"54° 40' or fight!"
Definition
This was a slogan used during the Oregon boundary dispute between U.S. and Britain, expressing the sentiment that U.S. should control all of Oregon territory up to latitude 54°40′.
Analogy
Think of this as a high-stakes game of Monopoly where players are arguing over who gets to claim the prime property (in this case, the Oregon territory). The phrase "54° 40' or fight!" is like saying, "Either I get Park Place and Boardwalk, or we're flipping this board over."
Related terms
Oregon Treaty: This treaty resolved the Oregon boundary dispute by setting the border at 49th parallel.
Manifest Destiny: Again, this belief in American expansion played into sentiments expressed in slogans like "54° 40' or fight!"
Polk's Presidency: James K. Polk’s presidency saw heightened tensions around territorial disputes such as these.
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