and Frontier Children
Between 1841 and 1865, some 40,000 children moved westward on
the overland trails, headed to California, Oregon, Utah, and other
destinations. Their accounts of their journeys and of their childhood
experiences in the Far West bring the hardships and joys of pioneering
to life. Their words allow us to appreciate its difficulties,
but also the opportunities it gave even very young children to
exhibit their resilience and inner strength.
What were some of the hardships and difficulties children faced
as they and their families traveled the overland trails?
Draw upon the following accounts to describe how a pioneer or
frontier childhood differs from childhood today.