It is known as the Oregon Treaty. But it had as much to do with Montana as with Oregon. The treaty was between the United States government and British North America. (British North America is present-day Canada.)
Before the treaty, both countries had occupied the Oregon Territory in the far Northwest. The area included part of Montana. But the governments could not agree on how to divide it. The disagreement became part of the 1844 presidential campaign saying, “Fifty-four Forty or Fight.” The saying mentioned a parallel, or line of latitude. The U.S. government wanted this parallel to be the border between U.S. and British territory. British North America didn’t agree. In the end, the two countries settled on the 49th parallel. On June 15, 1846, the treaty was signed. That’s when the western part of Montana became part of the Oregon Territory. Here’s what happened next . . .
