USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -The Oregon Trail was a roughly 2, 000-mile route from Independence, Missouri, to Oregon City, Oregon, that was used by hundreds of thousands of American pioneers in the mid-1800s to emigrate west. The trail was arduous and snaked through Missouri and present-day Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho and finally into Oregon.

Detailed explanation-2: -Most of the pioneer families either followed the Oregon-California Trail or the Mormon Trail. Mormon pioneers began their trek to Utah in 1847 to escape religious persecution. Two years later gold was discovered in California, and thousands of “Forty-Niners” rushed across the continent.

Detailed explanation-3: -From the early to mid-1830s (and particularly through the years 1846–1869) the Oregon Trail and its many offshoots were used by about 400, 000 settlers, farmers, miners, ranchers, and business owners and their families.

Detailed explanation-4: -Free land in Oregon and the possibility of finding gold in California lured them westward. At the same time, eastern churches wanted to teach American Indians of the Oregon Country their European ideas of “civilization.” Many simply hoped for a chance to start a new life.

Detailed explanation-5: -Initially, Independence, Missouri, was the departure point for the Oregon Trail because it was also the eastern terminus of the older Santa Fe Trail. Most of the early emigrants arrived at Independence after having loaded their wagons and belongings directly onto steamboats traveling up the Missouri River from St.