Vocabulary
Worker who shapes heated iron by pounding it with a hammer.
What is a blacksmith?
This wagon was the most popular type of wagon used by the pioneers for the Oregon Trail.
What is a prairie schooner?
This was one of the first and a very unique landmark seen by the emigrants. It is a natural geologic formation with a slender spire that rises up 325 feet from a conical base.
What is Chimney Rock?
This was the number one draft animal used by the pioneers. About 80% of the wagons in 1850 were hauled by these beasts of burden.
What is oxen?
These were a constant source of worry for the pioneers. Hundreds drowned trying to cross the Kansas, North Platte, Columbia and others.
What are river crossings?
A boat for carrying people and goods across rivers.
What is a ferry or barge?
What did the pioneers do to keep the canvas (cloth) of the wagon waterproof?
What is rubbed the cloth with oil?
This fort was the first one built to protect travelers on the Oregon Trail. It was an army headquarters, and the first important station for the pony express. It was also the first fort many pioneers stopped at on their journey.
What is Fort Kearny?
These animals which pulled wagons were fast, expensive, often stolen, and could not live off prairie grasses along the way.
What are horses?
Because most emigrants overloaded their wagons, few could ride inside. This is how most pioneers journeyed along the Oregon Trail.
What is walking?
Movement from one place to another.
What is migration?
Underneath the wagon between the back wheels there was a hook with a bucket of something hanging down from it. This substance was rubbed on the wheels so that they would turn smoothly.
What is axle grease?
This bluff was named by the Pioneers because it looked like the courthouse in the city they came from. Many pioneers had never seen any rock so tall. They may have stopped to climb to the top to enjoy the view.
What is Courthouse Rock?
These animals could pull the covered wagons, live off prairie grasses, but couldn't travel as far as oxen.
What is a mule?
One of the biggest problems was this element. Sometimes it would rain for days on the prairies causing wagons to get stuck in this.
What is mud?
At the end of the day, wagons did this with the wagons for protect.
What is circle the wagons?
A group of covered wagons traveling together across the country.
What is a wagon train?
This was a camping spot for many pioneers. There were natural springs which contained water that was almost carbonated. They used the water to bake bread.
What is Soda Springs?
This large animal roamed the plains and their chips provided fuel for the pioneers. The pioneers learned from the Native Americans how to dry the meat of this animal to keep it for a long time. The way to dry it was called "jerking."
What is buffalo ?
This would get in your eyes and would be so thick that you could hardly see your hand in front of your face.
What is dust?
Belief that the United States had a right to settle the entire West. Most Americans believed the British, the Mexicans and the Indians should be driven out because the U.S. had the real "right" to expand to the West.
What is Manifest Destiny?
In a successful six days, the typical wagon train would go ___miles. a. 60 b. 2 c. 1,000 d. 10
What is (a) 60 miles?
This rock was a huge granite formation and was a favorite landmark for the Pioneers. It was named for the date on which pioneers hoped to arrive. They would stop here to carve their names in the stone, and read the names of those who went before them.
What is Independence Rock?
These animals lived in "cities." At least that's what it looked like - lots of "doorway" holes in mounds all over the ground. They are very interesting to watch. These animals would sit outside their doorways on their hind legs and watch you.
What are prairie dogs?
Perhaps the biggest problem on the Trail was a mysterious and deadly disease for which there was no cure. Often, an emigrant would go from healthy to dead in just a few hours.
What is cholera?