Week 22 of 28 • Page 4

Name ______WEEK 22 Early Westward Expansion and Explorers

ACROSS DOWN 1. crazy; insane 1. people who traveled 3. the power to deal with around the Rocky hardship, pain and Mountains looking for stress over time furs 5. trapper and explorer 2. weapon with a long who was part of blade that is sharp on the Lewis and Clark both edges expedition: John ____ 4. a wide gap in the Wind 6. to fi nd and mark new River Range of the trails Rocky Mountains 8. a person who works for 7. someone who makes someone in order to hats learn a job 9. meeting where men traded furs, bought supplies and relaxed Fur on the Frontier Packing Up “Alana, on this week’s trip Possible Supplies Well, the Corps of newspaper ad caught the eye of men Discovery had returned such as Jedediah Smith and Jim Bridger back in time, we learned that beaver traps canteen fi shing tackle mountain men traveled over from its journey of who formed a group called “Ashley’s extra blankets cooking utensils change of clothes exploring the Louisiana Hundred.” This group of brave men large areas setting their traps extra moccasins (shoes) coffee Bible and harvesting furs, as well canned food candles map Purchase. It didn’t take long for wanted to make their fortunes out West. as exploring and mapping the guitar dried meat extra horseshoes some creative businessmen to Jedediah Smith rediscovered South land.” hatchet tobacco bait for beaver traps see the chance to make money Pass and explorers in the area soon “That’s right, Jackson. I gun fl int and steel salt in the West. One of these men began using this shorter route to noticed that most mountain men powder horn (for starting fi res) journal and pencil was John Jacob Astor. He set cross the Rocky Mountains. rode on horseback or used pack (gunpowder container) bedroll (sleeping bag) heavy boots up the American Fur Company Early on, fur trappers mules to carry their supplies. bowie knife lantern in 1808 and sent the fi rst fur- earned the nickname Since they had to carry most of bullet pouch tent trading expedition to the West. “mountain men” because their gear with them, they could Items I will bring How they will help me Hats made from beaver fur they traveled through only bring those things they were very popular at this time, the Rocky Mountains really needed. Jackson, what if 1. ______and beaver pelts (skins) were searching for fur. William you had been a mountain man? worth a lot of money. Astor’s Henry Ashley began What supplies would you have 2. ______men built Fort Astoria at the holding yearly gatherings brought with you when you mouth of the Columbia River. for the mountain men 3. ______traveled?” These men were the fi rst to to meet and do business. “That’s a good question, 4. ______discover South Pass. This gap At these meetings, called Alana. Let me see …” in the Wind River Range of rendezvous, trappers met to 5. ______the Rocky Mountains allowed sell their furs and buy supplies. From the list provided, travelers to cross the The mountain men looked forward choose the 10 most important 6. ______Continental Divide to these rendezvous because it gave items that YOU would take with with ease. The them a chance to meet with old friends, you if you were a mountain 7. ______discovery of show off their skills and tell a few tall man (or woman) heading out to 8. ______South Pass Ashley and a business tales. check your traps. Next to each partner organized the item you choose, explain why opened the way The men who traveled west as fur trappers 9. ______for future settlement Rocky Mountain Fur often became mountain men, explorers, you chose that item and how it Company and put will help you on your journey. of the area. However, for years many fur trailblazers and guides. They explored the 10. ______traders did not know the location of South an advertisement in the newspaper calling new land for those who would come later. Pass. for “enterprising young men … to ascend These men also mapped the area, recording William Henry Ashley was another the river Missouri to its source, there to be information that would help future settlers Think and Review businessman who sent fur trappers out West. employed for one, two or three years.” This succeed in the harsh new land. 1. Why did most of the early explorers and mountain men choose to go Teachers: Your FREE to the West? Studies Weekly online 2. Why did Jedediah Smith wear his hair long over his ears? 3. What did Jim Bridger believe he had discovered when he tasted the subscription is waiting Great Salt Lake? for you at: 4. How was John C. Fremont different from other explorers? Wilma Pearl Mankiller (1945-2010) 5. Why did John Colter fi nally return to Missouri? studiesweekly.com/register 6. Which explorer served as a guide to John C. Fremont? Principal Chief of the Cherokee Indian Nation

