But it was 2,000 miles away through an unknown land. Pulling up roots and moving families and belongings on a difficult and dangerous trip required careful planning. Some families spent a year preparing for the trip.
The journey west began at the Missouri River. Western Missouri cities such as Independence and St. Joseph became bustling “jumping-off” points. Those towns grew into places full of shops and businesses that provided everything pioneers might need—from wagons to livestock and provisions—for their cross-country journey. They also became places where emigrants could gather and meet up.
STURDY WAGONS
Wagons of all types were used, but a smaller version of the Conestoga wagon from the 1700s was especially popular. It was lightweight but sturdy with long, low sides. It usually had a straight bed, making it different from the boat-curved Conestoga. The best wagons were built of hardwood such as hickory, oak, or maple. Hardwoods resisted shrinking in the dry plains air. A light canvas or homespun top stretched over the wagon’s wooden ribs to protect the contents. From a distance, the wagons looked like small ships sailing across the plains. They soon became known as prairie schooners.
At least two teams of oxen were needed to pull a prairie schooner. Two oxen harnessed together with a wooden yoke made a team. Although they were slower than horses or mules, oxen were more reliable and did not have to be unyoked to graze. They also ate prairie grass, which made feeding them easier than horses, who needed hay in their diets.
この記事は Cobblestone American History Magazine for Kids の October 2023 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
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この記事は Cobblestone American History Magazine for Kids の October 2023 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
nellie Bly Journalist
nellie Bly's first newspaper articles appeared in print when she was just 20 years old.
Arabella Mansfield -Lawyer
Arabella Mansfield started out life as Belle Babb (1846-1911). She grew up in a Midwest family that valued education. In 1850, her father left to search for gold in California. He died in a tunnel accident a few years later.
Sarah Josepha Hale Editor
Long before Vogue or Glamour caught women's attention, Godey's Lady's Book introduced the latest fashions.
Louise Blanchard Bethune - Architect
Louise Blanchard Bethune (1856-1915) showed early promise in math. Lucky for her, her father was the principal and a mathematics teacher in a school in Waterloo, New York. Instead of going to school, Louise's father taught her at home until she was 11 years old. She also discovered a skill for planning houses. It developed into a lifelong interest in architecture and a place in history as the first professional female architect in the United States.
Sojourner Truth Speaker
There was a time when slavery wastes abolished the institution over a number of decades. New York abolished slavery in 1827. Isabella Baumfree (c. 1797-1883) was born enslaved in Hurley, New York. When she was nine, she was taken from her parents and sold. She then was sold several more times. Some of her owners were cruel and abused her. During that time, she had several children.
Getting Started
In this editorial cartoon, a young 19th-century woman must overcome the obstacle of carrying a heavy burden while climbing a multirung ladder before she can achieve \"Equal Suffrage.\"
Leonora M. Barry - Investigator
When Leonora M. Barry (1849-1923) was a young girl, her family left Ireland to escape a famine. They settled in New York. Barry became a teacher. In 1872, she married a fellow Irish immigrant. At that time, married women were not allowed to work. So, Barry stayed home to raise their three children.
Finding a New Path
For many Americans, this month's mystery hero represents the ultimate modern trailblazer. She is recognized by just her first name.
The Grimké Sisters Abolitionists
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Frances Willard Leader
During Frances Willard's lifetime (1839-1898), she was the best-known woman in America: She headed the largest women's organization in the worldthe Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU). In that role, her abilities shone as a social activist, a dynamic speaker, and a brilliant organizer. She educated women on how to run meetings, write petitions, give speeches, and lobby state and federal legislators.
