June 15, 1846: The U.S. and Great Britain sign the Oregon Treaty, settling a long-standing dispute over the location of the border between the U.S. and Canada. The deal also averted a third war between Britain and America. Expansionist politicians in the U.S. had been pressing for the annexation of large swaths of territory extending to the Pacific Ocean—something British leaders would not have accepted—but cooler heads prevailed. Under the treaty, the U.S. gained control of what is now Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana, while Canada gained control over what is now hockey. —
Jeffrey Kanige
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