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Louisiana Purchase
Due to France's increasing debt from the Napoleonic Wars, France was no longer able to control the Louisiana Purchase. This 800,000 square mile land was sold to Thomas Jefferson in 1803. This lead to the near doubling of American Landmass but also caused arguments as to whether or not the land purchase was constitutional. -
Louisiana Purchase
France's losing battles during the Napoleonic Wars caused France's debt to increase exponentially, leading to the eventual sale of the Louisiana Territory. This purchase by President Thomas Jefferson, effectively doubled the United States owned land but started arguments as to whether the purchase was unconstitutional or not. -
Period: to
1803-1853 Westward Expansion of the United States
The Most Notable Purchases of large landmasses in the United States between 1803 and 1853 -
Acquisiton of Florida
Two treaties were enacted in order t[for the United States to gain Florida. The first was the Adams-Onis Treaty in 1819 and the second was the Transcontinental Treaty of 1821. The acquisition of Florida was cause for excitement in that it increased the amount of materials and crops coming to the United States which boosted the economy, but it also cause Spanish leaders to suspect revolt from their Caribbean colonies due to prolonged contact with Americans. -
Texas Annexation
The Annexation of Texas occurred when Texas gained its independence from Mexico in 1845. This incorporation of land into the U.S. was "vital" the re-election of President John Tyler. The purchase was widely upheld by Texas' inhabitants but also increased tensions between Mexico and The United States. -
Oregon Territory
The Oregon Territory was the settlement to a land dispute between the British and the Americans. The Oregon Territory consisted of modern day Oregon, Washington state, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. All land north of the 49th parallel was given to Britain. But the growing influx of American pioneers caused fighting between the pioneers and the Native Americans that controlled the Oregon Territory. -
Mexican Cession
The Mexican Cession was the result of the War between Mexico and the United States. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo officially gave the United States modern day California, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. This was part of the cause for the eventual loss in the war for the Mexicans, however many pro-Mexicans believed that the land was still under Mexico's control and fought likewise against the Americans. -
Gadsden Purchase
The Gadsden Purchase was a 29,670sqmi region purchased in a treaty between The United States and Mexico. American wanted to acquire the land in order to create a railway through Arizona and New Mexico wished to retain the land to stop America from sending more supplies to the west to support their war effort. This treaty created even higher tensions between the U.S. and Mexico during the latter half of the Mexican-American War.
