Manifest
Destiny
Westward Expansion Review
American Progress
1872, John Gast
TERRITORY
DATE
ACQUIRED
PREVIOUS
OWNER
Original 13
Colonies
16071776
Native
Americans,
Swedes, Dutch
CIRCUMSTANCES
OF ACQUISITION
Beginning with Jamestown, the
colonies developed into 13 distinct
towns/areas.
TERRITORY
Original 13
states /
territories
DATE
ACQUIRED
1783
PREVIOUS
OWNER
CIRCUMSTANCES
OF ACQUISITION
13 colonies received independence and all
French,
land to the Mississippi River in the Treaty of
Great Britain Paris at the end of the American Revolution
and Natives in 1783. Britain took French lands at end of
French and Indian War with the Treaty of
Paris in 1763.
TERRITORY
Louisiana
Purchase
DATE
ACQUIRED
1803
PREVIOUS
OWNER
CIRCUMSTANCES
OF ACQUISITION
U.S. bought this land to guarantee
Spain,
access to the Mississippi River for
France and Western farmers after Spain transferred
Natives
control to France in 1800.
TERRITORY
DATE
ACQUIRED
PREVIOUS
OWNER
British Cession
(Red River
Cession;
Treaty of 1818)
1818
Britain and
Natives
CIRCUMSTANCES
OF ACQUISITION
Britain and the U.S. agreed to make 49o
the border between Canada and U.S.
from Lake of the Woods in Minnesota to
the Rockies
TERRITORY
British
Cession
(WebsterAshburton Treaty)
DATE
ACQUIRED
1842
PREVIOUS
OWNER
CIRCUMSTANCES
OF ACQUISITION
Clearly defined borders were drawn
Britain and between Maine and New Brunswick,
Natives
and also in the Great Lakes area with
disputed lands in Wisconsin Territory
divided between Britain and U.S.A.
TERRITORY
DATE
ACQUIRE
D
PREVIOUS
OWNER
West
Florida
18101813
Spain,
Natives
CIRCUMSTANCES
OF ACQUISITION
Madison claimed west Florida in
1810, and the small region was
annexed by 1813 without much
resistance.
TERRITORY
East Florida
DATE
ACQUIRED
1819
PREVIOUS
OWNER
Spain and
Seminoles
CIRCUMSTANCES
OF ACQUISITION
U.S. received Florida via the Adams-Onis
Treaty after the U.S. complained that Spain
was not controlling Indian attacks on
Americans or returning escaping slaves.
TERRITORY
Texas
DATE
ACQUIRED
1845
PREVIOUS
OWNER
Republic of
Texas, Mexico,
Spain, Natives
CIRCUMSTANCES
OF ACQUISITION
Texas claimed status an independent
republic in 1836, but wasn’t annexed
until 45 due to fear over slavery issue.
Mexico still claimed more than half of
Texas, which was resolved later in the
Mexican-American War.
TERRITORY
Oregon
Country
DATE
ACQUIRED
1846
PREVIOUS
OWNER
CIRCUMSTANCES
OF ACQUISITION
A compromise with Britain over this
Britain and disputed territory; U.S. made tariff
Natives
concessions to Britain, and land was
divided at 49o.
TERRITORY
Mexican
Cession
DATE
ACQUIRED
1848
PREVIOUS
OWNER
Mexico &
Natives
CIRCUMSTANCES
OF ACQUISITION
U.S. received land in the Treaty of
Guadalupe Hidalgo following American
victory in Mexican-American War. US paid
Mexico $15 million and gained California,
New Mexico territory, and Texas.
TERRITORY
Gadsden
Purchase
DATE
ACQUIRED
1853
PREVIOUS
OWNER
CIRCUMSTANCES
OF ACQUISITION
Mexico
U.S. purchased this land for $10 million to
provide a route for transcontinental
railroad across southern border.