The Oregon Trail

I. Adams-Onis Treaty Control of Oregon Gain access to Pacific Ocean Secretary of State J.Q. Adams meets with Spain to approve the treaty Spain agrees to limits on their territory & to give up claims to Oregon & ceded FL Russia gave up claim to land British = joint occupation

Adams-Onis Treaty

II. Mountain Men Fur traders First to live in Oregon Country Trapped beaver John Jacob Astor (NY) est. American Fur Company, 1808 Traded with mountain men Lived in buffalo-skin lodges, dressed in fringed buckskin pants, moccasins, beads, married natives, etc. Some moved to Oregon to live & farm

Mount men served as guides along the Oregon Trail Kit Carson & Jim Bridger Led parties of settlers, 1830s Other trails = California Trail & Santa Fe Trail

III. Why the trail? Money Economic troubles in the East Fertile land out west = $

Marcus & Narcissa Whitman Traveled the trail 1836 Built a mission among the Cayuse people Walla Walla, Washington Provide medical care & converted Cayuse to Christianity Brought measles = epidemic Mission attacked, Whitman's killed in 1847

Emigrants: people who leave their country Along the trail Emigrants: people who leave their country Tens of thousands 2,000+ miles Prairie schooner: a canvas covered wagon used by pioneers in the mid-1800s Traveled through: The Great Plains, the Platte River, through South Pass of the Rocky Mtns., the Snake & Columbia Rivers

D. Manifest Destiny Destined by God to spread freedom by settling the entire continent Term created by NY newspaper editor John O’Sullivan

E. “Fifty-Four Forty or Fight” Election of 1844: James Polk, democratic nominee Supported taking over all of Oregon Slogan: line of latitude they believed should be the nation’s northern border to Oregon Whig opponent, Henry Clay did not take a position Fifty-Four Forty not accepted by British = border set at 49˚ N latitude