text:
Territorial evolution of the United States
Evolution of the borders of the United States of America
"Westward expansion" redirects here. For trails in the American Old West, see Westward Expansion Trails.
Animated map of the territorial evolution of the United States (click to view details for the animation)
Census Bureau map depicting territorial acquisitions and dates of statehood, probably created in the 1970s
The United States of America was created on July 4, 1776, with the Declaration of Independence of thirteen British colonies in North America. In the Lee Resolution of July 2, 1776, the colonies resolved that they were free and independent states. The union was formalized in the Articles of Confederation, which came into force on March 1, 1781, after being ratified by all 13 states. Their independence was recognized by Great Britain in the Treaty of Paris of 1783, which concluded the American Revolutionary War. This effectively doubled the size of the colonies, now able to stretch west past the Proclamation Line to the Mississippi River. This land was organized into territories and then states, though there remained some conflict with the sea-to-sea grants claimed by some of the original colonies. In time, these grants were ceded to the federal government.
Legend for maps
1776–1784 (American Revolution)
1784–1803 (Organization of territory)
1803–1818 (Purchase of Louisiana)
1819–1845 (Northwest expansion)
1845–1860 (Southwest expansion)
1860–1865 (Civil War)
1866–1897 (Reconstruction and western statehood)
1898–1945 (Pacific and Caribbean expansion)
1946–present (Decolonization)
Bancos along the Rio Grande
The first great expansion of the country came with the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, which doubled the country's territory, although the southeastern border with Spanish Florida was the subject of much dispute until it and Spanish claims to the Oregon Country were ceded to the US in 1821. The Oregon Country gave the United States access to the Pacific Ocean, though it was shared for a time with the United Kingdom. [1] The annexation of the Republic of Texas in 1845 led directly to the Mexican–American War, after which the victorious United States obtained the northern half of Mexico's territory, including what was quickly made the state of California. [2] However, as the development of the country moved west, the question of slavery became more important, with vigorous debate over whether the new territories would allow slavery and events such as the Missouri Compromise and Bleeding Kansas. This came to a head in 1860 and 1861, when the governments of the southern states proclaimed their secession from the country and formed the Confederate States of America. The American Civil War led to the defeat of the Confederacy in 1865 and the eventual readmission of the states to the United States Congress. The cultural belief in the manifest destiny of the United States provided a strong impetus for westward expansion in the 19th century.
The country's expansion beyond North America began in 1856 with the passage of the Guano Islands Act, causing many small and uninhabited, but economically important, islands in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea to be claimed. [3] Most of these claims were eventually abandoned due to competing claims from other countries or the guano having been mined out. The Pacific expansion culminated in the annexation of Hawaii in 1898, after the overthrow of its government five years previously. Alaska, the last major acquisition in North America, was purchased from Russia in 1867.
Support for the independence of Cuba from the Spanish Empire, and the sinking of the USS Maine, led to the Spanish–American War in 1898, in which the United States gained Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines, and occupied Cuba for several years. American Samoa was acquired by the United States in 1900 after the end of the Second Samoan Civil War. [4] The United States purchased the U.S. Virgin Islands from Denmark in 1917. [5] Guam and Puerto Rico remain territories; the Philippines became independent in 1946, after being a major theater of World War II. Following the war, many islands were entrusted to the U.S. by the United Nations, [6] and while the Northern Mariana Islands remain a U.S. territory, the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau emerged from the trust territory as independent nations. The last major international change was the acquisition in 1904, and return to Panama in 1979, of the Panama Canal Zone, an unincorporated US territory which controlled the Panama Canal. The final cession of formal control over the region was made to Panama in 1999.
Regarding internal borders, while territories could shift wildly in size, once established states have generally retained their initial borders. Only four states – Maine, Kentucky, Vermont, and West Virginia – have been created from land claimed by another state; all of the others were created from territories or directly from acquisitions. Four states – Louisiana, Missouri, Nevada, and Pennsylvania – have expanded significantly by acquiring additional federal territory after their initial admission to the Union. The last state of the contiguous United States, commonly called the "lower 48", was admitted in 1912; the fiftieth and most recent state was admitted in 1959.
