Early Encounters: Two Worlds Meet

Early Encounters: Two Worlds Meet Essential Question What brought explorers and settlers to the Pacific Northwest, and how did their arrival affect native cultures?

Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest The Coastal People Salish Makah Chinook

The Coastal people lived in homes of cedar. • The basic social unit was the extended family. • Wealth was important to social ranking. • A wealthy family might own more canoes, tools, weapons, and animal skins. They also had slaves.

Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest The Plateau People • Plateau tribes were divided into two main language groups. • The Salish-speaking tribes of the northern plateau: • The Spokane, Kalispel, Coeur d’Alene, Colville, Okanagon, Columbia, and Wenatchee • Tribes of the southern plateau: • The Nez Perce, Yakama, Palouse, Klickitat, Kittitas, Umatilla, and Wanapum

Plateau people lived in pit houses and then in tule houses after the early 1800s. • Men and women had defined roles, but there was a great deal of equality between them.

A Changing Way of Life • Coastal and Plateau tribes traded with each other. • Trade enriched their lives but also spread deadly germs and diseases. Smallpox

Horses were brought to Mexico by Spanish explorers and made their way to most Plateau tribes by 1750. • Horses made traveling, gathering, and hunting much easier. • Greed for horses increased the scale of violence.

European Explorers Christopher Columbus was searching for a shorter route to Asia when he discovered America.

Juan de Fuca • Sailed in the name of Spain, 1592 • Spanish are primarily looking for Gold • Also, many Spanish sailors were trying to make a name for themselves- Glory • Believed that God had given them their blessing to be the best • Named the Strait of Juan de Fuca, San Juan Islands, Port Angeles, and many more.

James Cook • English explorer, looking for Northwest Passage • Cook’s crew discovered they could make money trading Sea Otter furs in China. • Made the Pacific Northwest a very profitable region for Natural Resource extraction • Would lead to many more people heading to Washington looking to capitalize on the fur trade.

The Northwest Passage • European countries were looking for a faster route to trade markets in Asia. • Believed there was a northern sea-route which would make it possible to bypass South America. • It exists, but it couldn’t be used due to ice. • Wasn’t discovered until ice-breaking ships were invented much later.

American sailor • First to enter the mouth of the Columbia River • Claimed the land on both sides of the river in the name of the United States • Did not explore far up river, as valuable Otter pelts were harvested from the sea • Gray’s Harbor, WA is named after Robert Gray Robert Gray

English explorer, trying to stake claim for Britain • Explores much deeper up the Columbia River than Gray did. • Made same claim as Gray to land on both sides of Columbia River. • Also explored Puget Sound, named many places after crew: Puget, Rainier, Baker, Whidbey, etc. George Vancouver

Lewis and Clark • President Thomas Jefferson bought the Louisiana Territory from France. • Jefferson chose Captain Meriwether Lewis and Lieutenant William Clark to explore the Louisiana Purchase.

The men and their Crew traveled from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean. • The men kept journals, drew maps, and collected plants. • The explorers arrived in St. Louis over two years after they started.

American Fur Traders • The first American trading post was established by the Pacific Fur Company. • The Pacific Fur Company was a subsidiary of the American Fur Company.

Jonathan Thorn sailed with a crew from New York to the Pacific Coast. • They ran into many problems sailing into the Columbia River. • Thorn and his men made local Indians angry and were killed.

British Fur Traders • The Hudson’s Bay Company controlled the fur trade in Canada and in the Oregon Country. Dr. John McLoughlin built Fort Vancouver. • Fort Vancouver grew and people came from all over.

Popularity of Furs • Trappers and Indians met at forts to trade furs and supplies. • The fur in demand was the beaver pelt. • The furs were shipped to London, where they were made into felt.

The felt was made into hats. • By the late 1840s, the fur era was over and beavers had been trapped almost to extinction. = About0

Christian Missionaries • Four Indian men asked to learn more about the Christian religion. • Methodist missionaries were the first to answer the request. • Catholic priests came at the request of members of the Hudson’s Bay Company. • Over time, many Indians were baptized Catholic.

Marcus and Narcissa Whitman began a Presbyterian mission. • The Whitman’s adopted the 7 Sager children who lost their parents on the Oregon Trail.

Changes in the Native Culture • Many changes were brought when explorers and settlers came to the Pacific Northwest. • Some Indians welcomed the change, but many did not.

Early Encounters: Two Worlds Meet