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Colonial America (1492-1765)

How the Colonists Traveled

How the Colonists Traveled
Reading Level
     edHelper's suggested reading level:   grades 3 to 4
     Flesch-Kincaid grade level:   3.66

Vocabulary
     challenging words:    family-size, far-away, hitched, Postriders, stagecoach, travelers, early, travel, explorer, colonial, horseback, unknown, nearly, traveled, canoe, ruts
     content words:    Native American, Conestoga Wagon

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How the Colonists Traveled
By Sharon Fabian 		  
1     The early colonists didn't travel much, not nearly as much as we do now. Their everyday trips were short. They didn't travel far for work. They didn't visit distant friends often. They didn't take vacations either.
 
2     When they needed supplies, colonists who lived in town walked. The towns were small, so it was a short walk to the store. Some colonists lived further out. When they needed to go into town, they hitched up a wagon. Horses pulled the wagon. The family rode into town. They bought supplies and loaded their wagon. Their horses pulled the wagon home.
 
3     Settlers didn't commute to work. Some lived and worked in town. They could walk to work. Many worked on their own farm.
 
4     Sometimes, the men needed to do business in another town. The best way for one man to travel was on horseback. This was the fastest way. Messengers traveled on horseback too. Postriders carried mail on horseback.

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