Rush–Bagot Treaty
| Exchange of Notes Relative to Naval Forces on the American Lakes | |
|---|---|
Historical marker where the Rush–Bagot Agreement was made in Washington, D.C. | |
| Type | Arms control |
| Context | Aftermath of the War of 1812 |
| Signed | April 28 and 29, 1817 |
| Location | 2425 L Street NW, Washington, D.C. |
| Effective | April 28, 1818 |
| Negotiators | |
| Signatories | |
| Parties | |
| Language | English |
| Full text | |
| Rush-Bagot Treaty at Wikisource | |
The Rush–Bagot Treaty or Rush–Bagot Disarmament was a treaty between the United States and Great Britain limiting naval armaments on the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain, following the War of 1812. It was ratified by the United States Senate on April 16, 1818, and was confirmed by Canada, following Confederation in 1867.
The treaty provided for a large demilitarization of lakes along the international boundary, where many British naval arrangements and forts remained. The treaty stipulated that the United States and British North America could each maintain one military vessel (no more than 100 tons burden) as well as one cannon (no more than eighteen pounds) on Lake Ontario and Lake Champlain. The remaining Great Lakes permitted the United States and British North America to keep two military vessels "of like burden" on the waters armed with "like force". The treaty, and the separate Treaty of 1818, laid the basis for a demilitarized boundary between the U.S. and British North America.