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| 1776-1783
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The United States wins independence from Great Britain.
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| 1788-1792
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Robert Gray trades furs on the Northwest Coast and discovers the Columbia River.
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| 1803
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The Louisiana Purchase acquires for the U.S. the lands between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains, north of Spanish holdings in the Southwest.
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| 1804-1806
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The Lewis and Clark Expedition explores overland from St. Louis across the Rockies to the mouth of the Columbia River, staking U.S. claims to territory along the way.
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| 1811-1813
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John Jacob Astor's Pacific Fur Company establishes posts at Astoria and elsewhere along the Columbia River, and initiates the American land-based fur trade in the area. It is captured by a British naval vessel as a prize in the War of 1812. By the end of 1813, the enterprise sells out to the North West Company.
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| 1818
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The Convention of 1818 resolves territorial disputes issuing from the War of 1812, and authorizes a "joint occupancy" of the region whereby the rights of both British subjects and American citizens to "occupy" and do business in the region are recognized.
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| 1836
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Marcus Whitman and his family are the first to come by horse-drawn wagon to Washington. Their route becomes known as the "The Oregon Trail." The Oregon Trail brings many white settlers to Washington and Oregon, from 1843 until the railroads are built.
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| 1848
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Oregon Territory established. It included both modern day Oregon and Washington.
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| 1849
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Gold is discovered in California. The "forty niners" (mostly single men) head for California, while many others (mostly entire families) come to Washington looking for a new life.
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| 1850's
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Territorial Government starts pressuring the Native Americans to sign treaties. In 1855 Chief Sealth, the Native American after whom Seattle is named, gives one of the greatest speeches in American history as he is forced to sign a treaty.
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| 1853
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Washington becomes a territory.
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| 1859
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Oregon becomes a state.
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| 1862
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The Homestead Act of May 20, 1862 creates more problems for the Native Americans. Under the Act, white settlers can take up to 160 acres of land for farming.
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| 1869
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The transcontinental (Check that dictionary if you don't know this word.) railroad is built.
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| 1880's
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Many other railroad lines are built with mostly Chinese immigrant labor in the 1880's, eventually ending the use of the Oregon Trail.
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| 1889
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Washington becomes a state.
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Today ... Student tries moving face in weird ways to stay awake
during
Washington State History lesson ...
Stop it Bob! We watch everyone from our red comet and you are
starting to bug
us!
The rest of you can just keep reading while we deal with Bob ...
(Here's a
little hint for everyone
except
Bob. Pay attention to this timeline because there will be some test
questions
based on it.)
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Section 1 Index
Topic 1.1 - Introduction, ELARS, and the Early Years
Topic 1.2 - Timeline
Topic 1.3 - Tribes meet Lewis & Clark
Topic 1.4 - Tribal Gambling Issue
Topic 1.5 - Sacagawea
Topic 1.6 - War, Mountain Men & Fur Trade
Topic 1.7 - Historical Dates to Memorize
Topic 1.8 - Missionaries, War in Washington
Practice Essay/Suggested Research/Review Quizzes
Click Here to Try our Online Quiz!
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