Traveling the Oregon Trail Oregon or Bust: Traveling the Oregon Trail

Joint Ownership Britain claims US claims 16th century Drake exploration 18th century Cook/Vancouver explorations Fur trading activities of the Hudson Bay Co US claims 1792 discovery of Colombian R. 1804-1806 Lewis and Clark exploration Fur trading activities by American Fur Co 5000 Americans settled by 1845

Thanks, Polk 1844 Campaign: “54’40 or fight!” Won the election, decided to peacefully split the territory with Great Britain 1846: split along the 49th parallel 49th Parallel James K. Polk

Map Oregon City, Oregon Independence, Missouri Idaho Wyoming Nebraska Kansas Independence, Missouri

Oregon Trail Starts Originally mapped out by trailblazers, pioneers, and fur trappers 2,200 miles long Horses first, then oxen and wagons as populations grew “Jumping off” points-stations you dropped your belongings off at Longest overland trail via land