7. Which mountain man rediscovered South Pass and brought back Photo courtesy Phil Konstantin important information about this trail? What do you think of when you Dutch and Irish descent. During the then elected principal chief in 1985. 8. Besides being an explorer, what else was John Wesley Powell known hear “American Indian Chief”? In late 1970s, Wilma started working for Chief Mankiller held this offi ce for as? movies, a chief is often an older the Cherokee as a tribal planner. She 10 years, during which she continued 9. Why did everyone want a knife like Jim Bowie’s? man in a very large headdress. Well, developed helpful programs for her to work to help her nation. Her You are on your way to a 10. Why did beaver-hat makers sometimes go mad? movies don’t always represent real people, focusing on women’s rights, achievements were so important that mountain man rendezvous when, life. Did you know that Wilma health care, education and starting she received the Presidential Medal out of nowhere, a giant grizzly Did You Know? Mankiller was the fi rst female tribal businesses. of Freedom in 1998. According to bear starts coming toward you. “Jackson, if mountain men traveled so much, how did they carry all their principal chief of the Cherokee Wilma was inspired by the President Barack Obama, this medal furs and supplies with them?” What do you do? Do you run? Hide? Defend yourself? Nation? memories of how members of her honors people who have lived, “… “Good question, Alana. Mountain men stored their supplies and furs in a Using correct spelling and punctuation, describe what Wilma looked like anybody’s nation always depended on one extraordinary lives that have inspired happens next. hole called a cache. They dug a hole in a place where water couldn’t get to it and where animals and thieves wouldn’t notice it. A mountain man then fi lled it mom or grandma. She was born in another for support and survival. us, enriched our culture, and made with items he wanted to store and covered it with animal skins, soil and leaves.” Oklahoma and was of Cherokee, She became deputy chief and was our country and world a better place.” and 1808. Many believe he was the fi rst white man to Week 22 of 28 • Page 3 John Colter see Jackson Hole and Yellowstone Lake. He described John Colter was a member of the Lewis and Clark SA the hot, boiling mud and erupting geysers he saw, but pile of logs in a river. It took him 11 days to walk the U expedition. On the way back to St. Louis, Colter asked few people believed him. William Clark, however, 200 miles back to Fort Raymond, near what is now for permission to leave the group and become a fur Mountain Men, Explorers added the information to his own personal maps. Bighorn, Montana. When he arrived, he collapsed and trapper. Colter spent the next few years trapping and Blackfeet Indians captured Colter in the fall of was nearly dead from hunger and exhaustion. The exploring in what is now the Yellowstone Park area. 1808. The Indians took his clothes and forced him to Blackfeet Indians chased Colter until he returned and Guides—Oh My! Carrying a 30-pound pack on his back, Colter traveled run for his life. He ran for miles, fi nally hiding under a to Missouri in 1809. over 500 miles during the winter of 1807

“Jackson, what happened to the Louisiana Purchase later followed. after Lewis and Clark fi nished exploring it?” In 1826, Smith led a group of trappers across the Great “That’s a good question, Alana. It took some time Basin. They went from Great Salt Lake to the Colorado before settlers started heading west. After all, there weren’t River and California. He became the fi rst American to any roads yet, or even any real trails. Before Americans enter California from the east by land. could safely go west, many brave mountain men, explorers During one of his journeys, a grizzly bear attacked and guides had to fi nd new routes, draw detailed maps and Smith. The bear broke several of Smith’s ribs, ripped off an explore the new frontier.” eyebrow, mangled one ear and shredded his scalp. Smith “Who were some of these men, Jackson?” wore his hair over his ears after this to try to hide his scars. “Get out your camera, Alana, and we’ll travel back in Unlike many mountain men, Jedediah Smith was very time to meet some of