Provisional Government of Oregon - Background

Background

A series of meetings were held, beginning in 1841, at Champoeg (on the French Prairie) and a few other sites in the Willamette Valley. The first meetings were held, in part, as a response to the death of Ewing Young. Young died without a will, and had extensive business dealings with many other pioneers; a probate court was needed to administer his estate. In February 1841, a probate judge and a few other positions were appointed, but no further movement towards establishing a government occurred. The movement towards self-government picked up momentum in early 1843, after over 100 immigrants traveling the Oregon Trail had arrived the previous year.

On February 2, 1843, the first “Wolf Meeting” was held at the Oregon Institute, in what is now Salem, to discuss the problem of predatory animals attacking livestock. The second “Wolf Meeting” was held in March, to further discuss the issue and to set up bounties on the animals; discussions about forming a government also began. Meetings continued in the valley over the next few months, until a large general meeting was held at Champoeg on May 2, 1843. At this meeting, the proposal for forming a provisional government was discussed, and a committee recommendation to form a government was put to a vote. According to his biography, Joseph L. Meek then called for a vote with a final tally of 52 in favor of forming a government, and 50 against, although the only surviving notes taken at the meeting stated that "a large majority" were found to be in favor. With this the Provisional Government of Oregon was formed; on July 5, 1843 the Organic Laws of Oregon were adopted, and people were elected to government offices.