What were some obstacles settlers encountered as they moved west?

Question

Well, I'm doing this History assignment and I need a lot of help.
The sebject is called "Viewing the Prairie" . Thanks so much for your help!!

Answer 1

Lack of food or water, bad weather/exposure, rough terrain, rivers, Indians, broken wagons/equipment, wild animals, disease.

Answer 2

Crossing the prairies, the settlers had to deal with lack of supplies if they didn't plan well, inexperience with firearms, lack of grass for their stock, exposure, disease, river crossings, accidents, and an occasional encounter with Indians.

More settlers were killed by accident with their own firearms than were killed by Indians.

River crossings were the most hazardous part of the trail.

More children were crushed by wagon wheels than died of disease.

Indian attacks on whole trains rarely happened until the 1860s. Then it started as a direct result of the Sand Creek Massacre (Cheyenne) and the opening of the Bozeman Trail to the Black Hills (Sioux).

Horses did get stolen by Indians, but settlers learned to use oxen. Didn't stop many.

Answer 3

1. Freezing snows in the Sierras, making the trek impossible until spring time.

2. Raging, swollen rivers having nests of water moccasins and cottonmouths that would kill in a heartbeat.

3. Hostile Indians.

4. Comancheros or mercenaries that rob and kill people westward for fun and profit.

5. Diseases such as malaria, chicken pox, influenza, malnutrition.

6. Homesteading squabbles.

7. Interim crop disasters.

8. Bison stampedes.

Answer 4

Indians!

Answer 5

Drought, fires, loss of supplies, injuries, illness, lack of food and water, hailstorms, snow storms.

Answer 6

mountains, weather, lack of food, indians, sickness, a lot of different things....didn't you learn all this in school???