Key to map colors
United States states (domestic maps), undisputed area of United States (dispute maps)
United States territories (domestic maps)
disputed area of United States
area changed by event
Change Map
July 2, 1776 and July 4, 1776
Thirteen colonies of the Kingdom of Great Britain in North America collectively declared their independence as the United States of America, [lower-alpha 1] though several colonies had already individually declared independence: [7]
The Colony of Connecticut, becoming the State of Connecticut [8]
The Counties of New Castle, Kent, and Sussex, upon Delaware, commonly known as the Lower Counties on Delaware, which was Delaware Colony before their declaration of independence on June 15, 1776 [9] [10]
The Province of Georgia, becoming the State of Georgia [11]
The Province of Maryland, becoming the State of Maryland [12]
The Province of Massachusetts Bay, becoming the State of Massachusetts Bay [13]
The State of New Hampshire, which was the Province of New Hampshire before their declaration of independence on June 15, 1776 [14] [15]
The Province of New Jersey, becoming the State of New Jersey [16]
The Province of New York, becoming the State of New York [17]
The Province of North Carolina, becoming the State of North Carolina; [18] some believe the colony declared independence on May 20, 1775, but this is disputed
The Province of Pennsylvania, becoming the State of Pennsylvania [19]
The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, commonly known as Rhode Island, which was the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations before declaring independence on May 4, 1776 [20] [21]
The Province of South Carolina, becoming the State of South Carolina [22]
The Colony of Virginia, becoming the Commonwealth of Virginia [23]
The capital was not specifically established; at the time, the Continental Congress met in Philadelphia. [24] [25]
Many states had vaguely defined and surveyed borders; these are not noted as contested in the maps unless there was an active dispute. The borders of North Carolina were particularly poorly surveyed, its border with South Carolina having been done in several pieces, none of which truly matched the spirit of the charter, [26] [27] and its border with Virginia was only surveyed roughly halfway inland from the sea.
Several northeastern states had overlapping claims: Connecticut, Massachusetts Bay, and New York all claimed land west of their accepted borders, overlapping with each other and with a sizable claim by Virginia. Of the three, only Connecticut seriously pursued its claims, while Virginia is considered to have had the most legitimate claim to the vast northwest, dividing it into counties and maintaining some limited control.
The entirety of the new United States was claimed by Great Britain, including Machias Seal Island and North Rock, two small islands off the northeast coast which remain disputed up to the present. [28]
The Counties of New Castle, Kent, and Sussex, upon Delaware enacted a constitution, renaming itself the Delaware State. [29]
The State of Pennsylvania enacted a constitution, renaming itself the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. [30] no change to map
To avoid British forces who were advancing on Philadelphia, the Continental Congress began meeting in Baltimore. [24] [25]
The northeastern region of New York, known as the New Hampshire Grants, declared independence as New Connecticut. [31] [32] [33] Disputes:
The Continental Congress returned to Philadelphia after the threat to it by British forces was ended. [24] [25]
New Connecticut was renamed Vermont. [33] [31] Disputes:
The Continental Congress fled Philadelphia after the American defeat at the Battle of Brandywine, and briefly met in Lancaster, Pennsylvania [24] [25]
The Continental Congress continued to move away from Philadelphia, settling in York, Pennsylvania. [24] [25]
Vermont claimed what was called the "East Union", consisting of some towns in New Hampshire that petitioned on March 12, 1778, to join with Vermont due to a concern that their state was focusing too much on its coastal region. Vermont never gained full control over the area. [31] [34] [35] [36] [lower-alpha 2] Disputes:
Due to pressure from the Continental Congress, Vermont rescinded the annexation of the East Union; the legislature declared on February 12, 1779, that the East Union should be considered null from its beginning. [34] [35] [36] Disputes:
The Continental Congress returned to Philadelphia following British withdrawal. [24] [25]
Virginia surrendered its claim to southwest Pennsylvania. [19] [37]
North Carolina and Virginia surveyed their border further inland. Virginia's survey reached to the Tennessee River, but North Carolina's only went as far as the Cumberland Gap, and as the two surveys were roughly two miles apart, this created a thin area claimed by both states. While the border was intended to follow 36°30′ north, early surveying errors caused it to veer north of that, reaching a distance of seventeen miles off by the time it reached the Tennessee River. [38] [23]
The State of Massachusetts Bay enacted a constitution, renaming itself the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
The Articles of Confederation entered into force. [39] no change to map
Vermont again claimed an East Union, consisting of some towns in New Hampshire that wished to join with Vermont; more towns were interested than during the first attempt in 1778, though again, the exact extent of the borders is unknown. Vermont never gained full control over the area. [31] [40] [35] [36] [lower-alpha 3] Disputes:
Vermont claimed what was called the "West Union", consisting of some towns in New York, mainly to counterbalance Vermont's attempt at eastward expansion. Vermont never gained full control over the area. [31] [35] [41] [42] The specific date this occurred is unclear; sources suggest June 16, June 26, and July 18. [lower-alpha 4] Disputes:
Vermont abandoned its attempts to annex the East Union from New Hampshire and the West Union from New York. [31] [36] [42] [43] Disputes:
The federal government accepted the cession from New York of its western claims, which the state ceded on February 17, 1780; New York proclaimed its new western border to be a line drawn south from the western end of Lake Ontario. At its maximum interpretation, the state had claimed an area bounded by Lake Erie, Lake Huron and Lake Michigan; to the Illinois, Mississippi, and Tennessee Rivers; and north along the Appalachian Mountains, ending at the border with Pennsylvania. [44] It is unclear from where this claim came; many sources state that New York had surrendered it, but very few elaborate on how it was obtained. One source states that it was a cession by the Six Nations, who had conquered much of the region. [45] However, New York never seriously enforced these claims. The cession included the small tip of New York north of Pennsylvania, which came to be known as the Erie Triangle. [46] [17]
The Congress of the Confederation declared that the land that Connecticut claimed in northern Pennsylvania was part of Pennsylvania, thus attempting to end the Pennamite–Yankee War. [47] [19] The claim was an extension of Connecticut's northernmost and southernmost borders westward, skipping New Jersey and New York, though as Connecticut's northern border was a few miles north of Pennsylvania's northern border, a small sliver of New York was also claimed. While conflict would continue for some time, this was the end of the formal claim by Connecticut.
