The 1840's were a period of American expansion and diplomacy. Throughout these years, tensions grew in Anglo-American relations. By this time, The United States had extended its power and territories in the world, and the British Empire had problems in government. Throughout the 1840's, the two countries disputed over many things, new problems as well as old disagreements. However, the resolution of these disagreements is the great achievement of this period. The issues included the resolution of commercial relations between the United States and Britain, the settlement of the Maine boundary dispute, the Webster-Ashburton Treaty of 1842, and the agreement concerning the Oregon territory.

By the 1840's, commerce between America and Great Britain had improved from prior decades. But, some disputes still ensued between merchants of the two nations. One major argument was that of the Creole Affair. In the early 1840's, the British were interested in fighting the slave trade. They were against the importation of African slaves into the Americas. In 1841, on the American ship Creole, 135 enslaved Africans overpowered the crew, murdering one man, while sailing from Vir

Southerners on the other hand, made it clear that they would not risk war with Britain over Oregon. British leaders also were adverse to conflict and did not want to jeopardize their important economic relationship with the United States.

Another turning point in U.S. relations with Great Britain came with the signing on August 9, 1842, of the Webster-Ashburton Treaty, which settled several matters between the two nations. The new British Foreign Minister, Lord Aberdeen, sent Lord Ashburton to Washington to meet with Secretary of State Daniel Webster to negotiate some boundary issues. The two were friends so negotiations went pretty smoothly. Together, they developed a treaty that adjusted the Maine-New Brunswick boundary, which had been the cause of the Aroostock War (1838-1839). The U.S. received most of the territory in dispute as well as navigational rights on the St. John River. The treaty also settled the question of the U.S.-Canada boundary between Lake Superior and Lake of the Woods.

In June 1846, the Senate, preoccupied with war against Mexico, quickly approved the Oregon Treaty with Britain, setting the boundary at the 49th parallel.

For the same reason they feared the British in Oregon, the United States was concerned with the British in California. British adventurers and merchants had published alarming books advocating the colonization of California, although these publications did not represent official British ideals. Great Britain realized that any investment in California would represent pointless over-extension. However, Americans nearly went crazy with the idea of the British in California; fearing they would take the land while the U.S. was fighting Mexico. Although nothing happened in this dispute, it shows the tensions that were present during this period in history. (Mowat, 180-187)

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1257
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)