The Evolution of US Territory: From 13 Colonies to 50 States

The Formation of the United States

The United States as we know it today is the result of centuries of territorial expansion and political development. From its humble beginnings as 13 British colonies on the Atlantic coast, the country has grown to encompass 50 states spanning the North American continent and beyond. This article will trace the evolution of US territory from colonial times to the present day.

The Original 13 Colonies

The foundation of the United States can be traced back to the 13 original colonies established by Great Britain along the East Coast. These colonies, shown in dark red on historical maps, were:

1. Delaware
2. Pennsylvania
3. New Jersey
4. Georgia
5. Connecticut
6. Massachusetts
7. Maryland
8. South Carolina
9. New Hampshire
10. Virginia
11. New York
12. North Carolina
13. Rhode Island

It's important to note that when the American Revolutionary War officially ended in 1783, the borders of these original states were not identical to their current form. Several of the original states had claims to western lands that would later be ceded to form new states.

Early Territorial Expansion

Following independence, the United States began to expand westward. The first major acquisition was the Northwest Territory, which was ceded to the federal government by the original states that had claimed portions of it. This vast area would eventually be divided into five new states:

1. Ohio
2. Indiana
3. Illinois
4. Michigan
5. Wisconsin

The Louisiana Purchase

In 1803, the United States made its largest territorial acquisition through the Louisiana Purchase. President Thomas Jefferson negotiated the purchase of approximately 828,000 square miles of territory from France for $15 million. This massive expansion effectively doubled the size of the young nation and opened up vast new areas for settlement and development.

The Louisiana Purchase territory eventually led to the creation of all or part of 15 states:

1. Arkansas
2. Missouri
3. Iowa
4. Oklahoma
5. Kansas
6. Nebraska
7. North Dakota
8. South Dakota
9. Wyoming
10. Montana
11. Colorado
12. Minnesota
13. Louisiana
14. Parts of Texas
15. Parts of New Mexico

Spanish Territory and Mexican Cession

The southern and southwestern portions of the current United States were originally claimed by Spain and later Mexico. Florida was acquired from Spain in 1819 through the Adams-Onis Treaty. The Mexican-American War (1846-1848) resulted in the Mexican Cession, which brought a large portion of the present-day American Southwest into the Union.

States formed from former Spanish and Mexican territory include:

1. Florida
2. Texas
3. California
4. Nevada
5. Utah
6. Parts of Arizona
7. Parts of New Mexico

Oregon Country

The Pacific Northwest, known as Oregon Country, was jointly occupied by the United States and Great Britain until 1846. The Oregon Treaty established the 49th parallel as the border between US and British territory, bringing the current states of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho into the Union.

Alaska and Hawaii

The final two states to join the Union were not part of the contiguous United States:

1. Alaska: Purchased from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million, became a state in 1959.
2. Hawaii: Annexed in 1898, became a state in 1959.

Timeline of Territorial Expansion

Let's examine the major events and acquisitions that shaped the territorial growth of the United States:

1783: Treaty of Paris

The Treaty of Paris officially ended the American Revolutionary War and recognized the independence of the United States. The new nation's territory extended from the Atlantic coast to the Mississippi River, and from the Great Lakes to Florida (which remained under Spanish control).

1803: Louisiana Purchase

The Louisiana Purchase from France doubled the size of the United States, adding approximately 828,000 square miles of territory west of the Mississippi River.

1819: Florida Purchase

The Adams-Onis Treaty with Spain brought Florida into US territory and established a defined border with Spanish holdings in North America.

1845: Texas Annexation

The Republic of Texas, which had won independence from Mexico in 1836, was annexed by the United States as the 28th state.

1846: Oregon Treaty

The Oregon Treaty with Great Britain established the 49th parallel as the northern border of US territory in the Pacific Northwest, bringing the Oregon Territory into the Union.

1848: Mexican Cession

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the Mexican-American War and resulted in Mexico ceding a large portion of its northern territory to the United States, including California, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado.

1853: Gadsden Purchase

The United States acquired additional land from Mexico in southern Arizona and New Mexico to facilitate the construction of a southern transcontinental railroad route.

1867: Alaska Purchase

The United States purchased Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million, adding over 586,000 square miles of territory.

