-
Art: Trading with the Indians
Trade with the Indians was very important to settlers. They traded information, clothing, and artifacts that would help settlers survive during harsh winters and food shortages that they weren't prepared for. -
Art/Architecture: Prairie Schooners
The covered wagon, also known as a prairie schooner, is an important part of the American Old West. The white canvas covers of the wagons crossing the prairie reminded people of ships sailing across the ocean. housands of Americans took them on The Oregon Trail to settle in parts of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana. They typically had oxen or donkeys pulling their wagons that were carrying supplies and personal belongings. People had to walk the trail because the ride was too rough. -
Government: Lewis and Clark Expedition
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark set off looking for a Northwest Passage. This expedition proved that the NW was full of beaver and other fur bearing animals, Lewis and Clark made drawings and maps, collected artifacts, learned knowledge of the terrain and the native people, and the flora and fauna of the west. -
Period: to
The Corp of Discovery commenced historic journey to find a northwest passage
Included Lewis and Clark, 27 young soldiers, a hunter, and Clark's slave -
Environment: Fur Trade Era
The Fur Trade was the first large scale corporate enterprise in North America. It was a way to make alliances and maintain good relations between different cultures. Native Americans would base decisions of which side to support in times of war upon which side provided them with the best trade goods. The fur trade was politically important because it made Britain and the U,S. fight for territory. -
Environment: The American Fur Co
The American Fur Co. exploited fur-bearing animals on a large scale. This led others to want to experience the riches of Oregon Country. People competed to get the most furs because they were worth a lot to people who wanted to trade them for things necessary for living. -
Government: The War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a war that lasted about 32 months. This war ended a lively competition between American and British fur traders. British and Americans fought for territory. Fort Astoria was taken over by British and renamed it Fort George. This was the first British post on the North Pacific Coast. -
Government: The Treaty of Ghent
This treaty restored all territory taken during the War of 1812. Oregon Country was "free and open" until 1846 when Great Britain and the U.S. divided Oregon country along the 49th parallel. -
Religion: Battle of Pierre's Hole
The Battle of Pierre's HoleA large number of Blackfeet Indians entered the campsite of the rendezvous. A flathead warrior shot and killed a Blackfeet chief and sparked a general "melee". -
Technology: Spalding imports a printing press
Henry Spalding imported a printing press from Hawaii in order to publish the gospel of John and other materials in the Nez Pierce language. This technology helped the missionaries in their attempt to Christianize the Nez Peirce. -
Religion: Manifest Destiny
Manifest Destiny was an expansionist view that Americans were God’s chosen people and that it was their right and duty to spread democracy and Protestantism. These ideals caused territorial tensions with Britain. These tensions had been building since the War of 1812. This attitude was a major reason that settlers moved west in the 1800s. -
Economics: The Oregon Trail
From the early to mid-1830s and 846–1869 the Oregon Trail was used by about 400,000 settlers, ranchers, farmers, miners, and businessmen and their families. The survivors from the Oregon Trail were the people who formed this region's personality. Without the Oregon Trail the United States wouldn't have been able to lay claim to the some of the territories of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana. -
Economics: Oregon Boundary Dispute
This conflict started as a result of competing British and Fifty four forty or fight. American claims to the Pacific Northwest of North America. Both Britain and the United States had territorial and commercial interests in these areas. The British knew the region as the Columbia District, a fur-trading division of the Hudson's Bay Company , but Americans referred to it as the Oregon Country. -
Religion: The Whitman tragedy at Waiilatpu
The Whitman TragedyThe Cayuse Indians noted that white children treated by Whitman usually recovered from measles and dysentery, but that Indian children did not. They perceived that Whitman was killing Indians through some sort of witchcraft.The Cayuse leaders entered the Whitman home and killed Marcus, Narcissa, and eleven others and destroyed the mission buildings. - See mo -
Environment: The Gold Rush
The discovery of gold nuggets in the Sacramento Valley in early 1848 sparked the Gold Rush. This is one of the most significant events to shape American history during the first half of the 19th century because so many people flooded this area causing huge disputes among people including territorial issues and causing unrepairable damage to our environment. -
Technology: Steamboats of the Pacific Northwest
Transportation over water was not easy. The construction of steamboats made it easy for cattlemen to get their livestock where they needed them and gold seekers used them to get from their jumping off points to the northern mines. It also made it easier to carry all the equipment they needed. Ship owners made a lot of money in this business. -
Economics: Fort Laramie Cow
A pioneer's cow wandered into a Sioux camp. The Sioux ate the cow and it made the pioneers angry and felt they should be punished. The emigrants went to Ft. Laramie, where they told Lt. Grattan what happened. He and 29 soldiers tdecided they wanted to punish the tribe. This was another cause of disputes between the whites and Indians. -
Art: The Edmunds Act
The Edmund Act of 1887 was passed in to resolve the dispute between the United States Congress and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because of their belief in polygamy. This sparked artist to draw pictures that increased religious tension between people of different beliefs. Publications such as newspapers began printing pictures depicting mormons falling from heaven into hell. This act had a large affect on art from that time period. -
Technology: Railroad completed
The railroad is considered by some to be the greatest technological feat of the 19th century. The transcontinental railroad replaced the slower and more dangerous wagon trains, It also ended the centuries old way of life of the Native Americans and greatly altered the environment.
