The Aroostook War, a significant point of study in Advanced Placement United States History courses, refers to a border dispute between the United States and Great Britain over the boundary between Maine and the British colony of New Brunswick. This conflict, occurring primarily in 1838 and 1839, involved lumberjacks from both sides competing for valuable timber resources in the Aroostook River valley. While officially undeclared and involving minimal casualties, the situation threatened to escalate into a full-scale war.
Understanding this boundary disagreement is essential for comprehending antebellum American foreign policy and Anglo-American relations. The tense atmosphere underscored the lingering mistrust following the War of 1812. Furthermore, its resolution through diplomacy, specifically the Webster-Ashburton Treaty of 1842, demonstrates the growing ability of the United States to assert its interests on the international stage without resorting to armed conflict. The treaty not only defined the Maine-New Brunswick border but also addressed other outstanding issues, contributing to a period of relative peace between the two nations.
