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Description

The staggering accessions of territory made by the United States in the 19th century obviously gave the country much of its present power and prestige. In 1803, the Louisiana Territory was acquired from France, to whom it had been retroceded by Spain, for $15,000,000—Napoleon being at that time pressed for funds with which to wage war. The eastern half of the original Louisiana, gained by England in 1763, had accrued to the United States in 1783 as part of the Revolutionary peace settlement. In 1812 West Florida became a part of the new state of Louisiana; the United States bought the rest of Florida from Spain for $5,000,000 in 1819. In the same treaty. a triangular parcel of land, now part of Wyoming and Colorado was retroceded to Spain.

Texas had been a Mexican province since 1821, when Mexico gained its independence from Spain, but many of its settlers had come from the United States. As their numbers grew, the Mexican government attempted repressive measures which culminated in open warfare; and victorious Texas became the Republic of Texas—unrecognized by Mexico—in 1836. The issue arose later whether to recognize the Republic or to annex it. Annexation won by large majorities in both Texas and the US; and the Lone Star was supplanted by the Stars and Stripes in 1845, despite the opposition of Great Britain and Mexico.

The Oregon Country was acquired by treaty with Great Britain in 1846, after a boundary dispute in which the election slogan, "Fifty-four forty or fight," represented a leading issue. To ease strained relations with great and the United States—President Polk accepted the parallel of 49˚ as the northern boundary, a just arrangement. At the close of the Mexican-American War in 1848, Mexico recognized the annexation of Texas, and agreed on the Rio Grande as its southern border. It also ceded to the United States the great areas of New Mexico and California. In 1853, the United States bought from Mexico a strip of land south of the Gila River, known as the Gadsden Purchase, for the $10,000,000. This further border adjustment was inspired by the need for a railroad right of way.

Description

The staggering accessions of territory made by the United States in the 19th century obviously gave the country much of its present power and prestige. In 1803, the Louisiana Territory was acquired from France, to whom it had been retroceded by Spain, for $15,000,000—Napoleon being at that time pressed for funds with which to wage war. The eastern half of the original Louisiana, gained by England in 1763, had accrued to the United States in 1783 as part of the Revolutionary peace settlement. In 1812 West Florida became a part of the new state of Louisiana; the United States bought the rest of Florida from Spain for $5,000,000 in 1819. In the same treaty. a triangular parcel of land, now part of Wyoming and Colorado was retroceded to Spain.

Texas had been a Mexican province since 1821, when Mexico gained its independence from Spain, but many of its settlers had come from the United States. As their numbers grew, the Mexican government attempted repressive measures which culminated in open warfare; and victorious Texas became the Republic of Texas—unrecognized by Mexico—in 1836. The issue arose later whether to recognize the Republic or to annex it. Annexation won by large majorities in both Texas and the US; and the Lone Star was supplanted by the Stars and Stripes in 1845, despite the opposition of Great Britain and Mexico.

The Oregon Country was acquired by treaty with Great Britain in 1846, after a boundary dispute in which the election slogan, "Fifty-four forty or fight," represented a leading issue. To ease strained relations with great and the United States—President Polk accepted the parallel of 49˚ as the northern boundary, a just arrangement. At the close of the Mexican-American War in 1848, Mexico recognized the annexation of Texas, and agreed on the Rio Grande as its southern border. It also ceded to the United States the great areas of New Mexico and California. In 1853, the United States bought from Mexico a strip of land south of the Gila River, known as the Gadsden Purchase, for the $10,000,000. This further border adjustment was inspired by the need for a railroad right of way.