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American Civil War General resources

American Civil War Lesson Plans

Applegate Trail __ "The Applegate Trail was an alternative to the arduous Oregon Trail. It diverted from the main trail at Fort Hall, Idaho and headed through Nevada, to California, and on to Oregon. But it actually was just as tough. The trail is named for the Applegate brothers, Charles, Lindsay, and Jesse, who came west along the Oregon Trail in 1843." You will find a good essay about this trail. - From Beth Gibson - http://members.aol.com/Gibson0817/applgate.htm 

 
The Bozeman Trail __ "The Bozeman Trail was blazed by John Bozeman, who came to Montana in 1862. By February 1863..." You will find a good essay about this trail. - From Beth Gibson - http://members.aol.com/Gibson0817/bozetr.htm 

  
California National Historic Trail __ "The California Trail carried over 250,000 gold-seekers and farmers to the gold fields and rich farmlands of California during the 1840's and 1850's, the greatest mass migration in American history." Click on the "in depth" link for more detailed information. - illustrated - From National Park Service - http://www.nps.gov/cali/  

Cherokee Trail __ "Little known until now was the trail’s use as a Mormon missionary and emigrant route to the Cherokee and other Indian Nations, and to and from east Texas, including the Lyman Wight colonies. All of the above and the 1858-9 Pike’s Peak gold rush over the Cherokee Trail also contributed heavily to the prolonged use of the Santa Fe Trail." You will find a good overview and history. - illustrated - From rutnut.com - http://www.rutnut.com/cherokeetrail/  
 
Congress Created the Oregon Territory __ This multi-page article gives a look at the newly created Oregon Territory and the trail leading to it. - illustrated - From University of Virginia -  http://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/reform/jb_reform_oregon_1.html

  
Francis Parkman: The Oregon Trail __ Full text online. the book is called "The Oregon Trail - sketches of Prairie and Rocky Mountain Life." Illustrations are replicas of those produced for the 1892 edition. - From University of Virginia - http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/OREGON/oregon.html 

In Search of the Oregon Trail __ A website companion to the PBS special. You will find stories and myth, educational materials and more. - illustrated - From PBS - http://www.pbs.org/opb/oregontrail/  

Interactive Santa Fe Trail Homepage __ First learn the history of the trail then plan a trip of your own. You can go by car, horses, bikes or even hike parts of it. - illustrated - From Kansas Heritage - http://come.to/sft 

The Jim Beckwourth Trail __ "James Beckwourth discovered what is now known as Beckwourth Pass in the spring of 1850, and immediately set about establishing a trail to Marysville. He worked on the trail in the summer and fall of 1850 and the spring of 1851, and in the late summer of that year led the first wagon train of settlers along the trail into Marysville." - illustrated - From beckwourth.org - http://www.beckwourth.org/Trail/ 

Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail __ "Led by Brigham Young, roughly 70,000 Mormons traveled along the Mormon Pioneer Trail from 1846 to 1869 in order to escape religious persecution. The general route is from Nauvoo, Illinois, to Salt Lake City, Utah, covering about 1,300 miles." Click on the "in depth" link for more detailed information. - illustrated - From National Park Service - http://www.nps.gov/mopi/ 

 
Nevada Trail __ "It has been estimated that some 200,000 people took this arduous route to California between 1840 and 1860, the greatest peacetime migration in history. By comparison, 53,000 people traveled the Oregon Trail during that same period." Good overview, history, maps and more. - illustrated - From Central Nevada Emmigrant Trail Assoc. - http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/trailofthe49ers/trail.htm 

 
The Overland Trail Main Page __ In this case, the best thing I can do is let them write their own review: "This website has been growing over the years, and it's really over-whelming! There's more to discover each time you visit it--everything related to the Santa Fe Trail. The history of the trail, of course, but also traveling the trail today, complete with maps and exploring the trail on-line, and current events along the trail. There are links to online books, book reviews, and maps about the trail, and also reading lists, and bibliographies. Another section deals with people on the trail, and their genealogies. Be sure to check out the Santa Fe Trail "Who's Who" which includes links to William Becknell (Father of the Santa Fe Trail), Josiah Gregg, and other more recent folks along the trail, including a "first person" account of travel on the trail provided by the g-grandson of the pioneer. - illustrated - From over-land.com - http://www.over-land.com/index.html  
 

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