Boundary Territorial Dispute Rock North United Line Law

The United States' borders may "appear" (seem) to be "set in stone" (clearly established), but in reality there have been several "domestic" (within the country) territorial disputes.

A large rock known as Arbitration Rock is the "site" (location) of a territorial dispute in New York. "Arbitration" is the process of having a "disinterested" (without an opinion for or against something) "party" (individual or entity) help bring an end to an argument. For years, two "townships" (small cities, or areas that will become cities) on Long Island in "present-day" (what is now known as) New York disagreed about their boundary line. Residents even "resorted to violence" (tried to hurt one another to get what they wanted), but in 1769, a law was passed to establish the boundary line. Measurements for the boundary line "made reference to" (referred to) the rock. Today, the rock has a "placard" (sign) noting its history and its role in the boundary dispute.

In 1804, North Carolina and Georgia fought in a boundary dispute known as the "Walton War." A twelve-mile "strip" (long, rectangular section) of land became known as the "Orphan Strip," where an "orphan" is a child whose parents have died. In 1807, a "commission" (a group of people responsible for a particular task) determined that the land actually belonged to North Carolina. But the issue was "brought up" (discussed) again as recently as 1971, showing Georgia's unwillingness to "cede" (let go of) the land. North Carolina's "militia" (the group of people who are prepared to fight for a state) actually began to prepare for another battle, but in the end, they did not fight.