Fifty Four Forty or Fight
"Fifty-four forty or fight!" These words are as true today as when they were spoken by President James K. Polk in 1844. They speak to greatness and moral vigor of the American people, an idealism that summed up the American experience. In 1844, the United States disputed with Great Britain over who owned the entirety of the Oregon Territory. The United States claimed the entire region, up to its northern border, latitude 54 degrees 40 minutes, hence the slogan.
Fifty-Four Forty or Fight! In 1818, the United States and United Kingdom (controling British Canada) established a joint claim over the Oregon Territory - the region west of the Rocky Mountains and between 42¡ North and 54¡40' North (the southern boundary of Russia's Alaska territory).

FIFTY FOUR FORTY

The Colony of Vancouver Island might not have been created if it wasn't for a struggle for territory between Canada and the United States. The slogan "Fifty Four Forty or Fight" was the cry from US settlers penetrating the Oregon Territory (what is now the states of Washington and Oregon).
Oregon OREGON "Fifty-four Forty or Fight!" was the Democratic slogan in the 1844 presidential campaign.
K12 Newsletters: 00-03-17: GEO> GEOGRAPHY NEWS: 54-40 or Fight!
In 1818, the United States and United Kingdom (controling British Canada) established a joint claim over the Oregon Territory - the region west of the Rocky Mountains and between 42¡ North and 54¡40' North (the southern boundary of Russia's Alaska territory).
Viewpoint -- The American Ideal Revisited Compromise Was Not an Option in Polk's '54-40 or Fight!' Era
The 1849 Pony Express, by M. Schofield The Oregon Boundary Dispute was a hot topic during 1849. This dispute has nothing to do with the Nova Scotia Pony Express story, except as a vivid illustration of the importance of some of the messages it carried. In 1849, there was a serious threat of war between Great Britain and the United States over the Oregon Boundary question.