Lincoln, Maine

Responses from three students in Mrs. Harris' class can be viewed below:

Jake Mulligan
“Research your topic and summarize the ‘who, what, when, and where’ in the form of a few paragraphs”

The Aroostook War was a conflict between Canada and Maine (U.S.), over exactly where the Northeastern border was between the two countries. Luckily, no one was killed by combat in this war and the entire thing was solved by a treaty rather than warfare. The dispute lasted from 1838 to 1839. This was the time span when both countries’ militias started forming and getting restless over the ever-growing conflict. The entire “war” took place in what is now Aroostook county and New Brunswick. When the Governor called upon the state to organize its local militias, Lincoln soldiers became ready. Many of the town's male residents prepared for war. The Military Road through Lincoln was the main avenue of transportation for most of the troops, so it must have excited lots of the townspeople.

So all in all, many people from both countries were affected by this war over borders in what is now Aroostook county and New Brunswick from 1838-1839. The most famous death during this time was Hiram T. Smith of the Lincoln area. His actual cause of death is unknown, but some suggest he drowned or was killed by accident. Hiram's body is buried not far from Lincoln, along US Route 2 in Haynesville.

“Create a statement and prove or disprove it with evidence from your research”

If Maine did not stand up to Canada and create a militia during the Aroostook War, then the Maine boundary line would almost absolutely be different, in Canada’s favor.

To prove this statement with research, I found that Canada would have gotten its way if Maine did not stand up and create a treaty to both parties’ benefits. Looking at the map, Maine would be one-half its size if Canada had its way. Although Maine defended itself, it did not have to use violence or combat to do it. All in all, the outcome of this situation was perhaps the most positive out of any. Lincoln took a part in this by forming its own town militia, just as many other towns had done to defend their state and even their country. Thankfully, it did not come to this.

Amanda Crosby
“Describe your feelings, or the feelings of someone living at that time when a certain event happened”

If I was someone who was living at the time of the Aroostook War (also known as the “Pork and Beans War” and the “Lumberjack War”), I would be nervous if I was a wife to one of the men that went to the war. I would not know if my husband would come back fine, if he would be injured, or if he would come back at all. If I was a man that had to go to the war I would be scared of not knowing what was going to happen to me. Would I be fine? If I had a family, would I get to see them again? Would I get some sort of disease or illness that would prevent me from going further? Would the disease kill me eventually?

In the end, no one ended up being killed due to fighting in the war thanks to the signing of a treaty. The people that did die, died of an illness or an injury. One of the only people that did die in the actual war was Hiram T. Smith, who was a resident of Lincoln, Maine.

Works Cited

“Aroostook War - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia." Main Page - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 13 Apr. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aroostook_War>.

"The Border Dispute and the "Aroostook War" The Upper St. John River Valley , N. Aroostook Co., Me. and Madawaska Co., NB: A History of the Communities and People. Web. 8 Apr. 2010. <http://www.upperstjohn.com/history/northeastborder.htm>.