The Pennsylvania Mutiny of 1783, and the Pennsylvania government reaction to it, caused the Congress of the Confederation to leave Philadelphia for Princeton. [24]
The Congress of the Confederation reconvened in Annapolis. [24]
Virginia ceded its claims northwest of the Ohio River to the federal government. [48] [23] Connecticut continued to claim its western lands that had overlapped Virginia's cession.
Great Britain recognized the independence of the United States, ending its claim to the country. [49] [50] [lower-alpha 5] The treaty ended the American Revolutionary War, though military action had largely ended after the Franco-American victory at Yorktown on October 19, 1781.
Because of ambiguities and poor knowledge of geography, the treaty was unclear in several areas:
The northeastern border was defined as running from the headlands of the St. Croix River, but there were several options for that.
The northwestern border was defined as a line running west from the northwestern point of the Lake of the Woods to the Mississippi River, but the river's source was south of that; maps universally show the line as running directly from the Lake of the Woods to the river's source, Lake Itasca.
The border extending from Lake Superior towards the Lake of the Woods was poorly defined as starting from "Long Lake", which both sides interpreted to their advantage.
Machias Seal Island and North Rock off the northeast coast remained disputed, as did Sugar Island off the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
The Peace of Paris also involved treaties with France and Spain, with Great Britain ceding the Floridas to Spain. During their ownership of West Florida, the British had moved its border north, and the cession to Spain appeared to apply to the full extent of the British colony. However, the British-American treaty granted the extension of West Florida to the United States, where it enlarged Georgia south to 31° north, indicating that only the original definition of West Florida was to be ceded to Spain. The local Spanish governors also made a move to occupy forts along the Mississippi River, with claims to everything south of the Tennessee River; it is unknown how official or strong these claims were, and they are not mapped as they are in conflict with the other Spanish claim involving the border of West Florida. [51]
A region in central North Carolina (modern-day eastern Tennessee), unhappy with the state's governance over the area, declared independence from the state as the State of Frankland. [lower-alpha 6] [52] The government of Frankland held some control over the area, and petitioned for statehood, receiving support from seven of the nine states required, but would only last a few years. [53] [54] Unofficial change:
The Congress of the Confederation moved for a short time to Trenton. [24]
The Congress of the Confederation moved to New York, and would settle there for five years. [24]
The federal government accepted the cession from Massachusetts of its extreme western claim, which was never seriously enforced. [lower-alpha 7] [44] [13] Change on paper only:
The State of Frankland was renamed the State of Franklin, to encourage Benjamin Franklin to endorse the state, though he declined. [53] Unofficial change:
Connecticut surrendered its western claim to the federal government except for its Western Reserve, though it is unclear how much control they held over the ceded region. [lower-alpha 8] [8] [55] Change on paper only:
Massachusetts surrendered its claim to western New York, though it is unclear if Massachusetts ever held control over the region, as the claim was to the "soil, not the sovereignty". [lower-alpha 9] [44] [13] This land was later known as the Phelps and Gorham Purchase. Change on paper only:
The Territory northwest of the Ohio River, ceded earlier by Virginia, was organized and commonly became known as the Northwest Territory. [56] [57]
South Carolina ceded its western claim to the federal government, [58] [22] though it was a result of inaccurate geography and South Carolina never actually held claim to this land. The claim was of a strip of land between the border of North Carolina and the source of the Tugaloo River but, unknown at the time, the river originated in North Carolina. The eastern part of this cession would be given to Georgia in 1802, despite Georgia technically already having claim to the land. Change on paper only:
Delaware became the first state to ratify the United States Constitution. [59] no change to map
Pennsylvania became the second state to ratify the Constitution. [60] no change to map
New Jersey became the third state to ratify the Constitution. [61] no change to map
Georgia became the fourth state to ratify the Constitution. [62] no change to map
Connecticut became the fifth state to ratify the Constitution. [63] no change to map
Massachusetts became the sixth state to ratify the Constitution. [64] no change to map
Maryland became the seventh state to ratify the Constitution. [65] no change to map
South Carolina became the eighth state to ratify the Constitution. [66] no change to map
New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution; [67] at this point, the Constitution became the active governing document of those nine states having ratified the same (per Article VII). no change to map
Virginia became the tenth state to ratify the Constitution. [68] no change to map
New York became the eleventh state to ratify the Constitution. [69] no change to map
John Sevier, governor of the State of Franklin, pledged allegiance to North Carolina, effectively ending the claimed independence of Franklin. [53] [70] Unofficial change:
The Northwest Territory was reorganized under the Constitution. [71] no change to map
North Carolina became the twelfth state to ratify the Constitution. [72] no change to map
North Carolina ceded its western half to the federal government. [lower-alpha 10] [73] [54]
The land recently ceded by North Carolina was organized as the Territory South of the River Ohio, commonly known as the Southwest Territory. [54] [74]
Rhode Island became the thirteenth state to ratify the Constitution. [75] no change to map
Per the Residence Act, the Congress of the United States relocated to Philadelphia for ten years until a federal district was built and ready. [24] [25] [76]
Vermont, which had been considered part of New York despite acting independently since 1777, was admitted as the fourteenth state. [lower-alpha 11] [31] [77]
The District of Columbia, a federal district planned to house the federal government by 1800, was formed from land ceded by Maryland and Virginia, [78] [79] consisting of a 100 square mile diamond, with its southern tip at Jones Point, straddling the Potomac River. However, it was not yet given that name, being simply referred to as the federal district. In September 1791, the commissioners in charge of planning the city would term it the "Territory of Columbia", and various laws refer to a District of Columbia, but sometimes informally. The area does not appear to have been formally named "District of Columbia" until at least the organic act of 1871. [80] Since the name "Columbia" was used from very early on, and at least informally by the government, the map will use "District of Columbia" starting from this date.
