Manifest Destiny

The Oregon Country stretches from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. By 1819, Oregon was claimed by Russia, Spain, Great British, and the United States. By 1825 Russia agreed to limit its claims to the 54°40° parallel and Spain lost its claim as a part of the treaty for Florida. Polk wanted all of Oregon really bad but not eno ugh to risk war. The Senate fiercly debated over a border that both Great Britian and the U.S could agree on. on June 1846, the Senate ratified the compromise by a vote of the 41 to 14. It was a diplomatic settlement that both the United States and Great Britain could accept without spilling a drop of blood. 

 

During the Lewis and Clark expedition the Oregon Country was claimed by the United States.Lewis dot that many Americans would follow the path blazed by the expedition, but the way was too difficult to navigate. By 1824, a young fur trapper or mountain man ,named Jedediah Smith, discovered the South Pass.d first American settlers to travel through the South Pass to Oregon were missionaries. These early settlers wrote letters home describing Oregon as a pioneer's paradise. Marcus and Narcissa Whitman were very successful at converting American to believe that Oregon was a pioneer's paradise. These reports inspired other  settlers who were looking for a fresh start. Among the settlers were pioneer women who were looking for homesteads. In 1843 about 1,000 pioneer packed their belongings into covered wagons and headed for Oregon. This is described as the Oregon fever. the best way to travel to Oregon along the Oregon Trail. Oregon Trail was a route that stretched about 2,000 miles from Independence Missouri, to the Columbia River in Oregon.

 

Between 1840 and 1869, about 350,000 people traveled west in covered wagon called wagon trains. The journey west lasted four to six months and traveled about 15 to 20 miles a day. The death toll was very high. Disease was the worst killer. People drowned crossing rivers and children fell from wagons and were crushed under the wheels. There were many dangers.

 

 

Check out this video to learn more about how Oregon became a part of the United States.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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