Miscellaneous
During which 2 months did heavy snowstorms trap the Donner Party?
October and November
What was the name of the shortcut that Lansford Hastings recommended?
Hastings Cutoff
Name the lake that the group got trapped near.
Donner Lake
What desperate measure did some survivors resort to in order to stay alive?
Cannibalism
How long were the Donner Party trapped before help arrived?
Around 4 months
Why was the group called the Donner Party?
Name 2 things that Hastings claimed the shortcut would do.
Save time
Make the trip easier
What state was the Donner party trying to reach?
California
47
Freezing temperatures
Deep snow
Steep cliffs
Name 3 reasons that the Donner Party traveled west.
Better life
Land
New chances
Why was it risky for the group to take the shortcut?
Because the route was new and not well tested.
February
How many people were in the original Donner Party group?
87
Frostbite
Hunger
Exhaustion
What effect did the snowstorms have?
Name 2 terrain challenges that the cutoff presented.
Harsh desert and mountains
What state did the Donner Party leave from?
Illinois
Food and warm clothing
Name 4 things the Donner Party encountered on the Hastings Cutoff that slowed them down.
Wagons becoming stuck
Oxen and cattle getting tired
Losing supplies
Bad weather
Built shelters and used the food they already had
What trail did the Donner Party follow before taking the shortcut?
The Oregon Trail
In which mountain range did the Donner party become trapped?
Sierra Nevada
Name 2 causes of death for the members of the Donner Party.
Exposure and starvation
Name 4 factors that led to the Donner party disaster.
Taking an unproven route
Leaving late in the season
Running out of food/supplies
Weak leadership and poor choices