Pacific Coast in the Early 1800’s

The Oregon Territory

A. Disputes over the territory of the Pacific Coast (Oregon Territory)

1. Unsettled disputes of the treaty following the War of 1812

A. Disputes over the territory of the Pacific Coast (Oregon Territory)

Set the 49th parallel of latitude as the Canadian - U.S. border

Covered territory only as far west as the Rocky Mountains

Beyond the Rockies, both Britain and the U.S. continued to claim territory lying north of California

Other territory was left open to settlement

1. Unsettled disputes of the treaty following the War of 1812

A. Disputes over the territory of the Pacific Coast (Oregon Territory)

2. Disputes between fur trading companies

A. Disputes over the territory of the Pacific Coast (Oregon Territory)

U.S. companies established posts along the Columbia River as early as 1808

By 1821, the H.B.Co. controlled the area and discouraged settlement that they thought would interfere with fur trading

However, the U.S. and American fur traders encouraged U.S. settlers to move into the area

Most of this settlement was around Fort Astoria These settlers wanted the US to annex the Pacific Northwest

This settlement allowed the U.S. to establish a claim to the Pacific Coast

2. Disputes between fur trading companies

HBC Forts

A. Disputes over the territory of the Pacific Coast (Oregon Territory)

Fort Vancouver (on the Columbia River)

Built to counter the American presence The Centre of the British fight against American

expansion Fort Vancouver was the H.B.C headquarters in

the region The Columbia River was the main access route

to the interior H.B.Co. encouraged British settlement to

provide supplies to fur traders and offset American colonization

A. Disputes over the territory of the Pacific Coast (Oregon Territory)

A. Disputes over the territory of the Pacific Coast (Oregon Territory)

George Simpson

A. Disputes over the territory of the Pacific Coast (Oregon Territory)

George Simpson takes action 1827, Fort Langley built to counter

American expansion Ordered the building of trading posts on

the Pacific coast south of Alaska to compete with American fur trading ships

B. Disputes over the territory North & South of 54 40’

1824 – the Russia / American Treaty

B. Disputes over the territory North & South of 54 40’

Divided the coast into trading areas Russian fur-trading area – south limit to 54 40’

north British - U.S. fur trading area - south of 54 40’ British had not taken part in treaty negotiations

and did not recognize the treaty and did not recognize the treaty

B. Disputes over the territory North & South of 54 40’

James Polk, U.S. President

Campaigned for election in 1844 to claim territory up to Alaska for the U.S. - by war if necessary

Campaign slogan was “54 40’ or fight

Oregon Boundary Treaty - 1846

B. Disputes over the territory North & South of 54 40’

Oregon Boundary Treaty cont…

Following Polk’s election, negotiations started to set a boundary between British and American territories in the North-West

Britain wanted the boundary at the Columbia river

Treaty set the boundary at the 49th parallel and gave all of Vancouver Island to Britain

C. Fort Victoria

The H.B.Co. replaces Fort Vancouver

C. Fort Victoria

George Simpson suspected that the lands, along the Columbia would later become part of U.S.

James Douglas selected the site for the new fort

D. Creation of Vancouver Island Colony

Jan 1849, Vancouver Island became crown colony

D. Creation of Vancouver Island Colony

Fort Victoria the Capital Purpose was to defend British claim to

the region Royal charter required the H.B.Co. to

actively encourage settlement on island In return company received a trade

monopoly on the island

D. Creation of Vancouver Island Colony

James Douglas

D. Creation of Vancouver Island Colony

James Douglas cont… Transferred from Fort Vancouver to

become chief factor of Fort Victoria More powerful than the governor Became governor in 1851 Promoted land settlement on the Island