Territorial evolution of the United States

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United States evolution small

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United States evolution

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Aquired Lands of the US

NOAA Map of the US EEZ

United States Central change 1776-07-04

United States Central disputes 1776-07-04 to 1777-01-15

Territorial Evolution of the United States refers to the geographic and political changes that have shaped the boundaries of the United States since its founding in 1776. The expansion of the United States into the territories that make up the nation today was achieved through a variety of means, including wars, treaties, and purchases.

Colonial Beginnings and Independence

The territorial history of the United States began with the Thirteen Colonies on the East Coast. Following the American Revolution and the signing of the Treaty of Paris (1783), the United States gained independence from Great Britain and control over territory stretching to the Mississippi River.

The Louisiana Purchase

In 1803, the United States made its first significant territorial expansion with the Louisiana Purchase. This acquisition from France nearly doubled the size of the nation, extending U.S. territory westward to the Rocky Mountains and setting the stage for further expansion.

Florida Acquisition

The United States acquired Florida from Spain in 1819 through the Adams-Onís Treaty, further solidifying its control over the southeastern part of the continent.

Annexation of Texas and the Mexican Cession

The annexation of Texas in 1845 and the subsequent Mexican-American War (1846-1848) led to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, through which the United States gained vast territories in the southwest, including present-day California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and parts of Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, and Texas.

Oregon Territory

The Oregon Territory, acquired through negotiations with Great Britain in 1846, extended the United States' northern boundary to the 49th parallel and provided access to the Pacific Northwest.

Gadsden Purchase

In 1853, the Gadsden Purchase added parts of present-day southern Arizona and New Mexico to the United States, facilitating the construction of a southern transcontinental railroad.

Alaska Purchase

In 1867, the United States purchased Alaska from Russia, significantly expanding its territory into the far northwest.

Hawaii and Other Pacific Territories

The annexation of Hawaii in 1898, along with the acquisition of other Pacific territories such as Guam and the Philippines following the Spanish-American War, marked the United States' expansion into the Pacific Ocean.

Incorporation of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines

As a result of the Spanish-American War, the United States also acquired Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, though the Philippines was later granted independence in 1946.

Modern Territorial Adjustments

The territorial evolution of the United States continued into the 20th century with minor adjustments and the granting of statehood to territories such as Alaska and Hawaii in 1959. The United States also has several unincorporated territories, including Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

Conclusion

The territorial evolution of the United States is a complex process that has involved diplomacy, purchase, conquest, and negotiation. This expansion has shaped the nation's economic, political, and social development, transforming the United States into a continental and global power.