Edited by Gerald Boerner
Commentary:
The U.S. and Canada share the longest border between two countries anywhere in the world. More remarkably, the movement across this border is relativity unfettered by military checkpoints. While this status required many growing pains, once the actual borders were established, they have stood up well to the test of time.
Each country remains independent and has adopted it’s own distinctive cultures. A major step in this process took place in 1817 when the Great Lakes and Lake Champaign became demilitarized. This was a significant step since forts were maintained during both the Revolutionary Was and the War of 1812; these lakes were also the sites of some major naval battles.
The Rush-Bagot Treaty was a treaty between the United States and Britain ratified by the United States Senate on April 16, 1818. The treaty provided for a large demilitarization of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain, where many British naval arrangements and forts still remained. The treaty stipulated that the United States and British North America could each maintain one military vessel (no more than 100 tons burden) as well as one cannon (no more than eighteen pounds) on Lake Ontario and Lake Champlain. The remaining Great Lakes permitted the United States and British North America to keep two military vessels "of like burden" on the waters armed with "like force". The treaty, and the separate Treaty of 1818, laid the basis for a demilitarized boundary between the U.S. and British North America.
Now let’s get on with our exploration... GLB
These Introductory Comments are copyrighted:
Copyright©2011 — Gerald Boerner — All Rights Reserved[ 2947 Words ]
Quotations Related to BORDERS:
“When goods do not cross borders, soldiers will.”
— Frederic Bastiat
“We can control our borders, we just choose not too.”
— Tom Tancredo
“These are our borders, and we have to secure our borders.”
— Robert Brady