Geographic

The Oregon Trail had geographic effects on the expansion of the U.S.

"Zion In Her Heart" by Clark Kelley Price

Also, as the settlers traveled along the Oregon Trail, the trail provided many resources for the settlers. Some useful resources included clean drinking water, patches of grass for animals to graze on, low passages that were easier for wagons to move along, and more shallow rivers for wagons and settlers to easily cross over.

"The Oregon Trail" by Richard Nervig

Overall, geographic effects were one of the major effects on the expansion of the U.S. because the start of spring gave settlers an opportunity to get a head start on their journey so they wouldn’t face the winter season, and the resources the settlers were provided along the trail caused many to use the Oregon Trail to travel west.

F or example, before the rivers flowed and the flowers bloomed, the settlers would know that this was the start of spring and would get a head start on their journey west. This is because when winter starts to move in, the settlers have already reached their destination so they don't have to face the cold, dark days of winter.

"The Oregon Trail II " by Albert Bierstadt, 1863

Finally, the Oregon Trail also provided a connection to the California Trail and Mormon Trail. The connection of these trails could get settlers to their locations such as using the California trail to mine gold.

"On The Oregon Trail" by Jim Carson

Oregon Trail Game

Try taking a journey by a covered wagon across 2,000 miles of plains, rivers, and mountains. Designed to teach students about the realities of 19th-century pioneer life on the Oregon Trail, the game is full of twists and turns. Will you survive the Oregon Trail? Try it out below by clicking on the power button.

Oregon Trail Map

Uncheck mark the other trails besides the Oregon National Historic Trail (Yellow). You could zoom in or zoom out.