Presidents at Peace: James K. Polk and the Oregon Treaty
Two of the things on James K. Polk's to do list were the acquisition of territory from Mexico, and resolution of the boundary dispute of the Oregon Territory with Great Britain. Polk went to war with Mexico on questionable grounds after attempts at negotiation failed. But Polk was wise enough not to fight a two-front war, especially with a powerful nation like Great Britain. Instead, Polk and his Secretary of State James Buchanan opted for a more peaceful solution. That solution came about in the form of the Oregon Treaty, signed on June 15, 1846, in Washington, D.C. The treaty brought an end to the Oregon boundary dispute by settling competing American and British claims to the region.
Previously, during the administration of President James Monroe, Great Britain and the United States entered into the Treaty of 1818, which set the boundary between the United States and British North America along the 49th parallel of north latitude from Minnesota to the "Stony Mountains" (now known as the Rocky Mountains). The territory west of those mountains was called the Oregon Country to Americans and the Columbia District to the British. The Treaty of 1818 provided for joint control of that land for ten years. Both countries could claim land and both were guaranteed free navigation throughout.
Joint control became problematic for both sides. Polk's offered to settle the boundary at the 49th parallel but the British initially rejected this offer. Expansionists in the Democratic Party boldly called for the annexation of the entire region up to Parallel 54°40′ north. (This led to the slogan "54-40 or Fight".) But after the outbreak of the Mexican-American War in April 1846, compromise became the wiser course of action. Negotiations in Washington, D.C. continued and the matter was settled by the Polk administration (to the dismay of Democratic Party hardliners). Polk wanted to avoid a two-war situation.
The treaty was negotiated by U.S. Secretary of State (and future President) James Buchanan, and Richard Pakenham, British envoy to the United States and member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom for Queen Victoria. The treaty was signed on June 15, 1846. The Oregon Treaty set the U.S. and British North American border at the 49th parallel with the exception of Vancouver Island, which was retained in its entirety by the British. Vancouver Island, with all coastal islands, was constituted as the Colony of Vancouver Island in 1849. The U.S. portion of the region was organized as Oregon Territory on August 14, 1848, with Washington Territory being formed from it in 1853. The British portion remained unorganized until 1858 when the Colony of British Columbia was declared as a result of the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush. The two British colonies were amalgamated in 1866 as the United Colonies of Vancouver Island and British Columbia. When the Colony of British Columbia joined Canada in 1871, the 49th Parallel became the U.S.-Canadian border.
Previously, during the administration of President James Monroe, Great Britain and the United States entered into the Treaty of 1818, which set the boundary between the United States and British North America along the 49th parallel of north latitude from Minnesota to the "Stony Mountains" (now known as the Rocky Mountains). The territory west of those mountains was called the Oregon Country to Americans and the Columbia District to the British. The Treaty of 1818 provided for joint control of that land for ten years. Both countries could claim land and both were guaranteed free navigation throughout.
Joint control became problematic for both sides. Polk's offered to settle the boundary at the 49th parallel but the British initially rejected this offer. Expansionists in the Democratic Party boldly called for the annexation of the entire region up to Parallel 54°40′ north. (This led to the slogan "54-40 or Fight".) But after the outbreak of the Mexican-American War in April 1846, compromise became the wiser course of action. Negotiations in Washington, D.C. continued and the matter was settled by the Polk administration (to the dismay of Democratic Party hardliners). Polk wanted to avoid a two-war situation.
The treaty was negotiated by U.S. Secretary of State (and future President) James Buchanan, and Richard Pakenham, British envoy to the United States and member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom for Queen Victoria. The treaty was signed on June 15, 1846. The Oregon Treaty set the U.S. and British North American border at the 49th parallel with the exception of Vancouver Island, which was retained in its entirety by the British. Vancouver Island, with all coastal islands, was constituted as the Colony of Vancouver Island in 1849. The U.S. portion of the region was organized as Oregon Territory on August 14, 1848, with Washington Territory being formed from it in 1853. The British portion remained unorganized until 1858 when the Colony of British Columbia was declared as a result of the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush. The two British colonies were amalgamated in 1866 as the United Colonies of Vancouver Island and British Columbia. When the Colony of British Columbia joined Canada in 1871, the 49th Parallel became the U.S.-Canadian border.