What is the Colonial and Territorial days of Oregon?

Exploration:

- Spanish Juan de Fuca explored the Oregon coast and Juan Perez reached the mouth of the Columbia River in the late 18th century.

- In 1792, Captain Robert Gray entered the Columbia River and named it after his ship.

Lewis and Clark Expedition:

- Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led an expedition from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean between 1804-1806.

- They were the first Euro-Americans to explore much of the Oregon Country, including the Columbia Plateau and Willamette Valley.

British Fur Trading Companies:

- The Hudson's Bay Company and the North West Company established trading posts in the region.

- British traders competed with American trappers for furs, leading to conflicts and tense relationships.

Early Settlers:

- In the 1830s, small groups of American settlers started migrating to the Oregon Country.

- The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions established missions, like the Whitman Mission in Walla Walla, to spread Christianity among Native American tribes.

The Whitman Massacre:

- In 1847, relations with the Native tribes turned sour, resulting in the Whitman Massacre, where Marcus Whitman and other settlers were killed by the Cayuse tribe.

The Provisional Government:

- To resolve the legal issues stemming from the increasing settlement, the settlers formed a provisional government in Oregon in 1843.

- The government created laws, set up a court system, and elected officials.

The Oregon Trail:

- Thousands of settlers traveled the Oregon Trail, a challenging overland route from the Midwest to Oregon.

- The trail contributed to the rapid settlement of the Oregon Territory.

The Oregon Donation Land Act:

- The act was passed by the US Congress in 1850. It granted free land to settlers who resided in the Oregon Territory for four continuous years.

- This act further spurred settlement and population growth in Oregon.

The Boundary Dispute with Great Britain:

- The US and Britain held a long-standing boundary dispute involving the Oregon Country, which was eventually resolved through negotiations.

- The 1846 Oregon Treaty established the parallel 49° as the boundary between the US and Canada, leaving Oregon within the United States.

Oregon Territory to Statehood:

- President Franklin Pierce signed a bill granting Oregon statehood on February 14, 1859.

- Oregon officially became the 33rd state of the United States.