Oregon Territory Research Paper

The Oregon territory stretched from the pacific coast to the Rocky Mountains passing through the area of “present-day Oregon”, Washington, and most of British Columbia. The Oregon trial to the territory made a border issue, a burning one in the congress. President, James Polk, was ready to settle the boundary of the Oregon territory and brought the idea of this settlement on the 49 degree line to Great Britain. With some midifications to be made, which reserved the whole of Vancouver island to Canada. Great Britain agreed to Polk’s suggestion. I think this is a big part of Canadian history because if they didn't decide to take Canada out of the the Oregon territory it could have been out land to have. Lots of settlers used the Oregon territory,

Faragher, Buhle, Cziyron and Armitage ( 2010) note the westward development into the new territories of the United States usually took place in three stages; trade, settlement and statehood. The speed at which this expansion occurred reinforced America's sense of themselves as a pioneering people. This experience worked to create a belief that the United States was a nation of adventurous, optimistic, and democratic people (p. 357).

Since the the Louisiana purchase and during the 19th century, the United States would expand from what was the original Thirteen Colonies that seceded successfully from England, to include the entire continent from today’s Maine to California. Throughout this period, several expansionist accomplishments were made, including the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, the Compromise of 1820, the Mexican secession, the Compromise of 1850, and lastly the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Each of these, however, and more, were met with numerous proponents as well as opponents to territorial expansion – each for different reasons. However, each and every debate for or against expansion eventually led the United States government’s actions, or lack thereof, and has shaped

Theme: Geography - Territorial Acquisition - Throughout The nation's history the United States has expanded through the acquisition of new territories. These acquisitions have had both positive and negative effects on the United States.

From 1700 to 1790 the lands that later became the United States had been most successfully developed. From the original 13 colonies, pioneers spread out and settled lands to the west. After the revolutionary war with much conflict between the colonies about government and ownership of the western lands, they came together settling most of their disputes and giving control of the western territories to the nation. By taking over all western territories, the United States resolved potential conflict over ownership. By exercising control over interstate trade, the United States enabled widespread economic growth. By coordinating foreign policy, the United States reinforced the stance of the thirteen colonies with other

land of the United States of America. Western expansion was a great part of the growth of the

To start off, in this period of time america was in a mode of vast expansionism. This expansionism was clear to see and similar to what we had done in the past with the land that is now america. In the

After the War of 1812 much of America's attention turned to exploration and settlement of its territory to the West, which had been greatly enlarged by the Louisiana Purchase.

It all started after the Declaration of Independence during the time America was busy fighting the Revolutionary War, when Congress realized that they needed to form a plan to move forward and unite the thirteen states as a nation.

Ever since Jamestown, America has come a long way. In the middle of the nineteenth century American’s were eager to move west. They wanted to see the span of the United States from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific. Jefferson was able to double the size of the United States by negotiating with France, which ended up being known as the Louisiana Purchase. Americans saw empty land waiting to be filled. They thought the open land meant opportunity and potential wealth. By moving west, they could share their unique way of government and the freedom it represented. They believed that America would be a great nation.

The Westward expansion began for the United States with the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. For $15 million dollars, President Thomas Jefferson purchased from France 828,000 square miles, including most of 14 current states, thus doubling the size of America. Jefferson now had the land, but how to populate it was another story. On a three year expedition, Lewis and Clark were sent by Jefferson to explore the lands to get a better understanding of the geography and resources of the West. During the 1830s to 1840s, to promote further territory expansion, the “manifest destiny” came into play – which was the idea that America was destined to expand across the entire country westward. Quickly, the nation expanded.

Prior to the 1800s, US expansion had been accepted by the government in the thirteen colonies. Despite the government's favor for territorial expansion, the controversy was spread throughout the 13 colonies on the idea of expansion. An American who influenced expansion in America, John O’ Sullivan, conjectured that territorial expansion was destined and it was god’s given right to expand America coast to coast, or in this case into westward territories. This thought was defined as Manifest Destiny and aided the fuel of western settlement, Native American Removal and war with Mexico. Many Americans did, however, oppose expansion and war causing, but their inputs didn’t change the idea of expansion. During the period of 1800-1855, America’s idea to expand territory succeeded in events such as the Louisiana Purchase (1803) and the Indian Removal Act. These events certainly satisfied proponents of expansion and influenced America's westward expansion. Despite these achievements, opponents of expansions opposed because of events like the War of 1812 and the Mexican-American war. America’s shape today is indeed based on these beliefs of expanding America.

Securing new land in the west more than doubled the size of the nation. New territories were obtained in Northern Georgia, Texas, Oregon, and California to name a few. In

The purchase of the Louisiana Territory in 1803 opened the door to westward expansion. Thomas Jefferson purchased this extensive plot of land with the hopes of strengthening and expanding the Republic, unaware that it would have the opposite effect. Jefferson’s fateful decision to expand the United States nearly destroyed the Republic that Americans worked so hard to build. It triggered the rise of divisions amongst Americans. These small cracks continued to grow and tear at the seams of the nation. Although westward expansion between 1800 and 1848 granted many new opportunities to the American people, it also brought about tension that plagued the nation for years to come.

In the 1860s and early 1870s, the U.S. focused primarily on domestic issues, such as settlement of the American West. Apart from acquiring Alaska from Russia in 1867, the U.S. achieved little in the area of foreign expansion at this time. However, by the late nineteenth century and the early twentieth century, United States expansionism looked abroad with new interest, because, as a rising industrial power, the U.S. needed to find foreign markets in which to sell its manufactured products and from which to acquire raw goods. This new age of United States expansionism was a continuation of past expansionism. America 's hunger for land and power led it to depart from its original foreign policies and expand worldwide, such as large parts of South America and the Caribbean.