Pennsylvania purchased the Erie Triangle from the federal government. [19]
The western half of Virginia, which the state had agreed in 1789 to cede to the federal government, [81] was admitted as the fifteenth state, Kentucky. [lower-alpha 12] [83] [82]
The Delaware State enacted a new constitution, renaming itself the State of Delaware. [84] no change to map
Representatives of the United States and the Western Confederacy sign the Treaty of Greenville, ending the Northwest Indian War and ceding most of the modern state of Ohio to United States control. [85] no change to map
Great Britain agreed to abandon several forts in the northwest that it still occupied, including Detroit. The Jay Treaty also provided for commissions to determine the border between the northwestern point of the Lake of the Woods and the source of the Mississippi River, and which river to consider the St. Croix River. [86] no change to map
The northern half of West Florida was ceded by Spain, resolving the dispute over the region. [87] [88] Disputes:
The Southwest Territory was admitted as the sixteenth state, Tennessee. [54] [89]
Due to the Yazoo Land Fraud, an act authorized President John Adams to appoint commissioners to negotiate with Georgia about ceding its western land. The act created Mississippi Territory from the southwestern quarter of Georgia in the region recently ceded by West Florida, while maintaining that Georgia still held rights over the territory. [90] [91]
Commissioners agreed on the source of the St. Croix River, setting the lower portion of the border between Massachusetts and Great Britain and, thus, where the eastern north–south line originated. [92]
Connecticut ceded its Western Reserve to the federal government, which assigned it to the Northwest Territory. [93] The act doing so was passed in Congress on April 28, 1800, and Connecticut approved it on this date. [94]
Indiana Territory was organized from the western half of Northwest Territory. [lower-alpha 13] [96] [95]
The Congress of the United States moved to Washington in the District of Columbia, now built and ready to be the capital. [24] This was two weeks before the December 1 date established in the Residence Act; President John Adams urged Congress to move early in hopes of securing enough Southern votes to be re-elected, though this failed. [97]
The Kingdom of Great Britain united with the Kingdom of Ireland, renaming itself the United Kingdom. [98]
The District of Columbia was organized. [79] [99] no change to map
Georgia ceded its western half, known as the Yazoo Lands, to the federal government. [lower-alpha 14] At the same time, the federal government ceded to Georgia the eastern portion of the land previously ceded by South Carolina, though in reality Georgia technically already held title to the land, as the description of the earlier cession was based on an erroneous understanding of geography. [11]
The southern half of the Northwest Territory, along with a thin sliver of Indiana Territory, was admitted as the seventeenth state, Ohio. The remainder of the Northwest Territory was transferred to Indiana Territory. [100] [56] The western border was a line due north from the mouth of the Great Miami River; the federal definition of the northern border was a line drawn east from the southern tip of Lake Michigan, whereas the Ohio Constitution stated the line should run from the southern tip of Lake Michigan to the most northerly cape of Maumee Bay, essentially the western tip of Lake Erie. The confusion caused by these varying descriptions of the state's borders, combined with inaccurate knowledge of geography, as no one at the time knew just how far south Lake Michigan extended, would lead to the conflict over the Toledo Strip.
The border between Tennessee and Virginia was resurveyed and established, ending the dispute over that part of the border. The border between Kentucky and Tennessee, despite following the original survey, remained vaguely defined. [38] [101]
The United States purchased Louisiana from France. This is the date of the formal turnover in New Orleans; the purchase was completed on April 30, 1803. [102] The transfer would be recognized in St. Louis in Upper Louisiana on March 10, 1804, known as Three Flags Day.
