March 21, 2011

What are at least two reasons why people traveled West?

Write these reasons on the inside page of the cream booklet on your desk!

Westward Expansion:Trails, Life and Interactions

Why Travel West?

Travel lasted about 6 months

Each trail was about 2,000 miles long!

Why Travel West?1. Oregon Trail (Missouri River to Oregon’s

Willamette Valley)- “Oregon Fever”- Free Land available → Donation Land Act- Chance to start a new life- To escape diseases- New adventure- Better climate

Why Travel West?

2. California Trail (Followed the Oregon Trail until it branched off and ended in California)- “Gold Rush” In search of GOLD!- Many prospectors left their

families behind. Why do you think women and children were left behind?- Attracted people from all over the world!

Journal Entry

1. Why did people travel each trail?/What were they searching for?

2. What do you think happened to the Native Americans already living on the land ‘claimed’ by Americans? Why?

March 22, 2011

Write the date on the second page of your journal.

Write your response on the second page of your journal on your desk! Use COMPLETE

SENTENCES1.Who used the Trail of Tears?2.Why do you think the Trail of

Tears has such a sad name?

Why Travel West?Mormon Trail (1846-1869)

1,415 miles

Why Travel West?

3. Mormon Trail (Nauvoo, IL to Salt Lake City, UT)- Harassed in Nauvoo for their religious beliefs

-Church of the Later-day Saints-Joseph & Hyrum Smith were murdered while in prison-Battle of Nauvoo—Mobs forced LDS out in September 1846

Why Travel West?

Trail of Tears (1830s)

Why Travel West?4. Trail of Tears

-Federal Indian Removal Policy-Cherokee Indians FORCIBLY removed

from their homes -This would create a ‘buffer zone’ and

allow for American expansion

Journal Entry1. How are the Mormon

Trail and the Trail of Tears different from the Oregon and California Trails?

2. Choose either the Mormon Trail or the Trail of Tears. How would you feel if you had to travel the trail? Why?