AP US History in 1 Minute Daily: Boundary Disputes (Day 86/309)

Welcome to today’s explanation of Boundary Disputes in my series- APUSH in 1 Minute Daily!

John Quincy Adams, Wikimedia Commons

During the James Monroe administration, John Quincy Adams was the Secretary of State and advised Monroe on foreign affairs. He was known as “a bulldog among spaniels,” as he was relentless in his negotiations.

Rush-Bagot Agreement, 1817, Sutori

One boundary dispute was in the Great Lakes region with Great Britain. In the 1817 Rush-Bagot Agreement, Britain agreed to limit armaments in the region. This aided in demilitarizing the area.

Treaty of 1818, Timetoast

Additionally, the Treaty of 1818 resolved tension along the U.S. northern boundary. In it, Britain agreed to shared fishing rights off the coast of Newfoundland, to a 10 year joint occupation of the Oregon Territory, and to have the 49th parallel act as the western U.S.-Canada boundary.

The Adams-Onís Treaty of 1819, Wikimedia Commons

Borders with Spain were resolved in the Adams-Onís Treaty of 1819. The Spanish turned over Florida to the U.S. the U.S. assumed $5 million of Spanish debt, and the boundary between the U.S. and Mexico was defined.

John Quincy Adams, as Secretary of State, diplomatically resolved several boundary disputes. These agreements improved interactions with Europeans and set the stage for future westward expansion.

Join me tomorrow as I explain the Monroe Doctrine in the next APUSH in 1 Minute Daily!