Unit 6-The Nation Grows Lesson 36: Oregon Country

Review Andrew Jackson had to deal with many issues during his presidency, including dealing with the national bank. He was able to have the Bank of the United States closed. Following the election of 1836, the nation fell into a depression. The next eight years saw multiple changes in the presidency, without many changes in the nation’s path.

Oregon Country Oregon country refers to the huge area of land between the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, and north of California. It includes modern day Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, plus parts of Montana and Wyoming. The region also included about half of the Canadian province of British Columbia.

Oregon Country

Claiming Oregon Country Four countries claimed parts of the Oregon country in the early 1800s. The United States and England claimed the same lands around the Columbia River due to explorations of the area. Spain explored the region while settling in California to the south. Russia had settlements to the north in Alaska that stretched into Oregon.

Adams-Onís Treaty Americans wanted control of the area to have access to the Pacific Ocean. In 1819, Secretary of State John Quincy Adams negotiated a treaty with Spain that set a limit to their territory, giving up any claim to Oregon. Russia gave up its claim of land south of Alaska in England was the only challenge that remained for control of Oregon.

Sharing of Oregon In 1818, John Quincy Adams had negotiated to share claims of Oregon with England, allowing citizens of both countries the ability to settle in the region. In 1825, as president, Adams proposed dividing the territory at the 49 th parallel, but England refused. Thousands of Americans moved to the shared region of Oregon.

Mountain Men The first American settlers in Oregon were fur traders, not farmers, who spent most of their time living in the Rocky Mountains. They were looking for beaver fur, which was in high demand in the east. Many of the mountain men adopted the ways of Native Americans.

Mountain Men

In time, the mountain men killed off most of the beaver and could no longer trap for a living. Some became farmers in Oregon. Others used their knowledge of the area to become guides for the new settlers that were now moving west.

The Oregon Trail The Mississippi Valley suffered due to the depression that was caused by the Panic of Looking for a new beginning, “Oregon Fever” grew among the people of the Mississippi region. After hearing of the fertile land in Oregon, tens of thousands of people decided to migrate there.

The Oregon Trail The people making the journey loaded supplies into canvas-covered wagons. They would gather in Missouri and begin the 2,000 mile journey along the Oregon Trail by traveling west across the Great Plains, and through the South Pass of the Rocky Mountains. They would then take a path North to Oregon along the Columbia and Snake Rivers.

The Oregon Trail

Manifest Destiny In the 1800s, America’s mission changed from being a model of freedom and democracy to spreading freedom and democracy by controlling the entire continent. A New York editor, John O’Sullivan, stated that it was America’s “Manifest Destiny to overspread and possess the whole of the continent which Providence had given us.”

“Fifty-four Forty or Fight” Between 1840 and 1845 the number of American settlers in Oregon went from 500 to 5,000, while the number of British settlers in the region remained around 700. The American settlers insisted that the United States should have complete control of the area, and more and more Americans agreed.

“Fifty-four Forty or Fight” Due the ideas of America controlling Oregon country, it became a major issue during the election of 1844.

Election of 1844 James K. Polk received the nomination for the Democratic Party, partly because he strongly supported complete control of Oregon by the United States. Henry Clay was Polk’s opponent in the election, representing the Whig Party, and did not take a strong stand on the issue of Oregon.

“Fifty-four Forty or Fight” Democrats used a campaign slogan of “Fifty-four Forty or Fight”, referring to the line of latitude they believed should be the United States’ northern border in Oregon. Polk won the election, not because of the Oregon issue, but due to an antislavery Liberty Party stealing votes from Henry Clay in the state of New York.

Dividing of Oregon President Polk was determined to make Oregon part of the United States, but England would not accept a border at “Fifty-four Forty.” In June 1846, the countries compromised and set a boundary at the 49 th parallel line of latitude. This is still the western border between the United States and Canada.

Dividing of Oregon

Conclusion Oregon country became important to many Americans as they looked for new opportunities. As more details of the region were known, Americans realized the land would be important to the growth of their nation. With the concept of Manifest Destiny, the United States compromised with other nations to obtain the region.

Assignments Answer the four review questions for this lesson. Complete the Do We Stay or Do We Go Activity. You will have a Unit 6 test after you complete Lesson 39