The best summary of the passage is:
The Oregon Trail grew from small beginnings to a major migration route.
The Oregon Trail
It began as an unconnected series of trails used by Native Americans. Fur Traders expanded the route to transport pelts to trading posts and rendezvous. In the 1830s missionaries followed the still faint trail along the Platte River and the Snake to establish church connections in the Northwest. A combination of economic and political events in the 1840s converged to start a large scale migration west on what was then known as "The Oregon Road."
Joel Walker is credited as the first settler to make the complete trip with a family, in 1840. Large scale migration started in 1843, when a wagon train of over 800 people with 120 wagons and 5,000 cattle made the five month journey. In 1847 Mormons escaping persecution headed toward Salt Lake, and the discovery of gold in California in 1848 sent a wave of fortune seekers west. Military posts, trading posts, shortcuts, and spur roads sprang off the Oregon Trail over the next three decades.
Use the passage to answer the question.
Which of the following best summarizes this passage?
(1 point)
Responses
The Oregon Trail was first used by Mormons fleeing religious persecution.
The Oregon Trail was first used by Mormons fleeing religious persecution.
The Oregon Trail was developed by the military to monitor interactions between Native American groups and settlers.
The Oregon Trail was developed by the military to monitor interactions between Native American groups and settlers.
The Oregon Trail grew from small beginnings to a major migration route.
The Oregon Trail grew from small beginnings to a major migration route.
The Oregon Trail was made more accessible by missionaries who helped define the route
11 answers
From the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center:
The most dreaded danger was cholera. It could spread rapidly among wagon trains. The mysterious nature of cholera made it even more frightening; a strong healthy person could develop a slight fever in the morning, be unconscious at noon, and dead in the evening. Combined with accidents, drowning at dangerous river crossings, and other illnesses, at least 20,000 people died along the Oregon Trail. Most trailside graves are unknown, as burials were quick and the wagon trains moved on.
Question
Use the image and passage to answer the question.
What was the biggest threat of traveling west in the manner shown in the illustration?
(1 point)
Responses
Groups faced the possibility of ambush by hostile natives.
Groups faced the possibility of ambush by hostile natives.
Individual wagons would oftentimes be separated from the group.
Individual wagons would oftentimes be separated from the group.
Settlers were unable to purchase or trade for goods along the way.
Settlers were unable to purchase or trade for goods along the way.
Disease spread quickly because the travelers lived so close together.
The most dreaded danger was cholera. It could spread rapidly among wagon trains. The mysterious nature of cholera made it even more frightening; a strong healthy person could develop a slight fever in the morning, be unconscious at noon, and dead in the evening. Combined with accidents, drowning at dangerous river crossings, and other illnesses, at least 20,000 people died along the Oregon Trail. Most trailside graves are unknown, as burials were quick and the wagon trains moved on.
Question
Use the image and passage to answer the question.
What was the biggest threat of traveling west in the manner shown in the illustration?
(1 point)
Responses
Groups faced the possibility of ambush by hostile natives.
Groups faced the possibility of ambush by hostile natives.
Individual wagons would oftentimes be separated from the group.
Individual wagons would oftentimes be separated from the group.
Settlers were unable to purchase or trade for goods along the way.
Settlers were unable to purchase or trade for goods along the way.
Disease spread quickly because the travelers lived so close together.
Based on the passage, the biggest threat of traveling west was:
Disease spread quickly because the travelers lived so close together.
Which of the following accurately portrays what life was like for pioneers traveling west?(1 point)
Responses
Travel across the land was preferred over river travel because of the need to bring wagons.
Travel across the land was preferred over river travel because of the need to bring wagons.
Pioneers traveled along well-maintained trails with little difficulty.
Pioneers traveled along well-maintained trails with little difficulty.
Pioneers carried all their possessions on long and dangerous trails.
Pioneers carried all their possessions on long and dangerous trails.
Entire families rarely traveled together because it was too dangerous for the children.
Responses
Travel across the land was preferred over river travel because of the need to bring wagons.
Travel across the land was preferred over river travel because of the need to bring wagons.
Pioneers traveled along well-maintained trails with little difficulty.
Pioneers traveled along well-maintained trails with little difficulty.
Pioneers carried all their possessions on long and dangerous trails.
Pioneers carried all their possessions on long and dangerous trails.
Entire families rarely traveled together because it was too dangerous for the children.
The response that accurately portrays what life was like for pioneers traveling west is:
Pioneers carried all their possessions on long and dangerous trails.
The Spread of U.S. Slavery from 1800 to 1860
Total Number of Enslaved People Living in the United States
Year Number of Enslaved People
1790 697,897
1800 893,041
1810 1,191,364
Use the chart and map to answer the question.
Were there more enslaved people living in the United States in 1800 or in 1860?
(You may use the check answer button one time for this question.)
(1 point)
Responses
There were more enslaved people in the U.S. in 1860.
There were more enslaved people in the U.S. in 1860.
There were more enslaved people in the U.S. in 1800.
There were more enslaved people in the U.S. in 1800.
There were an equal number of enslaved people in the U.S. in both these years.
Based on the chart and map, how did westward expansion affect slavery in the United States between 1800 and 1860?(1 point)
Responses
The enslaved population decreased as the U.S. economy became less dependent on agriculture.
The enslaved population decreased as the U.S. economy became less dependent on agriculture.
