Chapter 6 — The Development Of BC Flashcards
What brought about dramatic change to BC in the 1800s?
The fur trade
What is the 49th parallel?
Boundary separating the British and American territories (49 N latitude)
Between Lake of Woods (in what is now western Ontario) and the eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains
Set in 1819
Define Oregon Territory
An area in the Pacific Northwest occupied by both British and American Colonists
A.k.a. the Columbia District by the British
Oregon Territory
Region between the Rockies and the Pacific Ocean
Sparsely populated by Europeans in 1819, thus decision regarding who controls the area wasn’t made
Didn’t consider interests of the First Nations
Hudson Bay’s plan for Oregon Territory
Already operated in the region
No interest in encouraging settlement, preferred leaving region open for the fur trade
America’s plan for Oregon Territory
Eastern US — increasing population — need to expand
Purchased territory west of Mississippi from France in 1803
Manifest Destiny and need for expansion prompted an aggressive settlement policy in the Oregon Territory
US gov. encouraged Americans to settle in Oregon
Most settled in Portland, Oregon, south of the Columbia river.
Who was HBC’s manager?
George Simpson
Which trading post did George Simpson build in 1824?
Fort Vancouver — became HBC’s main trading post in the Oregon Territory
Felt that the company wasn’t making the best use of the region’s resources
Built on the north bank of the Columbia River
Who was in charge of a Fort Vancouver?
John McLoughlin — French Canadian
Directed to expand the fur trade along the Pacfic coast
Capable and efficient administrator, a realist
Knew Americans would take up homesteads in the region, thus offered them money and supplies to settle south of her Columbia River instead of the north
What did the HBC and Russia agree to?
HBC had Russian competition (had fur trading posts along the northern part of the coast)
By 1839, agreed Russians wouldn’t operate south of 54 40 N latitude (Prince Rupert) and HBC would supply them food
Why were all trading posts along the coast closed in 1841?
George Simpson was disappointed the coastal fur trade didn’t expand as much as he had hoped
Decided to cut costs
Which steamship was used to trade with coastal First Nations?
Steamship Beaver
Why did McLoughlin develop a hatred for Simpson and the HBC?
Simpson closed all trading posts along the coast except Fort Simpson — 15 years of McLoughlin’s work undone
Simpson recommended “justifiable homicide” when McLoughlin’s son was killed in a brawl
Continued promoting American settlement south of the Columbia River
What is McLoughlin known as?
“The Father of Oregon” - assistance to American settlers
What was BC like prior to the 1800s?
No roads, boundary lines, bridges, or ferries
Inhabited by 80 000 to 100 000 First Nations
