The early explorers to the NW were looking for the fabled North- west Passage. When they encountered the Natives on the coast, many of the explorers started to trade with the natives starting the fur trading business. The Fur traders were looking for the following pelts:

1.The Northwest Fur Company was the first fur company in the Oregon Territory. 2.In 1807 David Thompson entered the Oregon Territory. 3.He mapped the Columbia River and set up trading posts near Spokane, Kamloops, and at the mouth of the Walla Walla River. 4.By the time Thompson reached the mouth of the Columbia River in 1812, the American Fur Company has already set up Fort Astoria 5.The Northwest Fur Company was eventually forced to merge with the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1821.

5. Posts established by the company included: Spokane House, Fort Nez Perce, and Fort Okanogan 6. Being the first major inland explorers in the Northwest after Lewis and Clark, David Thompson added much to the general knowledge of the region. In 1797, Thompson decided to move to the North West Company In 1799, he married a 13-year-old Métis girl, Charlotte Small. They had 13 children and were married 58 years. For the next few years Thompson continued to travel and survey, especially in the Rocky Mountains. His wife and children often traveled with him. Interesting side note on David Thompson

7. Because the Hudson’s Bay Company had a Charter from the king, it had a monopoly in trade with China that caused financial problems with the Northwest Fur Company. 8.This bitter rivalry between the two companies escalated into war in the Red River Valley. 9.Over 20 HBC settlers were killed by employees of the Northwest Fur Company in Because of the incident, the king of England forced the HBC and the Northwest Fur Company to merge in 1821.

Fort Walla Walla

No forts south of the Columbia River. Why will that become important? Why move the headquarters From Astoria to Vancouver?

Trading with the Nez Perce

1.Chartered in 1670 the Hudson’s Bay Company is still in business today. 2.After the merger with the Northwest Fur Company, George Simpson sent Dr. John McLaughlin to Oregon to set up a Headquarters in the Oregon Territory. 3. Called the White Eagle by the Natives, McLaughlin set up his headquarters 100 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean naming the site Fort Vancouver. a. More stable weather b. Closer to the major fur forts c. locating the fort north of the Columbia River becomes important later. 4.Because the Oregon Territory was co-owned by the British and the Americans,, Fort Vancouver will become the social, economic, and political center in the Territory.

5.George Simpson, Head of North American Operations, told McLaughlin that Vancouver had to be self-sufficient. a. Wheat and apple got there start in the NW at Fort Vancouver b. Fort Vancouver also started the first sawmill. 6.McLaughlin made sure visitors were welcome at the fort even the settlers. 7.The Hudson Bay Company also brought the first steamship into the Pacific Northwest.

8. McLaughlin will set up forts throughout the Oregon Territory to trade with the Native American’s. 9. By 1842 more and more American’s were arriving in Oregon and Fort Vancouver became the final stop over. 10. McLaughlin convinced most of the new arrivals to settle south of the Columbia River in the Willamette Valley for 3 reasons. a. Protection – Keep them together b. Keep them out of the fur industry in the north. c. The Columbia River could become a natural border between the United States and Britain. 11. McLaughlin will eventually resign a man without a country.

1.The Pacific Fur Company was founded by John Jacob Astor to compete with England’s fur companies 2.Astor sent two expeditions out to the Oregon Territory: a. The ship Tonquin was sent out to get to the mouth of the Columbia River with new trading supplies and supplies to build a fort. b. The overland expedition was led by William Hunt and and followed the Lewis and Clark route. They were to trade with the Natives for furs and meet the Tonquin at the mouth of the Columbia River. c. The Tonkin would off load their supplies, take on the furs an sail merrily to China.

3.When the Tonquin reached the mouth of the Columbia disaster struck. a. Instead of waiting for good weather (Cape Disappointment) Captain Thorn sent two small craft to look for an opening both boats and all the men were lost. b. Thorn finally made it into the River where he will off load supplies and some men. c. He will then leave for Vancouver Island where he will antagonize the Indians who will kill him, his crew and destroy the ship.

4.William Hunt will lead the overland expedition where every- thing that could go wrong went wrong. a. They got lost, ran into hostile Indians, starved and on and on. b. By the time they got to Fort Astoria, they had no supplies, few furs and only 35 of the original 59 were alive. 5.After a few months in Astoria word arrived that the War of 1812 between Britain and the US had started. 6.They sold the fort to the Northwest Fur Company. 7.Even though they got the fort back after the War, Astor was finished with fur and sold Astoria to the Hudson’s Bay Company.

The Rocky Mountain Fur Company stayed mainly in the Rocky Mountain area but did venture into the Oregon Territory. Where as most fur companies traded with the Native American’s, the Rocky Mountain Fur Company competed with the Native’s. Trap used by the Mountain Man

1. They were able to map the Oregon Territory. 2. They set up forts that will be stop offs for later settlers. 3. They made the initial positive contact with the Natives. 4.The Mountain Men will be the guides for the settlers coming to the Oregon Territory.