The Oregon Trail Quiz

What is the Oregon Trail most known for in American history?

• A major trade route for fur traders

• The longest and most heavily used route for westward migration

• A scenic route for tourists

• A path for military expeditions

Approximately how many travelers used the Oregon Trail between 1840 and 1860?

• 300,000 to 400,000

• 200,000 to 300,000

• 100,000 to 200,000

• 400,000 to 500,000

Which river did travelers NOT follow on the Oregon Trail?

• Missouri River

• Platte River

• Snake River

• Mississippi River

What was the primary reason oxen were used to pull wagons on the Oregon Trail?

• They were faster than horses

• They were less expensive and had more endurance

• They were easier to train

• They were immune to diseases

What was the main cause of death on the Oregon Trail?

• Accidents

• Indian attacks

• Disease, especially cholera

• Starvation

What was the purpose of the Barlow Road?

• To connect to the Santa Fe Trail

• To offer an overland route around Mount Hood

• To avoid river crossings

• To provide a shortcut to California

Which group was responsible for promoting missionary expeditions to Oregon in the late 1830s?

• The Oregon-California Trails Association

• The American Fur Company

• The Hudson's Bay Company

• The Oregon Provisional Emigration Society

What was a common punishment for crimes on the Oregon Trail?

• Expulsion from the wagon train

• Public shaming

• Fines

• Imprisonment

What was the significance of the Oregon Donation Land Act of 1850?

• It limited land claims to 100 acres per family

• It restricted land ownership to Native Americans

• It extended land provisions to 1855, resulting in 7,500 claims

• It prohibited African Americans from owning land

Who was George Bush in the context of the Oregon Trail?

• A fur trader who discovered South Pass

• A missionary who established a mission at The Dalles

• A politician who promoted the Oregon Trail

• A free African American who traveled with the Simmons-Gilliam wagon train