Overland Trails

Activity #2: Why did people travel on the trails?

Materials

• Pencil and paper for journal
• Using Primary Sources handout
• Using Primary Sources worksheet

Note: The journal will be an ongoing activity and will used in Activities #2-#5

Curriculum Objectives

4th grade – Kansas History Standard, Benchmark 1, Indicator 5: The student compares and contrasts the purposes of the Santa Fe and Oregon-California Trail (e.g. commercial vs. migration).
4th grade – Kansas History Standard,  Benchmark 1 Indicator 6: The student describes life on the Santa Fe and Oregon-California Trails (e.g. interactions between different cultural groups, hardships such as lack of water, mountains and rivers to cross, weather, the need for medical care, size of wagon)
4th grade and 5th grade – Kansas Writing Standard 1 Benchmark 1 – The student writes narrative text using the writing process. The student writes narrative text using the writing process.
4th grade – National Standards for History, Standard 5A: The student is able to draw upon data in historical maps, historical narratives, diaries, and other fiction or nonfiction accounts in order to chart various historical movements (westward, northward, and eastward) in the United States. (Source: National Center for History in the Schools)

Instructions:

1. Discuss the difference between the trails with students. The Oregon-California Trail and the Santa Fe Trail were two different kinds of trails. The Oregon-California Trail primarily was a “people” trail, on which emigrants seeking a better life in the West traveled to find a new home. Often they were in search of better farm land, gold, or a better climate for a family member in ill health. The Santa Fe Trail was a commerce trail, or a trail for goods going to and coming from New Mexico. Both trails served as supply lines for the U.S. Army, mail routes, and roads for adventurers, gold seekers, and others traveling west.
   
   
2. Talk with students about primary source documents. Primary source documents are those that were created when an event was happening. Journals and letters written by people who traveled the trails are primary source documents.

   One of the ways we know why people went on the trails, is because of the number of journals that were kept by the travelers. It would seem that almost every traveler felt compelled to keep some kind of record of the journey. Journals were kept by women as well as men. Children did not seem to keep journals, but many young people who made the journey wrote their recollections at a later date.

   The primary purpose for these journals was to describe the route taken for family and friends who remained “back in the States.” These journals covered every aspect of the trip--miles traveled, rivers forded, the best camping areas, weather, and even the number of graves passed. The journals served as extended letters to be sent to family members to keep family bonds strong. This is particularly true of many of the journals kept by women, who felt wrenched from the security of their homes and families.

   During the mid-1800s, journals would have been written with quill pens and ink. Show students the pen and the ink well to illustrate that travelers kept journals on the trails. After the Civil War, more pens with metal nibs would have been used.

   Most journals begin with the first day of the journey and end on the day the traveler arrived at his or her destination. Reasons for emigrating were often added later in the form of a preface or were written to friends in letters.
   
   
3. Have students read and complete the worksheet on Using Primary Sources worksheet (Answer key for teachers provided).
   
   
4. Have students begin a journal about their travels on the Santa Fe Trail or Oregon-California Trail. Each student should choose a trail and write their first entry, giving the reasons why they are leaving their home and going on the trail. On the Santa Fe Trail, primarily men went to make money by bringing trade goods to Santa Fe. However, some women went on honeymoon trips on the trail when they married men in the military or in the freight business. On the Oregon-California Trail, many people were emigrating to new homes in the west. However, on both trails, gold seekers went when gold was discovered in California in 1848 and in Colorado in 1858. Some travelers simply were adventurous and went for the experience. And military personnel traveled from fort to fort, providing supplies and troops.
   
   
5. Additional Activity:
   Students can make and decorate a journal cover using construction paper or cardstock. Punch holes down the left side of the cover and tie the pages together with leather cord for an authentic look. Here are some ideas for decorating the cover:
   • Search www.jocohistory.net for trail images. Print them out and paste them on the cover.
   • Search www.jocohistory.net for trail images. Decorate the cover using those images for inspiration.
   • Draw a picture of the trail life using descriptions from the Background Information and activity information.
   • Draw a map of Johnson County with the Oregon-California and Santa Fe Trails going through it.

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