facade. 1  Architecture. the front of a building, especially an imposing or decorative one. 2  a superficial appearance or illusion of something: They managed somehow to maintain a facade of wealth.
The Oregon Territory stretched from the Pacific coast to the Rocky Mountains, encompassing the area including present-day Oregon, Washington, and most of British Columbia. Originally Spain, Great Britain, Russia, and the United States claimed the territory. In 1819, under terms of the Transcontinental Treaty, Spain ceded its claims to the territory to the United States. Shortly thereafter the United States contested a unilateral Russian move to grant its citizens a fishing, whaling, and commercial monopoly from the Bering Straits to the 51st parallel.
The original Oregon Territory encompassed not just present-day Oregon but also Washington and much of British Columbia. The United States, Great Britain, Russia and Spain all initially claimed the territory. The United States based its claim to the land on the explorations of Lewis and Clark and the presence of trading posts set up by American citizen John Jacob Astor.