🌲Washington State History Unit 2 – European Exploration & Early WA Settlements

Key European Explorers

• Juan de Fuca, a Greek navigator sailing for Spain, explored the strait between Vancouver Island and Washington state that now bears his name in 1592
• Vitus Bering, a Danish explorer in service to Russia, led an expedition in 1741 that reached Alaska and sighted Mount Saint Elias
• James Cook, a British explorer, led an expedition in 1778 that explored the Pacific Northwest coast, including Nootka Sound on Vancouver Island
• George Vancouver, a British naval officer, led an expedition from 1791-1795 that thoroughly explored and mapped the Pacific Northwest coast
  • Vancouver's expedition circumnavigated Vancouver Island and explored Puget Sound, proving it was not the legendary Northwest Passage
• Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, American explorers, led the Corps of Discovery expedition from 1804-1806 that reached the Pacific Ocean via the Columbia River
• David Thompson, a British-Canadian fur trader and mapmaker, explored much of the Columbia River basin from 1807-1811
• Charles Wilkes, an American naval officer, led the United States Exploring Expedition from 1838-1842 that surveyed the Pacific Northwest coast

Motivations for Exploration

• Search for the legendary Northwest Passage, a hypothetical water route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through North America
• Desire to expand trade networks and establish new markets for goods (spices, furs, precious metals)
• Competition among European nations (Spain, Russia, Britain) for territorial claims and control of resources in the New World
• Scientific curiosity to map and study the geography, flora, and fauna of unexplored regions
  • Explorers collected specimens and recorded detailed observations in journals and sketches
• Religious motivation to spread Christianity to indigenous peoples encountered
• Geopolitical strategy to counter the influence and territorial claims of rival nations
• Pursuit of personal glory and fame through accomplishing feats of exploration and discovery

First Contact with Indigenous Peoples

• Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest had lived in the region for thousands of years before European contact
  • Developed complex societies with distinct languages, cultures, and traditions
• European explorers encountered various tribes, including the Nuu-chah-nulth (Nootka), Makah, Quinault, Quileute, and Coast Salish peoples
• Initial interactions were often characterized by mutual curiosity and cautious exchange of goods (furs, tools, clothing)
• Communication was limited by language barriers, leading to misunderstandings and misconceptions
  • Explorers often relied on hand gestures, mimicry, and improvised sign language
• Some encounters turned violent due to cultural misunderstandings, perceived threats, or competition over resources
• Indigenous peoples were exposed to new diseases (smallpox, measles) carried by Europeans, leading to devastating epidemics
• European accounts of indigenous peoples were often colored by ethnocentric biases and stereotypes
  • Descriptions ranged from noble savages to primitive heathens in need of civilization

Early Trading Posts and Settlements

• Fur trade was a major driver of early European presence in the Pacific Northwest
  • Sea otter pelts were highly prized in China and Europe
• Spanish established the first European settlement in Washington state at Neah Bay (1792) to assert territorial claims
• Russians established fur trading outposts in Alaska, with influence extending down the Pacific coast
• British Hudson's Bay Company established Fort Vancouver (1825) on the Columbia River as a major fur trade center
  • Served as a hub for trade, agriculture, and exploration in the region
• American John Jacob Astor's Pacific Fur Company established Fort Astoria (1811) at the mouth of the Columbia River
  • Sold to the British during the War of 1812 and renamed Fort George
• Missionaries established early settlements to convert indigenous peoples to Christianity
  • Marcus and Narcissa Whitman founded a mission near present-day Walla Walla (1836)
• Early settlements faced challenges of isolation, harsh weather, and tensions with indigenous peoples
  • Required self-sufficiency and adaptability to frontier conditions

