Battles & Campaigns · 1846
Oregon Treaty
Washington, D.C., USA
What happened
For years Britain and the United States had shared the Oregon Country in the Pacific Northwest. The treaty divided it along the 49th parallel: land to the south became American and land to the north British. Britain kept all of Vancouver Island.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It settled a long border dispute peacefully. It also kept the United States from a second war while it was already fighting Mexico.
What came next
The US created Oregon Territory in 1848, and Britain created the Colony of Vancouver Island in 1849. The 49th parallel later became much of the Canada–US border.
Did you know?
A later quarrel over the San Juan Islands, the 'Pig War' of 1859, had only one casualty: a pig.
Timeline
- 15 June 1846Oregon Treaty signed.
- 15 August 1848Oregon Territory is organised.
- 1849 CEColony of Vancouver Island created.
- 21 October 1872Arbitration gives the San Juan Islands to the US.