Chapter 7 – Whose Land

Washington’s original inhabitants were the Native Americans. When the first Spanish sea explorers arrived in 1542AD, the Native American culture and life style was changed forever.

Over the past 460 years, four groups of people came into the Washington area. These groups included the explorers, fur traders, missionaries, and settlers. They first came as individuals and then as families. These groups each contributed to the political, cultural, and economic systems of the region.

Sea explorers sailed along the Pacific coastline. Expeditions also crossed the continent by foot, canoe, and horseback. Explorers claimed political control for their countries. They sought gold and silver as well. Their top priority, though, was to acquire as much land as possible. These

land and sea explorers did not stay, but eventually returned home.

American and British trappers and traders came to the region with different interests. Their main interest was to make a profit and live off the land. Trading posts and forts were established along the major river banks in the region. As you already know, the fur trade era prospered until the mid-19th century. By that time most of the prized animals had been over trapped. With few animals left, the fur trade business came to a sudden end.

The time had come to focus on settling the Pacific Northwest. The missionaries followed the traders and trappers west. They taught religion to the Native Americans and pioneers as part of their mission work. As quickly as the missionary era began, however, it also ended.

The missionary era came to a close with the attack at the Waiilatpu Mission in 1847. This attack began a period of violent conflicts between the settlers and the Native Americans. As the conflicts continued, the migration of pioneers west along the Oregon Trail increased.

Americans wanted to claim the land in the West. All the while, the Indians were being forced from their land. These events forced them to battle for their land and survival!

The Great Migration

In 1837, the United States suffered from difficult economic times, or a depression. Americans struggled to keep jobs, homes, farms, and even businesses. During these difficult times many families looked for a new start.

A few men known as “Oregon Promoters” wrote articles about the beauty and fertility of the Willamette River Valley in Oregon. They said Oregon would offer a new start with free land. The promoters promised that opportunity awaited those who dared to cross the continent. As a result, many hopeful families began their journey West.

The Oregon Pioneer

Why did thousands of settlers leave the East for Washington and Oregon’s Willamette River Valley? Each pioneer had his or her own personal reasons. Adventure, land, and a new start in life were reason enough for many. Whatever the reason, the pioneer’s decision to leave home affected every family member.

Pioneers came west by the tens of thousands between the 1840s and 1860s. They came by sea and by land. Each pioneer faced challenges and hardships. It was not unusual for these brave pioneers to give up everything to go west to Oregon. Some paid the ultimate price along the way; they lost their lives.

Sea Route

Once a pioneer made the decision to journey west, other important choices followed. An important decision was how to get there. Some settlers chose to sail from the eastern United States around the southern tip of South America. This route was referred to as “Around the Horn.”

The journey took several months to reach San Francisco. For those sailing to Seattle, the trip was even longer.

The trip around the horn was very expensive. Worse yet, it was just as dangerous as the overland route. Many people lost their lives traveling around Cape Horn. During the difficult economic times, only the wealthier Americans chose the sea route. The majority of pioneers had

no option but to use the overland route to the Oregon Country.

Land Route

The Lewis and Clark expedition had not taken the easiest land route west. This was due to the difficulty in crossing the northern Rocky Mountains. For nearly 40 years, explorers and trappers searched for a better route. Finally, Benjamin Bonneville’s discovery of South Pass proved to be the important breakthrough.

South Pass was a 30 mile wide path through the rugged Rocky Mountains. The path was wide and flat. It was ideal for the wagons of the pioneers. Nathaniel Wyeth was one of the Oregon promoters. He worked with John C. Fremont to push the Oregon Trail farther westward from South Pass. In 1836, Dr. Marcus Whitman, the famous Protestant missionary, brought wagons as far as Fort Boise, Idaho. They were forced to stop there due to the rugged Blue Mountains. Then in the summer of 1840, Doc Newell and Joe Meek successfully led the first wagons across the Blue Mountains. Once they had done so, they then traveled west along the Columbia River to Oregon. They had finally created a wagon route linking Missouri to the Oregon Country.

The Oregon Trail was not established by any one person. Instead it was the result of considerable efforts by many explorers, trappers, and even missionaries.

The Oregon Trail was a much-needed route from Independence, Missouri to Fort Vancouver, Washington. The trail was no more than a dirt path across the continent. Many of the trail’s travelers would eventually settle in Oregon's Willamette River Valley. The Oregon Trail was the primary route west from 1840 to 1869.

The Oregon Trail

Until the 1840s, only small groups made the overland journey. They searched for the shortest, quickest, and safest land route. There were no known wagon trails through the rugged mountains of the West.

By 1851, the Oregon Trail was the most traveled route to the West. On their journey, pioneers suffered everything from relentless bugs to hunger. They faced constant dangers from disease, animals, snakes, and even Indian attacks. The elderly, sick, and young pioneers often died during the long journey west. The 2,000 mile journey west forced everyone to experience firsthand the hardships of early pioneer life.

Independence

Independence, Missouri was the last city before pioneers headed west. Independence was know to the pioneers as the “jumping off” point. This was the pioneers’ last chance to change their minds!

Independence was located on the Missouri River near present day Kansas City. Anyone traveling west from Independence could expect to travel through hostile Indian territory. Pioneers, in an attempt to protect themselves, organized large groups. These groups became known as wagon trains. Pioneers believed that the larger numbers of people would provide protection against Indian attacks.

