MANIFEST DESTINY 1806 1855
THE OREGON TRAIL WESTWARD MIGRATION TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN
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Question
[CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
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Native Americans
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Disease
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Rattlesnakes
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Mosquitoes
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Detailed explanation-1: -Emigrants feared death from a variety of causes along the trail: lack of food or water; Indian attacks; accidents, or rattlesnake bites were a few. However, the number one killer, by a wide margin, was disease. The most dangerous diseases were those spread by poor sanitary conditions and personal contact.
Detailed explanation-2: -Stream and river crossings, steep descents and ascents, violent storms, and the persistent threat of disease among large groups of travelers were the most common challenges. Disease was the greatest threat on the trail, especially cholera, which struck wagon trains in years of heavy travel.
Detailed explanation-3: -Diseases and serious illnesses caused the deaths of nine out of ten pioneers. Such diseases as cholera, small pox, flu, measles, mumps, tuberculosis could spread quickly through an entire wagon camp. Cholera was the main scourge of the trail.