Oregon territory, event leading up to becoming part of the US
The Oregon Territory was ceded to the United States through a series of events, negotiations, and agreements with other countries. The primary events leading up to the territory becoming part of the US are as follows:
1. Early Explorations: The area known as the Oregon Territory was initially explored by European nations, primarily Spain, Russia, and Britain, in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. British fur traders, including the Hudson's Bay Company, established a significant presence in the region.
2. Discovery and Mapping: The Lewis and Clark Expedition, commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson, explored and mapped the region between 1804 and 1806. Their journey popularized the idea of Westward expansion among Americans.
3. Joint Occupation Agreement: In 1818, the United States and Britain signed the Treaty of 1818, establishing joint occupation of the Oregon Territory. This meant that both nations had equal rights to settle and trade in the area.
4. Oregon Trail: The Oregon Trail, a route that stretched from Missouri to Oregon City, became popular in the 1840s as thousands of American settlers migrated to the region in search of fertile farmland and new opportunities.
5. Border Disputes with Britain: In the 1840s, tensions started to rise between the United States and Britain regarding the borders of the Oregon Territory. Both nations claimed different portions of the territory, with the US arguing for the 54°40′ north latitude line as the boundary.
6. Diplomatic Negotiations: Recognizing the possibility of war, both countries chose to pursue a diplomatic solution. The Webster-Ashburton Treaty of 1842 resolved some of the border disputes by establishing the 49th parallel as the boundary between British Canada and the US up to the Rocky Mountains.
7. Oregon Treaty: The final resolution came with the signing of the Oregon Treaty in 1846. The treaty established the 49th parallel as the border from the Rocky Mountains to the Strait of Georgia, where Vancouver Island was awarded to Britain. It also allowed for a ten-year period of joint occupation before the territory would be fully integrated into the United States.
8. Oregon as a Territory: In 1848, the Oregon Territory was officially established by the US Congress, encompassing present-day Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and parts of Wyoming and Montana.
9. Statehood: Oregon gained statehood on February 14, 1859, becoming the 33rd state of the United States.
Overall, the Oregon Territory became part of the United States through diplomatic negotiations, treaties, and the steady influx of American settlers seeking new opportunities and lands in the 19th century.