Great Britain and America Nearly Went Back to War Over Timber
Land disputes and the timber that grew there became a tension point between the United States and Great Britain, nearly thrusting the two parties back into war.
When the American colonies declared independence from Great Britain in 1776, the world changed. While the Americans were free from British rule, the conflict was not over. Freedom in their pocket, the Americans sought to defend their timber.
At the time, timber was a valuable commodity for the British. It was pivotal for the construction of ships and their masts. Their ships powered their commerce, their navy…their empire.
With the defeat, the British lost their hold on the lands around Maine. Having been in the area since the 16th century, the area was vital for their timber needs. They began looking further north.
The formal end to the Revolutionary War resulted in the Treaty of Paris. While it ended the war, it failed to define a boundary between the newly formed United States and Britain-controlled Quebec and New Brunswick.
A Seed of Tension is Sewn
American settlers received their land grants in the District of Maine. The claims began adding up. It was only a matter of time before the American land grants overlapped with lands the British claimed.
By 1794, the disputes began adding up. Negotiators and surveyors were called in. Using the St. Croix River as the geographical north star, the commission set to work. They established a southern border, but stopped short at the Chiputneticook Lakes.
The surveyors failed to form a true border north of the Chiputneticook Lakes. This oversight would come up again in 1820. The same year that Maine broke away from Massachusetts and gained its statehood.
A New State is an Emboldened State
Maine’s state government took issue with the proximity to Great Britain. It was threatening. The British had grown concerned around parts of Maine near the St. Lawrence River.
Maine worried about the security of their border. Great Britain worried their ability to manage their maritime colonies of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick was impeded.
Tensions rose as settlers flooded Maine to capitalize on its timber. In particular, the Aroostook River valley swelled with outsiders. Seasonal lumbermen swarmed as disputes around the resources and revenues rose.
As the United States prepared for its census in 1830, Maine’s legislature got involved in the area. They sent an assessment team to Madawaska, a town in the disputed area that belong to Great Britain. The town had formed its own republic and wanted to join Maine.
A New Brunswick militia showed up shortly after the assessment team. They arrested townspeople who supported joining Maine. Despite their best efforts, Madawaska got their wish. They incorporated as a part of Maine.
Failed Compromise After Failed Compromise
In early 1831, a treaty was brought forth to settle the dispute. In it, the United States was to receive nearly 8,000 square miles of the disputed land. The British would get 4,100.
Great Britain, eager to have order, accepted the terms. Maine did not. As a result of Maine’s rejection, the treaty died in the U.S. Senate. So too did a resolution.
1835 rolled around and the British put forward another compromise. The Americans reviewed it and rejected it almost as quickly.
The United States then drafted their own counter offer. The British were quick to reject it. Neither party could find the right fit. And to make matters more complex, Maine did not want the federal government making the decision on their behalf.
Things Are Getting Serious
Tensions continued to build. The British accused Maine of encouraging its settlers to build roads, log forests, and establish a formal presence in the disputed territory. Maine denied the charges, but things escalated.
Now known as the Aroostook War, more accusations came in. The British now accused Maine of timber theft. In response, Maine sent troops to construct forts.
As Maine build Forts Fairfield and Kent, Britain’s New Brunswick deployed troops of their own. Their troops would cross the St. John River.
Temperatures continued to rise and the thought of war seemed imminent. The state of Maine authorized $800,000 for military defense.
Nova Scotia offered to chip in $100,000 to help defend New Brunswick. Americans formed small militias and patrolled the Aroostook River valley.
On more than one occasion, they would confiscate New Brunswick equipment. They also arrested any British lumbermen in the area. In retaliation, a small posse from New Brunswick came together and captured a Maine land agent and his team.
The tit for tats continued. One evening, Maine’s forces were approached by New Brunswick’s military commander. The commander demanded that Maine remove its forces from the region and withdraw back to the appropriate boundary.
Maine’s response was swift and simple. They refused the request and took the commander into custody.
The President Steps In
Fearing the Aroostook War would pull the two countrie back into war, the federal government interceded. President Martin Van Buren asked General Winfield Scott to go to Maine.
His instructions were simple: evaluate the situation and negotiate a peace or lead the nation to war. He was empowered to do what he thought was best.
An ironic twist of paths would occur. New Brunswick’s Lt. Governor, John Harvey and the U.S.’s General Scott were to meet. A couple decades earlier, they had met one another.
During the War of 1812, Scott was a prisoner under Harvey’s supervision. There they formed a strong bond and friendship.
The reunited friends agreed to avert hostilities. In 1842, they help bring about the completion of the Webster-Ashburton Treaty. The treaty gave the United States just over 7,000 square miles of the disputed land.
It was less land than the British were willing to give the U.S. eleven years earlier. But it did provide navigation rights on the St. John River and very favorable terms around Minnesota’s northern border.
As Is Often the Case, One Party Leaves Unhappy
The British were pleased with the treaty and many in Parliament supported it. Maine and Massachusetts complained about the final boundary. Ultimately, they accepted it when the U.S. government offered each of them $150,000. The money was to offset any lost timber revenue from the treaty’s boundaries.
Canadians on the other hand were very unhappy with the outcome. It was believed by many Canadians that the Ashburton Treaty of 1842 was a tool the British used to improve relations with the United States.
As a result of the treaty, the United States now separated Lower Canada from their Maritime settlements. Even today, some Canadians view the Ashburton Treaty unfavorably. To them, Canadians lost rights due to British complacency and crooked American diplomacy.
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