Major Overland Routesof the West

By Marlana Quaill

Trails in the 1800s Trails helped travel become easier and more efficient. Trails were used by farmers, ranchers, miners, and

business men. They were used for migration to the Pacific North-West

and to establish new farms and businesses. Some major trails used were the California Trail, Oregon

Trail, and Santa Fe Trail. Most of the travelers left in April to May, because the

weather and timing was best for travel in that time period.

After railroads became more popular than trails, roads were built over the trails.

The travelers traveled by foot, horse-back, wagons, pack-trains, boat, and raft on the trails. They usually used oxen for travel.

Pioneers In the 1800s, many Americans wanted to expand the area in which they

lived. Americans started to travel west of the cities on the Eastern Coast of

America. Pioneers are the first people that traveled to the West and made

settlements. They made trails to many different areas, including California, New

Mexico, and Oregon. On the trail, the pioneers encountered many obstacles. It was a

challenge to travel through areas that hadn’t been turned into cities yet. Their journeys would last about six months. They had to pack enough supplies to last them the whole journey.

Supplies included food, clothes, and equipment. Many people got sick or badly hurt and many people died. When somebody got hurt, they would take them to a safe area, try to fix

it, and hope for the best.

California Trail The California Trail was about 2,000 miles. It went from the Missouri River to California on the Western half on

America. It was mostly used from 1841 to 1869. In 1848 many pioneers traveled to California all at once, and the trails

were very crowded. They wanted gold from the gold fields. This time was called the California Gold Rush.

It followed most of the same area of the Oregon Trail and Mormon Trail. It turned off from these other trails in Idaho, Wyoming and Utah. Once the pioneers made it to Western Nevada, they made more trails

through the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the cities and gold fields of California.

California was bought in 1848 by Mexico, causing the end of the Mexican-American War.

The California Trail has not been used in a very long time, but some of it is still reserved by the National Park Services and the Bureau of Land Management.

THE CALIFORNIA TRAIL

Oregon Trail The Oregon Trail was one of the main overland

migration routes in America. It went from Oregon to the Missouri River. It was in use from 1841 to 1869 by farmers,

ranchers, miners, and business men. They used the trail to migrate, trade, or establish

new lives in the Pacific-West. After the international railroad reached Portland,

Oregon in 1883, the Oregon Trail stopped being used as frequently.

Eventually it wasn’t used at all.

THE OREGON TRAIL

Santa Fe Trail The Santa Fe trail was first used as a military

highway, until a railroad was built over it in 1800. It went through central North America, from Santa

Fe, New Mexico to Missouri. It was first used as a railroad in 1821. In 1846, it was used as an invasion route of New

Mexico during the Mexican-American War. The route crossed Comancheria, which is where

the Comanches lived. Today a highway that goes along what used to be

the trail is called the Santa Fe Trail National Scenic Byway.

THE SANTA FE TRAIL

Comancheria The Comanche Indians demanded money for the

travelers to be able to pass through on the Santa Fe Trail.

The Americans traded with the Comanche Indians instead of giving them money.

Trade in Comancheria was more profitable for the Americans than the trade in Santa Fe was.

The Americans visited the Indians more often. Comancheria became a wealthier area. Before the Comanche spread out of Wyoming, it

was occupied by many tribes, such as the Apaches. Comancheria had earlier been known as Apacheria.

The Comancheria Teritory

The Comaches Indians King

Websites http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Trail http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Trai

l http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Fe_Trail http://www.over-land.com/ http://www.jstor.org/pss/3642461 http://library.thinkquest.org/6400/ http://

www.travelinsurancereview.net/Travel-Facts/pioneer-travel-oregon-trail.html

http://www.42explore2.com/pioneer.htm