The Entire Pig War Explained In 37 minutes

The Pig War of 1859 was one of the strangest international crises in history—a confrontation between the United States and the British Empire that nearly turned into a real war because of one dead pig. In this video, we explore the full story behind the Pig War, from the unresolved Oregon Country border dispute and the confusing Oregon Treaty to the rise of American settlers, the Hudson’s Bay Company, and the disputed ownership of the San Juan Islands. When American farmer Lyman Cutlar shot a pig belonging to the Hudson’s Bay Company after it wandered into his potato garden, a simple property dispute quickly escalated into an international standoff. The Entire Pig War Explained — … As tensions rise, American soldiers led by George Pickett arrive on San Juan Island, while British warships surround the island with dozens of cannons. With hundreds of American troops facing more than 2,000 British soldiers and sailors, the situation comes dangerously close to war. But instead of firing, Admiral Robert Baynes refuses to attack, and General Winfield Scott negotiates a peaceful joint occupation. The standoff lasts for 12 years before Kaiser Wilhelm I of Germany finally settles the border dispute in 1872, awarding the San Juan Islands to the United States. Discover how the Pig War, the United States-Britain border dispute, and one very unlucky pig created one of the most bizarre episodes in American history. The Entire Pig War Explained. #history #pigwar