-
Louisiana Purchase
Napoleon needed money to fund a war against the United Kingdom, in case war occurred. The US paid $11,250,000 to France. The natural resources, more land for settling, and farming was enticing enough for the US. Thomas Jefferson faced opposition from the federalist that said acquiring new land is unconstitutional. He did agree that acquiring new land was not explicitly mentioned in the constitution, but he concluded that the power to negotiate treaties made acquiring land constitutional. -
Acquisition of West Florida
Shortly after West Florida declared independence from Florida, James Madison declared it part of the US. The army was sent and took control of the land. More valuable land was acquired by the US. Spain didn't recognize the US taking West Florida until 1819. -
Acquisition of Spanish Florida
Spanish Florida had many boundary disputes with the US, and after some negotiation, Adams signed the Onís-Adams Treaty of 1819. The US acquired Florida for free, but the US paid $5 million for damages caused by US citizens. Florida became a valuable agricultural and economic territory. Jackson fought Seminoles and took over Spanish forts. Then, became the governor of Florida. The Spanish were opposed to the US acquisition of Florida but the US put them in a bind which forced them to give it up. -
Texas Annexation
Texas became the 28th state. President John Tyler (I) pursued Texas annexation to gain popular support, and to continue Manifest Destiny. The Democrats and the Whigs opposed Texas annexation because of massive amount of held slaves, in the volatile anti/pro slavery climate. James Polk, a southern Democrat ran on a pro-Texas platform because of the manifest destiny of the US and Congress approved annexation.Texas is a strategic location, and is valuable ranching land. -
Oregon Territory
The Spanish seceded the Oregon territory to US in the Onís-Adams Treaty, but the boundaries were undefined. The US and the British signed the Oregon treaty which divided the land along the 49th parallel which defined the border. Oregon Tertiary is timber rich and has great fishing resources. Fulfills the US's manifest destiny. The Spanish were opposed to giving the US the territory because they were coerced into the treaty. -
Mexican Cession
After the Mexican-American war, The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed which gave the US the southwest and Mexico $15 million. The acquiring of this land fulfills manifest destiny. This land has many natural resources such as gold, ranching area, and some fertile land. The Whigs opposed the treaty because they oppose expansionism and the war. Polk and other Democrats criticized Nicholas Trist for not negotiating for even more land such as Baja California. -
Gadsden Purchase
The US needed suitable land for a railroad connecting the southern states to the west. The mountainous land was not suitable and going north then west gave the north to much power. Gadsden signed the Gadsden Treaty, which the US paid Mexico $10 million dollars for the land.The south though the railroad would increase trade and stimulate the economy. The Gadsden purchase met strong opposition from anti-slavery senators for adding more slave territory.
