the Arctic 1862: Gold Rushes in the Pacific Northwest
19 July 1862
19 Jul 1862
Partitioning the North Pacific
1620–1818 Fur-Trading Empires
1818–1875 Partitioning the North Pacific
1875–1939 Claiming the Far North
1939–1945 World War II in the Arctic
1945–pres The Arctic Transformed
Gold Rushes in the Pacific Northwest
20 Oct 1818 Treaty of 1818
28 Feb 1825 Anglo-Russian Convention
23 Nov 1837 Canadian Rebellions
15 Jun 1846 Oregon Treaty
21 Oct 1850 Search for Franklin
31 Mar 1854 Opening of Japan
2 Sep 1855 Crimean War in the Arctic
13 Aug 1859 Amur Acquisition
19 Jul 1862 Gold Rushes in the Pacific Northwest
30 Mar 1867 Alaska Purchase
27 Jan 1869 Boshin War
15 Jul 1870 Rupert's Land Act
7 May 1875 Treaty of Saint Petersburg
For some time after the Oregon Treaty, Britain's naval base on Vancouver Island was its only major presence in the Pacific Northwest. However in the late 1850s multiple gold strikes began drawing large numbers of prospectors from the United States to the region. In an attempt to maintain control of this influx and preempt any secessionist movements, the British announced the new colonies of the Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia, and the Stickeen Territories. Of the three, only British Columbia was really viable and soon absorbed both the other two and Vancouver Island.