Britain initially balked at settling on the 49ᵗʰ parallel as the northern border of the United States because it wanted to control the Columbia River that lay two hundred miles to the south.

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This is true. Britain wanted to control the Columbia River, which is why it initially resisted settling on the 49ᵗʰ parallel as the northern border of the United States. Eventually, a compromise was reached with the Oregon Treaty of 1846, which established the border at the 49th parallel while giving the British access to the Columbia River.

Britain Initially Balked at Settling on the 49ᵗʰ Parallel as the Northern