Created by jhildreth on Nov 19, 2010
Last updated: 12/01/10 at 06:51 PM
Expansionism has no followers yet. Be the first one to follow.
During World War II, when Britain was facing Hitler alone, they needed war supplies desperately. The U.S. provided them with old destroyer ships, in exchange for long term leases for numerous naval bases around the world. This expanded America's military influence and protected overseas trade routes
http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=old&doc=71
American missionaries had gradually built huge plantations at Hawaii and in order to protect their trade and to have permanent they wanted part of U.S. This relates to expansion because it enabled the U.S. navy to have a powerful base in the Pacific and expanded U.S. trade with the far east.
http://www.hawaiiforvisitors.com/about/annexation.htm
Before, Alaska was a Russian territory. It was originally populated by several different Indian tribes. Admiral Bering discovered islands and the straight that separates Siberia from Alaska. Then in 1867, the Russians saw that Americans kept expanding into Alaska and decided to sell the area for $7.2 million.
The Homestead Act meant that if a person went out to settle their frontier they will be able to get free land as long they built a house, farm, etc. This encourages huge numbers of settlers to occupy the frontier and overall increasing the land's population.
http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/homestead-act/
The spark that ignited the gold rush occurred in May 1848 when Sam Brannan, a storekeeper in Sutter's Creek, brandished a bottle filled with gold dust around San Francisco. Therefore, 30,000 men set out west when they heard the promises of rivers filled with gold. This relates to expansion because the population increased to about 100,000 people, and this massive invasion of fortune seekers made the once Mexican province to an American state.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/goldrush/
The Oregon Treaty established the boundary between Canada and the U.S. It also added new territories that would eventually become the states of Oregon and Washington. This increased our land territory. It also provided valuable ports and opportunities for pioneers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Treaty
At first, there was disputed territories between Texas and Mexico. The U.S. claims that there was some territory between the Rio Grande and the Nueces River. The Mexicans said that it was still their property, but the U.S. defended its claim by attacking the Mexican Army that was debating. This led to a general war with Mexico, which they lost. As a consequence Mexico had to sell in uninhabited territories to the U.S. including Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, California, and Nevada.
http://www.pbs.org/kera/usmexicanwar/index_flash.html
The Americans settlers in Texas territories rebelled against the Mexican government when there policies forbid slavery and protestant worship. After the Texans won their independence they sought admission to the U.S. Originally, Congress did not because it would upset the balance slavery, but when Texas made moves to ally itself with Great Britain, Congress changed their minds.
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h302.html
Spain owed Florida and so did the Indians. Andrew Jackson wanted to conquer this area so we went to war in 1816. Gradually, Florida became United States territory.
http://www.flheritage.com/facts/history/seminole/wars.cfm
Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark to explore the Louisiana Purchase and establish Americas claim to the Oregon territories. It laid much of the foundations for further westward expansion beyond the purchase.
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/lewisandclark/
The Louisiana Purchase was when the United States bought the French land from New Orleans, up to Mississippi, and over the Missouri river. Like the Treaty of Paris, this relates to expansion because it doubled more of our land.
http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=old&doc=18
The Treaty of Paris ended the Revolutionary War and gave revision to Britain to leave the territory between the Allegheny mountain range and the Mississippi River. This relates to expansion because it double land mass of the United States.
http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=old&doc=6
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