The Northern Border Disputes

The Boundary of Maine and New Brunswick

Fuzzy boundaries had been left after the revolution. The problem was referred to a mixed commision twice, but had never been settled.

In 1842, under President Tyler, negotiations took place to end the armed conflicts along this boundary.

A Canadian revolution had begun, supplied by Americans working without Federal government approval. This almost started a war when an American arms supplier was killed

The Webster-Ashburton Treaty (August 1842)

A compromise was finally achieved. It was based around the discovery of a Map by Jared Sparks, which he claimed to be the original map used in the American-French negotiations. Sparks aided the compromise by lobying in Maine, spending $14,500 on the trip (obviously largely on bribes since that trip could not have taken anywhere near that amount of money).

<A later map found justified the old American claim to territories to the North and proved the loss of 5,000 Square miles in the compromise. Sparks map had been a fake, or at least an error. Webster, a potential presidential candidate, was politically ruined by this discovery>

The Oregon Dispute

Hudson's Bay company ran a joint occupation of the Oregon Territory. With increased occupation of the territory, it was decided that a government and border would be necessary.

Boundary: Columbia River or 49th parallel?

Americans wanted the 49th parallel as the boundary, since it represented an equal distribution of the land in question. However, few Americans lived north of the Columbia. That was British-settled territory and British-run territory, inhabited by British companies and people. It seemed obvious to the British that the border should be based upon population demographics, and the border should be set along the columbia river.

President Polk was an outspoken annexationist. He publicly stated that American territory extended up to the 49th parallel, offending the British and starting a diplomatic war.

Polk offered a settlement that was not really a settlement. He offered the 49th parellel as a "compromise." The British refused. They need navigation rights of the Columbia River to support local industry and population.

Polk then announced that the US would go all the way to 54'40". The British and Americans debated for 4 months before it was decided to terminate the joint occupation. A one-year notice was given and talk of war began.

Then the British backed down and gave the US the 49th parallel. They did not value the territory as much as they had pretended.

America accepted. The US was engaged in a war with Mexico, and did not want a war with England. So Polk backed down from his 54'40" goal and accepted the treaty. He had the senate deliberate and approve the treaty so he didn't have to. The blame was laid solidly on the senate, without damaging his reputation as an aggressive nationalist, and he quietly endorsed it later.

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