The acquisition expanded the United States to the whole of the Mississippi River basin, [lower-alpha 15] but the extent of what constituted Louisiana in the south was disputed with Spain: the United States claimed the purchase included the part of West Florida west of the Perdido River, whereas Spain claimed it ended at the western border of West Florida; [lower-alpha 16] [103] and the southwestern border with New Spain was disputed, as the United States claimed the Sabine River as the border, but Spain maintained it was the Calcasieu River and others. [102]
The "Southwick Jog" was transferred from Connecticut to Massachusetts, to put to rest long-standing disagreements over the border between the two states. [13]
The land between Tennessee and Mississippi Territory previously ceded by Georgia was assigned to Mississippi Territory. [91] [104]
Orleans Territory was organized from the Louisiana Purchase south of 33° north, with the remainder being designated the District of Louisiana and placed under the jurisdiction of Indiana Territory. [105] [106]
Michigan Territory was organized from Indiana Territory, north of a line east from the southern tip of Lake Michigan, and east of a line north from the lake's northern tip. [107] [108] The southeastern portion of the border technically conflicted with the definition of Ohio, which claimed the Toledo Strip north of that line; however, the exact position of Lake Michigan was not yet known.
The District of Louisiana was organized as Louisiana Territory. [106] [109]
Illinois Territory was organized from the western half of Indiana Territory. [lower-alpha 17] [111] [110]
The Republic of West Florida declared independence from Spain, claiming the area of West Florida west of the Perdido River. It maintained some control over its territory. [112] Disputes:
Armed forces led by William C. C. Claiborne took possession of the portion of West Florida west of the Pearl River, following a proclamation on October 27, 1810, by President James Madison to do so. The United States had considered the region part of the Louisiana Purchase, including the area which had revolted against Spanish Florida and formed the Republic of West Florida. Madison's proclamation stated that it was to be "taken as part" of Orleans Territory. [103] [102] [113] The land west of Mobile Bay to the Pearl River was occupied and annexed de facto by the military in 1811. [114] :2a(map) Disputes:
Most of Orleans Territory was admitted as the eighteenth state, Louisiana. [lower-alpha 18] [106] [115] The southeastern remainder presumably became unorganized territory, as it had no definition for a short time.
The claimed portion of West Florida east of the Pearl River was assigned to Mississippi Territory, though the area around Mobile Bay remained under the control of Spanish Florida. [91] [116] The United States militarily occupied Mobile and the surrounding area up to the Perdido River in April 1813.
Since its name was now shared with the state of Louisiana, Louisiana Territory was renamed Missouri Territory. [117] [118]
The remaining claimed portion of West Florida, west of the Pearl River, was added to Louisiana, following the assent of that state to an act passed by Congress on April 14, 1812. [119] [120]
During the War of 1812, the garrison at Fort Detroit surrendered, leading the United Kingdom to occupy Detroit, the capital and population center of Michigan Territory. [121] Disputes:
Fort Detroit was recaptured by American forces following the Battle of Lake Erie, regaining control over Michigan Territory. [121] [122] Disputes:
British forces capture and burn Washington, but are forced to withdraw the next day. The functions of the capital were only momentarily suspended, though President James Madison took refuge in Brookville, Maryland. [123] no change to map
The southern part of Indiana Territory, along with small parts of Illinois Territory and Michigan Territory, were admitted as the nineteenth state, Indiana. [lower-alpha 19] The remainder of Indiana Territory across Lake Michigan became unorganized territory. [95] [124]
Alabama Territory was organized from the eastern half of Mississippi Territory. [lower-alpha 20] [126] [125]
Mississippi Territory was admitted as the twentieth state, Mississippi. [91] [127]
Alabama Territory created Tuskaloosa County with a description that inadvertently overlapped with Mississippi. It described the border of the county as running "a due west course to, the Tombeckbe river; thence up the same to the Cotton Gin Port". [128] Unknown at the time, the origin of the Tombigbee River and Cotton Gin Port were in Mississippi. Change on paper only:
Per the terms of the Treaty of Ghent ending the War of 1812, the United Kingdom returned Moose Island to Massachusetts, and the United States returned Campobello Island, Deer Island, and Grand Manan Island to the United Kingdom, all of which were captured from the other side during the war. [129] no change to map
The half of Illinois Territory south of 42°30′ north was admitted as the twenty-first state, Illinois. The remainder of the territory, along with the unorganized territory that was recently part of Indiana Territory, was assigned to Michigan Territory. [110] [130]
The Treaty of 1818 went into effect, setting 49° north as the border with the United Kingdom west of the Lake of the Woods, and also establishing the Oregon Country as a shared region with the United Kingdom. [1] [131] [132] Oregon Country had no defined northern limit, but it can be assumed that it did not encroach much upon Russian-held lands; this map uses the later-established line at 54°40′ north for simplicity.
Northwestern North America:
Arkansaw Territory was organized from the southern slice of Missouri Territory. [lower-alpha 21] [133] [134]
Alabama Territory was admitted as the twenty-second state, Alabama. [125] [135] The statehood act provided for a survey of the southern part of the border with Mississippi, which was intended to be north–south, for adjustment if it was discovered to encroach upon Mississippi's established counties; it was later discovered to do so.
