The events that led to war between the Territorial Government, Settler's and Indians;
was it avoidable or inevitable?
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 MORE INFORMATION
A provisional government restriction against blacks in Oregon Territory prompts the first group of settlers—one of whom is George Washington Bush, who is part black—to travel north of the Columbia. Within a few years, there are enough people in the Puget Sound region to begin lobbying for a territory of their own. The settlers select the name "Columbia" for the name of their territory, but the United States Congress, in a stroke of irony, votes to change the name to "Washington" to avoid confusion with the District of Columbia. Washington Territory is created out of the northern half of Oregon Territory on March 2, 1853. | |
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In 1853 Isaac Stevens successfully applied to President Pierce for the governorship of the new Washington Territory, which also carried the title of Superintendent of Indian Affairs. Not content with just two jobs, Stevens also lobbied for a position with the proposed transcontinental railroad survey. Secretary of War Jefferson Davis placed him in command of the survey of the northern route. He arrived in Olympia in November 1853, eager to take charge of the territory, with the making of treaties with the Indians as his primary goal.
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On December 7, 1854, Governor Stevens appoints James Doty, George Gibbs, H. A. Goldsborough, B. F. Shaw, and Michael Simmons to his new treaty commission. The locations of the reservations are determined at the discretion of this commission. | |
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On December 26, 1854, the Medicine Creek Treaty is negotiated between the U.S. and Puyallup, Nisqually and Squaxin tribes, and assorted smaller bands. Almost immediately, rumblings of discontent are heard from the Indians over the poor quality of the land designated for the reservations. Leschi and Quiemuth allegedly do not sign the treaty, although an X appears beside their names. The two brothers leave the council grounds in anger. Leschi refuses to move his people onto the high rocky place assigned to the Nisqually Reservation, and lobbies hard for more favorable treaty terms.
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READ AN EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT OF THE BOLON MURDER
September 25, 1855 - The death of Bolon, who had been on generally good terms with the Indians, tipped the balance toward war. Though there were both settlers and Indians who desired peace, panic and a desire for vengence prevailed. | |
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As fear of an Indian uprising increased, Charles Mason, serving as acting Governor while Stevens travels east on his treaty tour, is asked by the army to call up two volunteer companies to supplement the ranks of the regulars. Mason complies, but the territory has no weapons or ammunition to supply the troops, so he is forced to appeal to the Hudson's Bay Company for munitions. | |
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