Land and Sea Explorers

1. Land and Sea Explorers Summer School Northwest Studies

2. Europeans Discovering the “New World” • During the late 1400 and throughout the 1500s European countries sought advantages in trade throughout the world. • When the Spanish began exploring North and South America they were not looking to create colonies. They were looking for a faster route to Asia. • Soon after the Spanish began colonizing what is present day Mexico and the Carribean, the British too decided that they needed to become involved in the New World.

3. First Explorers in the Northwest • The main draw for explorers to the Pacific Northwest was the idea that they could locate a Northwest passage. A more direct route to Asia. • The first British explorer to come to the Pacific Northwest was Sir Francis Drake in 1577. • Drake was more Pirate than explorer after stealing gold from the Spanish which escalated tensions between the tow powers. • His trip to the Northwest provided some observations but really accomplished little.

4. Spanish and British Competition • The Spanish and British had two different goals for Colonization • Spanish • The Spanish wanted mineral wealth….Gold and Silver • They didn’t find any gold in the Pacific Northwest so in turn they had less interest in the area. • They did have settlements in California, so they want the Pacific Northwest to keep the British further away from the Spanish Settlements. • British • British Colonization was based on commercial potential. • British believed they would find and control the northwest passage • British traders and merchants saw a vast potential in natural resources in the area

5. 18th Century Explorers (1700s) • Juan Perez (Spain) Sails along British Columbia coastline and establishes Nootka Village on the western side of Vancouver Island in 1774. • James Cook (British) in 1778 led a scientific expedition along the Oregon and Washington coasts and up to Alaska and Bering Strait. He realized the regions economic value. He also concluded that there was no useful passage through the North America continent. • In the 1790s Francisco Eliza and Manuel Quimper (Spain) explored the Strait of Juan De Fuca. But they decided not to establish any settlements due to possible conflict wit the British. • John Meares (British) explores Northwest in 1786. Meares named and sailed into Willapa Bay, Cape Disappointment, Cape Shoalwater, and Tillamook Bay. He saw extreme potential in Northwest fur trade and returned in 1789 to procure furs for trade in Asia.

6. First Problems • The Nootka Controversy • When Mearesreturned to the area the Spanish discovered him and seized his ships. • The Spanish claimed that he was violating their exclusive claim to the Pacific Northwest. • When British officials found out they were outraged and threatened military action against Spain if they did not compensate Meares. • By this time the British were the preeminent world power and Spain did not want war with Britain. • The result was the Nootka Convention of 1790. • According to the agreement Spain was forced to compensate Meares for his men and cargo. Furthermore Spain reluctantly recognized Britain had a right to explore and trade in the Pacific Northwest. • This was a disaster to Spanish hopes of controlling the Northwest.

7. Next Steps • In 1792 George Vancouver arrived in the Pacific Northwest. • The British charged him with exploring and mapping the Pacific North west as well as making sure that Spain was abiding by the Nootka convention. • Vancouver spent the summer of 1792 exploring the Puget Sound. • His was the most thorough mapping of the Puget Sound to date. • He also sailed North through the Strait of Georgia which separates Vancouver Island from British Columbia. • Vancouver Island is named after him.

8. Other Countries Involvement • Russia • 1728 Vitus Bering and Alexei Chirikov explore Bering Strait and coast of Alaska. Claim Alaska fro Russia. And sail further south down the coast of Canada. • Russia had interest in Pacific Northwest but found it difficult completing with the Spanish and British. • United States • Once the U.S. gained its freedom from Britain, they began their own efforts to claim territory. • 1792 Captain Robert Gray sailed along the Pacific coast looking for the Northwest passage. • He did not find it but did make two important discoveries. • Gray sailed 25 miles up the San Rouge River and renamed it the Columbia after his Ship. • This provides a stronger American claim to Washington and the Pacific Northwest. And the U.S. becomes the main challenger to the British for claim of the area.

9. Assignment • Page 137 Short Answer #1-10

10. Land Exploration and Jefferson's America • When Thomas Jefferson becomes President in 1801 his vision of America was different than previous Presidents. • He believed the key to truly being free was by being a farmer and owning land. • Therefore, for all American’s to achieve this vision, the country needed more land. • Thus the first steps of expansion are taken.

11. Expansion • Jefferson wants to buy New Orleans to prevent future trade issues on the Mississippi River • Louisiana Purchase • Secretary of State James Monroe sent to Paris to buy New Orleans for 10 million. • Napoleon needs money for war wit Britain and offers all of Louisiana Territory to Monroe for 15 million. • Monroe takes deal but is unsure if congress and president will approve. • Congress and president approve and country doubles in size. • Over 800,000 Square miles for around 3 cents and acre!

12. Lewis and Clark • After the Louisiana Purchase Jefferson commissions an overland expedition to map and explore the new territory • The Expedition was called the Corps of Discovery and was led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark • Goals • Collect information about the plants and animals in the territory • Map major features and rivers • Locate river routes to the western ocean • Make contact and establish good relationships with the natives peoples • Strengthen the U.S. claim to the Pacific Northwest

13. The Journey Part I • They left St. Louis on May 14th 1804. • They traveled up the Missouri River by Kneelboat to Fort Mandan in North Dakota. • During the Winter of 1804-05 they built a trading post at Fort Mandan and lived with the Mandan Indians . • In the Spring of 1805 the left Fort Mandan and and continued up the Missouri River. • Their journey was very difficult having to carry the boats around rapids and waterfalls through very dense vegetation. • The first part of the journey ends when the reach the headwaters of the Missouri River.

14. The Journey Part II • The expedition needed to abandon their boats and cross the Rocky Mountains. • They knew they needed to get across before winter. As it began to get colder things became desperate as they were on foot with no horses. • They left Fort Mandan with Frenchman Toussaint Charbonneau and his Shoshone Indian wife Sacajawea. • Sacajawea becomes incredibly important as she was able to convince her brother, a Shoshone Chief, to give 9 horses to the expedition. • Without them, They wouldn’t have been able to cross the Mountains before winter. • They also ran into the friendly Nez Perce Indians who gave them an additional 29 horses and described the easiest route to the Pacific Ocean

15. The Journey Part III • Following the direction of the Nez Perce, The Expedition traveled the Clearwater River to the Snake River. • Then Followed the Snake to the Columbia. • The rest of the Journey was fairly easy as it was down stream. • They only needed to be wary of rapids and waterfalls. • Lewis and Clark were going to build their winter shelter on the North Bank of The Columbia River, but instead took the advices and built Fort Clatsop on the south Bank of the River near present day Astoria, Oregon. • The winter of 1805-06 was spent at Fort Clatsop and was tough, cold and wet.

16. The Return Journey • Now knowing the way to go, they take almost the same route home. • The only difference is exploring the Yellowstone river on the return trip. • The Corps of Discovery returns to St. Louis on September 23rd, 1806

17. Results and Legacy • The expedition changes the way people viewed the west. • Lewis and Clark took the mystery out of the region and in turn more people wanted to move west. • Through the collection of specimens and the scientific observations made, people became aware of what was out there in the west. And it became clear that the west was very rich and abundant in resources. • They made the first detailed maps of the region that would be used by future explorers and settlers. • By being the first white to name and chart the areas, it gave the United States the greatest claim to the Pacific Northwest. • With this expedition many of the great western migrations may never have happened.