The United States expanded drastically from the 13 colonies facing the Atlantic Ocean to a massive body of land stretching all the way westward to the Pacific Ocean and southward to the Gulf of Mexico. It approximately tripled in size. The expansion stopped almost as suddenly as it started after 1853. Only Alaska and Hawaii later on in the nineteenth century were acquired and recognized as states in 1959.
Treaty of Paris 1783
Signed in Paris by representatives of King George III of Great Britain and representatives of the United States of America on September 3, 1783, ended the American Revolutionary War.
Louisiana Purchase 1803
For approximately $15 million, the United States purchases the territory from France, thus doubling the land of the United States. The largest was the Louisiana Purchase, with some 820,000 sq. miles.
Florida Cession (ceded by Spain 1819-1821)
Treaty between United States and Spain that gave Florida to the United States and set a boundary between New Spain (Mexico) and the U.S.
Texas Annexation 1845
The Republic of Texas asked to be a part of the U.S. as a state and they agreed but Mexico warned if they tried to make it a state there would be war.
Oregon Country (by treaty with Great Britain 1846)
The United States and Britain were arguing about who would get the Oregon Country. The U.S. was willing to go to war, but Britain didn't so they negotiated and divided it up at the 49th parallel.
Mexican Cession 1848
Mexico ceded into the U.S. in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. The Mexican Cession (529,000 sq. miles) was the third largest acquisition of territory in US history.
Gadsden Purchase 1853
It was the Gadsden Purchase on December 30th, 1853, that settled the main boundaries of the USA.
Signed in Paris by representatives of King George III of Great Britain and representatives of the United States of America on September 3, 1783, ended the American Revolutionary War.
Louisiana Purchase 1803
For approximately $15 million, the United States purchases the territory from France, thus doubling the land of the United States. The largest was the Louisiana Purchase, with some 820,000 sq. miles.
Florida Cession (ceded by Spain 1819-1821)
Treaty between United States and Spain that gave Florida to the United States and set a boundary between New Spain (Mexico) and the U.S.
Texas Annexation 1845
The Republic of Texas asked to be a part of the U.S. as a state and they agreed but Mexico warned if they tried to make it a state there would be war.
Oregon Country (by treaty with Great Britain 1846)
The United States and Britain were arguing about who would get the Oregon Country. The U.S. was willing to go to war, but Britain didn't so they negotiated and divided it up at the 49th parallel.
Mexican Cession 1848
Mexico ceded into the U.S. in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. The Mexican Cession (529,000 sq. miles) was the third largest acquisition of territory in US history.
Gadsden Purchase 1853
It was the Gadsden Purchase on December 30th, 1853, that settled the main boundaries of the USA.