Oregon Trail :: essays research papers fc

CROSSING THE Great Plains The operating theatre Trail was an overland outgoer r stunnede in the United States from the Missouri River to the Columbia River country, was the way to give out back in the 1840s through the 1860s. In 1843 the "Great transportation" began and the west would never be the same after the out arrange of the travelers. The pioneers by station waggon train did not, however, follow any single shockable track. In open country the different trains might spread out over a large area, only to converge again for river crossings, softwood passes. In time many alternate routes also developed. They originated at motley places on the Missouri, although Independence were favorite starting signal points, the routes taken along with the wagon trails are the key points in which made it possible to travel west. Those starting from Independence followed the same route as the Santa Fe Trail for approximately 40 miles, accordingly traveled to the Platte and generally followed that river to the North Platte and hence the southbound Platte. Crossing the South Platte, the main trail followed the North Platte to citadel Laramie, then to the present Casper, Wyo. and through the mountains by the South Pass to the Colorado River. The travelers then went to meet Bridger, from which the Mormon Trail continued to the Great Salt Lake, magical spell the Oregon Trail went northwest across a divide to Fort Hall, on the Snake River. The California Trail branched off to the southwest, notwithstanding the Oregon Trail continued to Fort Boise. From that point the travelers had to make the terrible climb over the Blue Mountains. Once those were crossed, paths diverged somewhat many went to Fort Walla Walla before proceeding down the south bank of the Columbia River, traversing the Columbias choke up where it passes through the Cascade Mountains to the Willamette Valley, where the early settlement centered. The end of the trail shifted as settlem ent spread. The mountain men were chiefly responsible for making the route known, and Thomas Fitzpatrick and James Bridger were renowned as guides. The first genuine emigrant train was that led by John Bidwell in 1841, half of which went to California, the reprieve proceeding from Fort Hall to Oregon. The first train of emigrants to reach Oregon was that led by Elijah White in 1842. In 1843 occurred the "Great out-migration" of more than 900 persons and more than 1,000 head of stock.