Battles & Campaigns · 1842
Webster–Ashburton Treaty
Washington, D.C., USA
What happened
The border between the United States and British North America had been vaguely described in 1783, causing clashes in Maine. In Washington, the two sides settled the Maine–New Brunswick border and the border from Lake Superior to the Lake of the Woods. They also agreed to share the Great Lakes and to work together against the slave trade at sea.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It ended the border clashes known as the Aroostook War. It settled several long-running disputes between the two countries peacefully.
What came next
The Oregon question was left open and was settled four years later by the Oregon Treaty.
Did you know?
Webster reportedly showed senators an old map of doubtful origin to help win their support.
Timeline
- 1783 CEThe Treaty of Paris describes the border only vaguely.
- 9 August 1842Webster–Ashburton Treaty signed.
- 15 June 1846Oregon Treaty signed.