THE MISSIONARIES

If you had lived on the east coast of the United States during the 1830's you would have heard news of the Oregon Country and the rich and plentiful land. The missionaries who settled there wrote of this land and encouraged people and businesses to move to the Oregon Country. They spoke of rich farm land, fish-filled rivers, forests, and friendly Indians who only wanted to help the white settlers.

People also heard tales of Indians interested in learning more about the "Book of Life" or the Bible. Newspapers told of four Indians who had come all the way to St. Louis just to learn about the white man's religion. These Indians wanted knowledge of this power or religion, and, because of this desire, more missionaries started to go out west.

We now know that the missionaries that came out west were very unsuccessful in teaching the Indians about Christianity. Regardless, these missionaries spread the news about the Oregon Country to the people in the eastern United States, and this eventually brought many new settlers to the Oregon Country via the Oregon Trail.

The first missionary to come out west was a Methodist named Jason Lee. Jason Lee made the journey to the Oregon Country and settled in the Willamette Valley. He started a school in the valley and today it is known as Willamette University.

Marcus and Narcissa Whitman were Presbyterian missionaries who came out to the Oregon Country. They set up their mission along the Walla Walla river where the Cayuse Indians lived. A mission is where missionaries live and teach others about Christianity. The Whitmans lived there for almost 11 years trying to teach the Indians how to farm and about their religion. Since Whitman was a doctor, he tried to give medical help when the Indians were in need. Still, the Indians became sick with "White Man's" diseases such as small pox and the measles. Whitman could not help them and the Indians blamed him for the sickness and death of their family and friends. For this and other reasons the Indians killed the Whitmans on November 29, 1847.

1. Who was Jason Lee?
   ___________________________________________________
   ___________________________________________________
   
   
2. Why did missionaries want to go to the Oregon Country?
   ___________________________________________________
   ___________________________________________________
   ___________________________________________________
   
   
3. Why did the Oregon Country seem like a good place to start a business?
   ___________________________________________________
   ___________________________________________________
   ___________________________________________________
   ___________________________________________________

OREGON TRAIL--MISSIONARIES

1. D R N A I G E
   
   
2. E W P
   
   
3. F I M A G N R
   
   
4. L W M L A S I
   
   
5. G R E I N O L I
   
   
6. I N M S I S O
   
   
7. E A T H R C E
   
   
8. S Y M H N
   
   
9. T I N R M I S R
   
   
10. C D O T R O
    
    
11. L B E I B
    
    
12. R M A S Y I I N O S
    
    
13. Y C A E S U
    
    
14. L T L I R I G M S
    
    
15. R H C U H C

Alphabetical Order:

Privacy & Disclaimer
Webmaster: Renee Rusler
Last modified on: February 1, 2004