The U.S. Grows

13 Colonies

Our country began as thirteen British colonies along the Atlantic Ocean.

1. 1783

1783: After the American Revolution, Britain gave the U.S. all land up to the Mississippi River.

2. 1803

1803: Thomas Jefferson bought the Louisiana Territory from France for $15 million. This doubled the size of the U.S.

3. 1818

1818: The U.S. and Britain traded land and kept a consistent border at 49 degrees North.

4. 1819

1819: Adams-Onís Treaty. Spain gave up Florida for a token payment. Spain was having problems with Mexico which was fighting for independence.

5. 1845

1845: The U.S. annexed (took over) Texas because Texas wanted protection from Mexico.

6. 1846

1846: The U.S. and Britain avoided war by splitting Oregon Country at 49 degrees North latitude.

7. 1848

1848: After provoking and winning a war with Mexico, the U.S. got a huge piece of land called the Mexican Cession.

8. 1853

1853: The U.S. bought a strip of land from Mexico. It is called the Gadsden Purchase.

MANIFEST DESTINY

Clear or obvious

Something that is meant to happen

The idea that the U.S. was destined to spread over the whole continent to the Pacific Ocean

This was used to justify grabbing land because, after all, “it was meant to be”

Manifest Destiny

Manifest Destiny John O'Sullivan (a newspaper columnist, 1845):

"And that claim is by the right of our manifest destiny to overspread and to possess the whole of the continent which Providence has given us for the development of the great experiment of liberty and federated self-government entrusted to us."