The Oregon territory dispute started between the Americans and British in 1818. Oregon was the next territory the Americans were looking to take over, due to its “fertile soil.” (Shi & Tindall) With the nation's people rushing to those lands it caused an Oregon fever that swept through the country. The settlers came up with wagon trains that made the trip to Oregon much easier. The idea of the manifest destiny would help the Americans take the entire continent of North America. The one problem for the Americans taking the Oregon territory was the British owned that land. The new President James Polk did not want to divide the area with the British and with American being a strong independent nation the British could not risk starting a war.
