Oregon Territory: Polity Style: 1843-1857

30 Jan 1819	the United States and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland agree to the joint control of the land and waters in the Pacific Northwest region of North America in accordance with a convention signed by representatives of both parties at London on 20 Oct 1818, effective upon the exchange of ratifications on 30 Jan 1819 (United States Treaties, 2:658-662; United States Treaties and Other International Agreements, 12:57-60) [1]
5 Jul 1843	the settlements in the Pacific Northwest region of North America are organized into districts and designated as the Oregon Territory, in accordance with a report drafted by a legislative committee appointed by the inhabitants approved at a public meeting held at Champoeg on 5 Jul 1843 (Oregon Archives, pp. 23-26) [2]
5 Jul 1843 - 3 Mar 1849	Oregon Territory
17 Jul 1846	the boundary between the territories belonging to the United States and the United Kingdom is established in the Oregon Territory south of the 49th parallel, in accordance with a treaty signed by representatives of both parties at Washington on 15 Jun 1846, effective upon the exchange of ratifications on 17 Jul 1846 (United States Treaties and Other International Agreements, 12:95-97)
14 Aug 1848	part of the territory of the United States known as the Territory of Oregon is organized into and constitute a temporary government by the name of the Territory of Oregon, in accordance with an act passed by the Congress of the United States (House of Representatives on 2 Aug 1848; Senate on 10 Aug 1848, with amendments; House concurs in one amendment, rejects others on 11 Aug 1848; Senate recedes from the amendments on 13 Aug 1848), signed into law on 14 Aug 1848 (Statutes at Large, 9:323-331) [3]
3 Mar 1849	the territorial government of Oregon is established upon the swearing-in of the governor, in accordance with a proclamation issued at Oregon City on 3 Mar 1849 (Oregon Executive Journal, 1849-1859, 1849, f 1; Belknap, pp. 140-142)
3 Mar 1849 - 14 Feb 1859	Territory of Oregon
18 Sep 1857	the Constitution of the State of Oregon is adopted and signed at a session of the Convention held in Salem on 18 Sep 1857, pending ratification by qualified electors (Oregon Constitutional Convention 1857, pp. 380-381, 432)
14 Dec 1857	the ratification of the Constitution of the State of Oregon by the qualified electors at a vote held on 9 Nov 1857 is certified by a proclamation issued by the Governor of the Territory of Oregon on 14 Dec 1857 (Oregon Statesman, No. 41, 22 Dec 1857, p. 3) [4]
14 Feb 1859	the State of Oregon, within the prescribed boundaries, is admitted to the United States, in accordance with an act passed by the Congress of the United States (Senate on 18 May 1858, House of Representatives on 12 Feb 1859), signed into law on 14 Feb 1859 (Statutes at Large, 11:383-384) [5][6]

Art. III concerning the Oregon Territory was initially valid for 10 years but was extended indefinitely by a convention signed on 6 Aug 1827 (United States Treaties and Other International Agreements, 12:74-75).
A Legislative Committee, elected by the settlers of Oregon, drafted a number of reports which were adopted at a public meeting on 5 Jul 1843 and finally went into one document containing a section called "Organic Laws." An amended version of the Laws was ratified by the people in 1845.
Full title: An Act to establish the Territorial Government of Oregon.
Sections Nos. 3 and 8 under Article XVIII (Schedule) of the Constitution of the State of Oregon provided for its taking effect following ratification by the qualified voters, and authorized the territorial officers to continue in office until superseded by their State successors. Oregon applied for admission to the Union, but Congressional approval of the Constitution was not explicitly sought, and the election proceeded in 1858. The State Legislature convened in July 1858, and Whiteaker was inaugurated as Governor of the State on 8 Jul 1858. However, the bill admitting Oregon failed in the U.S. House of Representatives, and Congress adjourned on 14 Jun 1858. The State Legislature also adjourned on 9 Jul 1858 and subsequently failed to achieve a quorum in September 1858. The territorial government and legislature were not superseded as expected until news of Oregon's admission became known in March 1859. A proclamation issued by Whiteaker on 4 Apr 1859 indirectly acknowledged the fact.
Full title: An Act for the Admission of Oregon into the Union.
The residue of the Territory of Oregon outside the prescribed boundaries of the State of Oregon was incorporated into and made a part of the Territory of Washington.