The Pacific Northwest

Paper Summary:

This paper provides a brief history of the Pacific Northwest and the clashes of nations and cultures that dominated the history of the region in the 1800s. These clashes were mainly between American settlers and the Native American tribes who already lived in the area. It looks at the attempts of the settlers to change and dominate the native population and various treaties that were signed.

From the Paper:

"During and after the so-called "Great Migration of 1843" which included settlers from all over the United States, it became abundantly clear to the native Indians of the Pacific Northwest that what is now Oregon and Washington State were destined to become strongholds of American culture and society. According to Secretary of State John Calhoun, more than one thousand Americans had relocated to Oregon by 1843 and that twice this number would arrive in 1844 (Fuller, 258); Calhoun also stated "the migration forces which had driven the tide of population in earlier days would drive it on with increasing power across the Rockies to the banks of the Columbia River which was destined to be peopled by us" (Fuller, 259). Thus, this migration of settlers proved to be a turning point in the history of the Pacific Northwest and was even eclipsed in 1845 when more than three thousand "immigrants" poured into Oregon which effectively doubled the white population. With this event, it is comparatively easy to understand how the native Indians of Oregon and Washington were affected, for the white settlers had obviously "expected certain American cultural traditions to be carried over to the Pacific Northwest" (Tisdale, 298), such as commerce, religion and other societal traits. In the end, the Pacific Northwest became part of the true American landscape and, like in so many other regions of the country, the native Indians were either "assimilated" or outright destroyed."

More papers on The Pacific Northwest:

• Essay # 56125 : "The Pacific Northwest and Its Resources"
• Persuasive Essay # 102368 : "Child Welfare among the Pacific Northwest Indians"
• Essay # 55873 : "The Pacific Northwest During and After the Great Depression"

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