The Oregon Country was a historical region of land that spanned vast area across the
Pacific Northwest, containing the modern states of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho entirely,
segments of Wyoming and Montana, as well as a large portion of what is now the Canadian
province of British Columbia. Much like the history of the Southwestern United States,
the story of the Oregon Country begins with European territorial claims and the philosophy
driving American westward expansion: Manifest Destiny. The philosophy of Manifest Destiny
is simple; Americans believed they had a divine right to expand the boundaries of the nation
throughout the American continents, especially to the Western coast of North America, and,
by doing so, further spread the ideals of liberty. This concept created the modern U.S.
we have today, expanding from the Eastern Atlantic coast to the Western Pacific coast.
During expansion, however, little focus was placed on securing the territories of the
Midwest, as settlers did not see as lucrative opportunities in the Great Plains than they
did in the coastal states. This meant the acquisition of these territories specifically,
including the Oregon Country, was seen as an essential addition to the country, rather
than a mere byproduct of a larger goal. Throughout history, the Oregon Country region has been
claimed by the British, French, Spanish, Russians, and Americans, all based on different rationale.
The American claim to the region was based on the expedition of Lewis and Clark that
reached the area in 1805 and 1806, the entries of the Columbia River by Robert Gray, as well
as the establishment of trading posts by the Pacific Fur Company, like that at the mouth
of the Columbia River in Astoria. The British claim was based on the explorations of James
Cook and the overland expeditions of David Thompson, and the fact that they had explored
the region before all other European powers and the Americans. The Spanish based their
stake in the Oregon Country on the Inter caetera, a papal decree stating all lands west of a
line through modern Brazil from pole to pole belongs to Spain, while all lands to the East
belong to Portugal, as well as the Treaty of Tordesillas, which moved the aforementioned
line slightly to the West. Russia based its claim off explorations and trading within
the region as well as the Ukase of 1821, a proclamation of territorial sovereignty over
the northwestern region of North America. Spain would be the first to drop its claim
at the Nootka Conventions of the 1790s, granting their claim to the British. The Adams Onis
Treaty, along with ceding Florida to the U.S., would later define the boundary between the
U.S. and New Spain and, as a result, the Spanish gave up their territory North of the California-Oregon
border. The Russians would soon follow suit, giving up their claims to the Oregon Country
through the Russo-American Treaty of 1824. The Treaty of 1818 between the United States
and the British would be the first to set a defined border to the Oregon Country. In
addition to setting this border, the two nations agreed to jointly occupy the Oregon Country
in this treaty, as only the American and British claims continued in the region. Despite this
occupation, the settlers of the Oregon Country created their own Provisional Government of
Oregon in 1843. This provisional government passed two sets of legislation, known as the
Organic Laws of Oregon, that established the structure of government with three branches
that mirror those of the American government; an executive, legislature, and judiciary.
However, this self-government would be short-lived, as settlers’ increasing desire to join the
Union was becoming more apparent. The issue of Oregon was a burning one in the
American Congress by 1843. President James K. Polk supported the idea of Manifest Destiny
and sought American expansion, whether that be into the Spanish Southwest or the Pacific
Northwest. Polk aimed to resolve the British claim over the Oregon Country. He announced
the termination of the joint-occupation status of Oregon and proposed a settlement of establishing
a border at the 49th parallel west of the Rocky Mountains. The British, in turn, began
negotiations with the U.S., as neither power wanted to enter a war over the territory.
In the end, Polk’s suggestion was heeded, and the border was set straight at the 49th
parallel outside of, most notably, veering around Vancouver Island as to not split the
island. The Oregon Treaty set this in stone, being signed on June 15th, 1846. The Oregon
Territory would be created on August 14th, 1848 as an organized incorporated territory
of the United States, meaning it was part of the United States proper and had an organized
government. The territory would exist in this form until March 2nd, 1853 when its Northern
half was separated and organized into Washington Territory. The Western half of Oregon Territory
would be admitted as the thirty-third state on February 14th, 1859, creating the state
of Oregon, the first state to be formed out of the Oregon Country. What remained of Oregon
Country outside of the borders of the newly founded state was transferred to Washington
Territory. Washington Territory would lose a portion of its land to Dakota Territory
in 1861. The next change to Washington Territory would come when it was once again split creating
part of Idaho territory along with parts of Dakota and Nebraska Territory. Montana Territory,
a region containing a small amount of land that once was part of Oregon Country, was
admitted as the forty-first state on November 8th, 1889. 3 days later, Washington Territory
would be admitted as the forty-second state on November 11th of 1889, and Idaho Territory
would be admitted as the forty-third less than a year later on July 3rd, 1890. Finally,
the last bit of territory that was once part of the Oregon Country became a part of a state
when the Wyoming Territory was granted statehood as the forty-fourth state on July 10th, 1890.
The story of the Oregon Country is one of territory grabs and border changes. From the
early claims by five clashing powers to the joint-occupation agreement, territory status,
and being slowly chipped off the map as the states that it once formed are granted statehood,
the Oregon Country has certainly seen a lot in its time. This is 435American. Thanks for
watching.