Impact on Native American Tribes

• European presence disrupted traditional ways of life for indigenous peoples
  • Introduced new technologies (guns, metal tools) that altered power dynamics and hunting practices
• Fur trade created economic dependencies and competition among tribes for access to European goods
  • Some tribes acted as middlemen, controlling trade routes and reselling goods at higher prices
• European demand for furs led to overhunting of certain species (sea otters), depleting traditional food sources
• Missionaries sought to convert indigenous peoples to Christianity, suppressing traditional spiritual practices
  • Boarding schools separated children from families to assimilate them into European-American culture
• European settlement encroached on tribal lands, leading to displacement and loss of access to resources
  • Treaties often involved ceding large territories in exchange for reservations and promises of protection
• Exposure to European diseases (smallpox, measles) devastated indigenous populations, who lacked immunity
  • Estimated that 50-90% of some tribes died in epidemics
• Intertribal conflicts and wars were exacerbated by competition over trade and European alliances

Territorial Disputes and Treaties

• Pacific Northwest was subject to competing claims by Spain, Russia, Britain, and the United States
  • Driven by desire to control strategic ports, resources (furs, timber, fisheries), and trade routes
• Nootka Crisis (1789-1790) nearly led to war between Britain and Spain over competing claims to Nootka Sound
  • Resolved by the Nootka Conventions, which allowed both nations to establish settlements and trade in the region
• Convention of 1818 between Britain and the US established joint occupation of the Oregon Country
  • Allowed both nations to settle and trade in the region without resolving territorial claims
• Oregon Treaty (1846) divided the Oregon Country at the 49th parallel, with the US gaining the Pacific Northwest
  • Boundary dispute over the San Juan Islands resolved by arbitration in favor of the US (1872)
• Treaties with indigenous tribes (Treaty of Point Elliott, Treaty of Medicine Creek, Treaty of Neah Bay) ceded tribal lands to the US government
  • Established reservations and promised fishing and hunting rights, though often not fully upheld
• Washington Territory created in 1853, with boundaries encompassing present-day Washington state
  • Statehood achieved in 1889 after meeting population and development requirements

Legacy of Early Exploration

• European exploration and settlement laid the foundation for the modern political geography of Washington state
  • Established territorial boundaries and legal frameworks for land ownership and resource use
• Place names throughout the region reflect the influence of European explorers (Puget Sound, Mount Rainier, Columbia River)
  • Some names honor indigenous peoples or incorporate native words (Seattle, Tacoma, Spokane)
• Fur trade and early settlements established economic ties between the Pacific Northwest and global markets
  • Contributed to the growth of port cities (Seattle, Tacoma) and resource extraction industries (logging, fishing)
• Encounters between Europeans and indigenous peoples had lasting impacts on native communities
  • Loss of land, population decline, cultural suppression, and forced assimilation
• Legacy of exploration includes a complex history of cultural exchange, conflict, and negotiation
  • Shaped the ethnic and racial diversity of Washington state
• Early scientific observations and collections by explorers contributed to the study of the region's natural history
  • Specimens and journals provide valuable records of pre-settlement landscapes and wildlife

Significant Historical Sites

• Cape Disappointment, where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean
  • Named by John Meares in 1788 after failing to find the river's entrance
• Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, location of the Hudson's Bay Company's fur trade headquarters
  • Reconstructed buildings and exhibits interpret the site's history and significance
• Whitman Mission National Historic Site, near Walla Walla
  • Commemorates the Whitman Mission and the tragic 1847 attack by Cayuse warriors
• San Juan Island National Historical Park, site of the Pig War boundary dispute between the US and Britain
  • Includes the British and American Camps, where troops were garrisoned during the standoff
• Nez Perce National Historical Park, a series of sites in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and Montana
  • Interprets the history and culture of the Nez Perce people, including their encounters with Lewis and Clark
• Fort Nisqually Living History Museum, a restored Hudson's Bay Company outpost in Tacoma
  • Demonstrates life at a fur trade fort through reenactments and hands-on activities
• Washington State Capitol in Olympia, featuring a grand dome and legislative buildings
  • Symbolizes Washington's transition from territory to statehood