What Happened?
What started the Pig War?
An American farmer shot a British-owned pig eating his potatoes.
When did the Pig War happen?
1859
Why is the Pig War considered a unique event in military history?
zero human casualties
Why did this war fail to make it into most major history textbooks?
nobody died
Who or what died in this war?
Only one Berkshire boar (the pig); there were no human casualties.
Where did the conflict take place?
San Juan Island
How did this event impact how the U.S. and Britain solved future arguments?
international arbitration
How did the timing of the American Civil War overshadow this event?
massive, bloody American Civil War
Why did a farmer shoot a pig?
The pig kept rooting up and eating the crops in his potato patch.
What specific boundary line was being argued over?
49th parallel
What did the final ruling change about the map of the Pacific Northwest?
San Juan Islands a part of the United States
Why did the lack of violence cause people to forget about the conflict?
solved peacefully through talking
Which two countries fought in this conflict?
The United States and Great Britain (Canada).
How long did the joint military occupation last on the island?
12 years
Why does this war still matter to people visiting San Juan Island today?
British flag is still officially flown on U.S. soil.
Why did the location of the war keep it out of the mainstream news?
remote, isolated frontier