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Proclamation of 1763
This proclamation was issued by London’s government in 1763. It was created for two main reasons: to halt westward expansion of British colonists, and to make it easier to collect taxes. This proclamation angered colonists and they openly defied British rule by expanding beyond the Appalachian Mountains regardless. The colonists also saw how the British controlled Canada and wanted to become their own form of government and break away from British rule. -
Northwest Territory
Some people regard the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 as one of the most important pieces of legislation in the Confederation period.It defined the Great Lakes and the Ohio River Valley and outlined a method of orderly settlement making these states equal to the old. These new states also prohibited slavery and called for publicly supported education. -
Louisiana Purchase
Bought by $15 million from the French in the spring of 1803 which doubled the size of the United states. This also gave the United States control of the Mississippi River which was one of the most important trade routes in the country. -
Red River Basin
When Britain and the U.S. were occupying the Oregon territory, and clarified the border of the Louisiana Purchase, this river basin was discovered and is now present day Minnesota and North Dakota. -
West & East Florida
When the British took over Florida they split it into two regions and the native Spanish population fled to Cuba. It was then reconquered by the Spanish but again taken control of again due to the Louisiana Purchase. -
Oregon Territory
Spain, Russia, Great Britain, and the U.S. claimed The Oregon country. After Spain and Russia left the U.S. and Britain aggreed to the 'joint occupation' for Oregon letting both nations citizens to enter the area. -
Webster-Ashburton Treaty
This was created for border settlement giving the U.S. 7,015 square miles and Britain 5,012 square miles. It also put a boundary line by the Great Lakes and the Lake of Woods allowing navigation of bodies of water. -
Texas Annexation
The United States added Texas as the 28th state but since it had many border issues with Mexico it lead to the American-Mexican War. -
Mexican Cession
This area is now present day southeasten United States and California. This land was given to the U.S. under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo that ended the Mexican-American War. -
Gadsden Purchase
Land purchased by the United States south of the Gila River in New Mexico and Arizona. It was used to get approval for a railroad leading toward the Pacific Coast. -
Alaska
Russia sold Alaska to the U.S. for 7.2 million dollars and gold was found later making Alaska very valuable. -
Hawaii
It used to be a huge sugar dealer for the U.S. but after the Mckinley Tariff was passed raising import rates for sugar, it went into a depression. When war broke out with Spain America used Hawaii as a naval base and later it was added to the Union.
