Aroostook War

The United States government issued land grants in the Aroostook river valley, to which the British complained. The dispute was settled by the King of Holland[?]. However, the Americans began to ignore the agreement in the early 1830s. Canadians entered the valley in 1838 to cut trees for lumber. An American land agent who had intended to eject them was seized.

It resulted in troops being called on both sides (Maine and New Brunswick, and ultimately United States troops). President Martin Van Buren arranged truce while a commission was established to settle the boundary. It resulted in the Webster-Ashburton Treaty of 1842 by which the United States received 7,000 square miles of the valley, and the British 5,000 square miles and the corridor to Montreal.

See also

• Caroline Affair
• Timeline of United States diplomatic history