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.
In 1818, the United States and Great Britain signed a treaty in which both countries agreed to jointly control Oregon Country, an area that extended to parallel 54Â°40â² north. When James K. Polk became president of the U.S. in 1845, he supported the annexation of the entire Oregon Country.. From 1818 to 1846, the United States and Great Britain administered the territory in Oregon together. This was a compromise until both countries could agree on how to divide the land between them.