Settling Oregon Country

Ch 12.1

Oregon Country

Early 1800's 4 countries claim it

• US claims after Lewis & Clark

• Britain claims as part of its Canada Territory

• Spain claims as part of its territory in the western area

• Russia claims as a part of its Alaskan territory

An agreement....sort of

• Spain agrees in 1819 to set new border of its territory , which is the current northern border of California

• 1824, Russia agrees to abandon claim south of Alaska

• Britain and US agree to have joint occupation of the area

• US tries to set boundary and split territory with Britain... they refuse

• They continue to have shared occupation for several more years

Poll

Who do you think should have "owned" the Oregon territory?

• US

• Britain

• Russia

• Spain

• Native Indians

The First Americans to settle in Oregon

• They were fur traders, not farmers

• Looking for beaver pelt and other fur that was in great demand at the time

• Fur Trading Posts set up to trade with local natives

• "mountain men" were the main workers in the area

• 
  

Oregon Fever...

• in 1840's, the great migration towards the Pacific Ocean hits the US

• Thousands of migrants journey over 2000 miles across the US towards Oregon

• Americans outnumber British citizens 10 to 1

• 
  

"Forty Four or Fight"

• Slogan used during election of 1844

• US was willing to fight Britain once again, this time over the Oregon Territory

• President James Polk reaches deal with Britain to split territory to current day lines.

Poll

Do you think the US would have really gone to war with the British again over the Oregon Territory?

• Yes

• No

The Oregon Trail

• Between 1800 and 1860, it is estimated to have had up to 500,000 people travel it

• Started in Independence, MO and go through Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho, and Oregon

• 
  

Rough conditions

• Settlers faced many obstacles...

• Native Indians, rough terrain, crossing rivers, wild animals, etc

• They could travel 15-20 miles per day

• Journey often would take 5-6 months

Problems encountered

• diseases and accidents

• poor sanitation, lack of clean drinking water,

• diseases spread due to close contacts

• many children hurt by falling out of wagons

• Estimated up to 20,000 people died

Open Ended

Why do you think people would risk their lives and travel thousands of miles in rough conditions on the Oregon Trail?

Open Ended

What is one thing you learned today about the Oregon Trail?