Why was there a political dispute over the control of the san juan islands?

Answer 1

The political dispute over the San Juan Islands arose primarily between the United States and Great Britain in the mid-19th century due to competing territorial claims. The islands were strategically located between Vancouver Island and the mainland of Washington, making them valuable for trade and military positioning. The situation escalated in 1859 when an American settler shot a British-owned pig, leading to the "Pig War," a standoff that highlighted the tensions over sovereignty. Ultimately, the dispute was settled peacefully in 1872 when an international arbitration awarded the islands to the United States.