Oregon Trail and Treaty 1846 Flashcards
How long was the Oregon trail?
2170 miles
How many Americans had settled in the Oregon Country by 1846?
5000
How many settles, miners and farmers used the Oregon trail in the mid-19th century?
over 400,000
How did the Oregon Trail link to Manifest Destiny?
Practical expression of Manifest Destiny
Allowed US settlers to travel to the West coast
Underpinned American claims to Oregon Country
What was the Oregon Treaty of 1846?
Treaty signed by US and Britain in 1846
Peaceful resolution of boundary dispute in Oregon Country- sets 49th parallel as border between British Canada and US
Secured US control over Oregon, Washington and Idaho
Why was the Oregon Treaty significant for westward expansion?
Extended US sovereignty to Pacific Coast
Strengthened US Pacific trade potential
Allowed settlement in the fertile Willamette Valley
Why was Polk willing to compromise with Britain over the border rather than fight?
Polk was facing war with Mexico
As a Southern slaveholder, Polk had a vested interest in expanding slavery- hence fighting for land in the South but not in the North
