I agree that the Oregon treaties were unfair for the aboriginals because “…there was no division of the ‘Oregon triangle’ [the disputed lands in Washington state], all of which went to the United States…”. The compromise wasn’t really a compromise because it was American sided. The British claim to the territory north of the Columbia-Snake-Clear water river system was as good as, if not better, than the United states claim on the grounds of discovery, exploration, and settlement. I believe that they should have given more land to the British because they had a large presence in this area.
Belongs to Britain | Belongs to America |
· George Vancouver claimed it first. (1792)· British fur traders, mainly employed by the HBC, had organized the entire region into an economy.
· These fur traders set up permanent bases in western Washington. · Americans didn’t have an organized settlement system early on. · American settlers relied on HBC supplies. |
· Lewis and Clark claimed the area in 1805.· HBC didn’t settle in the area
· Americans settled the land. · organized their own government. · organized their own militia. · In 1843 the HBC starts to build Fort Victoria as their new center. |
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