The Pig War - Conflict and resolution in the Pacific Northwest

Imagine the unease when word arrived in that tiny settlement that the British were threatening to arrest an American citizen living in the San Juan Islands over the shooting of a Hudson’s Bay Company pig. In a short period of time, tensions quickly escalated to the point that a small detachment of American soldiers stood face to face against the greatest naval force in the world, the British Royal Navy. Unknown to their respective leaders thousands of miles away, a war was brewing. Only when cooler heads prevailed did the conflict come to a peaceful resolution. The purpose of this trunk program and curriculum is to provide teachers and students with hands-on activities and materials to better understand this important historic event. The package also includes an introduction to mediation techniques designed to maintain peace in the hallways and at home. The curriculum and traveling trunk offer a unique opportunity to underscore both topics through exercises, exhibits and handouts that are entertaining as well as thought-provoking.