Why a Trail to Oregon?

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Why a Trail to Oregon?

Why a Trail to Oregon?

The allure of the American West, a vast and untamed expanse stretching towards the Pacific Ocean, beckoned to a particular breed of individuals: the explorers, pioneers, and fur traders who dared to venture beyond the established borders of the United States. These were men and women driven by a restless spirit, a thirst for adventure, and a yearning for something more than the settled life of the East could offer. As Meriwether Lewis famously wrote after a harsh winter along the Missouri River, the moment of departure into the uncharted wilderness was among the happiest of his life, an sentiment echoed by many who would follow in his footsteps.

The motivations behind this westward migration were complex and varied. For some, it was the lure of economic opportunity. The promise of fertile land, abundant resources, and the chance to build a new life far from the crowded cities and established social structures of the East was a powerful draw. Farmers, facing declining prices for their goods due to increased competition, saw the Oregon Territory as a chance to start anew and prosper. Others sought escape from the social and economic unrest that plagued the nation in the early 19th century. The idealized vision of a perfect union, as enshrined in the Constitution, had not fully materialized. Industrialization brought new comforts but also low wages and harsh working conditions. The spiritual authority of churches had been shaken by the American Revolution, leaving many feeling spiritually adrift. The revolutionary ideas emanating from France further fueled this sense of societal upheaval. The Why a Trail to Oregon? question begins to take shape when we understand these pressures.

Even those who initially returned to the East, weary of the hardships of the frontier, often found themselves drawn back to the mountains. The stories they told, the whispers of adventure and opportunity, stirred the "adventurous blood" dormant in the descendants of the original pioneers. These tales, combined with the writings of explorers and the romanticized portrayals of the frontier in literature, painted a compelling picture of the West as a land of heroic possibilities. James Fenimore Cooper was among the first American authors to idealize the frontiersmen, and Washington Irving further popularized the image of the Far West, helping to shape the popular imagination and inspire countless individuals to consider a westward journey. The Why a Trail to Oregon? inquiry often ends with stories of adventure.

Hall J. Kelley, a schoolteacher from Massachusetts, emerged as one of the earliest and most vocal advocates for emigration to the Oregon region. Beginning in 1818, Kelley tirelessly promoted the idea through letters, newspaper articles, and public meetings. His arguments, initially focused on the commercial and agricultural potential of the region, gradually took on a more socialist tone as he faced opposition from clergy and factory owners who feared the loss of parishioners and cheap labor. Kelley’s efforts, though somewhat eccentric, played a significant role in raising awareness and generating interest in the Oregon Territory.

Among those initially drawn to Kelley’s vision was Nathaniel Wyeth, a well-to-do businessman. Wyeth, expressing a sentiment common among many emigrants, wrote of his belief that he could "compete better with my fellow men in new and untried paths than in those which require only patience and attention." However, Wyeth soon recognized Kelley’s impracticality and decided to pursue his own venture as a fur trader. His plans, similar to those of John Jacob Astor, involved sending a ship with supplies to the Columbia River and traveling overland to meet it. Despite facing numerous challenges due to his inexperience, Wyeth eventually reached Fort Vancouver in 1832. The Why a Trail to Oregon? question had different answers for different people.

Captain Benjamin de Bonneville, another key figure in the early exploration of the Oregon Territory, arrived in 1832, ostensibly as a fur trader but also serving as a secret intelligence officer for the United States government. Washington Irving’s The Adventures of Captain Bonneville, based on Bonneville’s notes, became a popular source of information and inspiration for those considering a westward journey. The book’s publication in 1837 coincided with a severe financial crisis, making the prospect of free land and a fresh start in the West even more appealing to many Americans.

The Hudson’s Bay Company, a powerful British fur trading enterprise, played a significant role in shaping the early development of the Oregon Territory. Dr. John McLoughlin, the company’s chief factor at Fort Vancouver, exercised considerable influence over the region. Despite company regulations requiring employees to return to their point of enlistment for discharge, McLoughlin allowed French Canadian employees who had married local Native American women to settle near Fort Vancouver. He provided them with tools and supplies, partly out of kindness and partly with the strategic aim of establishing a loyal Canadian presence south of the Columbia River. The Why a Trail to Oregon? question has an important relationship to the HBC.

In 1831, a delegation of Flathead Native Americans traveled to St. Louis, Missouri, seeking religious instruction from white missionaries. This event sparked considerable interest in religious circles, leading the Methodist Episcopal Church to appoint Jason Lee as "Missionary to the Flatheads" in 1833. Lee, accompanied by a small group of assistants, joined Nathaniel Wyeth’s second expedition to Oregon in 1834. McLoughlin, despite his opposition to Wyeth’s business ventures, welcomed Lee and his party to Fort Vancouver. He advised Lee against establishing a mission among the Flatheads, suggesting instead that he minister to the settlers along the Willamette River.

