The Oregon Trail: A Call From The West

Introduction:

Imagine packing up everything you own, bidding farewell to friends and family, and embarking on a journey with your loved ones in a covered wagon. You'll be traveling miles and miles to a land that is completely unfamiliar, hoping that you have enough provisions to survive and that you won't fall ill or perish from exhaustion. This was the reality for the pioneers of the 1800s, who hoped to settle in the western United States. The journey involved crossing vast plains, scaling the Rocky Mountains, and traversing lakes, and the preferred route for many was the Oregon Trail, a 2,200-mile (3,500-kilometer) path from the Midwest to Oregon. This journey was fraught with numerous obstacles and dangers.

The History of the Oregon Trail:

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The Oregon Trail originated in the Louisiana Territory and ended in Oregon City. But what if President Jefferson had not acquired the Louisiana Territory in 1803? The Erie Canal would not have been completed, and Lewis and Clark would not have explored the Louisiana Territory. Oregon would not have been incorporated into the United States. Imagine how different life would be today.

The Oregon Trail did not start out as a single path. Initially, there were two separate trails used by Native Americans. In the early 1800s, fur traders began using the trails and combined them into one. Christians then sent people on the Oregon Trail in the 1830s, and in the 1840s, newspapers began publishing accounts of the trail's wonders. It is interesting to note that the state of Oregon now encompasses six U.S. states.

A Call From The West:

In the 1800s, the call from the West was strong. Oregon provided an opportunity for Americans to settle in a new land with more space, food, water, and freedom. Approximately 300,000 to 500,000 people migrated to the West in search of adventure and everything they needed, which they might not have had in their hometowns.

There were various reasons why people chose to migrate West. One reason was the completion of the Erie Canal, which made it easier for people to travel from the East Coast to the Midwest. The canal connected people to the entire chain of the Great Lakes. In 1846, the Oregon Trail and other paths led people from the Midwest to California and Oregon. Some individuals sought land for farming and gardening, while others were runaway slaves who could only gain freedom if they made it to Oregon. Most people lived in small, cramped spaces, and some didn't even have a proper home.

Planning a trip lasting between five to six months across rugged terrain was a daunting task that could take up to a year. Emigrants were required to liquidate their homes, businesses, and any possessions that were unsuitable for transportation. Additionally, they had to acquire several hundred pounds of supplies including coffee, salt, rifles, ammunition, bacon, sugar, and flour.

The covered wagon was by far the most essential item for survival on the trail. It had to be both robust enough to endure harsh weather conditions and compact enough for a team of mules or oxen to pull day in and day out.

Typically, wagons measured around twelve feet in length and six feet in width. They were crafted from well-seasoned hardwood and covered with an oiled canvas that was stretched over wooden frames. Besides food supplies, these wagons were also equipped with extra wheels, axles, tar buckets, and water barrels.

Despite popular belief, most wagons that journeyed the Oregon Trail were prairie schooners, not the larger and heavier Conestoga wagons.

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