Oregon country
THE NAVY GREEN PART OF THE MAP SHOWS THE REGION OF OREGON
THE WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY, AND HOW:
Far to the northwest of Texas lay Oregon Country. In 1819, Oregon was claimed by four nations; Russia, Spain, Great Britain, and the United States. Spain was the first to drop out of the scramble. As part of the treaty to purchase Florida, Spain gave up its claim to Oregon. Few years later, Russia dropped out also. By 1825, Russia agreed to limit its claim to the territory that lay north, Alaska. This left the claim to Great Britain and the United States. For the time being, the two nations agreed to a peaceful “joint occupation” of Oregon.
The United States' claim to Oregon was based on the Lewis and Clark expedition. Between 1804 and 1806, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark had led a small band of explorers to the Oregon coast. Lewis had thought the many more Americans would follow the path blazed by the expedition. That wasn’t the case. The route that Lewis and Clark had followed was far too rugged for ordinary travelers. In 1824, a young fur trapper named Jedediah Smith found a better way. Smith discovered a passage through the Rocky Mountains called South Pass.
The first American settlers to travel through South Pass to Oregon were missionaries. Once they got there their glowing reports of Oregon’s fertile soil and towering forests soon attracted more settlers. These early settlers wrote letters home describing Oregon as a “pioneer's paradise.” The outstanding reviews included: the weather was always sunny, there were no known diseases, the trees grew as thick as hairs on a dogs back, and farms were free for the taking. Reviews like these inspired other settlers who were looking for a fresh start. In 1843, about 1,000 pioneers packed their belongings into covered wagons and headed for Oregon. A year later, nearly twice as many people made the long journey across the plains and mountains.
Along with Texas, “Oregon fever” also played a role in the 1844 presidential campaign. Polk won the election with such stirring slogans as “All of Oregon or none!” and “Fifty-four forty or fight!” Polk promised he would not rest until the United States had annexed all of Oregon Country. Polk also wanted no risk of starting war with Great Britain. Instead, he compromised a treaty that divided Oregon roughly in half at the 49th parallel. This line is now the mark on the western border between the United States and Canada.
Far to the northwest of Texas lay Oregon Country. In 1819, Oregon was claimed by four nations; Russia, Spain, Great Britain, and the United States. Spain was the first to drop out of the scramble. As part of the treaty to purchase Florida, Spain gave up its claim to Oregon. Few years later, Russia dropped out also. By 1825, Russia agreed to limit its claim to the territory that lay north, Alaska. This left the claim to Great Britain and the United States. For the time being, the two nations agreed to a peaceful “joint occupation” of Oregon.
The United States' claim to Oregon was based on the Lewis and Clark expedition. Between 1804 and 1806, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark had led a small band of explorers to the Oregon coast. Lewis had thought the many more Americans would follow the path blazed by the expedition. That wasn’t the case. The route that Lewis and Clark had followed was far too rugged for ordinary travelers. In 1824, a young fur trapper named Jedediah Smith found a better way. Smith discovered a passage through the Rocky Mountains called South Pass.
The first American settlers to travel through South Pass to Oregon were missionaries. Once they got there their glowing reports of Oregon’s fertile soil and towering forests soon attracted more settlers. These early settlers wrote letters home describing Oregon as a “pioneer's paradise.” The outstanding reviews included: the weather was always sunny, there were no known diseases, the trees grew as thick as hairs on a dogs back, and farms were free for the taking. Reviews like these inspired other settlers who were looking for a fresh start. In 1843, about 1,000 pioneers packed their belongings into covered wagons and headed for Oregon. A year later, nearly twice as many people made the long journey across the plains and mountains.
Along with Texas, “Oregon fever” also played a role in the 1844 presidential campaign. Polk won the election with such stirring slogans as “All of Oregon or none!” and “Fifty-four forty or fight!” Polk promised he would not rest until the United States had annexed all of Oregon Country. Polk also wanted no risk of starting war with Great Britain. Instead, he compromised a treaty that divided Oregon roughly in half at the 49th parallel. This line is now the mark on the western border between the United States and Canada.