As part of the Missouri Compromise, the District of Maine, the northern and separate part of Massachusetts, was admitted as the twenty-third state, Maine. [136] [137]
This is the earliest known date of the name "Arkansas Territory" being officially used instead of "Arkansaw Territory". [138]
The border between Kentucky and Tennessee was established. To make up for the fact that the border between the Cumberland Gap and the Tennessee River veered north as much as 17 miles from 36°30′ north, a new survey was conducted starting at that latitude on the Mississippi River and moving east to the Tennessee River, hence guaranteeing this last bit of border would fit the original ideal. [38]
The overlap of the longitudinal southern border between Alabama and Mississippi was resolved, as per the act admitting Alabama as a state, because the provisional border encroached on Mississippi. [125] [139] As the result of a survey, the southern border terminus was moved about 3.8 miles to the east, which changed the border up to the then-northwest corner of Alabama's Washington County. The date when this happened is unclear; the sources available give either an unpublished report dated May 29, 1820, or the completion of the demarcation of the new line on July 19, 1820. Change on paper only:
Alabama redefined some county borders, ending its erroneous overlap of Mississippi created on February 6, 1818. [140] Change on paper only:
The Adams–Onís Treaty with Spain took effect. [103] The many changes included:
The border with the holdings of Spain was concretely defined; previously, it had been the watershed of the Mississippi River and, for Oregon Country, the Columbia River, whereas now it followed specific rivers and parallels. [lower-alpha 22]
The new border placed the "Neutral Ground" in Louisiana.
Florida was ceded to the United States, although the formal transfer would not happen until July.
Arkansas Territory had created Miller County south of the Red River, and this area was now on the Spanish side of the border. However, as this was a change made solely by the territory, and not by the federal government, in this map it is considered a domestic dispute.
With Spanish West Florida being ceded, the dispute between it and Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi was resolved.
East Florida was formally transferred to the United States by Spain. [141]
West Florida was formally transferred to the United States by Spain. [141]
The southeastern corner of Missouri Territory was admitted as the twenty-fourth state, Missouri, the rest becoming unorganized territory. [lower-alpha 23] [118] [142]
The former East Florida and West Florida were organized as Florida Territory. [143] [144]
The half of Arkansas Territory west of a line south from a point 40 miles west of Missouri's western border was returned to unorganized territory. [134] [145]
A treaty with the Russian Empire established 54°40′ north as the northern border of Oregon Country for American purposes; a separate treaty created the same border between Russia and the United Kingdom. [146] As this was likely the de facto border anyway, the region is already mapped with this line. no change to map
A treaty with the Cherokee moved the western border of Arkansas Territory, returning part of it to unorganized territory. [lower-alpha 24] [134] [148]
King William I of the Netherlands, having been asked per the Treaty of Ghent to arbitrate the disputed border between Maine and the United Kingdom, rendered his decision: Since reconciling the treaty with the maps given was too difficult, he drew a compromise line. The British government accepted it, but Maine protested, and on January 19, 1832, the American government rejected it. [149] no change to map
The region of New Hampshire north of the Connecticut Lakes, which was disputed with the United Kingdom, declared independence as the Republic of Indian Stream. [150] While tiny, it does appear to have maintained some control over its territory. Disputes:
Michigan Territory gained a large parcel of land from unorganized territory, extending west to the Missouri River and White Earth River. [108] [151]
The Republic of Indian Stream recognized the jurisdiction of New Hampshire, thus ending its claimed independence. The date given is of a communication sent to British authorities; [152] other sources note a resolution passed by the citizens of Indian Stream on April 2, 1836. [150] Disputes:
Arkansas Territory was admitted as the twenty-fifth state, Arkansas. [134] [153]
Wisconsin Territory was organized from the western bulk of Michigan Territory. [lower-alpha 25] [154] [155] The two large peninsulas between the Great Lakes remained in Michigan Territory; the upper peninsula was included in exchange for the territory abandoning its claim to the Toledo Strip. The territory initially rejected this plan, but would accept it on December 14.
Michigan Territory agreed to abandon its claim to the Toledo Strip, ending its dispute with Ohio. [156]
Michigan Territory was admitted as the twenty-sixth state, Michigan. [108] [157]
The Platte Purchase transferred some land from unorganized territory to northwest Missouri, extending its northern border west to the Missouri River. [118] [158]
Iowa Territory was organized from Wisconsin Territory west of the Mississippi River. [159] [160]
Missouri claimed an area north of its border with Iowa Territory, initiating the long dispute known as the Honey War. [161]
Surveying conducted along the border with Texas concluded that the area claimed by Arkansas for Miller County belonged to Texas. [162]
The Webster–Ashburton Treaty defined the border with the United Kingdom east of the Rocky Mountains. [163] [164] One source also mentions it very slightly altering the maritime boundary between Michigan and Wisconsin Territory. [165] The treaty resolved the disputes over the northern borders of Maine and New Hampshire, [lower-alpha 26] the northeastern border of Wisconsin Territory, [lower-alpha 27] and Sugar Island with Michigan.
