1. Traveling the Oregon Trail
Oregon or Bust:
Traveling the Oregon Trail

2. 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.
Lewis and Clark exploration
Fur trading activities by American Fur Co
5000 Americans settled by 1845

3. 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

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

5. 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