🌲Washington State History Unit 3 – Washington's Journey to Statehood

Early Exploration and Settlement

• Native American tribes inhabited Washington for thousands of years before European exploration (Chinook, Makah, Spokane)
• Spanish explorers were the first Europeans to visit the Pacific Northwest in the 16th century
  • Juan de Fuca explored the strait named after him in 1592
  • Spanish claims to the region were based on the Treaty of Tordesillas
• British explorer Captain James Cook reached the Pacific Northwest coast in 1778 during his third voyage
• American Captain Robert Gray discovered the Columbia River in 1792, naming it after his ship
  • Gray's discovery strengthened U.S. claims to the Oregon Country
• Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804-1806) explored the region, reaching the Pacific Ocean
  • Expedition aimed to find a water route to the Pacific and establish an American presence
• Fur trade attracted early settlers to the region (Hudson's Bay Company, Pacific Fur Company)
  • Fort Vancouver established in 1825 as a fur trading post

Territorial Period

• Oregon Treaty of 1846 established the 49th parallel as the boundary between U.S. and British territories
  • Ended joint occupation of the Oregon Country
• Washington Territory created in 1853 from the northern half of the Oregon Territory
  • Olympia chosen as the territorial capital
• Isaac Stevens served as the first governor of Washington Territory (1853-1857)
  • Negotiated treaties with Native American tribes
• Territorial legislature established in 1854
  • Consisted of a Council and House of Representatives
• Indian Wars (1855-1858) resulted from conflicts over land and resources
  • Treaties often forced tribes onto reservations
• Population growth driven by the discovery of gold in the 1850s and 1860s (Yakima Valley, Okanogan)
• Territorial period marked by the development of agriculture, logging, and mining industries

Key Political Figures

• Isaac Stevens: First governor of Washington Territory, negotiated treaties with Native American tribes
• Edward Lander: Chief Justice of the Washington Territorial Supreme Court, helped draft the state constitution
• Elisha P. Ferry: Last governor of Washington Territory and first governor of the state of Washington
  • Advocated for statehood and women's suffrage
• George Washington Bush: African American pioneer, helped establish the first non-Native American settlement in Washington
• Ezra Meeker: Pioneer, promoted the Oregon Trail and the establishment of Washington Territory
• John B. Allen: Delegate to Congress from Washington Territory, pushed for statehood
• William H. Wallace: Last delegate to Congress from Washington Territory, helped secure statehood
• James Power: President of the Washington Constitutional Convention

Economic Drivers

• Logging industry boomed due to the abundance of old-growth forests (Douglas fir, red cedar)
  • Lumber mills established near major waterways for transportation
• Agriculture expanded with the development of irrigation systems
  • Major crops included wheat, apples, and potatoes
• Mining industry grew with the discovery of gold, silver, and coal deposits (Cascade Mountains, Bellingham Bay)
  • Coal mining became a significant industry in the late 19th century
• Fishing industry thrived due to the rich salmon runs in the Columbia River and Puget Sound
  • Canning factories established to preserve and export fish
• Shipping and trade increased with the growth of ports (Seattle, Tacoma)
  • Puget Sound provided a deep-water harbor for maritime trade
• Railroad construction connected Washington to the rest of the country
  • Northern Pacific Railroad completed in 1883, linking the region to the East Coast

Statehood Campaign

• Washingtonians began advocating for statehood in the 1860s
  • Believed statehood would bring increased political representation and economic opportunities
• Several statehood bills introduced in Congress during the 1870s and 1880s
  • Bills faced opposition from Democrats who feared adding more Republican states
• Washington's population reached 150,000 by 1889, meeting the requirement for statehood
  • Rapid population growth due to the completion of the Northern Pacific Railroad
• Enabling Act passed by Congress in February 1889, authorizing Washington to draft a state constitution
  • Act also granted statehood to Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota
• Washington voters approved the state constitution in October 1889
  • Constitution included provisions for women's suffrage and prohibition

Constitutional Convention

• 75 delegates elected to the Washington Constitutional Convention in July 1889
  • Delegates represented a range of political parties and regional interests
• Convention held in Olympia from July 4 to August 22, 1889
  • Delegates debated issues such as women's suffrage, prohibition, and the location of the state capital
• Constitution modeled after other states, particularly Oregon and California
  • Included a bill of rights and provisions for the organization of state government
• Women's suffrage included in the constitution, making Washington the fifth state to grant women the right to vote
  • Suffrage activists, such as Emma Smith DeVoe, lobbied delegates to include the provision
• Constitution banned the manufacture and sale of alcohol, reflecting the growing temperance movement
• Olympia chosen as the state capital, with the provision that it could be moved by a vote of the people
  • Capital location remained a contentious issue for several years

Admission to the Union

• Washington officially admitted to the Union as the 42nd state on November 11, 1889
  • President Benjamin Harrison signed the proclamation of statehood
• Elisha P. Ferry sworn in as the first governor of the state of Washington
  • Ferry had previously served as the last governor of Washington Territory
• First state legislature convened in November 1889
  • Legislators faced the task of organizing the state government and implementing the new constitution
• Washington granted two seats in the U.S. House of Representatives
  • John L. Wilson and Thomas Carroll elected as the first representatives
• Statehood brought increased federal funding for infrastructure projects (roads, bridges, public buildings)
  • Funding helped support the growing population and expanding economy
• Admission to the Union marked the end of Washington's territorial period and the beginning of its history as a state

Challenges and Controversies

• Native American land rights remained a contentious issue after statehood
  • Many tribes forced onto reservations, leading to poverty and cultural disruption
• Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 limited immigration and led to discrimination against Chinese Americans in Washington
  • Anti-Chinese sentiment led to violence, such as the Seattle riot of 1886
• Labor unrest and strikes occurred in the mining, logging, and fishing industries (Roslyn, Everett)
  • Workers sought better wages, working conditions, and union recognition
• Panic of 1893 led to a severe economic depression in Washington
  • Many banks and businesses failed, leading to high unemployment
• Prohibition remained a divisive issue after statehood
  • Some communities ignored the ban on alcohol, leading to the growth of organized crime
• Women's suffrage faced challenges in implementation
  • Some male voters and politicians sought to limit women's political influence
• Environmental concerns arose with the rapid exploitation of natural resources (forests, fisheries)
  • Conservation efforts began to emerge in the early 20th century