Champoeg Meetings

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You have new messages (last change).

The Champoeg Meetings in Oregon Country were the first attempts at governing in the Pacific Northwest by United States European-American pioneers. Prior to this, the closest entity to a government was the Hudson's Bay Company, mainly through Dr. John McLaughlin at Fort Vancouver in present day Vancouver, Washington.[1] There were a series of three meetings over three years held at Champoeg on the Willamette River in present day Marion County, Oregon beginning in 1841.[2]


Contents

[edit] Background

[edit] Location

The meetings were held at the French-Canadian enclave of Champoeg on the banks of the Willamette River in the French Prairie area.

[edit] 1841

In 1841 the early European settlers found themselves in need of a government after the death of pioneer Ewing Young. Young died without a will or heir, thus necessitating a need for a probate court.[2] The first meeting was on February 7th, followed by an additional meeting on February 17th. Jason Lee served as chairman for these meetings.[3]

[edit] Decisions

[edit] Elections

[edit] Participants

[edit] 1842

First Wolf Meeting.

Mural on walls of Oregon Capitol Building depicting the provisional government seal.
Enlarge
Mural on walls of Oregon Capitol Building depicting the provisional government seal.

[edit] Decisions

[edit] Elections

[edit] Participants

[edit] 1843

The last meeting started May 2, 1843, and are referred to as the Second Wolf Meeting.[1] This meeting led to the creation of the Provisional government.[2]

Mural of 1843 meeting on wall in House of Representatives in Oregon State Capitol Building.

[edit] Decisions

The Organic Act

[edit] Elections

Created the First Excutive Committee with Joseph Gale, David Hill, and Alanson Beers elected as the committee members to serve in place of a governor.[4]


[edit] Participants

[edit] Subsequent History

Territorial government was formed in 1848 after Oregon added as a United States territory.

[edit] See Also


[edit] External Links


[edit] References

  1. ^ Public Meeting at Champoeg, 1843. The Oregon History Project. Oregon Historical Society. Retrieved on 2006-11-21.
  2. ^ a b c Beginnings of Self-Government. Settling the Oregon Country. End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. Retrieved on 2006-11-21.
  3. ^ Clarke, S.A. (1905). Pioneer Days of Oregon History. J.K. Gill Company.
  4. ^ The First Men In Charge. Settling the Oregon Country. End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. Retrieved on 2006-11-21.


Pioneer History of Oregon (1806 - 1890)
Topics

Oregon Country · Oregon Treaty · Oregon missionaries · Executive Committee · Oregon Trail · Oregon boundary dispute · Pacific Fur Company · Hudson's Bay Company
Events

Champoeg Meetings · Treaty of 1818 · Russo-American Treaty · Donation Land Claim Act · Whitman massacre
Places

Fort Astoria · Oregon Mission · Fort Vancouver · Champoeg, Oregon · Willamette Stone · Barlow Road
People

George Abernethy · Sam Barlow · Tabitha Brown · Abigail Scott Duniway · Peter French · Joseph Gale · William Gilpin · David Hill · Jason Lee · John McLoughlin · Joseph Meek · Ezra Meeker · Joel Palmer · Marcus Whitman · Narcissa Whitman
Oregon History

Native Peoples History · History to 1806 · Pioneer History · Modern History
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../c/h/a/Champoeg_Meetings_9647.html"