Maine: The Multiple Borderland of American History
[cite_start]The state of Maine is home to a unique and complex borderland that is often understudied in mainstream American history[cite: 22]. [cite_start]Unlike simple boundaries, Maine represents a "multiple borderland" where national, cultural, and linguistic identities intersect[cite: 24, 26].
The Geography of Maine’s Borders
[cite_start]Maine's position as the northernmost jurisdiction in the contiguous United States places it at a critical geographic crossroads[cite: 26].
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[cite_start]
- Land Borders: The state shares a long, forested land border with the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec[cite: 25]. [cite_start]
- Ocean Borders: Maine also maintains an "ocean border" with New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, located just a few miles off its rugged coastline[cite: 25]. [cite_start]
- Latitude: Pushing well north of the famous 49th parallel, Maine’s history is defined by territorial competition between Aboriginal, French, and English forces[cite: 26, 27].
The Republic of Madawaska: A "Quasi-Independent" Identity
[cite_start]One of the most fascinating aspects of the Maine-Canada border is the Madawaska Valley[cite: 30]. [cite_start]This region straddles the borders of Maine, Quebec, and New Brunswick, fostering a unique sense of belonging that often transcends national identity[cite: 30].
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[cite_start]
- The "Magnificent Myth": Popular histories of New Brunswick refer to this region as a "quasi-independent state"[cite: 35]. [cite_start]
- The Order of the Republic: In the 1930s, business and professional leaders from all sides of the border formed a fraternal organization called the "Order of the Republic"[cite: 36]. [cite_start]
- Official Recognition: This group designed a Madawaskan coat of arms, which was nationally registered in Canada in 1949[cite: 37].
From "Borderlands" to "Bordered Lands"
[cite_start]Historians observe a process where fluid borderland communities eventually become "bordered"[cite: 38].
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[cite_start]
- National Hegemony: Over the 19th and 20th centuries, informal local traditions of dealing with the boundary were gradually replaced by formalized national recognition[cite: 38]. [cite_start]
- Resistance to Change: However, social, economic, and environmental factors often challenge this transition, keeping the borderland identity alive[cite: 38].
Why the Maine Borderlands Matter
[cite_start]While American historians typically focus on the southern or western "frontier," the northeastern borders offer deep insights[cite: 51, 55].
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[cite_start]
- Breaking the "Frontier" Burden: The Maine borderlands provide an opportunity to study history away from the idea of a "closed" frontier[cite: 62, 65]. [cite_start]
- Shaping the Center: Understanding these transcultural and transregional relationships helps reshape our understanding of the "center" of American history[cite: 50, 65].
Primary Source Access
You can access the full scholarly article and research documents by Sasha Mullally (University of New Brunswick) via the link below:
Download PDF: Seeing Beyond the Frontier