Original 13 Colonies

The Thirteen Colonies: The thirteen colonies occupied what became the original area of the United States. The 13 original states and parts of Maine, Vermont, and West Virginia were formed from this area.

Addition of 1783

The addition of 1783 extended the nation’s boundaries north to the Great Lakes, south to the 31 st parallel, and west to the Mississippi River. All or most of nine states were formed from this region, which more than doubled the territory of the United States.

Addition of 1783:

In 1803, the Louisiana Purchase nearly doubles the size of the young nation

Louisiana Purchase

Louisiana Purchase The Louisiana Purchase of 1803 added 827,987 square miles of land to the United States. The federal government paid France about $15 million for the territory. Part or all of 15 states were formed from the area.

What a Deal!

The Louisiana Purchase:

Cession: A ceding or surendering, as of territory to another country by treaty.

Cede: To surrender possession of, especially by treaty. Synonym: relinquish

Florida Cession

Florida Cession:

Florida cession The Florida cession of 1819 gave the United States the areas then called east Florida and West Florida. Parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama and all of Florida were formed from this territory, which was ceded by Spain.

–In 1819, Spain cedes Florida to the U.S. in return for the nullification of a Five Million Dollar debt

The Adams-Onis Treaty Turn this page over for a description of this treaty.

Soon Thereafter, Mexico Wins Independence from Spain

Texas Southern farming spreads into Mexico Mexico does not allow slavery Texans Rebel against Mexico Remember the Alamo? Texans gain their independence but seek admission to the U.S. as a state

Texan Independence

War with Mexico After nearly 10 years, the US decides the time is right to annex Texas. Mexico protests – war is declared

New Land! War ends with the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hildalgo The U.S. obtains land in what is now California, New Mexico, Arizona and Texas (1.2 million square miles!)

Annexation: To incorporate (territory) into an existing political unit such as a country, state, county, or city.

The Texas annexation:

Results of the Mexican War

The Texas annexation – 1845: The Texas annexation of 1845 added what was then the nation’s largest state. Most of the present boundaries of Texas were established in 1850, when the state gave up claims to western lands.

Oregon Country Cession -1846

The Oregon Country cession: The Oregon Country cession extended the western border of the United States to the Pacific Ocean in This cession also established the 49 th parallel as the nation’s northern boundry in the area west of the Continental Divide. Idaho, Washington, and Oregon were formed from the Oregon region.

War with Mexico After nearly 10 years, the US decides the time is right to annex Texas. Mexico protests – war is declared

New Land! War ends with the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hildalgo The U.S. obtains land in what is now California, New Mexico, Arizona and Texas (1.2 million square miles!)

Mexican Cession

The Mexican cession -1848:

The Mexican cession – 1848: The Mexican cession of 1848 added over 525,000 square miles of land to the United States. The government paid Mexico $15 million for a region that became the states of California, Nevada, and Utah. Parts of four other states were also formed from this region.

Gadsden Purchase

The Gadsden Purchase :

The Gadsden Purchase – 1853: The Gadsden Purchase of 1853 gave the United States 29, 640 square miles of land in what is now Arizona and New Mexico. The United States paid Mexico $10 million for the land.

Gadsen Purchase

Gadsen Purchase (1853)