1. Fur Traders and Missionaries

2. American Fur Traders
Fur trading was the main economic activity of Americans, British and French who established trading posts along the Pacific Coast, Columbia and Willamette rivers in early 1800’s

3. Astor hired Captain Jonathan Thorn to open the post
American Fur Traders
1st post was established by Pacific Fur Company (a subsidiary of the American Fur Company)
Founded by John Jacob Astor
Astor hired Captain Jonathan Thorn to open the post
John Jacob Astor
Capt. Jonathan Thorn

4. Thorn got to Columbia River during storm
American Fur Traders
Thorn got to Columbia River during storm
Instead of waiting for weather to change, ordered 5 men into small boat and find safe passage into river
Boat flipped in white foam and they drowned
3 other men and a second boat also lost
Main group finally made it through and landed ship
Thorn left men to build Fort Astor

5. Thorn impatient to begin trading Took rest of crew to Nootka to trade
American Fur Traders
Thorn impatient to begin trading
Took rest of crew to Nootka to trade
While there, made some Indians angry
Thorn and all men killed
Men at Fort Astor were on their own to make trade happen

6. British Fur Traders
Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) controlled fur trade in Canada and Oregon Country
Dr. John McLoughlin built Fort Vancouver after a 4 month trek on horseback across Canada
Doctor
Trapper
Good Leader

7. British Fur Traders Fort Vancouver grew Outside the fort
Small houses for trappers and their Indian wives
Storehouses for furs and trade goods
Workshops for blacksmiths, carpenters and other craftsmen
Sawmill
Gristmill
Outside the fort
Orchards
Farmlands
Dairy
Cattle herd
Ships brought latest news and supplies

8. People came from many places
British Fur Traders
People came from many places
Local Chinook Indians
Iroquois Indians from East
French Canadians
Hawaiian laborers
Scottish Traders
Indian women who married HBC workers

9. Christian Missionaries
Early 1800’s Church was center of village life in New England
Large crowds attended prayer meetings and revivals
Preachers shouted out sermons
Lots of singing
Many people (especially women) supported a worldwide missionary effort
Missionaries sent to Africa, China and the American West.
Tried to teach people to read the Bible and dress, speak and live like Christian Americans

10. A Request for Christianity
1831 four Nez Perce went to St. Louis to visit William Clark
Asked Clark to send someone to teach the Christian religion
Thought knowledge of Christianity would help them understand the white people’s ways
A religious newspaper printed the story.

11. Methodist Missionaries
Jason and Daniel (nephew) Lee first to answer request
Decided to settle in Willamette Valley
Converted few. Indians didn’t take to religion or lifestyle
Children didn’t like strict rules of missionary school
Jason went back and returned with 50 settlers
Opened new missions and settlements
Active in creating new governments
Accused of neglecting commitment to Indians, Lee recalled by mission board
His mission closed

12. Catholic Missionaries Came with HBC
Father Francis Blanchet spent most of time with French Canadian Catholics, not Indians
Blanchet invited to Whidbey Island and was impressed with Natives
Later, Peter John de Smet and other priests came
Worked with Coeur d’Alenes and Flatheads
Many baptized
Mixed their own religious customs with new religion

13. Presbyterian Missionaries
Narcissa Prentiss – Kindergarten teacher in NY
Dreamed of becoming a missionary
Marcus Whitman – Doctor
Met and married (only married people were sent on missions)
Joined by Henry and Eliza Spalding
Also on way to an Indian mission
1836 traveled to Oregon Country with party of fur traders
Eliza and Narcissa (on horseback) first women to cross the Continental Divide.

14. Presbyterian Missionaries 7 month trip to Fort Vancouver
Dr. McLoughlin sold supplies and advised them on mission locations
Spalding’s went to Nez Perce country along Clearwater River
Whitman’s went to Cayuse country on Walla Walla River
What they did
Built log houses and classrooms
Taught
Raise Animals
Grow and harvest crops
Grind wheat
Weave wool
Translated Bible into Indian languages
Taught to read
Many Indians resented the intrusion

15. Whites brought diseases
Disease and Death
Whites brought diseases
Small pox, measles, cholera, influenza and malaria
Entire Indian villages wiped out along coast
1847 – 5,000 pioneers passed through Whitman’s mission
Last through were infected with measles
At mission, adults and kids got sick
Several died
At same time was a measles epidemic
Indians had no immunity
Over half the Cayuse tribe died

16. Disease and Death
Whitman worked hard to help, but simple medicines could to nothing
Some Cayuse accused Dr. Whitman of starting the disease to kill the Indians.
Cayuse attacked, Killing Marcus, Narcissa and 11 others

17. 47 women and children taken hostage
Disease and Death
47 women and children taken hostage
HBC officials bargained with Cayuse
Indian men ransomed prisoners for blankets, shirts, tobacco and muskets
“Whitman Massacre: caused settlers to demand protection from Army
First war erupted
Cayuse War lasted 2 years

18. Seven Alone
Sager family traveling the Oregon Trail with wagon train
Mom and Dad died, leaving 7 kids alone on trail (1 was an infant!)
Wagon train took care until the Whitman mission
Whitman’s adopted them all
Sager’s part of Whitman Massacre
Two of the boys were killed
Sager girls wrote about experiences
Movie was made (Seven Alone)