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Thesis
Most people would argue that most land claims have been an act of American imperialism, although there are several times we did not annex through sheer power, such as Vermont, Texas, and Oregon. Therefore, not all land claims made by the US are an act of imperialism. -
The Vermont Annex
The territory of Vermont was settled by the British and French causing conflict until the French defeat in the 7 years war. Vermont declared itself independent from the rest of the Colonies in the Revolution. But after 14 years of constant bickering with coninental congress, Vermont entered the Union in 1791. -
Louisana Purchase
Thomas Jefferson went behind Congress back and bought the land from France that stretched from Modern Lousiana to Western Montana. At the time Napoleon Bonaparte was at war with Great Britain and was in dire need of funding for his army, settling for $15 Million from the US Government. -
Florida
The U.S. purchased the Florida Peninsula from Spain in 1819 for $5 million. This lead to the eventual creation of the State of Florida. Even after Would-be President Andrew Jackson invaded and essentially took it by force, the Spanish sued for peace and asked a reduced price for it. -
Annexation of the Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was primary made up of American Migrants. They had fought Mexico for their independence and soon saw the advantages of joining the American Union as a state. -
Oregon Treaty
The Oregon territory was in a large dispute over who owned what land. The Brits and Americans signed a treaty that stated the 49th parallel. (Not including the whole of Vancouver Island.) -
Gadsden Purchase
After the Mexican-American war, they settled on the US giving 10 million dollars to Mexico for the area of southern Arizona and part of New Mexico. -
Purchase of Alaska
In 1867 America came to an agreement with Russia to buy Alaska. Russia belived that Alaska was just a cold forest so they sold it for the low price of $7.2 million. Americans eventualy found the abundent riches of gold that lay beneath the ground which made the trade very much so in Americas favor. -
Hawaii
The US and the Hawaiian islands were sugar trade partners and Hawaiian economy soared. Then tariffs were imposed of foreign sugar. Many planters being white and of American descent believed annexation would solve these problems. in 1893 without presidential approval they stormed the islands and overthrew the queen. This started Hawaii's path to statehood. This involved Mckinly mostly. -
Phillipenes
After the Spanish-American war the Spanish ceded the Phillipenes over to the US. The US "sensing" the ohillipenes feelings on total annexation stepped in over the Islands and claimed control. -
Panama Canal
The US. acquired the land in newly-independent Panama that had just won their independence from Columbia in a US-backed revolt. So in the revolt, the isthmus was promised to the US. to build the canal. -
Virgin Islands
In 1917, Denmark and the U.S., respectively, ratified a treaty in which Denmark sold the Danish West Indies to the United States of America for $25 million in gold. -
Conclusion
Imperialism was a large part of American land gain between 1971 and the present it wasn't the only method we used. European countries used to use similar methods to gain control of land as the Americans did, peaceful or not.
