The United States currently occupies around thirty-seven percent of North America, but how has this prosperous country expanded so fast in the last three centuries? The US is currently one of the largest countries in the world and the second largest in North America. Though most Americans know about the original Thirteen Colonies, several of them might have trouble trying to list another major affair through which the United States has expanded westward. Many battles and fights have caused the borders of the United States and the states and territories of the land now deemed to the United States to have changed; along with major purchases of land, the battles and fights have brought America to the current size it is.
The United States was started as thirteen colonies that were originated from settlers who decided that they wanted religious freedom instead of being forced to remain a menial outsider to the large European religions. These territories eventually banded together and via the Treaty of Paris -1873- retained their independence from Europe and were finally recognized by several European countries that had
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The proposed border between Canada and the US was deleted, yet the Oregon Territory border wasn’t settled. The US claimed up to the fifty-four degrees forty minutes north as the border for the Oregon Territory because of the posts left by the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The border between the areas claimed by the United States and Canada of the Oregon Territory was resolved to the forty-nine degrees north line and the Oregon Treaty was settled in 1846 (“The”). After the Oregon Territory and the land gained by the US through the Mexican-American War was controlled by the US, there was still a small portion of land on the edge of the US-Mexico border that makes up the rest of the contiguous United States and Washington,
The US border with Canada was finally determined by the Rush-Bagot Treaty, the Convention of 1818, and the Treaty of 1846. To begin, the Rush-Bagot Treaty limited the number and type of naval vessels the US and Britain could have on the Great Lakes. This was important because the Great Lakes were within both Canada and the US, and if one country had many naval vessels on their side of the lake it could threaten the other side, leading to a potential dispute. Next, the Convention of 1818 drew the border between the US and Canada by creating the border along the 49th parallel. This was important because for years there had never been a definite border, just a rough approximation. Lastly, the Treaty of 1846 wrapped up the package by settling the
The Oregon territory stretched from the pacific coast to the Rocky Mountains passing through the area of “present-day Oregon”, Washington, and most of British Columbia. The Oregon trial to the territory made a border issue, a burning one in the congress. President, James Polk, was ready to settle the boundary of the Oregon territory and brought the idea of this settlement on the 49 degree line to Great Britain. With some midifications to be made, which reserved the whole of Vancouver island to Canada. Great Britain agreed to Polk’s suggestion. I think this is a big part of Canadian history because if they didn't decide to take Canada out of the the Oregon territory it could have been out land to have. Lots of settlers used the Oregon territory,
Faragher, Buhle, Cziyron and Armitage ( 2010) note the westward development into the new territories of the United States usually took place in three stages; trade, settlement and statehood. The speed at which this expansion occurred reinforced America's sense of themselves as a pioneering people. This experience worked to create a belief that the United States was a nation of adventurous, optimistic, and democratic people (p. 357).
Since the the Louisiana purchase and during the 19th century, the United States would expand from what was the original Thirteen Colonies that seceded successfully from England, to include the entire continent from today’s Maine to California. Throughout this period, several expansionist accomplishments were made, including the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, the Compromise of 1820, the Mexican secession, the Compromise of 1850, and lastly the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Each of these, however, and more, were met with numerous proponents as well as opponents to territorial expansion – each for different reasons. However, each and every debate for or against expansion eventually led the United States government’s actions, or lack thereof, and has shaped
Theme: Geography - Territorial Acquisition - Throughout The nation's history the United States has expanded through the acquisition of new territories. These acquisitions have had both positive and negative effects on the United States.
From 1700 to 1790 the lands that later became the United States had been most successfully developed. From the original 13 colonies, pioneers spread out and settled lands to the west. After the revolutionary war with much conflict between the colonies about government and ownership of the western lands, they came together settling most of their disputes and giving control of the western territories to the nation. By taking over all western territories, the United States resolved potential conflict over ownership. By exercising control over interstate trade, the United States enabled widespread economic growth. By coordinating foreign policy, the United States reinforced the stance of the thirteen colonies with other
In the early to mid 1800s, Americans began to want to expand the country again. Some Americans did not agree with the idea of expansion, and wanted to remain complacent with the amount of territory that they currently owned. The nation was torn. There were supporters and opponents of the idea of expansion. Each side presented their points but we eventually ended up expanding.
To start off, in this period of time america was in a mode of vast expansionism. This expansionism was clear to see and similar to what we had done in the past with the land that is now america. In the
After the War of 1812 much of America's attention turned to exploration and settlement of its territory to the West, which had been greatly enlarged by the Louisiana Purchase.
It all started after the Declaration of Independence during the time America was busy fighting the Revolutionary War, when Congress realized that they needed to form a plan to move forward and unite the thirteen states as a nation.
Ever since Jamestown, America has come a long way. In the middle of the nineteenth century American’s were eager to move west. They wanted to see the span of the United States from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific. Jefferson was able to double the size of the United States by negotiating with France, which ended up being known as the Louisiana Purchase. Americans saw empty land waiting to be filled. They thought the open land meant opportunity and potential wealth. By moving west, they could share their unique way of government and the freedom it represented. They believed that America would be a great nation.
Throughout American history, there have been periods where the country has leaned toward unification, and times when it leaned toward separation. There were times when the colonies/states would join together to solve their problems, and other times when they drew in on themselves and a division would form. However, despite the instances of disunity, the country has been able to overcome these fallouts and form what we know today as the United States. Probably the most well-known example of unification is the American Revolution. Before they combined to form the United States of America, the colonies were ruled by Great Britain.
Securing new land in the west more than doubled the size of the nation. New territories were obtained in Northern Georgia, Texas, Oregon, and California to name a few. In
land of the United States of America. Western expansion was a great part of the growth of the
The purchase of the Louisiana Territory in 1803 opened the door to westward expansion. Thomas Jefferson purchased this extensive plot of land with the hopes of strengthening and expanding the Republic, unaware that it would have the opposite effect. Jefferson’s fateful decision to expand the United States nearly destroyed the Republic that Americans worked so hard to build. It triggered the rise of divisions amongst Americans. These small cracks continued to grow and tear at the seams of the nation. Although westward expansion between 1800 and 1848 granted many new opportunities to the American people, it also brought about tension that plagued the nation for years to come.