CHAPTER 12 MANIFEST DESTINY

1. CHAPTER 12MANIFEST DESTINY CH. 13- SEC. 1 OREGON COUNTRY Pgs. 356-360 Objective: Explain why large numbers of settlers headed for the Oregon Territory……..and Understand how the idea of Manifest Destiny contributed to the nations growth.

2. BACKGROUND OF OREGON TERRITORY • INCLUDED: Oregon, Washington, Idaho, parts of Wyoming, Montana and Canada. • Rocky Mtns on the east while the Pacific Ocean was on the west. • Climates varied-----Lands west of the Cascade Mtns. enjoyed mild temps and lots of rain….lands east was dry plateau. • Wealth lay in the fur business.(beaver) • WHO CLAIMED THE LAND? • Russia, Spain, Britain and the U.S. • Britain based their claim on the explorations of Sir. Francis Drake(1579)( • U.S. based their claim on the voyage of Robert Gray(1792) • Astoria—first American settlement on the Pacific Coast • 1818-Britain and the U.S. agree to share the land for 10 years..Spain and Russia gave up their claims in 1825, (Joint Occupation)

3. THE MOUNTAIN MEN • Rough and tumble group of explorers. • Lived a tough, lonesome life…. • Had to haul six to eight heavy traps on his back. • Some nights, he went to bed hungry. • Learned many trapping skills from the Native Americans. • Summer-they headed to a meeting place called the RENDEZVOUS. • WHY THESE GUYS ARE IMPORTANT? • 1. James Beckwourth—found a pass through the Sierra Nevada Mtns. to California. (African-American) • 2. Jim Bridger- rode across the Great Divide— • 3. Manuel Lisa- founded the first outpost on the upper Missouri River. • 4. Robert Stuart and Jedediah Smith found the South Pass (later becomes the main route of the Oregon Trail)

4. UPCOMING CHANGES • Merchant- John Jacob Astor set up a trading post in the area…1808 he established the American Fur Company. • Mountain Men saw changes coming as the covered wagons came. • Most became out of work and became farmers. • Others became guides for wagon trails. • Their best route= THE OREGON TRAIL. • Between 1840-1860…60,000 people traveled the Trail. • Bank Panic of 1837 made many in the Mississippi Valley want to get a new start.

5. TRAVELING THE TRAIL • Most people used prairie schooners….and formed wagon trains • Most left Independence, Missouri in May and had five months to cross the Rockies. • 2,000 mile journey • Hundreds never reached Oregon… • Why? • 1. Disease----cholera and smallpox • 2. Died----drowned in rivers or accidents. • Native Americans did help out. • 1. Provided them with horses, clothing and food. • 2. some were guides

6. JAYCEE LOVES FINNY • Marriage is great • Finstad loves me back • Don’t deny it,your face is red finny

7. Dividing Oregon and Manifest Destiny • Most settlers headed for the WILLAMETTE VALLEY …..which made the American population there about 5,000 while the British population remained about 500. • America’s vision before 1800 was to serve a a model of democracy and freedom…..now it changed to “spread freedom by occupying the entire continent” • Adams-Onis treaty kinda helped this. • 1840’s…New York news editor John O’Sullivan declared it was America’s “Manifest Destiny” to possess the whole of the continent.

8. FIFTY-FOUR FORTY OR FIGHT • Most Americans favored annexing Oregon. • ELECTION OF 1844 • Henry Clay (Whig) didn’t take a strong position on Oregon. • James K. Polk (Democrat) ran for President and he agreed with annexing Oregon people……FIFTY-FOUR FORTY OR FIGHT was his motto • This meant he demanded that the border be expanded to that parallel which was the southern boundary of Alaska. • Polk wins the election—because of a third party (Liberty Party) took Clay’s vote in New York ---and immediately begins negotiations with Britain………border is set at 49 degrees north • Oregon becomes a territory in 1848 and a state in 1859.