The border between New York and Vermont on the one side, and the United Kingdom on the other, was clarified by the treaty. In 1816, construction began on an unnamed fort nicknamed "Fort Blunder" on a peninsula in Lake Champlain that, while south of the surveyed border, was discovered to be north of 45° north, which was the border set by the Treaty of Paris and thus in British territory. Consequently, construction on the fort was abandoned. The Webster–Ashburton Treaty specified that section of the border was to follow the surveyed line, rather than the exact parallel, thus moving the fort's area into the United States, and a new fort, Fort Montgomery, would be built on the spot in 1844. [167] As the earlier line was surveyed, even though it did not match the definition, it was deemed to be the legitimate border.
Local settlers created a provisional government for Oregon Country. While not official, it did maintain some jurisdiction over the area. [168] Unofficial change:
Florida Territory was admitted as the twenty-seventh state, Florida. [144] [169]
The Republic of Texas was annexed and admitted as the twenty-eighth state, Texas, extending the United States southwest to the Rio Grande. [170] [171] All of Texas was claimed by Mexico. While many sources state that Mexico recognized the independence of the eastern portion of Texas, the treaties were rejected by the Mexican government. Texas formally handed over sovereignty to the United States in a ceremony on February 19, 1846. [172] The annexation led to the beginning of the Mexican–American War a few months later. [172]
The Oregon Treaty established 49° north west of the Lake of the Woods as the continental border (so it did not include Vancouver Island) with land held by the United Kingdom. The sharing of Oregon Country ended, and the United States portion became unorganized territory. [173]
The treaty was vague on which strait should be the border between Vancouver Island and the continent, thus causing a dispute over ownership of the San Juan Islands. [174] It specified "through the middle of the said channel and of Fuca Straits, to the Pacific Ocean".
Following the capture on August 18, 1846, of Santa Fe, the capital of the Mexican territory of Santa Fe de Nuevo México, [175] a code of laws known as the Kearny Code was created for the area. [176] [177] The region overlapped with Texas' claim, though Texas had little to no control over the area outside of its eastern quarter. Unofficial change:
The portion of Iowa Territory south of 43°30′ north and east of the Big Sioux River was admitted as the twenty-ninth state, Iowa. The remainder became unorganized territory. [160] [178]
The District of Columbia retroceded Alexandria County back to Virginia. [79] Congress passed the act on July 9, 1846, [179] residents of Alexandria County were proclaimed by the president to have agreed to it on September 7, 1846, [180] and Virginia took possession of the land on this date. [181]
The southern bulk of Wisconsin Territory was admitted as the thirtieth state, Wisconsin. [lower-alpha 28] The remainder became unorganized territory. [155] [182] However, the citizens of the remainder decided to continue on with a civil government, and even elected a delegate to the United States House of Representatives who would be seated on January 15, 1849, essentially making this region a de facto continuation of Wisconsin Territory. [183]
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the Mexican–American War and ceded a large parcel of land from Mexico, consisting of its territories of Alta California and Santa Fe de Nuevo México, and its claim to Texas. [lower-alpha 29] [185] Due to a disagreement over the southern border of Santa Fe de Nuevo México, a border dispute began. [184]
Oregon Territory was organized from the unorganized territory that was formerly part of Oregon Country. [186] [187]
The boundary dispute between Iowa and Missouri known as the Honey War was resolved by the Supreme Court of the United States. The resulting border was the Sullivan Line that existed before the dispute, roughly splitting the two claims. [188]
Minnesota Territory was organized from the region that had been operating as de facto Wisconsin Territory, and unorganized territory east of the Missouri and White Earth Rivers. [189] [166]
A local government formed the State of Deseret and claimed a vast portion of the southwest, including most of the Mexican Cession. Though it petitioned to be admitted to the United States, the proposal was rejected and, in 1850, Utah Territory was formed instead. [190] The claimed area overlapped slightly with Texas' claimed area, as well as part of Oregon Territory. Unofficial change:
Texas, with consent from the United States Congress, [191] extended its border with Louisiana from the west bank of the Sabine River to the middle of the river. [191] [192] [193] [194] no change to map
The western portion of the Mexican Cession was admitted as the thirty-first state, California. [lower-alpha 30] [2] [195] The portion of the remainder north of 37° north and west of the summit of the Rocky Mountains was organized as Utah Territory. [196] [197] Part of Utah Territory overlapped with the portion of Texas that would be purchased on December 13, 1850, but the law authorizing the purchase was passed on this day, so the borders of Utah Territory assumed the purchase will go through.
The United Kingdom ceded less than one acre of underwater rock known as Horseshoe Reef in Lake Erie near Buffalo, New York for a lighthouse. It was surrounded by British waters, thus creating a form of enclave. [198]
The federal government purchased the western claims of Texas. [lower-alpha 31] [171] New Mexico Territory was organized from the part of this land east of the Rio Grande, along with the remaining unorganized territory from the Mexican Cession. [lower-alpha 32] [200] [199] New Mexico Territory included all of the area that had been governed under the Kearny Code.
