The Van Buren press., 1894-01-27
GROWTH OF THE UNITED STATES.
How Our Territory Has Ieen Enlarged
From Time to Time.


How Our Territory Has Bcen Enlarged
From Time to Time.
The first acquisition OF territory by
the United States was the so-callet
Louisiana Purchase" In 1903. BY this
purchase, which was effected during
Jefferson's administration for about
t15, 600, this government acquired
possession from France Of all the terri
tory now included III the states Of
Louisiana, Arkansas. Missouri, Iowa
Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska, the Da'
kotas, Montana, wyoming, Idaho, Ore
gon, Washington, part OF Colorado
Indian Territory and Oklahoma. The
territory thus transferred has an area
OF l, 10000 square miles, or considers
bly, more than the country embraced
prior to the purchase. In this blood
less conquest the United States Sc
cured control OF the Mississippi river
and the Gulf OF Mexico, and Bonaparte,
who then occupied the throne OF
France, said af it; II have thus given
England maritime rival who will
sooner or later humble her PRIDE
The next acquisition OF territory was
the purchase OF Florida from Spain in
1917 Spain, doubtless fearing that
the territory would be invaded and
seized by an act OF war II she insisted
upon retaining IT, finally agreed to
cede 1T provided the United States
would assume the claims OF the Spanish
citizens. Tho terms were accepted and
the territory OF Florida, containing in
all about $4,000 square miles, was
transferred to this government ut a
cost OF something like $4,000, 900.
There was no further territorial ex-
panslon for quarter OF century. In
the meantime Mexico had secured its
independence from Spain, shortly after
the latter had coded Florida, and Texas,
then a province OF Mexico had drawn
a large and turbulent element from the
United States. Under their leadership
there grew up fierce opposition to
Mexican domination, and IN 1886 they
succeeded IN establishing the Texas
republic. Then followed a series OF
events OF extraordinary interest The
new republic sought admission into
the union as q state and her applica-
ton became an overshadawinS issue in
national politics. Henry Clay declar-
Ing with what afterward seemed like
the voice OF prophecy that the annex
alton OF Texas meant war with Mexico. !"
Inc campaign OF 1874 turned on the
Texas question. Polk, the democratic
and annexationist candidate, was
elected to the presidency, and the de-
,eated wing ADMINISTRATOR recognlz-
ing the result OF the election as deh-
mite expression distinguished the Clos
ing days OF its career by annexing
Iexas to the United States. War with
Mexico followed, and 1t was not until
alter the treaty OF duaaalupe Hidaigo
was signed IN iS4S that the status OF
Iexas was settled. by that treaty the
United states agreed To- pay TO Mexico
the sum OF sl5,oo1 0oo. ana to assume
aepts OF ABOUT ", qoq, ooo due rom Mex
leo to citizens of this country. In re-
turn for this money the United States
ACQUIRED possession of a territory some
9a1 600 souare milesi in extent included
l., ,yb;oh ,yo,.o ,ybot oro non, AZ s.otos
- Ca1;tarn,o "a Nor"s, $50 t., - r ~
=. o"i'io' n ~, anu 4,o'aua, p"los =. vi
orauo anu wyoming ana the territories
OF New Mexico, Arizona and Utah.
To this cessiOn by Mexico must be
added what is known as the Cad sden
Purchase" strip of territory now at
tached nartlv tn Arizona and nartlv to
Nav Mex;co Th;s +arr;tor, rou,n;,aa
=, 49, a.. a.. 49, l'.
"'o. o,,' o~,0"" ""'' ou'
IN 1898 ~ was hnaiiy cedeo 10 thls coun-
try on the payment OF the sum OF slO,-
900, 900 to Mexico. The tract contained
about As, 900 square miles, and the name
of "Gadsden's Purchase, was derived