Oregon is a state in the west of the USA. Oregon was acquired by treaty with England in 1846. It was visited by Francis Drake in 1558 and, it is said, by Juan de Fuca in 1592. In 1792 Vancouver, an English officer, surveyed the coast from 30 degrees to 60 degrees north latitude. Robert Gray, of Boston, had previously discovered the Columbia River. It was claimed by the United States that the 'Oregon country', included between 42 degrees and 54 degrees 40 minutes, formed a part of the Louisiana cession, but England refused to recognize the claim. Lewis and Clark surveyed the country bewteen 1804 and 1806.
In 1818 the United States and England agreed upon a treaty of joint occupancy, which was renewed in 1827. Russia had claims to the Oregon country south of 54 degrees 40 minutes, which she finally withdrew. Emigration from the United States into the region was stimulated by the reports of Dr Whitman, a missionary, who made a perilous journey on horseback to Washington in the winter of 1842-43, and urged the Government at Washington to assert the claims of the United States to that region.
The people of Oregon formed a provisional government in 1843. The cry 'fifty-four-forty or fight' threatened war with England, which was averted by the treaty of 1846, whereby the northern boundary of the United States at 49 degrees north latitude was extended to the Fuca Strait. In 1848 the territory of Oregon was organized and made to include the present States of Washington and Idaho. A State constitution was adopted in 1857, which forbade slavery and the immigration of negroes. The 'anti-negro' provision prevented the admission of Oregon into the Union until 1859.
Abbreviations
Gazetteer
Research Oregon