McLoughlin’s advice reflected the Hudson’s Bay Company’s desire to limit American influence south of the Columbia River. Lee accepted the advice and established a mission in the Willamette Valley. Meanwhile, Hall Kelley, having traveled to Oregon via California, arrived at Fort Vancouver in 1834. McLoughlin, harboring a deep dislike for Kelley due to his promotion of American emigration, treated him poorly. Kelley’s subsequent accusations against McLoughlin in a published pamphlet led to a government investigation, further fueling tensions between the United States and Great Britain over the Oregon Territory.

The arrival of missionaries continued, with the Reverend Samuel Parker and Dr. Marcus Whitman arriving to study the needs of the Native Americans. Dr. Whitman ultimately settled among the Cayuse Indians, while Parker returned east to gather reinforcements. In 1838, the Reverend Herbert Beaver arrived from London with his wife, creating significant discord within the community due to their disdain for the Native Americans and their disapproval of interracial marriages.

Dr. Marcus Whitman and the Reverend Henry Spalding arrived at Fort Vancouver with their wives, becoming the first white women to make the overland journey. McLoughlin welcomed them and provided assistance as they established missions near Walla Walla and on the Clearwater River, warning them of the dangers of isolating themselves among the Cayuse Indians. Jason Lee, having returned from the East with reinforcements, brought the total number of missionaries in the Willamette Valley to sixty.

McLoughlin viewed the growing American presence with mixed feelings. The Protestant missionaries had made limited progress in converting the Native Americans, and rumors circulated that the Americans were turning their attention to land acquisition and the establishment of a provisional government. Jason Lee traveled east to petition Congress for Oregon to become part of the United States. McLoughlin, meanwhile, sought to expand the Hudson’s Bay Company’s operations, obtaining permission to trade in Russian Alaska and establish settlements south of Puget Sound to strengthen Britain’s claim to the territory.

The year 1841 marked a turning point, with increasing numbers of emigrants making their way to Oregon. John Bidwell led a group from Independence, Missouri, initially bound for California. The group eventually split, with some continuing to California and others following the Oregon Trail to Whitman’s Mission and then down the Columbia River. In 1842, Senator Thomas H. Benton of Missouri secured the dispatch of an official trail-exploration expedition led by John C. Fremont, whose reports generated widespread enthusiasm for the Oregon Territory.

In 1843, a significant wave of migration began, with approximately 1,000 people heading west under the leadership of Dr. Elijah White. McLoughlin, despite his concerns about the growing American presence, continued to assist the emigrants by extending credit at the company commissary. The following year, the settlers reorganized their provisional government and welcomed 1,400 more arrivals. McLoughlin continued to provide assistance, hoping to establish Fort Vancouver as the territory’s export center.

By 1845, the provisional government was fully established, and more than 3,000 immigrants arrived in Oregon. In the same year, the Hudson’s Bay Company forced Dr. John McLoughlin to resign. He relocated south to reclaim land he had previously claimed, expecting repayment from the settlers he had assisted. Many settlers failed to repay their debts to the Hudson’s Bay Company, and McLoughlin was forced to use his personal savings to reimburse the company. Despite becoming a U.S. citizen, his land claim was not recognized until after his death.

The acquisition of vast western lands spurred further migration to all parts of the West. By 1848, the Oregon Trail was deeply rutted. The discovery of gold in California in that year drew even more people westward, further solidifying the trail’s importance as a pathway to opportunity and a new life. While the hardships of the journey were undeniable, the emigrants displayed remarkable resilience and determination. They faced challenges such as disease, accidents, and conflicts with Native Americans, but they persevered in their quest for a better future. The Why a Trail to Oregon? question resonates with the theme of the American dream.

Army posts were established along the trail to provide assistance and maintain order. The emigrants, often ill-equipped and inexperienced, were sometimes organized into military-style trains and escorted along the route. While some emigrants feared the Native Americans, others failed to take adequate precautions against surprise attacks. The Native Americans, increasingly disillusioned by broken treaties and the destruction of their traditional way of life, eventually mounted resistance to the encroaching settlers. The Why a Trail to Oregon? also includes the perspective of the indigenous people.

The settlers’ determination to transport their prized possessions often resulted in great hardship. Cherished belongings were carried overland at the cost of semistarvation. As the population of the West grew, the demand for improved communication and transportation increased. The Pony Express provided fast mail service to California for a brief period, and in 1861, a telegraph line connected the Pacific Coast with the East.

The construction of the transcontinental railroad, completed in 1869, marked a significant turning point in the history of the West. The railroad facilitated travel and trade, and it accelerated the settlement of the region. While wagons continued to follow the Oregon Trail until the late 1880s, the days of pioneer travel were drawing to a close. Many who went west eventually returned to the East, but the legacy of the Oregon Trail remained as a testament to the courage, resilience, and determination of those who dared to venture into the unknown in search of a better life.

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