Wooyon+&+Joseph

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= OREGON TERRITORY =

 People were trading fur with Britain and it can be said that these are the people who actually started the Oregon Trail. Other explorers who ventured out to the West followed the Oregon-Mormon Trails. Those explorers were in search of a better living and more opportunities and some wished to be free from religious persecution. They usually used wagons as a means of transport and moved in the spring to be able to feed the animals. As they traveled along, they killed masses of buffaloes which lead to the move of the Native Americans. The Native Americans who were living in that area were the Plain Indians and since they had nothing to eat, they were forced to go into reservations.
 * 1841: Oregon Trail **



 What allowed the whites to explore the British land was the Oregon Joint Occupation Treaty, which was signed after the War of 1812. This gave U.S. explorers the rights to explore British land. The explorers realized that the land they had found was a very suitable place to live in. The land, which originally belonged to Great Britain, contained the present day states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and a western corner of Wyoming. On June 12, 1846, Great Britain and the U.S. signed a contract called the Oregon Treaty, which granted ownership of the land to the U.S. The land was called the Oregon Territory. The Oregon Treaty was made as the supreme law of Oregon Territory, and it was superior to the constitution and any other state laws.
 * 1846: Oregon Treaty **

 **Actual Content of Treaty**(http://www.ccrh.org/comm/river/docs/ortreaty.htm)

The United States of America and her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, deeming it to be desirable for the future welfare of both countries that the state of doubt and uncertainty which has hitherto prevailed respecting the sovereignty and government of the territory on the northwest coast of America, lying westward of the Rocky or Stony Mountains, should be finally terminated by an amicable compromise of the rights mutually asserted by the two parties over the said territory, have respectively named plenipotentiaries to treat and agree concerning the terms of such settlement -- that is to say: the President of the United States of America has, on his part, furnished with full powers James Buchanan, Secretary of State of the United States, and her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland has, on her part, appointed the Right Honorable Richard Pakenham, a member of her Majesty's Most Honorable Privy Council, and her Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the United States; who, after having communicated to each other their respective full powers, found in good and due form, have agreed upon and concluded the following articles: --

 Article I.  From the point on the forty-ninth parallel of north latitude, where the boundary laid down in existing treaties and conventions between the United States and Great Britain terminates, the line of boundary between the territories of the United States and those of her Britannic Majesty shall be continued westward along the said forty-ninth parallel of north latitude to the middle of the channel which separates the continent from Vancouver's Island, and thence southerly through the middle of the said channel, and of Fuca's Straits, to the Pacific Ocean: Provided, however, That the navigation of the whole of the said channel and straits, south of the forty-ninth parallel of north latitude, remain free and open to both parties.

 Article II.  From the point at which the forty-ninth parallel of north latitude shall be found to intersect the great northern branch of the Columbia River, the navigation of the said branch shall be free and open to the Hudson's Bay Company, and to all British subjects trading with the same, to the point where the said branch meets the main stream of the Columbia, and thence down the said main stream to the ocean, with free access into and through the said river or rivers, it being understood that all the usual portages along the line thus described shall, in like manner, be free and open. In navigating the said river or rivers, British subjects, with their goods and produce, shall be treated on the same footing as citizens of the United States; it being, however, always understood that nothing in this article shall he construed as preventing, or intended to prevent, the government of the United States from making any regulations respecting the navigation of the said river or rivers not inconsistent with the present treaty.

 Article III.  In the future appropriation of the territory south of the forty-ninth parallel of north latitude, as provided in the first article of this treaty, the possessory rights of the Hudson's Bay Company, and of all British subjects who may be already in the occupation of land or other property lawfully acquired within the said territory, shall be respected.

