How did rival claims to Oregon country develop?

Answer 1

Rival claims to the Oregon Country emerged in the early 19th century, primarily involving the United States and Great Britain. Both nations asserted rights based on exploration and settlement; the U.S. claimed the territory through the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark expedition, while Britain based its claim on the Hudson's Bay Company's fur trade and prior exploration by Captain James Cook. The situation intensified with the influx of American settlers along the Oregon Trail, leading to increased U.S. interest in the region. Ultimately, the Oregon Treaty of 1846 resolved the dispute by establishing the 49th parallel as the boundary between U.S. and British territories.