1898: Hawaiian Annexation

The United States annexed the Hawaiian Islands, which had been an independent kingdom until a coup led by American settlers in 1893.

The Formation of New States

As the United States acquired new territories, the process of forming new states began. Here's a brief overview of how the 50 states came to be:

1787-1790: Original 13 States

The 13 original colonies ratified the US Constitution and became the first states of the Union.

1791-1796: Early Additions

• Vermont (1791)
• Kentucky (1792)
• Tennessee (1796)

1803-1820: Post-Louisiana Purchase

• Ohio (1803)
• Louisiana (1812)
• Indiana (1816)
• Mississippi (1817)
• Illinois (1818)
• Alabama (1819)
• Maine (1820)
• Missouri (1821)

1836-1848: Manifest Destiny Era

• Arkansas (1836)
• Michigan (1837)
• Florida (1845)
• Texas (1845)
• Iowa (1846)
• Wisconsin (1848)

1850-1896: Western Expansion

• California (1850)
• Minnesota (1858)
• Oregon (1859)
• Kansas (1861)
• West Virginia (1863)
• Nevada (1864)
• Nebraska (1867)
• Colorado (1876)
• North Dakota (1889)
• South Dakota (1889)
• Montana (1889)
• Washington (1889)
• Idaho (1890)
• Wyoming (1890)
• Utah (1896)

1907-1959: Final Additions

• Oklahoma (1907)
• New Mexico (1912)
• Arizona (1912)
• Alaska (1959)
• Hawaii (1959)

The Impact of Territorial Expansion

The territorial expansion of the United States had profound effects on the country's development and its relationship with indigenous peoples and other nations.

Native American Displacement

As the United States expanded westward, Native American tribes were increasingly displaced from their ancestral lands. This process, often accompanied by violence and broken treaties, resulted in the forced relocation of many indigenous groups to reservations.

Some notable events in this history include:

• The Trail of Tears (1830s): The forced relocation of several southeastern tribes, including the Cherokee, to Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma).
• The Dakota War (1862): A conflict between the United States and several Sioux tribes in Minnesota.
• The Long Walk of the Navajo (1864): The forced relocation of the Navajo people to a reservation in New Mexico.

Economic Development

Territorial expansion opened up vast new areas for agriculture, mining, and other economic activities. This fueled rapid economic growth and industrialization in the 19th century.

Key developments included:

• The California Gold Rush (1848-1855)
• The Homestead Act of 1862, which encouraged western settlement
• The construction of the Transcontinental Railroad (completed in 1869)

Political Consequences

The addition of new states and territories had significant political implications, particularly regarding the balance of power between free and slave states prior to the Civil War.

Important political events related to expansion included:

• The Missouri Compromise of 1820
• The Compromise of 1850
• The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854

International Relations

Territorial expansion often brought the United States into conflict with other nations, particularly:

• Great Britain (War of 1812, Oregon boundary dispute)
• Mexico (Mexican-American War)
• Spain (Spanish-American War)

US Territories Today

In addition to the 50 states, the United States continues to administer several territories. The most significant of these include:

1. Puerto Rico
2. Guam
3. US Virgin Islands
4. American Samoa
5. Northern Mariana Islands

These territories are not states and do not have full representation in Congress, but their residents are US citizens (with the exception of American Samoa, where residents are US nationals).

Conclusion

The territorial evolution of the United States from 13 colonies to 50 states is a complex and fascinating story that spans nearly two and a half centuries. This expansion shaped not only the physical boundaries of the nation but also its political, economic, and cultural development.

From the early days of westward expansion to the acquisition of non-contiguous territories like Alaska and Hawaii, the growth of the United States has been marked by conflict, negotiation, and significant geopolitical events. Understanding this history is crucial for comprehending the diverse and complex nature of the United States as it exists today.

As we reflect on this history, it's important to recognize both the achievements and the controversies associated with US territorial expansion. The displacement of Native American peoples, conflicts with other nations, and the ongoing debates about the status of US territories all form part of this complex legacy.

Today, the United States stands as a vast and diverse nation, its current form the result of centuries of expansion, settlement, and political development. While the era of territorial acquisition may have ended, the impacts of this historical process continue to shape American society and its place in the world.

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