15 Questions
What was the route of the Oregon Trail?
From Independence, Missouri, to The Willamette Valley, Oregon
When did the first organized wagon party traverse the Oregon Trail?
1836
Who completed the Louisiana Purchase?
Thomas Jefferson
Which states were included in the Louisiana Purchase?
Louisiana, Iowa, Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Nebraska, North and South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, Minnesota, and Texas
What was President John Quincy Adams focused on in terms of expansion?
Expanding toward the entire continent
What was the primary reason for many Americans being drawn to westward expansion?
Promises of new opportunities and free or inexpensive land
Who attempted to invade parts of Mexico and Nicaragua in support of Manifest Destiny?
William Walker
Which treaty fully signed over the Oregon country to the US?
Treaty of Oregon in 1846
When did the Oregon Trail see its peak travel years?
From 1843 to the early 1850s
What was the primary reason for traveling on the Oregon Trail?
Economic opportunity, escaping an epidemic and economic depression, religious inspiration, and the allure of free land
What was the primary cause of death for emigrants on the Oregon Trail?
Disease such as cholera and dysentery
Where did the Oregon Trail officially begin?
Independence, Missouri
Where did the Oregon Trail typically end for emigrants who stuck to it without branching off onto other trails?
Oregon City, Oregon
What was the distance covered on an exceptional day's travel on the Oregon Trail?
15-20 miles
What was the primary reason for most emigrants to start their journey on the Oregon Trail in the spring?
To avoid bitter cold of winter and brutal heat of summer
Study Notes
Westward Expansion and the Oregon Trail
- President James Polk annexed Texas from Mexico with the help of influential figures like John O'Sullivan, who promoted the Texas annexation through his newspaper.
- The US won the Mexican-American war in 1848 and gained control of additional western states, fully embracing Manifest Destiny, the belief in the country's destined expansion.
- Many Americans were drawn to westward expansion by promises of new opportunities and free or inexpensive land.
- William Walker attempted to invade parts of Mexico and Nicaragua, viewed as a champion of Manifest Destiny, but lacked the necessary supplies and military leadership to succeed.
- O'Sullivan and Walker were influential in westward expansion, with O'Sullivan conceptualizing Manifest Destiny and Walker attempting to implement it through force.
- The United States jointly owned the Oregon Territory with Britain, and migration on the Oregon Trail led to its rapid Americanization.
- The Oregon country was fully signed over to the US through the Treaty of Oregon in 1846.
- Three main westward expansion trails included the Oregon Trail, the Mormon Trail, and the California Trail, all collectively known as overland trails.
- The Oregon, California, and Mormon Trails traveled from the Midwest, with the Santa Fe Trail taking emigrants further south.
- The Oregon Trail saw its peak travel years from 1843 to the early 1850s, with upwards of 50,000 people using the trail each year.
- The Oregon Trail's establishment began early in the nineteenth century, primarily used by fur trappers after the Rush-Bagot treaty of 1817.
- Reasons for traveling on the Oregon Trail included economic opportunity, escaping an epidemic and economic depression, religious inspiration, and the allure of free land.
Test your knowledge of Westward Expansion and the Oregon Trail with this quiz. Explore the annexation of Texas, Manifest Destiny, influential figures like John O'Sullivan and William Walker, and the impact of migration on the Oregon Trail. How much do you know about this pivotal period in American history?
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
