March 1, 2010 – Freedom Star Block #9 – Fifty-Four-Forty or Fight! Star Block
Border Wars! The USA vs Canada. Generally, we think of America and Canada as friendly neighbors. We share a common border and there is free trade and travel between both countries. The story was very different at the Olympics this week…. when the American and Canadian Hockey teams were in an all-out battle for Gold. BOTH the men’s and women’s teams! It was a shining example of how too very close neighbors can” play to win” on the neutral battle field of the sports arena. This time, Canada overcame our great athletes to take the gold medals. And we will just have to have to settle for the silver which isn’t all that bad. Both games were great and I’d rather see the Canadians win than the Russians (only because they always seem to win it). Not to worry, we’ll get them the next time.
Back in the early 1800’s there was a real border dispute between the US and the then British Colony (now know as Canada). The land area in question was the Oregon Territory. President Polk and the Democratic Leaders in the US believed that we should control the parcel of land that now includes the city of Vancouver and the Western Canadian Province of British Columbia. The parcel in dispute ran from West of the Continental divide to the Pacific Coast and from the 42 nd parallel to 54′40′ North. The common political slogan of the day was “Fifty-Four Forty or Fight!” referring to the northern most border line. The US had just annexed Texas and relations with Mexico were strained, to avoid conflict on both borders, a comprise was made and the territory was divided along the 49th parallel with Britain getting the Strait of Juan de Fuca including Vancouver. I am glad that we have a strong relationship with our Northern neighbors and hope someday to visit the beautiful city of Vancouver, B.C.
Fifty-Four-Forty or Fight! Star Block
It’s fun to learn about the origins of some traditional quilt blocks. The Fifty-Four- Forty or Fight! Star Block must have been designed in the early 1800’s when the border dispute was Front Page news. So today’s block is taken right out of the pages of history. It’s a fairly simple block with a little paper-piecing and easy 4-patch blocks.
Fifty -Four-Forty or Fight! Star Block - Click here for complete directions or click on Free Block Patterns – 2010 Block of the Week “Freedom Stars.
Happy Quilting,
Betty