Oregon Land Claims

Oregon Land Claims refer to disputes over land ownership in the Oregon Territory during the 19th century, primarily between settlers, Native American tribes, and the U.S. government. As settlers moved westward, they laid claim to land, often disregarding existing treaties with Native Americans. These claims led to conflicts and negotiations, culminating in the Oregon Donation Land Act of 1850, which encouraged settlement by granting land to white settlers. This act and subsequent treaties reshaped land ownership in Oregon, often at the expense of Indigenous peoples' rights and territories. The issue of land claims remains significant in discussions of land rights today.