Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Upon successful completion students should be able to:

• Articulate and interpret an understanding of key historical facts and events in the history of westward migration along the Oregon Trail.
• Identify the influence of culturally-based practices, values, and beliefs to analyze how historically-defined meanings of difference affect human behavior.
• Identify and investigate historical theses, evaluate information and its sources, and use appropriate reasoning to construct evidence-based arguments on historical issues.
• Construct a well-organized historical argument using effective, appropriate, and accurate language.

Assess by using any combination of the following:

• Class participation and discussion
• Essays
• Exams and Quizzes
• Research Projects
• Other Creative Assignments

Competencies and Skills:

• Connect evidence to its relevant historical context
• Analyze and evaluate written, artistic, or other evidence
• Assess the motivation and purpose of evidence

Evaluate different interpretations of past events and construct your own interpretation:

• Identify a historian’s thesis and supporting evidence
• Evaluate the arguments used to support different interpretations of historical issues
• Develop your own thesis and historical interpretation and use evidence to support it

Think critically about the relationship between past and present events and issues:

• Recognize and identify historical roots and parallels to current issues

• Compare and contrast the experience of diverse groups in American society

• Listen to and appreciate the experience of students from a variety of backgrounds

• Assess the contributions and experiences of various groups in American society

Communicate effectively in writing about a historical topic:

• Communicate effectively in writing about a historical topic
• Communicate in writing an understanding of historical process and an evaluation of how concepts or values change over time

Clearly articulate thoughts and ideas to a particular audience which may include:

• Working collaboratively with other students to evaluate and understand historical events
• Working collaboratively with others in discussions, debate, or role plays
• Presenting information in oral presentations

Themes, Concepts, Issues:

Predecessors of the Oregon Trail:

• Captain Robert Gray Explorations and Discoveries
• The Lewis and Clark Expedition
• Mountain Men and Fur Companies
• The Missionaries
• Information brought east

Motivations for migration on the Oregon Trail:

• Political
• Economic
• Religious
• Personal
• Manifest Destiny

The route of the Oregon Trail:

• The Different Beginnings
• The Main Route
• Cutoffs and Alternative Routes

                   1. The Barlow Road

                   2. Applegate Trail

                   3. The Meek Trail

                   4. Hastings Cutoff

                   5. Hudspeth Cutoff

Life on the Oregon Trail:

• Organization and government
• Women
• Children
• Religion
• Music
• Relationship with Native Americans
• Blacks and other minorities
• Death and disease

Unique Wagon Trains:

• The Applegate Train
• Aurora Colony
• Mormon Trains
• Argonauts
• The Luellings
• Cattle drive from California

Impact of the Oregon Trail:

• Political
• Environmental
• Economic
• Literature
• Art
• Western expansion