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.