Dangers on The Oregan Trail
By Jonathan Gulak
Statement
The journey was a great test of the travelers endurance but it also helped get them ready for the tough life west.
Support
The journey on the Oregon Trail was tough. Settlers had to face flooded rivers, Indians, diseases, and most food and wood was scarce too.
http://worldbookonline.com/student/article?id=ar405360&st=westward+expansion
If you left for the west to early you would not have enough grass for your animals and if you left late you would probably be caught in killer blizzards.
The Great Plains were a tough place to go through on the trail, there was little water and very few trees for firewood.
Statement
There were lot of outlaws and dangers on the trail that kept the pioneers on their toes.
Support
There were a lot of outlaws robbing wagon trains and small town banks like the “Wild Bunch”.
Scorpions could get into your boots and then when you put your boot on they would sting you.
Rattlesnakes were a big problem on the trail too, their bite hurt a lot but it was rarely fatal.
Statement
Being a sheriff or Marshall in a town was a big responsibility because of all the crime that was going on.
Support
Some wagon trains would hire armed guards to keep away robbers and indians.
Some shady characters were elected Sheriff like Wyatt Earp who was into gambling and drinking.
The Marshall of deadwood had a busy job between stage robberies and the murder of Wild Bill Hickok.
Scorpion
Scorpions could get into your boots or bedrolls on the trail and give you a nasty sting.
Rattlesnakes
On the trail there were sometimes rattlesnakes. Their bite was painful but rarely fatal.
Covered Wagon Ruts
So many people traveled west that you can still see the ruts made by the covered wagons.