Before then … The Oregon Trail had to eventually cross the South Platte River to gain access to the North Platte River, which overlanders followed all the way to the area of present-day Casper, Wyoming. People who crossed over the California Trail are pioneers. Between 1841 and 1866 an estimated 500,000 emigrants headed west over the trail. Native American/Indian/American Indian/Indigenous People: Words used to describe people who lived in America before European migration. Non-frontiersmen were quickly transformed into pioneers 5. Pioneer: person who is among the irst to explore or settle a . History of internal migration in the United States: Ever since the original 13 colonies, westward expansion has been a feature of American life. Though the first emigrants to use the Oregon Trail arrived in 1836, the first large-scale mass migration did not occur until 1843 when an estimated 1,000 pioneers set out together. This so-called “Hastings Cutoff” directed emigrants to leave the main California Trail at Fort Bridger and travel southwest around the Great Salt Lake, saving 400 miles of journey. The Oregon Trail began in the 1840s. This was done at California Crossing, named for the gold rushers of 1849. The organization of Mormon wagon trains 9. Follow in the footsteps of over 250,000 emigrants who traveled to the gold fields and rich farmlands of California during the 1840s and 1850s: the greatest mass migration in American history. The Oregon-California Trail ended in two different spots, what are the? What did people traveling along the Santa Fe Trail carry in their wagons? About 10% of the pioneers died on the journey accounting for approximately 50,000 deaths, After crossing the Rocky Mountains and entering present-day Idaho, the emigrants in the early 1840’s considered themselves officially in Oregon Territory. The party had both American and Mexican citizens in it. new area. The Mormon Trail was a two-way road 7. People who traveled on the California Trail were called emigrants. The claim of the guidebook’s influence is based on weak evidence. It was most heavily used in the 1840s, 1850s, and 1860s. decided to head for California by way of the trail to Santa Fe. The length of the wagon trail from the Missouri River to Sacramento, California was about 1,950 miles (3,138 km). Mormons did not employ professional guides 4. National Oregon/California Trail Center 320 North 4th Street Montpelier, Idaho 83254 (866) 847-3800 Notable Members: •William Gordon About 25 people made up this party, which headed out along the familiar trading trail to Los Angeles (the old Santa Fe Trail). Oregon-California Trail. The California Trail was important in the history of California, because the settlers who did come to California were able to assist John C. 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