Course Details

The Donner Party, a group that has remained synonymous with cannibalism and extreme survival, is finally being revealed as a harrowing story of human survival, the refusal to give up even in the most extreme conditions, and what it means to pursue a better life against all odds. Through new archeological evidence, the research of the conditions during their ordeal in 1846, and letters and diaries written by the survivors, and the text provide a firm grasp on what these emigrants endured in order to make their journey from Missouri to the promised land in California.

Beginning with an understanding of what life was like in 1846, this course takes you through, in chronological order, the full story of what happened to the Donner Party and the truths about America's westward expansion. While this course does cover some of the taboo subjects, including cannibalism, which was a necessary horror in order to survive, the information revealed will leave you feeling compassionate and in awe of these remarkable people. The underlining message throughout is that it is a story of extraordinary deeds born of ordinary devotion.

This course is applicable towards the following certificate:
*Early American History for the Classroom

Visit our Certificates page for more information.

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