Responsibilities
The Social Scientist has the responsibility of studying people along the Oregon Trail. With careful observation, the Social Scientist will learn about the many pioneers that will be met along the way. The most important thing to the Social Scientist is learning about the background, motivations, and experiences with whom he or she comes into contact. Most likely, the social scientist will record interviews with individuals, draw people's portraits, write down their thoughts after meeting people, and even take photographs! The more people the social scientist can meet, the better!
 

Questions
As the Social Scientist, you need to use the Internet to answer these questions:

• What type of people are the pioneers? Why are they traveling west?
• You hear about many of the great explorers who paved the way for The Oregon Trail. Who are these great explorers and what contributions and discoveries did they make?
• What Native American tribes do you come into contact with as you travel on The Oregon Trail? What are they like? What are their attitudes towards pioneers?
• You meet a wagon train of missionaries along The Oregon Trail. What do they tell you about the experiences they have had and why they are heading west? What different types of missionaries travel on The Oregon Trail?
• You meet some mountain men who work with a fur trading company. What do they tell you about the history of fur trading companies and what they know about the Oregon Trail? What are they like?

Sites

• Who Explored The Oregon Trail? - You meet a great variety of people as you explore The Oregon Trail. Trappers, explorers, scientists and military men are among the many individuals you will see along the way.
• Feeding the Fad For Furs - One major factor which led to the opening up of the west was the demand for furs. This site will provide some great information about the mountain men and fur traders you are bound to meet along The Oregon Trail.
• The Great White Headed Eagle - Who is The Great White Headed Eagle, you ask? Well, take time to find out because his presence in westward migration is wide-spread!
• Jason Lee's Mission to Oregon - Jason Lee is an individual you meet on your journey. This web site will help you learn more about him and his accomplishments in respect to those who explored The Oregon Trail.
• The Whitman Mission - The Whitman Mission is one place you will stop along The Oregon Trail. This site will fill you in on the history of the mission and those responsible for its creation.
• The End of the Missions - Many missionaries travel The Oregon Trail, too, as you will see! Learn more about these people, why they are traveling west, and the history of their efforts.
• The First Emigrants On the Oregon Trail - The first people to journey westward on the Oregon Trail were quite brave as they paved the path for later travelers. Along your path you will hear about these early overlanders and the reasons why they followed the route they did.
• The Road to Religious Freedom - Some of the people you meet on the Oregon Trail, such as the Mormons, are journeying west in search of religious freedom. Learn about how this group of people used the Oregon Trail to reach their land of freedom.
• Biographical Sketches of Black Pioneers and Settlers of the Pacific Northwest - Although the law forbid many blacks to journey to and settle in the west, many still took the Oregon Trail. As you meet people like Richard and America Bogle and George Washington Bush, you will discover their stories. This site provides further insight on the lives of these brave people.
• The Oregon Territory and Its Pioneers - Native Americans, explorers, missionaries, fur traders, and French Canadians are some of the people you will meet on The Oregon Trail. Learn more about each of these groups of people by exploring this web site.
• Discoverers and Explorers - Take a look at some of the names listed on this web site to discover who really found the Oregon Trail.
• Native Americans - Native Americans appear to be friends but how long will it be until they become foes? Learn more about the untold story of Native Americans by viewing this site.
• Mountain Men - On your journey you will come into contact with some mountain men. You will be able to understand what these men are like and their experiences in the west by linking to this site.
• Hear 1846 Overlander - Listen to this woman's story about her experiences on the Oregon Trail!