these amazing explorers!” religious. He always carried a Bible and he didn’t drink alcohol or use tobacco. Jim Bridger When he was only 18 years old, Jim Bridger joined a John C. Fremont beaver-trapping expedition on the Upper Missouri River. John Fremont was an important government scout. William Henry Ashley and Andrew Henry led the team. He didn’t blaze trails through unknown territory. (Blazing While working for these men, Bridger explored, trapped, trails means fi nding and marking new paths.) He did, traded and discovered that this was indeed the life for him. however, make maps of the trails that were already Bridger was one of the fi rst to explore what is now established. The charts and reports Fremont made were Yellowstone National Park. Many believe that he also extremely helpful to settlers heading West in the early was the fi rst white man ever to see the Great Salt Lake. days of the frontier. Many know him best for mapping and Because of the lake’s salty taste, Bridger believed he had exploring the Oregon Trail. Fremont was educated and discovered a part of the Pacifi c Ocean. very qualifi ed for the work he did. He was an enthusiastic Bridger also discovered a shortcut through the Rocky and hard-working scout who was interested in plant and Mountains that we call Bridger’s Pass. People later used animal life, as well as the American Indian tribes and their this pass as an overland mail route and a Union Pacifi c habits. He settled in California after the gold rush and was Railroad line. Today, Interstate 80 runs through Bridger’s elected as one of the state’s fi rst senators. Pass. Jim Bridger built Fort Bridger in Wyoming and went on to work as a government scout. He learned to speak Kit Carson Spanish, French and six American Indian languages. This When Kit Carson was only nine years old, his father allowed him to communicate with just about anyone he died. Kit eventually became an apprentice to a saddle might meet during his travels. He loved to tell tall tales maker in Franklin, Missouri. An apprentice is a person about his adventures. He never failed to entertain his who works for someone in order to learn a job. Kit friends around the campfi re with his outrageous stories! hated the job and ran away to join a wagon train heading west. When he arrived on the frontier, Kit became a fur trapper and traveled all over the frontier, including the Jedediah Smith Rocky Mountains, New Mexico, Oregon, Colorado and Jedediah Smith was also a member of the Ashley’s California. Hundred expedition. He was one of the most skillful Kit Carson became known for the many routes he mountain men and scouts of his time. In 1824, Smith marked and the maps he made. He served as John C. crossed South Pass and reported that the gap was wide Fremont’s guide and they mapped a new route over the enough for wagons to cross comfortably. Even though he Sierra Mountains together. We now know this as Carson wasn’t the fi rst to discover the pass, the information Smith Pass. Carson City, Nevada, was also named for Kit Carson. brought back helped people establish a trail through the Carson later served as a wagon guide, an American Indian pass. This path eventually became part of the Oregon Trail, agent and even a general in the U.S. Army. which was one of the most important routes that settlers

Endurance What does the John Wesley Bowie Knife term ‘mad as a Many mountain men, explorers and scouts spent their Powell lives exploring the land west of the Mississippi River. They One of the most important tools of a mountain man was his hatter’ mean? needed plenty of endurance in order to survive. Endurance trusted bowie knife. This knife had a long, tapered blade that was One of the men who explored the great Western frontier is the power to deal with hardship, pain and stress over sharp on both edges. Many believe that an Arkansas blacksmith was interested in more than just beaver pelts and new trails. time. The people who explored the great American frontier named James Black originally made this knife. Jim Bowie, a During the 1700 and 1800s, beaver-pelt hats were very John Wesley Powell was interested in science. had to face all kinds of diffi culties. Some of these included pioneer and soldier who fought at the Alamo, asked Black to make popular throughout Europe. To make the beaver pelts into hats, He was a former Army major who lost his hatters (hat makers) soaked the fur in mercury. Mercury is the right arm in a Civil War battle. He and his a lack of food and water, extreme weather conditions and him a special