Houghton Mifflin Social Studies
Chapter 8, Lesson 4, Surviving on the Frontier (pp. 241-247)
I. The Gold Fields
B. People traveled to California by sea ,which was long and dangerous, or on trails
over land, many of which were unmarked.
C. In mining areas, life was rough, and towns could spring up overnight, then become
deserted almost as quickly.
II. Hardships of the Overland Trail
B. The journey west was difficult, hazardous and filled with very hard work.
C. At the end of the trip, settlers worked hard to clear fields and build new homes.
III. Impact of the Westward Movement
B. The Californios and Native Americans already living in the West lost land and
rights to the gold seekers and settlers in California.
Lesson at a Glance Outline
A. Thousands of people from all over the world raced to California seeking riches once gold had been found.
A. The Overland Trail from Missouri to California was 2,000 miles long and took
several months to complete.
A. The common hardships faced by settlers who moved west gave them a sense of
community and regionalism.
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