Independence had numerous stores and blacksmiths available to the pioneer. Pioneers bought food and supplies. Large quantities of flour, coffee, bacon, and other food products traveled with the pioneers. The only way to haul all this food was by wagon. Blacksmiths built wagons by the thousands in Independence. Once they had the wagon, the pioneers needed animals to pull it. Oxen were the animals of choice. After the pioneer had supplies, a wagon, and an ox, the only thing left to do was wait.

The First Leg—Crossing the Great Plains

The wait was important. Leaving

Independence before the grass was long was a fatal mistake. They needed the grass to feed their oxen on the journey. By early May, grass on the the Great Plain had grown tall. It was only then that the pioneers left Independence for Oregon.

Wagon trains headed west across the vast grasslands of the Great Plains. This was an easy portion of the trip. The land was flat, the grass was long, and drinking water was plentiful. The pioneers also did not need to worry about attack from the plains Indians. They were friendly to the pioneers. On a good day, pioneers could travel about 20 miles.

The wagons rolled across the Kansas prairies toward Fort Kearny, Nebraska following the Platte River. Once rested, the pioneers followed the Platte west across Nebraska. Eventually they went along side the North Platte River.

The first landmark for the pioneers was Chimney Rock. They eagerly anticipated it once they crossed Mitchell Pass. They followed the North Platte River until reaching Fort Laramie, Wyoming. Repairs and supplies were purchased

Wyoming. Repairs and supplies were purchased during this stop. Leaving Fort Laramie, the wagon trains continued their journey west. The rugged Rocky Mountains, however, loomed on the horizon.

The Second Leg—Crossing the Rockies

Midway between Fort Laramie and South Pass was Independence Rock. Farther to the west, the wagon train left the North Platte River to cross the main Rockies by way of South Pass.

Once through the pass, the route became difficult What was the best route to Fort Hall, Idaho? There were different opinions. Thus, the Oregon Trail split into two routes. Some wagon trains traveled farther south to Fort Bridger in the

southwestern corner of Wyoming. Other wagon trains continued in a northwesterly direction into the Snake River Valley of southeastern Idaho.

Upon reaching Fort Hall, the pioneers rested for a few days. Their wagons were repaired and supplies replenished. This was a critical juncture in their journey west. If they chose Oregon, they continued on a northerly route through the Blue Mountains. If their choice was Sacramento, they continued on the California Trail that took them through hot and dry Nevada deserts. Their choice was often a difficult one!

Third Leg—Whitman’s Mission

Oregon pioneers followed the Snake River from Fort Hall to Fort Boise, Idaho. There the Oregon Trail left the Snake River Canyon and continued through the rugged Blue Mountains by way of the Grande Rhonde River Valley. After crossing the rugged Blue Mountains, the journey was relatively easy to Dr. Whitman’s Waiilatpu Mission in southeastern Washington.

The Whitman Mission was a popular stop along the Oregon Trail. Pioneers needed the rest, relaxation, supplies, and the opportunity to make wagon repairs before heading on to Fort Vancouver.

Before the Whitman Massacre in November 1847, the Oregon Trail led directly to the Whitmans’ Waiilatpu Mission. After the brutal massacre, the pioneers on the Oregon Trail bypassed the mission.

Fourth Leg—Fort Vancouver and Salem

The wagon train eventually reached the Columbia River. It could either follow the river on land or float downstream. A series of falls and rapids made floating down the Columbia very risky. Instead the pioneers carried supplies and used their wagons to get around the rapids and falls. Once beyond the falls, they continued to float the river until reaching Fort Vancouver. After finally reaching Fort Vancouver, the long and difficult journey was over! The weary travelers were greeted by Dr. John McLoughlin.

McLoughlin was an employee of the British- owned Hudson’s Bay Company. He proved to be extremely helpful to the hopeful pioneers. McLoughlin had another reason for being so helpful. He convinced American pioneers to settle in the Willamette River Valley of Oregon. This strengthened Great Britain’s claim to western Washington.

Many pioneers saw Oregon as less of a risk for attack. They did not want what happened to the Whitmans to also happen to them. They would find very little protection in Washington from either the United States or British governments. These fears, in combination with Dr. McLoughlin’s promotion, allowed Oregon to grow much faster than Washington.

Indian Conflicts

Coastal and plateau Indians have always had to defend against attack from neighboring tribes. The food and fresh water the tribes enjoyed were envied by other tribes. These attacks became more frequent as food supplies declined.

As the land and food supplies decreased for the Native Americans, hostility towards the pioneers increased. It seemed a hopeless battle against the whites to keep their traditional way of life. Relations between the pioneers and the Native Americans became more violent after the signing of the Treaty of Oregon in 1846. This treaty gave the United States government even more control over the land in the Oregon Country.

Native American – White Relationships

The Native Americans and the whites had major cultural differences. The Indians did not want to become Christians and civilized farmers. They wanted to keep their language, religion, customs, and life style. With no written alphabet and various languages, communication was difficult if not impossible. Fear and prejudice only added to the distrust.

Native Americans did not believe in land ownership. They lived within the boundaries of nature. Native Americans disagreed with the pioneers idea that people could own any portion of the land. They were more in tune with the land and nature than the white intruders.

The pioneers drastically changed the

appearance of the land. Their search for gold, silver, copper, and coal altered the land. Fences marked boundaries and restricted the movement of animals. These changes affected the Native Americans way of life. Food supplies decreased because of the changing habitat of the animals.

Suddenly everyone was competing for the same water, animals, and living areas.

The United States government increased the tensions between the pioneers and Native Americans. Army troops were sent west to enforce treaties, provide protection, and punish anyone who did not follow the new rules. This included the Native Americans. The treaties also created Indian reservations. Army troops removed Indians from their traditional lands.