knife. After picking up his new knife, Bowie headed attacks from unfriendly American Indians and wild animals. heavy, silvery liquid that is sometimes used in thermometers. group traveled hundreds of miles by boat for Texas. On his way, three men tried to kill him. Bowie whipped It took endurance just to fi nd enough food each day, not Today you may fi nd mercury in some batteries, light bulbs or studying the mountains and canyons of to mention climbing mountain peaks, mapping uncharted out his new knife and was able to kill all three attackers. Bowie electrical products. Hatters used mercury to soften the pelts the Green and Colorado rivers. Powell’s territory and blazing bragged about his amazing knife and from then on, everyone and make them easier to shape. But the mercury gave off fumes expedition is believed to be the fi rst new trails. Those wanted a knife like Bowie’s. that caused nerve damage to the hatter. Although people didn’t group of white men to travel through the who explored this Mountain men used the Bowie knife understand why at the Grand Canyon. rugged area for the to defend themselves against time, many hatters seemed Powell was a scientist who studied fi rst time had their enemies. They also used it to to go mad (crazy or the geology, plants, animals and the endurance tested skin and scrape the hides insane) from breathing American Indians living in this area. His on a daily basis. off trapped animals. A these dangerous fumes group consisted of nine men. Three of In the end, they mountain man never day after day. They these men thought the trip was too had vision and hearing made it possible went anywhere dangerous. They tried to climb problems, slurred speech, the walls of the canyons to for future without his settlers hallucinations (false safety but were killed by Bowie knife. to follow imaginations), depression American Indians. in their and shaky hands. The In later years, footsteps. disease was sometimes Powell served as the called “Mad Hatter’s director of the U.S. Disease,” but it is Geological Survey known as mercury and the Smithsonian poisoning today. Institution.

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Name ______WEEK 22 Early Westward Expansion and Explorers

ACROSS DOWN 1. crazy; insane 1. people who traveled 3. the power to deal with around the Rocky hardship, pain and Mountains looking for stress over time furs 5. trapper and explorer 2. weapon with a long who was part of blade that is sharp on the Lewis and Clark both edges expedition: John ____ 4. a wide gap in the Wind 6. to fi nd and mark new River Range of the trails Rocky Mountains 8. a person who works for 7. someone who makes someone in order to hats learn a job 9. meeting where men traded furs, bought supplies and relaxed Fur on the Frontier Packing Up “Alana, on this week’s trip Possible Supplies Well, the Corps of newspaper ad caught the eye of men Discovery had returned such as Jedediah Smith and Jim Bridger back in time, we learned that beaver traps canteen fi shing tackle mountain men traveled over from its journey of who formed a group called “Ashley’s extra blankets cooking utensils change of clothes exploring the Louisiana Hundred.” This group of brave men large areas setting their traps extra moccasins (shoes) coffee Bible and harvesting furs, as well canned food candles map Purchase. It didn’t take long for wanted to make their fortunes out West. as exploring and mapping the guitar dried meat extra horseshoes some creative businessmen to Jedediah Smith rediscovered South land.” hatchet tobacco bait for beaver traps see the chance to make money Pass and explorers in the area soon “That’s right, Jackson. I gun fl int and steel salt in the West. One of these men began using this shorter route to noticed that most mountain men powder horn (for starting fi res) journal and pencil was John Jacob Astor. He set cross the Rocky Mountains. rode on horseback or used pack (gunpowder container) bedroll (sleeping bag) heavy boots up the American Fur Company Early on, fur trappers mules to carry their supplies. bowie knife lantern in 1808 and sent the fi rst fur- earned the nickname Since they had to carry most of bullet pouch tent trading expedition to the West. “mountain men” because their gear with them, they could Items I will bring How they will help me Hats made from beaver fur they traveled through only bring those things they were very popular at this time, the Rocky Mountains really needed. Jackson, what if 1. ______and beaver pelts (skins) were searching for fur. William you had been