Wagons West! Traveling the Oregon Trail

Research is a necessary part of advertising.  You must know what it is you are selling. Most advertising agencies assign groups of individuals to work on major projects for large clients.  Since the federal government is a large client, you will be divided into teams of four to research the background information you will need to produce your evaluation product. Through your advertising, you want to let others know what travelers have experienced and what to expect on their journey westward on the Oregon Trail.

The web links are divided into four sections. Each member of your group will need to choose a section of sites to research.  In addition to gathering information for your project, you will need to answer the specific questions in each section, which will be collected by your teacher. After reading your web links and answering the specific questions listed, each person will need to answer the following general questions as they apply to their research:

1.    What did I learn about life along the Oregon Trail? 

2.   How would this information be beneficial to others who would travel this trail in the future?

3.   Who would benefit from this information - businessmen, settlers, adventurers, or politicians? (You may have to indicate more than one group.)  How would they, or could they, benefit from this information?

4.   How would you respond to this information if you were actually on the trail when you received it?  What might it make you do differently?

5.   Does this information represent a selling point for Manifest Destiny?  Justify your answer.

Section One:  Bounty and Beauty

1.    Navigate to http://www.historicoregoncity.org/HOC/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=75&Itemid=80/biomenu.html.

           Find the "End of the Oregon Trail Menu" on the right side of the page, click on "Trail FAQs," then scroll down to "What were the British doing there anyway?" Click on the link and read the information. Then, answer this question:

a.    What were the British doing in the Pacific Northwest, so far from England?

2.   Navigate to http://www.isu.edu/~trinmich/Facts.html. Click on "The $1,000,000 Wagon" and answer the following questions:

a.    What cargo was carried in this wagon that made it so valuable?

b.   Did this cargo have any impact on the future economy of this area? If so, how?

3.  Navigate to http://www.isu.edu/~trinmich/Sites.html.

     Under the "Oregon" tab, click on "Grande Ronde."

a.    Read the primary source quote of Captain Benjamin Bonneville.  Summarize this quote in four sentences.

     Click back to the "Oregon" heading, then click on "Barlow Road" and answer the following questions:

b.   How were the ferryboat prices described?

c.    What did Sam Barlow do in response to these prices?

d.   How much did each wagon pay to travel on the Barlow Road?

e.    Why were emigrants willing to travel the Barlow Road and its steep inclines?

Section Two:  Oh my!  You mean I needed to...

1.    Navigate to http://www.isu.edu/~trinmich/Sites.html. Under the "Nebraska" heading, click on "Ash Hollow" and answer the following questions:

a.    Most emigrants followed the south side of the Platte River. Why did they do this?

b.   What would happen if the travelers stayed on the south side of the river?

c.    A few miles further was Ash Hollow. What was found there that is important?

2.      Navigate to http://www.isu.edu/~trinmich/Sites.html. Under the "Wyoming" heading, click on "Devil's Gate" and answer the following question:

a.    What happened to one of the four women who were camping near Devil's Gate.

Click back to the "Wyoming" heading, then click on "Fort Bridger" and answer the following questions:

b.   Describe Fort Bridger:

1.    What could be found at this fort?

2.   Was it like Fort Laramie?

3.   Why did most emigrants try to avoid this fort?

Section Three:  If I had only known...

1.    Navigate to http://www.historicoregoncity.org/HOC/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=75&Itemid=80/biomenu.html. Find the "End of the Oregon Trail Menu" on the right side of the page, click on "Trail FAQs," then scroll down to "What was the trip like?" Click on the link and read the information. Then, answer these questions:

a.    How many people died on the trail, according to historians' estimates?

b.   What was the leading cause of death on the trail?

2.   Navigate to http://www.nps.gov/archive/whmi/press/ortrail.htm. This article speaks to the interaction of the mission with Native Americans, westward travelers, and others. Read the article, then answer these questions.

a.    In the 7^th paragraph, the Hudson's Bay Company is mentioned. With what country was the HBC affiliated? (Clue:  the city mentioned is the capital of the country in question.)

b.   What made the winter of 1846-47 difficult (paragraph 20)?

c.    What began to cause deaths among the Indians in 1847 (paragraph 21)?

d.   What eventually happened to the Whitmans (last paragraph)?

3.   Navigate to http://www.isu.edu/~trinmich/Hardships.html and answer the following   questions:

a.    How many people drowned crossing the rivers?

b.   How did emigrant J. B. Hall's describe his crossing of the river? (Summarize in your own words.)

Section Four:  Get up and GO!

1.    Navigate to http://www.42explore2.com/oregon.htm and read "The Basics" under "The Topic:  Oregon Trail" and answer the following question:

a.    How many people are estimated to have made the trip on the Oregon Trail?

2.   Navigate to http://www.historicoregoncity.org/HOC/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=75&Itemid=80/biomenu.html. Find the "End of the Oregon Trail Menu" on the right side of the page, click on "Trail FAQs," then scroll down to "Where did the Oregon Trail begin and end?" Click on the link and read the information. Then, answer these questions:

a.    According to Congress, where does the Oregon Trail officially begin and end?

b.   About how long did the journey take?

3.   Navigate to http://www.americanwest.com/trails/pages/oretrail.htm. Scroll down to the section titled "Across the Plains." Read the information. Then, answer these questions:

a.    What did the travelers do to cut down on the amount of dust they raised?

b.   What were the advantages of starting the journey in the spring?

4.   Navigate to http://www.isu.edu/~trinmich/Facts.html. Click on "The $100 Drink of Water" and answer the following questions:

a)   List two items and their purchase prices at the beginning of the trip vs. later on the Trail.

b)   How much did a pound of bacon cost?

After completing your research you will need to decide how you wish to present your advertisement:  brochure, travel poster (minimum of full poster board), radio jingle (song), or television commercial.  Whatever format you choose, you will be expected to include the following:  At least four (4) positive experiences, at least four (4) things that one would see along the trail and/or places they would go, and a list of "dos and don'ts" (at least four of each) for the trip.  If you are choosing a commercial or written presentation, your spelling must be correct and pictures must be included.  If you choose a song, your information must be presented in such a manner as to be understood by all of your audience.  Have fun and be creative!!!

A rubric will be used to grade your project. Click on the Evaluation link to see the rubric.