Answer :
During the mid-19th century, the issue of territorial expansion and the annexation of Texas versus Oregon became a contentious debate in the United States. As Northwesterners questioned why all of Texas was annexed but not all of Oregon, proponents of settling Oregon, such as Senator Thomas Hart Benton of Missouri, offered several arguments to justify the difference in approach.
One key factor in the different treatment of Texas and Oregon was the context of sectional interests and the delicate balance between slave and free states. The annexation of Texas in 1845 was associated with the expansion of slave territory, heightening tensions between the North and the South. Texas, with its history tied to the institution of slavery, was annexed as a slave state. In contrast, Oregon, located in the Pacific Northwest, did not carry the same association with slavery, making it less contentious in the ongoing debates over the expansion of slavery.
Senator Benton and other Oregon settlement supporters emphasized the significance of Oregon's geographic and economic characteristics. The Oregon Trail had become a major route for pioneers seeking new opportunities in the West. Benton argued that Oregon's climate and soil were suitable for agriculture and settlement, making it a valuable region for American expansion. The idea of the "Manifest Destiny," the belief that the United States was destined to expand across the continent, played a role in justifying westward expansion.
Additionally, the Oregon region had a relatively smaller population compared to Texas, and the British also had claims to the territory, leading to a joint occupancy arrangement. This situation prompted the need for diplomatic negotiations with Great Britain, resulting in the Oregon Trail becoming a symbol of American perseverance and success.
In summary, the differing treatment of Texas and Oregon in terms of annexation was influenced by the sectional tensions surrounding slavery, the economic and geographic considerations of the Oregon region, and diplomatic negotiations with Great Britain. Senator Thomas Hart Benton's support for settling Oregon reflected a complex interplay of political, economic, and geographic factors in the broader context of American territorial expansion during the mid-19th century.
