Oregon treaty

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Oregon treaty, 1846. The disputed eastern boundary between Canada and the USA was settled by the Ashburton treaty of 1842. The vast area between the Rockies and the Pacific known as the Oregon Territory was covered by a convention, extended from 1818, whereby subjects of both states had access. In 1845 James K. Polk was elected president on the slogan of ‘54° 50− or fight’ and in his inaugural speech he insisted that America's claim was ‘clear and unquestionable’ and would be pursued by force if necessary. The Peel government, then in its last months, negotiated a settlement on the line of the 49th parallel, which required only minor revision in 1872.

J. A. Cannon

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Oregon treaty

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