information you learned about each idea.