b) Missouri

The Oregon Trail, a key route for settlers traveling west, originated in Missouri. Specifically, it began in Independence, Missouri, and stretched all the way to Oregon’s Willamette Valley. This trail was a gateway to the West for thousands of settlers in the 19th century. Missouri’s location as a frontier state made it a starting point for exploration and expansion. The trail’s role in the westward expansion of the United States was significant, contributing to the settlement of the Pacific Northwest and playing a key part in American history.