a mountain man? worth a lot of money. Astor’s Henry Ashley began What supplies would you have 2. ______men built Fort Astoria at the holding yearly gatherings brought with you when you mouth of the Columbia River. for the mountain men 3. ______traveled?” These men were the fi rst to to meet and do business. “That’s a good question, 4. ______discover South Pass. This gap At these meetings, called Alana. Let me see …” in the Wind River Range of rendezvous, trappers met to 5. ______the Rocky Mountains allowed sell their furs and buy supplies. From the list provided, travelers to cross the The mountain men looked forward choose the 10 most important 6. ______Continental Divide to these rendezvous because it gave items that YOU would take with with ease. The them a chance to meet with old friends, you if you were a mountain 7. ______discovery of show off their skills and tell a few tall man (or woman) heading out to 8. ______South Pass Ashley and a business tales. check your traps. Next to each partner organized the item you choose, explain why opened the way The men who traveled west as fur trappers 9. ______for future settlement Rocky Mountain Fur often became mountain men, explorers, you chose that item and how it Company and put will help you on your journey. of the area. However, for years many fur trailblazers and guides. They explored the 10. ______traders did not know the location of South an advertisement in the newspaper calling new land for those who would come later. Pass. for “enterprising young men … to ascend These men also mapped the area, recording William Henry Ashley was another the river Missouri to its source, there to be information that would help future settlers Think and Review businessman who sent fur trappers out West. employed for one, two or three years.” This succeed in the harsh new land. 1. Why did most of the early explorers and mountain men choose to go Teachers: Your FREE to the West? Studies Weekly online 2. Why did Jedediah Smith wear his hair long over his ears? 3. What did Jim Bridger believe he had discovered when he tasted the subscription is waiting Great Salt Lake? for you at: 4. How was John C. Fremont different from other explorers? Wilma Pearl Mankiller (1945-2010) 5. Why did John Colter fi nally return to Missouri? studiesweekly.com/register 6. Which explorer served as a guide to John C. Fremont? Principal Chief of the Cherokee Indian Nation

7. Which mountain man rediscovered South Pass and brought back Photo courtesy Phil Konstantin important information about this trail? What do you think of when you Dutch and Irish descent. During the then elected principal chief in 1985. 8. Besides being an explorer, what else was John Wesley Powell known hear “American Indian Chief”? In late 1970s, Wilma started working for Chief Mankiller held this offi ce for as? movies, a chief is often an older the Cherokee as a tribal planner. She 10 years, during which she continued 9. Why did everyone want a knife like Jim Bowie’s? man in a very large headdress. Well, developed helpful programs for her to work to help her nation. Her You are on your way to a 10. Why did beaver-hat makers sometimes go mad? movies don’t always represent real people, focusing on women’s rights, achievements were so important that mountain man rendezvous when, life. Did you know that Wilma health care, education and starting she received the Presidential Medal out of nowhere, a giant grizzly Did You Know? Mankiller was the fi rst female tribal businesses. of Freedom in 1998. According to bear starts coming toward you. “Jackson, if mountain men traveled so much, how did they carry all their principal chief of the Cherokee Wilma was inspired by the President Barack Obama, this medal furs and supplies with them?” What do you do? Do you run? Hide? Defend yourself? Nation? memories of how members of her honors people who have lived, “… “Good question, Alana. Mountain men stored their supplies and furs in a Using correct spelling and punctuation, describe what Wilma looked like anybody’s nation always depended on one extraordinary lives that have inspired happens next. hole called a cache. They dug a hole in a place where water couldn’t get to it and where animals and thieves wouldn’t notice it. A mountain man then fi lled it mom or grandma. She was born in another for support and survival. us, enriched our culture, and made with items he wanted to store and covered it with animal skins, soil and leaves.” Oklahoma and was of Cherokee, She became deputy chief and was our country and world a better place.”