Alaska boundary dispute facts for kids

Varying claims in Southeast Alaska before arbitration in 1903.

The Alaska boundary dispute was a disagreement over the boundary line between Canada and the United States. The dispute was between the United States and the United Kingdom, which then controlled Canada's foreign relations. The Russian Empire and Britain had been arguing about the boundary since 1821. When the United States purchased Alaska in 1867, it became their argument. It was resolved by arbitration in 1903, giving land to America that led from Canada's Yukon gold fields to the sea.

Background

1825–1898

In 1825, Russia and Britain signed the Treaty of Saint Petersburg. The treaty defined the borders of Russian-owned territory (now Alaska) and British-owned territory (now British Columbia, Canada). The line went along the Portland Channel and into the mountains.

Signed in 1839, the RAC–HBC Agreement created an understanding between the Russian-American Company and the Hudson's Bay Company. The Russian-American Company (RAC) allowed Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) to use part of the Alaskan Panhandle to use in their fur trade monopoly. In exchange, the HBC was to give some of their farming products, livestock products, and fur to the RAC each year. The agreement ended when Russian America ended.

The United States bought Alaska in 1867 from Russia in the Alaska Purchase, but the boundary terms were not clearly defined. The United States and Canada could not agree on a compromise.

Klondike gold rush

In 1897–98, the Klondike Gold Rush in Yukon, Canada, brought about 30,000 settlers to the area. About 100,000 people moved through Alaska to the Klondike gold region. This brought attention to the boundary disagreement again. Canada wanted an all-Canadian route from the gold fields to a sea port. The Canadian government sent some of the North-West Mounted Police (NWMP) and the Yukon Field Force, a 200-man Army unit, to the territory. The soldiers set up camp at Fort Selkirk. From there, they could quickly help with any problems that may have arisen.

Arbitration

In September 1898, the United States and Canada began to talk about the boundary again, but they still could not agree on a boundary line. The governments argued about the meanings of certain words from the 1825 treaty. Finally, in 1903, the Hay–Herbert Treaty between the United States and Britain agreed to let a neutral third party decide the boundary for them. This is called arbitration. Three Americans, two Canadians, and one Briton served on the arbitration commission.

The decision settled six main points:

• Where the boundary began.
• What "Portland Channel" meant, and how to draw the boundary line through it. Four islands were in dispute.
• The definition of the line from "the southernmost point of Prince of Wales Island to Portland Channel" depended on the answer to the previous question.
• The line from Portland Channel to the 56th parallel north.
• The width of the lisière (border or edge), and how to measure it.
• Whether mountain ranges existed in the area.

Lord Alverstone, the Briton who served on the commission, supported the Americans. The final borderline fell short of what both sides initially wanted, but each country received some of the territory they had claimed. See the map above for the borders.

Aftermath

Growth of a distinct Canadian identity

To keep the peace, Britain had offered fisheries and the Panama Canal to the United States. Canadians felt betrayed by the British when the boundary decision was made. It drove Canada to believe they should be independent from the British crown. The feeling that Canada should control its foreign policy may have contributed to the Statute of Westminster.

Interesting facts about the Alaska boundary dispute

• Before Alaska belonged to America, it belonged to Russia, who had made an agreement with Britain about the general boundary between their two colonies.
• The discovery of gold in the Klondike brought more attention to the undefined boundary between Alaska and Canada.
• The Canadian government wanted to survey the land, but America thought it would be too expensive.
• The boundary area was on land where the Tlingit and Haida peoples lived.
• The Canadians and Americans agreed to let the decision be made by an arbitration committee.
• Four islands in the Portland Canal were in dispute during the arbitration process. Two islands were given to each country.
• The entrance to the Klondike was through an inlet called the Lynn Canal. It was awarded to the United States.

See also

In Spanish: Disputa limítrofe de Alaska para niños