Question

During the 1840, more Americans than British settled in the Oregon Country. How do you think this settlement influenced negotiations with the British over the territoty?

Answer 1

The Treaty of 1818 between the US and Britain stated the Oregon Country would be jointly occupied by the US and Britain. But it resulted in disputes between Americans and British and another treaty, the Oregon Treaty, was signed in 1846. It stated the Oregon Country would be divided in two. The US would get all the land south of the 49th parallel (which eventually became the states of Washington and Oregon) and the British would get all the land north of the 49 parallel (which became British Columbia). Except for Vancouver Island off the coast of the Oregon Country, 4/5's of Vancouver Island was north of the 49th parallel so the US said Britain could have all of it instead of splitting it at the 49th parallel.