U.S. Acquisition of the Oregon Territory

U.S. Acquisition of the Oregon Territory

• The U.S. and Britain argued over ownership of the Oregon Territory in the 1800s.
• The 49th Parallel was agreed upon as the borderline to avoid conflicts.
• President James K. Polk expanded the U.S. by annexing Texas and settling the border issue with Britain through the Oregon Treaty in 1846.

U.S. Acquisition of the Mexican Territory

• James K. Polk's vision for expanding the U.S. led to negotiations with Mexico over territory north of the Rio Grande River.
• The independence aspirations of Texas, which had won its freedom from Mexico in 1836, intertwined with the desire for expansion.
• The U.S. annexed Texas as a state in 1845, leading to heightened hostilities with Mexico and eventually sparking the Mexican-American War in 1846.
• The U.S. emerged victorious in the war, and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848) resulted in Mexico ceding vast territories to the U.S.
• The U.S. paid Mexico $15 million and officially recognized Texas's annexation.

The Gadsden Purchase

• The Gadsden Purchase (1853) was driven by the need to secure land for the construction of the continental railroad.
• Negotiated by James Gadsden, the purchase aimed to acquire territories from Mexico, primarily parts of present-day Arizona and New Mexico, for $10 million.
• This acquisition facilitated westward expansion and agricultural development, contributing to the growth of the nation's economy.

The Treaty of Alaska

• Russia's financial strain following the Crimean War led to the offer of Alaska for sale to the U.S. in 1859.
• President Andrew Johnson oversaw the purchase of Alaska for $7.2 million in 1867.
• Despite initial doubts, the discovery of valuable natural resources such as gold, oil, and fisheries in Alaska proved its worth, cementing its importance to the economic development of the U.S.