Rivalry in the Northwest
1. The Oregon country was the piece of land between the Rocky Mountains and the Pacfic Ocean above California, now known as Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and British Columbia.
2. In the early 1800s, the United States, Spain, Great Britain, and Russia all claimed to own the Oregon country.
3. Each of the four countries based their claim from previous expeditions or on the land that they owned near it.
Adams- Onís Treaty
1. To help the U.S. gain control of this land and the Pacific Ocean, John Quincy Adams (Secretary of State) negotiated the Adams-Onís Treaty with the Spanish in 1819.
2. In 1824, Russia also gave up the Oregon country, leaving only the British to challenge the Americans.
3. In 1825, Adams proposed to change the agreement of a joint occupation by dividing the land between them, but the British refused, requesting a larger piece of territory.
Mountain Men
1. Mountain men were the first to settle in the Rocky Mountains, initiating the American Fur Company who helped sell the skins that the fur traders had trapped.
2. Most made their living by trapping beavers for fur-trading companies or auctions until the rendezvous meeting in the summer, where they sold beaver pelts, met with friends, competed in games, and swapped stories.
3. The mountain men were very skilled and resourceful and found many new trails and routes, which later helped them find jobs as guides for settlers after there was a decline in the beaver population.
2. In the early 1800s, the United States, Spain, Great Britain, and Russia all claimed to own the Oregon country.
3. Each of the four countries based their claim from previous expeditions or on the land that they owned near it.
Adams- Onís Treaty
1. To help the U.S. gain control of this land and the Pacific Ocean, John Quincy Adams (Secretary of State) negotiated the Adams-Onís Treaty with the Spanish in 1819.
2. In 1824, Russia also gave up the Oregon country, leaving only the British to challenge the Americans.
3. In 1825, Adams proposed to change the agreement of a joint occupation by dividing the land between them, but the British refused, requesting a larger piece of territory.
Mountain Men
1. Mountain men were the first to settle in the Rocky Mountains, initiating the American Fur Company who helped sell the skins that the fur traders had trapped.
2. Most made their living by trapping beavers for fur-trading companies or auctions until the rendezvous meeting in the summer, where they sold beaver pelts, met with friends, competed in games, and swapped stories.
3. The mountain men were very skilled and resourceful and found many new trails and routes, which later helped them find jobs as guides for settlers after there was a decline in the beaver population.
Settling Oregon
1. In the 1830s, settlers began moving to the Oregon country in hopes of new opportunities and jobs.
2. Although the journey was long and difficult, many were inspired by the reports of fertile land.
The Whitman Missions
1. Among the many who attempted the journey were missionaries trying to spread Christianity to the Natives like Dr. Marcus Whitman and his wife, Narcissa.
2. After reaching the Oregon country in 1836, the couple settled near the Cayuse people of present-day Walla Walla, Washington.
3. However, the new settlers also brought measles and many other diseases, and the angry Cayuse people killed the couple and 11 others in November 1847.
The Oregon Trail
1. The depression following the Panic of 1837 caused tens of thousands of emigrants to migrate towards Oregon.
2. Settlers used prairie schooners, or canvas-covered wagons to help carry their belongings for the duration of their 2,000 miles-long trip.
3. They followed the Oregon Trail across the Great Plains to through the South Pass until they reached the Oregon country.
2. Although the journey was long and difficult, many were inspired by the reports of fertile land.
The Whitman Missions
1. Among the many who attempted the journey were missionaries trying to spread Christianity to the Natives like Dr. Marcus Whitman and his wife, Narcissa.
2. After reaching the Oregon country in 1836, the couple settled near the Cayuse people of present-day Walla Walla, Washington.
3. However, the new settlers also brought measles and many other diseases, and the angry Cayuse people killed the couple and 11 others in November 1847.
The Oregon Trail
1. The depression following the Panic of 1837 caused tens of thousands of emigrants to migrate towards Oregon.
2. Settlers used prairie schooners, or canvas-covered wagons to help carry their belongings for the duration of their 2,000 miles-long trip.
3. They followed the Oregon Trail across the Great Plains to through the South Pass until they reached the Oregon country.
The Division of Oregon
1. In 1840 to 1845, the population of American settlers in the fertile Willamette Valley went from 500 to 5,000.
2. The British only had a population of about 700 people.
Expansion of Freedom
1. In the 1800s, America's mission changed from being a model of freedom and democracy to occupying the entire continent.
2. John Quincy Adams also believed that American expansion to the Pacific was inevitable.
Manifest Destiny
1. In the 1840s, John O' Sullivan, a New York newspaper editor, decided to summarize America's new dream.
2. He believed that America was meant to occupy the whole continent and extend its boundaries to the Pacific Ocean.
3. He called it America's Manifest Destiny.
"Fifty-four Forty or Fight"
1. The ownership of Oregon became an important issue in the presidential election of 1844 as more and more Americans began to settle there.
2. As the Democratic representative, James Polk focused on his plans involving the sole ownership of Oregon, using the campaign slogan "Fifty-four Forty or Fight" which represented Oregon's northern border.
3. The Whig representative, Henry Clay had a distinct diadvantage because he had no interest in the issue, and Polk won the election of 1844.
Reaching a Settlement
1. Although the British refused to give up its entire claim on the Oregon country, the two countries decided to set the border at latitude 49°N.
2. Satisfied with their compromise in Oregon, the United States decided to concentrate on claiming Texas.
2. The British only had a population of about 700 people.
Expansion of Freedom
1. In the 1800s, America's mission changed from being a model of freedom and democracy to occupying the entire continent.
2. John Quincy Adams also believed that American expansion to the Pacific was inevitable.
Manifest Destiny
1. In the 1840s, John O' Sullivan, a New York newspaper editor, decided to summarize America's new dream.
2. He believed that America was meant to occupy the whole continent and extend its boundaries to the Pacific Ocean.
3. He called it America's Manifest Destiny.
"Fifty-four Forty or Fight"
1. The ownership of Oregon became an important issue in the presidential election of 1844 as more and more Americans began to settle there.
2. As the Democratic representative, James Polk focused on his plans involving the sole ownership of Oregon, using the campaign slogan "Fifty-four Forty or Fight" which represented Oregon's northern border.
3. The Whig representative, Henry Clay had a distinct diadvantage because he had no interest in the issue, and Polk won the election of 1844.
Reaching a Settlement
1. Although the British refused to give up its entire claim on the Oregon country, the two countries decided to set the border at latitude 49°N.
2. Satisfied with their compromise in Oregon, the United States decided to concentrate on claiming Texas.