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Original 13 Colonies
The United States gained control of the 13 colonies by winning the American Revolution. We also gained control of the Northwest territory at this time. The American Revolution went on for eight years, thus putting the U.S. economy in debt. The Declaration of Independence was the document that declared the 13 Colonies' independence, stating that all men were born with unalienable rights including "life, liberty, and the persuit of happiness." -
Northwest Territory
The United States won the land known as the Northwest Territory from the American Revolution. This land was made into 5 states, including present day Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. In order for the territory to break into states, each area had to have a governer appointed by congress. When the population of an area reached 6,000 citizens, the settlers would draft their own constitution. Then they could ask the union for permission to become a state. -
Manifest Destiny
Manifest Destiny is the belief that was shared between many Americans in the mid-1800s that God gave them the right to expand the United States westward. -
Louisiana Purchase
Originally, James Monroe and Robert Livingston were sent to France to try to buy New Orleans and West Florida for 10 million dollars, but they ended up buying all of Louisiana Territory for 15 million dollars. The Mississippi River was important to the U.S. economy because it could be used to transport goods. New Orleans was important because it was a large part of the Louisiana Territory. This purchase nearly doubled the size of the United States. Thomas Jefferson was credited with this land. -
Adams-Onis Treaty 2
The Adams-Onis treaty gave East Florida to the United States and Spain gave up its claims on West Florida. The United States then gave up its claims on what is now Texas. -
Adams-Onis Treaty
Before the Adams-Onis Treaty took place, Seminole Indians were crossing over to the United States from Florida and raiding their land and alloweing slaves to escape to their safety. President Monroe sent troops under control of General Jackson to invade Florida. He took over most of Spain's military and overthrew the governer. It was unconstitutional because he wasn't given order to do that. -
Texas Annexation
Annex means to take control of land and incorporate it into a country state, et cetera. Americans decided to move to Texas because Texas leaders decided to give land grants to American and European settlers. Slaves were also legal in Texas, which was a benefit to them. Settlers had to change, though. There were not aloud to be any free slaves, settlers must practice the catholic religeon, they were forced to become Mexican citizens, and they had to obey Mexican laws. -
Texas Annexation 2
Before Texas became a republic, Texas only had four towns with more than 1,000 residents. There was barely any travel between settlements and travel was dangerous. Their economy was also bad, with little imports and exports. The new republic had little cash and was almost bankrupt. Mexico still considered Texas to be its property. Mexico took control of San Antonio twice. Texas was not aloud to enter the union as a state because that would tip the scale and the south could overpower the north. -
Oregon Territory
In 1818, Britain and the U.S. signed a treaty that allowed both countries to occupy Oregon. Neither countries were willing to start a war over Oregon Territory. The current states of Washington and Oregon were created from Oregon Territory. -
Mexican Cession
Texas's annexation angered Mexico because Mexico still thought Texas was their land, causing the Mexican-American War. The Treaty of Guadelupe ended the war. The present day states of California, Utah, and Nevada were created from the Mexican Cession, increasing the size of the U.S. by almosy 25%. -
Gadsden Purchase
The U.S. agreed to purchase land under the Gadsden purchase so that the borders would be sealed and their belief in Manifest Destiny could be fufilled. They also wanted to avoid another war with Mexico. The U.S. paid 10 million dollars for the land known as the Gadsden Purchase, creating the southern part of what is now Arizona and New Mexico. Because of the Gadsden Purchase, continental boundaries of the United States were finally created.
