Pre-1800
Prior to 1800 many natural sites and ancient habitations existed which
remained important as landmarks. The tables show the first recorded visit by Europeans
after Coronado's expedition in 1540. Between 1540 and the French establishment
of Fort Frances (Rainey Lake Post) in 1717 only the upper Rio Grande River
valley experienced any significant activity. In 1718 the Spanish expanded their
missions into Texas at San Antonio and later into Louisiana. The French
established a few posts along the Mississippi in Minnesota and Illinois which
they lost to Britain in 1763. By 1780 the area around the confluence of the
Mississippi and Missouri Rivers was being developed by the Spanish and
Americans. California saw the establishment of Los Angeles in 1781 while
the British built up the fur trade in Minnesota and the Dakotas until 1800.
Throughout the pre-1800 period foreign explorations, low level exploitation, and
the sprouting of tiny settlements were a regular occurrence.
1800-1822
The beginning of the 19th century was marked by the purchase of
"Louisiana" from Napolean in 1803. The Lewis and Clark exploration to the Pacific Ocean and back
from St. Louis (1804-1806)and Lt. Zebulon Pike's foray to the upper regions of the
Mississippi, Arkansas,
and Red Rivers (1805-1806) marked the beginning of opening the west to an expansion minded
United States. Astor's failed attempt to open an Asiatic trade route through
the route of Lewis and Clark (1812), the building protective enclaves along the Missouri
and Mississippi Rivers during war with Britain (1812-1814), dealing with the Indians,
the achievement of Mexican independence from Spain (1821), expansion of the California
missions, and the consolidation of the HBC and the Northwest Company in the
northern Fur Trade (1821) were some of the important expansion related early activities
and events.
1823-1835
A relatively long stretch of activity with few
"significant" or exciting, well publicized events remembered as such
today marked the 1823-1835 period. The overriding feature of those times was the
development and extraction of the only real wealth of the west, fur! Other
wealth, such as hides and tallow from the California missions, lead to make
bullets, and land to be sold by the government made the trader's life hard but
profitable and the rest of the population's life hard but extremely hopeful.
1836-1845
In 1836 the neglect and overbearing attitude towards the Mexican
frontier finally exploded in Tejas when the colonizing Americans had finally
"had enough" and took their empire private. The trade in beaver had
died to be replaced by the buffalo and Santa Fe silver and as the settlements
drove the Indians further west. Eastern missionaries strove to make Indian
converts from the remnants of the plains and displaced woodlands tribes. The
first wagons rolled across the prairies towards the mountains and the promise of
"paradise" in the Willamette and Sacramento Valleys. The Mormons in
Missouri, also looking for a haven, fought for and lost their existence in
Missouri, retreating to Illinois until their day would come to go west. By 1842
the stream of people going west started to gather steam as good
lands in the east were taken. Fremont's first two expeditions with Kit Carson
ranged far and wide, eventually bringing the story to eastern America of the
wonders and promise of the west. Texas responded to President Polk's ambitious
plans to complete the "Manifest Destiny" of a nation from sea to sea
by voting to join the Union in 1845.
1846-1850
In 1846 a two year war with Mexican War started during which the Mormons head west under Brigham Young.
Gold was discovered at Sutter's sawmill in 1848 on the North Fork of the
American River in California turning the Oregon Trail into a major highway west
and adding a large, rich, Pacific Ocean state to the Union. The major
discoveries and battles for opening the west were completed by 1850 and a phase
of large scale development had started.
Sample Significant Activities from 1800 to 1850:
1803 U.S. purchases "Louisiana" from
France.
1804 Lewis and Clark set out for a two year, round
trip to the west coast.
1805 Lt. Zebulon Pike explores and maps the upper
Mississippi River.
1806 Lt. Zebulon Pike explores and maps the upper
Arkansas River.
1811 Astor party led by Hunt conducts disastrous trek
to the Pacific.
1812 War with Britain sets back American fur trade
plans in Oregon.
1814 British fleet fails to enlist pirate Jean
LaFitte at New Orleans.
1821 Mexico and the Hudson Bay Company take control
of western trade.
1821 William Becknell rolls his wagons to open trade
with a Mexican Santa Fe.
1824 Ashley initiates a successful "Fur Trade
Rendezvous" in Wyoming.
1826 Mountainman Jedediah Smith travels overland to
California.
1829 Regular travel starts to California from Santa Fe via
the Gila River.
1832 Bonneville and Walker open a trail to California via
Humboldt River.
1836 Texas obtains independence. Remember the Alamo!
1841 Fitzpatrick and Meek guide the first emigrant
wagon train west.
1842 First of five exploratory expeditions by
LT John Fremont.
1845 Texas joins the United States sparking war with
Mexico in 1846.
1847 The Mormons evacuate Nauvoo, IL and start
migration to Utah.
1848 Placer gold discovered in Coloma, CA at John
Sutter's Mill.
1849 6,200 wagons with 25,000 people rush overland to
get some of it.
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