First Europeans Imagine that you are a Native American living on the Pacific Northwest coast when Captain James Cook’s ships first arrive. What would you say to the Europeans? What would you want from them? What would they have that would awe you? How would you react?

Sea and Land Exploration

The Spanish Actively explored Pacific Northwest 1542-1819. Thought they had a mandate thanks to the Treaty of Tordesilla Mandate: an official order or commission to do something Mainly after: Gold- to finance their religious wars in Europe Northwest Passage- to facilitate trade, further plunder. Slaves- from Native American population Lasting Legacy- Nootka Sound (western Vancouver Island) and its convention

The Spanish- Notable Explorers 1774- Juan Perez- Founded Nootka Village (Vancouver Island) 1775- Bruno De Hezeta and Huana Bodega- “Discovered” the Colombia River- they named it the “San Rouge” 1790- Francisco Eliza and Mauel Quimper- led expeditions around Strait of Juan De Fuca and Puget Sound Bodega’s Map of the NW Coast- 1775

The British Arrived after Spanish- 1700s In competition with Spain for Colonies At first, were the underdogs due to Spanish Gold Also after the Northwest Passage More interested in trade- furs, especially.

The British- Notable Explorers 1577- Sir Francis Drake- kind of a pirate- stole gold from the Spanish after spending time on their ships. Fled to Northern California before going back around the world to England. 1778- James Cook- “super-explorer”-Led several expeditions, including mapping one to NW coast- established trade connections- also trained Vancouver and Captain Bligh 1786- John Meares- Influential ‘scumbag’- established fur trade with China. “Discovered” and mapped much of Oregon coast and Columbia River. Set off “Nootka Sound Controversy” with Spain, who felt that Britain was horning in on their territory.

The British- Notable Explorers 1792- George Vancouver- Explored much of Puget Sound- Named Puget Sound, Mount Rainier, Hood Canal, etc. Settled the Nootka Sound Controversy to the U.K.’s great benefit.

The Russians Came later than Spanish or British- mid 1700s and 1800s. Mainly explored Northern B.C. and Alaska Interested in trade, resource extraction, and converting natives to Eastern Orthodox Catholicism Never really that interested in Pacific Northwest- bought out by U.S. in 1867 when U.S. bought Alaska for $7 million.

The Russians- Notable Explorers 1728 and 1741- Vitus Bering- Danish explorer hired by Russia. “Discovered” Bering Strait between Alaska and Russia, explored and mapped Alaska coast, established trading posts, added Alaska to Russian empire.

The Americans Latest and weakest power to come to the Northwest Interested in trade, resources, colonization, and a route to the Pacific.

Americans- Notable Explorers Robert Gray- 1792- Very important discovery that Colombia River was a river, also Gray’s Harbor. Displaced Spanish as the main competitor with England for the region

Americans- Lewis and Clark Background 1789- French Revolution- Poor French revolted against royalty- country in chaos for ten bloody years, leading to rise of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1799. Napoleon conquered/went to war with most of Europe, and among other things, seized Spanish claim of what is now the Midwestern U.S. U.S., until then unconcerned about European matters (friendly with France) met with France to buy it from Napoleon, which he agreed to do for $15 million (Napoleon needed money to fund his world war, and could not defend the territory anyway)

Americans- Lewis and Clark 1803- Jefferson personally trains Meriwether Lewis to be his own explorer/ scientist. 1804- Lewis and Clark (and 29 men, including Clark’s slave) depart from St. Louis and travel up the Missouri River to North Dakota, where they spend a cold winter- where they would have surely died if not helped by the Mandan Indians. 1805- In the spring, they travel to the headwaters of the Missouri, barely make it over the Rocky Mountains (more Indians save them, due to Sacajawea's brother), and make the relatively easy trip down the Columbia to Astoria, Oregon. 1806- After a MISERABLE winter, the group retraces their steps back to St. Louis, though with some other adventures along the way, including Clark’s trip to Yellowstone.