 Article IV.  The farms, lands, and other property of every description, belonging to the Puget's Sound Agricultural Company, on the north side of the Columbia River, shall be confirmed to the said company. In case, however, the situation of those farms and lands should be considered by the United States to be of public and political importance, and the United States government should signify a desire to obtain possession of the whole, or of any part thereof, the property so required shall be transferred to the said government, at a proper valuation, to be agreed upon between the parties.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Article V. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> The present treaty shall be ratified by the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof, and by her Britannic Majesty; and the ratifications shall he exchanged at London, at the expiration of six months from the date hereof, or sooner, if possible. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> In witness whereof, the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed the same, and have affixed thereto the seals of their arms. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Done at Washington, the fifteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-six.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> As Texas was annexed as a slave state, the balance between slave states and free states was disturbed. As a solution, part of Oregon Territory was divided and officially passed as the 33rd state of United States in 1859. As the division of land occurred, expansionists fought to divide the land at the latitude of fifty-four-forty. This created the motto “Fifty-four-forty or Fight.” This quote was made to fight for every bit of land to the exact point of fifty-four-forty. However, “Oregon” was cut at the 49th parallel, which is now the border of Canada and the U.S. The final outcome of Oregon Territory was Washington and Oregon states. Now, the latitude of fifty-four-forty has been pulled westward to create Idaho as well. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In 1843, the debates about borders between British and US land almost led to a war. However, the creation of Oregon Territory was able to settle that problem by dividing land at the 49th parallel. On August 14, 1848, President James K. Polk had signed a bill to officially pass Territory of Oregon as a territory of the United States of America. This process was rushed because of the **Whitman Massacre** that occurred because of the Provisional Government of Oregon. This was a self-governing system for Oregon Territory. In March of 1849, a new governor was sent to Oregon City to start governing the territory. This government that started was called the Territorial Government of Oregon. The Congress had met all of Oregon Treaty’s points using the style of government that the U.S. had developed. Overall, there were no problems met between the treaty and the actual conditions of Oregon Territory.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1859: Oregon becomes 33rd state **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Government/Politics: **

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Whitman Massacre:** The Whitman Massacre occurred in 1847. US missionaries Dr Marcus Whitman and his wife, and other doctors were sent to help the Native Americans. They traveled along the Oregon Trail and were one of the first to arrive at Oregon. They tried to heal patients and become friendly, but the Americans brought disease, such as measles, cholera, and other common diseases, to their land and the Native Americans thought that the doctors were the people who were spreading it. Therefore they attacked the camp the doctors were staying in and severely wounded people. In the end, the Native Americans were caught and taken to Oregon City where they were trialed. This massacre also sped up the formation of the Government of Oregon and it becoming part of the US.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> As mentioned before, the Native Americans who were on the land of Oregon Territory were forced to go to reservations. The white people moving west killed buffaloes and forced the Natives to go to reservations for food.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Impacts on inhabitants of territory: **

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> The United States was able to earn its division with Canada because of the Oregon Territory, and it was able to keep a balance between slave states and free states. Also, the Oregon Territory brought four states-Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Wyoming-to exist.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Effect on US: **

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> It can be said that it has a positive impact to the Americans since they were able to obtain the land. Also, the Oregon Treaty solved the fight over the boundaries and the US was able to stop from losing further land, which is a good result. However, if the expansion is seen through the Native Americans perspective, then we cannot say it was completely positive. To the Native Americans, their homeland was stolen and their food source buffaloes were killed. They eventually had to move into reservations. This is a negative result. Therefore, the territory expansion has both positive and negative impacts.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Conclusion: **

Works Cited: <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Johannsen, Robert W.. "Oregon Territory's Movement for Self-Government, 1848-1853." Pacific Historical Review. 1 ed. Vol. 26. Berkely: University of California Press, 1957. 17. JSTOR. Web. 30 Aug. 2010.

http://www.thefurtrapper.com/oregon_trail.htm

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"oregon timeline - state of oregon time line." World Atlas including Geography Facts, Maps, Flags - worldatlas.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Aug. 2010. <http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/namerica/usstates/ortimeln.htm>.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"OregonTreaty of 1846." Oregon Trackers. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Aug. 2010. <http://www.oregontrackers.com/OregonTreaty_of_1846.html>.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> "Oregon Treaty." Center for Columbia River History. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Aug. 2010. <http://www.ccrh.org/comm/river/docs/ortreaty.htm>.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2nd picture: http://www.google.co.kr/imgres?imgurl=http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/oregon-map.jpg&imgrefurl=http://americanpicturelinks.com/11jp.htm&usg=__YxOM0zP7lYQHEsGyk9SypTgTd4M=&h=728&w=694&sz=328&hl=en&start=32&sig2=SEvQh1IaBoEo1X8B8cXZEQ&zoom=1&tbnid=-ThR3Ifwo-6N-M:&tbnh=161&tbnw=153&ei=BBZ9TMPpMYKKvQPfip23Ag&prev=/images%3Fq%3Doregon%2B49th%2Bparallel%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26newwindow%3D1%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26biw%3D1276%26bih%3D652%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C884&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=486&oei=4BV9TIOJIImivgO7gPFk&esq=3&page=3&ndsp=16&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:32&tx=76&ty=74&biw=1276&bih=652