Westward Movement! All about Pioneers

Main Menu Pioneers Travel Food Tools Quiz

Pioneer Main Menu Pioneers were the first people to settle in the frontiers of North America.  Although many of the pioneers were farmers, others were doctors, shopkeepers, blacksmiths, missionaries, lawyers, and so on.  They came from many places in the United States to start their new lives.  The majority of their ancestors came from European countries such as England, Germany, and Scotland.  Before leaving their homes they either saved money for the trip, sold their land and other possessions, or agreed to work for others on the trip.

Main Menu Travel Most pioneers traveled in covered wagons, and these wagons were led by horses, mules, or oxen. Oxen were the smarter choice, because they were the stronger animals. The wagons could not carry more than 2,000 pounds and most children walked on behind the wagon. The pioneers traveled in Wagon Trains with a captain, or wagon master, who led the way down the trail. At night, the wagons would circle around each other for safety and shelter.

Food Main Menu Some of the foods the pioneers took with them included: yeast for baking, crackers, cornmeal, bacon, eggs, dried meat, potatoes, rice, beans, and a big barrel of water. Sometimes they brought chocolate along for a special treat. If the family owned a cow, it would be brought along for milk.

Tools Main Menu The pioneers took many different tools on their journey. Here is a list of some of the main tools brought: Draw Knife- for peeling off bark on the logs for the cabins. Grinding Stone- to sharpen tools on the way (pictured in the background) Plow- for moving the dirt and sowing seeds Cooking Pot and Cauldron- for cooking Saws- this was the most important tool for a pioneer. It was used for cutting down trees, repairs, and more. Meat Grinder- to cut up the meat for eating.

Quiz Question 1: What was the best animal to have drive your wagon? Answer: Oxen Horse Question 2: Which of the following would the pioneers have taken for food? Yeast Coco Puffs Question 3: What was the most important tool for the pioneers? Meat Grinder Saw Main Menu

Wrong Answer! The pioneers would prefer Oxen on the trail because they were stronger than horses. Quiz Home

Correct! The Oxen were stronger than horses, so the pioneers would prefer them on the trail. Quiz Home

Wrong Answer! Coco Puffs were not invented at the time that pioneers lived. Yeast, however, could be used for bread and other items. Quiz Home

Yeast was a food the pioneer used to make bread and other items. Correct! Yeast was a food the pioneer used to make bread and other items. Quiz Home

Wrong Answer! The meat grinder could only be used at a certain time of year for cutting up meat to eat. The saw could be used all year long to cut things for homes and repairs. Quiz Home

Correct! The saw was more important because it could be used all year long. The meat grinder could only be used only at certain times of the year. Quiz Home