The enslaved population remained roughly the same but its percentage of the total population skyrocketed.
The enslaved population remained roughly the same but its percentage of the total population skyrocketed.
The enslaved population increased by more than 400% as several new slave states were admitted to the Union.
The enslaved population increased by more than 400% as several new slave states were admitted to the Union.
The enslaved population decreased as the U.S. economy became less dependent on agriculture.
The enslaved population decreased as the U.S. economy became less dependent on agriculture.
Total Number of Enslaved People Living in the United States
Year Number of Enslaved People
1790 697,897
1800 893,041
1810 1,191,364
Use the chart and map to answer the question.
Were there more enslaved people living in the United States in 1800 or in 1860?
(You may use the check answer button one time for this question.)
(1 point)
Responses
There were more enslaved people in the U.S. in 1860.
There were more enslaved people in the U.S. in 1860.
There were more enslaved people in the U.S. in 1800.
There were more enslaved people in the U.S. in 1800.
There were an equal number of enslaved people in the U.S. in both these years.
Based on the chart and map, how did westward expansion affect slavery in the United States between 1800 and 1860?(1 point)
Responses
The enslaved population decreased as the U.S. economy became less dependent on agriculture.
The enslaved population decreased as the U.S. economy became less dependent on agriculture.
The enslaved population remained roughly the same but its percentage of the total population skyrocketed.
The enslaved population remained roughly the same but its percentage of the total population skyrocketed.
The enslaved population increased by more than 400% as several new slave states were admitted to the Union.
The enslaved population increased by more than 400% as several new slave states were admitted to the Union.
The enslaved population decreased as the U.S. economy became less dependent on agriculture.
The enslaved population decreased as the U.S. economy became less dependent on agriculture.
- For the first question regarding the comparison of the number of enslaved people in 1800 vs. 1860, the correct response is:
There were more enslaved people in the U.S. in 1860.
(Note: While the exact number for 1860 is not provided in the passage, historically, there were approximately 4 million enslaved people in the U.S. by that year.)
- For the second question about how westward expansion affected slavery in the United States between 1800 and 1860, the correct response is:
The enslaved population increased by more than 400% as several new slave states were admitted to the Union.
Use the map to answer the question.
Question
Select TWO main reasons that Congress initially refused to annex Texas, as supported by the information on this map.(2 points)
Responses
If the United States annexed Texas, it would almost certainly mean war with Mexico.
If the United States annexed Texas, it would almost certainly mean war with Mexico.
If the United States annexed Texas, it would enter as a free state and anger Southerners.
If the United States annexed Texas, it would enter as a free state and anger Southerners.
If the United States annexed Texas, slave states would almost certainly outnumber free states.
If the United States annexed Texas, slave states would almost certainly outnumber free states.
If the United States annexed Texas, it would jeopardize the country’s other claims in California.
If the United States annexed Texas, it would jeopardize the country’s other claims in California.
Question
Select TWO main reasons that Congress initially refused to annex Texas, as supported by the information on this map.(2 points)
Responses
If the United States annexed Texas, it would almost certainly mean war with Mexico.
If the United States annexed Texas, it would almost certainly mean war with Mexico.
If the United States annexed Texas, it would enter as a free state and anger Southerners.
If the United States annexed Texas, it would enter as a free state and anger Southerners.
If the United States annexed Texas, slave states would almost certainly outnumber free states.
If the United States annexed Texas, slave states would almost certainly outnumber free states.
If the United States annexed Texas, it would jeopardize the country’s other claims in California.
If the United States annexed Texas, it would jeopardize the country’s other claims in California.
Based on the context regarding Congress's initial refusal to annex Texas, the two main reasons are:
- If the United States annexed Texas, it would almost certainly mean war with Mexico.
- If the United States annexed Texas, slave states would almost certainly outnumber free states.
These reasons reflect the geopolitical and sectional tensions of the time.
Which of the following was one cause of the Mexican-American War?(1 point)
Responses
Mexico offered to sell California
Mexico offered to sell California
Mormons moved into Mexican territory.
Mormons moved into Mexican territory.
The United States annexed Texas.
The United States annexed Texas.
President Polk purchased Texas.
President Polk purchased Texas.
Which of the following was a result of the Mexican-American War?(1 point)
Responses
It gave the United States territory known as the Mexican Cession.
It gave the United States territory known as the Mexican Cession.
It enabled the United States to annex Texas.
It enabled the United States to annex Texas.
It gained the respect of European nations for America’s military power.
It gained the respect of European nations for America’s military power.
It increased unity among Americans by giving them a common enemy.
Responses
Mexico offered to sell California
Mexico offered to sell California
Mormons moved into Mexican territory.
Mormons moved into Mexican territory.
The United States annexed Texas.
The United States annexed Texas.
President Polk purchased Texas.
President Polk purchased Texas.
Which of the following was a result of the Mexican-American War?(1 point)
Responses
It gave the United States territory known as the Mexican Cession.
It gave the United States territory known as the Mexican Cession.
It enabled the United States to annex Texas.
It enabled the United States to annex Texas.
It gained the respect of European nations for America’s military power.
It gained the respect of European nations for America’s military power.
It increased unity among Americans by giving them a common enemy.
- The cause of the Mexican-American War is:
The United States annexed Texas.
- The result of the Mexican-American War is:
It gave the United States territory known as the Mexican Cession.