Building Borders

Abstract

This chapter traces the creation of the Canada–US border from the American Revolution until the beginning of the Civil War. It outlines the international agreements signed by European nations—the Treaty of Paris (1783), Treaty of 1818, Anglo-Russian Treaty (1825), and the Oregon Treaty (1846)—which established British, American, and Russian territorial claims on paper. By comparing this administrative history of the border to the stories of Tom Mutceheu (Cree), Feather (Assiniboine-Soto), and Joe Louie (Coast Salish), the chapter emphasizes the diverse ways that Indigenous people and colonial powers conceptualized and enforced territorial divisions. Finally, it looks at how violence, dispute, and the boundary survey process shaped how both countries approached their national boundaries and their relationships with Indigenous people.