The three principle trails which crossed the West were the Santa Fe, Oregon, and California.
What were the 3 main trails that went west?
Three of the Missouri-based routes—the Oregon, Mormon, and California Trails—were collectively known as the Emigrant Trails.
What 3 trails all started in Independence Missouri Why was this a significant location?
In addition to the Oregon Trail, Independence, MO, was also the starting point for the California and Santa Fe trails. Oregon promised land, California promised gold, and Santa Fe promised trade. From 1821-49, tens of thousands of pioneers and traders descended on Independence to outfit themselves for their journeys.
What was the name of the trail that started in Independence Missouri and moved westward?
The Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail was a roughly 2,000-mile route from Independence, Missouri, to Oregon City, Oregon, which 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.
What were the 4 main trails of the westward expansion?
Who, Where & When?
- The Santa Fe Trail – From Santa Fe, New Mexico to Chihuahua.
- The Old Spanish Trail – From Sante Fe, New Mexico to Los Angeles. California.
- The Oregon Trail – From Independence, Missouri to the Oregon Territory.
- The California Trail – From Fort Hall to Sutters Fort.
Why did the Oregon Trail start in Missouri?
Overcrowding at the Wayne City landing for Independence, followed soon by a cholera epidemic, left emigrants looking for other jumping-off spots. Westport, Oregon Crossing, Fort Leavenworth, and Weston were further up the river in Missouri, which meant that jumping off from those towns would save a few days’ travel.
Where in Independence Missouri did the Oregon Trail start?
Independence Courthouse Square- Truman Courthouse
Historic Truman Courthouse is the official start of the Oregon Trail, where wagons were outfitted through much of the emigration era. The original building on the site went up in 1836 in the Colonial Revival style.
What trails were used to the west?
These brave pioneers journeyed west for about five to six months along overland trails such as the California Trail, Gila River Trail, Mormon Trail, Old Spanish Trail, Oregon Trail, and the Santa Fe Trail for many different reasons.
Where was the starting point of the trail for most pioneers?
Independence, Missouri
While the first few parties organized and departed from Elm Grove, the Oregon Trail’s primary starting point was Independence, Missouri, or Kansas City (Missouri), on the Missouri River.
Why was Independence Missouri an important place for westward expansion?
Independence, Missouri was founded in 1827 to serve as the westernmost port of the fur trade on the Missouri River. It later served as a jumping-off point for the Santa Fe, Oregon, and California Trails, and two battles were fought here in the Civil War.
Where did the Santa Fe Trail start?
Franklin, Missouri
Covering approximately 800 miles, the Santa Fe Trail extends from Independence, Missouri to present day Santa Fe, New Mexico. The Trail originally began in Franklin, Missouri, but the trail head was moved to Fort Osage and, by 1827, to Independence. The Santa Fe Trail and national park units on it route.
What are three facts about the Oregon Trail?
Check out nine surprising facts about the route that once served as the gateway to the American West.
- The Oregon Trail didn’t follow a single set path.
- A pair of Protestant missionaries made one of the trail’s first wagon crossings.
- The iconic Conestoga wagon was rarely used on the Oregon Trail.
What was the main purpose of the Santa Fe Trail?
The Santa Fe Trail was mainly a trade route but saw its share of emigrants, especially during the California Gold Rush and the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush in Colorado. The trail also became an important route for stagecoach travel, stagecoach mail delivery and as a mail route for the famed Pony Express.
What were three big destinations of early westward expansion?
Westward Expansion and the Mexican War
Thousands of people crossed the Rockies to the Oregon Territory, which belonged to Great Britain, and thousands more moved into the Mexican territories of California, New Mexico and Texas.
What two trails did Americans move west?
What two trails did Americans take to move West? Santa Fe Trail and Oregon Trail.
What are 3 major reasons people traveled out west?
Gold rush and mining opportunities (silver in Nevada) The opportunity to work in the cattle industry; to be a “cowboy” Faster travel to the West by railroad; availability of supplies due to the railroad. The opportunity to own land cheaply under the Homestead Act.
Did the Oregon Trail start in St Louis?
The trail began at the old Independence Landing north of Independence, Missouri. Here emigrants left steamboats after a five or six day journey from St. Louis. The center of activity in the small town of Independence was the bustling square.
Where is Independence Rock Oregon Trail?
During the middle of the 19th century, it formed a prominent and well-known landmark on the Oregon, Mormon, and California emigrant trails.
Independence Rock (Wyoming)
| Location | 60 mi (97 km) SW of Casper on WYO 220, Natrona County, Wyoming |
| Coordinates | 42.494°N 107.133°W |
| Area | 170 acres (69 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000757 |
| Significant dates |
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What cities did the Oregon Trail pass through?
Later, several feeder trails led across Kansas, and some towns became starting points, including Weston, Fort Leavenworth, Atchison, St. Joseph, and Omaha. The Oregon Trail’s nominal termination point was Oregon City, at the time the proposed capital of the Oregon Territory.
What was the Oregon Trail known for?
The Oregon Trail has attracted such interest because it is the central feature of one of the largest mass migrations of people in American history. Between 1840 and 1860, from 300,000 to 400,000 travelers used the 2,000-mile overland route to reach Willamette Valley, Puget Sound, Utah, and California destinations.
What was the Oregon Trail?
The Oregon Trail was a wagon road stretching 2170 miles from Missouri to Oregon’s Willamette Valley. It was not a road in any modern sense, only parallel ruts leading across endless prairie, sagebrush desert, and mountains.