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Quiz about Good Times Rolling Conestoga Wagons

Good Times Rolling: Conestoga Wagons Quiz

It could very well be called the 'wagon that won the West.' Conestoga wagons carried pioneers from the East to the wide-open West. Come along on a bouncy but enjoyable journey.

A multiple-choice quiz by lompocjoe. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
lompocjoe

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
309,782

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
1351

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What were Conestoga wagons named after? Hint

The main route between Philadelphia and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania was called 'The Conestoga Trail'

Obadiah Conestoga, one of the first Oregon Trail pioneers

The Conestoga Valley in Pennsylvania

An Algonquin Indian word meaning 'heavy'

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Question 2 of 10

2. Conestogas came in three sizes (small, medium, and large). How many tons could a Large Conestoga carry? Hint

Three to five tons

Five to eight tons

Forty to fifty tons

Come on, as big as they were, they could not carry more than 500 pounds of cargo

3. The lead horse on a Conestoga was on the left and the driver sat on the left hand side of of the seat (on what was called a 'lazy board') holding the reins. When passing another wagon, the driver pulled to the right hand side of the road. This is believed to be where automobile driving on the right developed in the United States.

True

False

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Question 4 of 10

4. All Conestoga wagons are covered; all covered wagons are Conestogas.

True

False

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Question 5 of 10

5. Going down hills was difficult for all wagons, but Conestogas had a rudimentary form of brakes. The driver pulled a five foot long iron lever forward that pressed something against the wheels. What was it? Hint

A metal clasp called a 'grinder'

A tree trunk was thrown from the back of the wagon to produce drag and therefore, called a 'dragger'

A rope called a 'strangler'

Blocks of wood

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Question 6 of 10

6. The horses that pulled the Conestoga needeed to be big and sturdy. A special breed of horse was used solely for Conestogas. What was it called? Hint

Conestoga

Trakener

Friesian

Brabant

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Question 7 of 10

7. If a wagon owner did not have Conestoga horses, he could use what other kind of animal to pull the wagon? Hint

Trick question; only horses could be used

Goats

Oxen

Donkeys

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Question 8 of 10

8. To get the horses to turn to the right, a teamster would yell "Gee!" What did he yell when he wanted to turn left? Hint

"Haw!"

"Hup! Hup!"

"Whoa!"

"Stop, you stupid horses!"

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Question 9 of 10

9. Each Conestoga wagon horse wore a set of bells hanging from an arch that was attached to his collar. The horses in front, including the Leader, had five bells, those in the middle had four bells, while the ones closest to the wagon had three bells. What expression still in use today came from this arrangement? Hint

"Saved by the bell."

"The bells are ringing."

"I'll be there with bells on."

"Clear as a bell."

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Question 10 of 10

10. It's evening and the Conestoga wagon driver is tired. He sees a tavern and decides to spend the night there. Of course, he has a few drinks with his friends and soon runs up a bill. What expression was used to warn him that he had better have enough money to pay that bill? Hint

"Mind your 'P's and 'Q's."

"Make hay while the sun shines."

"Don't bite off more than you can chew."

"Careful that you don't go round the bend."

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What were Conestoga wagons named after?

Answer: The Conestoga Valley in Pennsylvania

The Conestoga wagon was first built in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, deep in the heart of the beautiful Conestoga Valley. It is believed that Mennonite German settlers in Lancaster County were the first builders. 'Conestoga' is the Susquehannock Indian word for a 'stick immersed in water.'

2. Conestogas came in three sizes (small, medium, and large). How many tons could a Large Conestoga carry?

Answer: Five to eight tons

The largest wagons could carry between five and eight tons (sometimes as much as 12 tons) easily and this made them the most efficient form of land transportation prior to the development of railroads. These rolling monsters were build by hand, mostly by blacksmiths.

They were between 14 and 16 feet long and were pulled by six to eight strong horses. The average size Conestoga could carry around 12,000 pounds.

Answer: True

There are a lot of theories concerning left-side/right-side driving, but many U.S. historians accept the story that wagon drivers preferred to have other drivers pass them on the left -- if for nothing more than to have a roadside chat. This meant that drivers had to be on the right hand side of the road.

4. All Conestoga wagons are covered; all covered wagons are Conestogas.

Answer: False

'Covered wagon' is a general term that refers to any number of wagons that had linen or canvas covers. A true 'Conestoga' had several distinctive features, such as the curved oak floor and very large wheels.

Answer: Blocks of wood

The blocks of wood would press against the wheels, slowing their turning. A pin through a chain attached to the brake lever would lock the brakes in place.

6. The horses that pulled the Conestoga needeed to be big and sturdy. A special breed of horse was used solely for Conestogas. What was it called?

Answer: Conestoga

Yes, there was a horse bred specifically to pull the heavy wagons. The horse was approximately five feet tall, weighed 1,800 pounds, had a docile and steady temperament, and was usually bay or black in color. One story told about their lineage is that William Penn brought three Flemish stallions with him when he came to the New World and bred them with Virginia mares.

The Conestogas were bred between 1760 and 1870; the breed is considered extinct.

7. If a wagon owner did not have Conestoga horses, he could use what other kind of animal to pull the wagon?

Answer: Oxen

Oxen were often used because of the price difference between a Conestoga horse ($200) and an ox ($25). Oxen were also better adapted to the task, being used as farm animals.

8. To get the horses to turn to the right, a teamster would yell "Gee!" What did he yell when he wanted to turn left?

Answer: "Haw!"

These two terms are derived from Old English. "Gee" is from the word for 'Go' ('ree' which meant 'right') and its first use was seen in 1628. 'Haw!' is much older (1225) and comes from the word 'Hey', 'Heyte', or "Hei.'

Answer: "I'll be there with bells on."

If a teamster arrived at his destination without having suffered a mishap that damaged or destroyed the bells, he was said to have arrived satisfactorily ... "with bells on." In England, 'bells' is replaced with 'knobs.'

Answer: "Mind your 'P's and 'Q's."

As the tavern owner kept tabs of the drinks purchased by the driver, he would write 'P' referring to a pint of ale, and 'Q' referring to the quarts. Therefore, the P's and Q's would be tallied up at the end of the evening. There's no proof that this is where the expression actually came from, but it's a nice story.

Source: Author lompocjoe

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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