What as the fifty four forty of fight mean?

Answer 1

The phrase "Fifty-four forty or fight" referred to the expansionist sentiment in the United States during the mid-19th century, particularly regarding the Oregon Territory. It expressed a demand for the northern boundary of the territory to be set at latitude 54°40′, which was the northernmost point of the disputed area claimed by both the U.S. and Britain. The slogan encapsulated the desire for aggressive territorial expansion, but ultimately, the dispute was resolved peacefully with the Oregon Treaty of 1846, establishing the boundary at the 49th parallel.