The State of Deseret dissolved itself, its functions and territory largely having been superseded by Utah Territory. [201] Unofficial change:
Washington Territory was organized from the half of Oregon Territory north of 46° north and the Columbia River. [202] [203]
Kansas Territory was organized from unorganized territory north of 37° north, and Nebraska Territory was organized north of 40° north. [204] [205] [206] Much of the remaining unorganized territory, east of 100° west, became known as Indian Territory, designated as a place to resettle Indian tribes.
A small strip between the Texas Panhandle and Kansas Territory was unclaimed, due to falling south of Kansas Territory's border but north of 36°30′ north established in the Missouri Compromise as the northern limit of slavery, and thus Texas could not have it. This became known as the Public Land Strip, or sometimes "No Man's Land". [207]
The United States purchased a large parcel from Mexico known as the Gadsden Purchase, as it offered a much better route for a southern transcontinental railroad. [lower-alpha 33] [208] [209] This resolved the border dispute, since the disputed land was included in the purchase. [184]
The recently obtained Gadsden Purchase was assigned to New Mexico Territory. [199] [210]
Due to its inaccessibility from the rest of the state, Boston Corner was transferred from Massachusetts to New York. [211] [212] [213]
The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Florida in a boundary dispute with Georgia, setting the state boundary line along McNeil's line. [214] no change to map
Baker Island and Jarvis Island were claimed under the Guano Islands Act. [3] Pacific Ocean:
The eastern half of Minnesota Territory was admitted as the thirty-second state, Minnesota. [lower-alpha 34] The remainder became unorganized territory. [166] [215]
Navassa Island was claimed under the Guano Islands Act. [3] Caribbean Sea:
Howland Island was claimed under the Guano Islands Act. [3] Pacific Ocean:
The western half of Oregon Territory was admitted as the thirty-third state, Oregon. [lower-alpha 35] The remainder was transferred to Washington Territory. [187] [216]
A team of surveyors created the "Middleton Offset", a small notch in the border between Kentucky and Tennessee. It is unknown exactly why this was done, though one theory is a local landowner wanted his property in Tennessee. [217] [218]
Johnston Atoll was claimed under the Guano Islands Act, [3] though it had been claimed by Hawaii in 1858. [219] Pacific Ocean:
A local government was set up encompassing parts of the territories of Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Utah, and Washington, with the name of Jefferson Territory. [lower-alpha 36] While never recognized by the federal government, it generally held control over the area until Colorado Territory was established, which adopted most of its laws. [220] Unofficial change:
Enderbury Island, McKean Island, Phoenix Island, and Starbuck Island were claimed under the Guano Islands Act. [3] Pacific Ocean:
Christmas Island and Malden Island were claimed under the Guano Islands Act. [3] Pacific Ocean:
Texas created Greer County, claiming part of Indian Territory based on a different understanding from the federal government of which fork of the Red River was the border between the two. [221]
Atafu, Birnie Island, Butaritari, Caroline Island, Fanning Island, Flint Island, Gardner Island, Canton Island, Kingman Reef, Manihiki, Marakei, Nukunono, Palmyra Atoll, Penrhyn, Pukapuka, Rakahanga, Swains Island, Sydney Island, Vostok Island, and Washington Island were all claimed under the Guano Islands Act. [3] Many additional islands were listed as bonded on this date, but based on the coordinates they were either phantoms or duplicates. In addition, Sarah Ann Island was claimed, which may have existed and would be sighted as late as 1917, but has since disappeared. [222]
Pacific Ocean:
In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln, South Carolina proclaimed its secession from the Union, withdrawing from the Congress of the United States. [223]
Mississippi proclaimed its secession from the Union, withdrawing from Congress. [223]
Florida proclaimed its secession from the Union, withdrawing from Congress. [223]
Alabama proclaimed its secession from the Union, withdrawing from Congress. [223]
Georgia proclaimed its secession from the Union, withdrawing from Congress. [223]
Louisiana proclaimed its secession from the Union, withdrawing from Congress. [223] However, the 1st and 2nd congressional districts, around New Orleans, maintained representation in Congress.
The bulk of Kansas Territory east of 25° west from Washington was admitted as the thirty-fourth state, Kansas. The remainder became unorganized territory. [205] [224]
The Confederate States of America was formed by representatives of the seceded states of Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina. [225] Disputes:
Colorado Territory was organized from portions of Nebraska Territory, New Mexico Territory, and Utah Territory, along with unorganized territory. [lower-alpha 37] [227] [226]
Texas proclaimed its secession from the Union and was admitted to the Confederate States, [223] [228] withdrawing from Congress.
Dakota Territory was organized from Nebraska Territory and the unorganized territory north of it. [lower-alpha 38] Nebraska Territory's western border was moved to 27° west from Washington, gaining small portions of Utah Territory and Washington Territory. [206] [229] [230] Nevada Territory was organized from Utah Territory west of 39° west from Washington. [231] [232]
Representatives in the southern half of New Mexico Territory proclaimed an independent Arizona Territory south of 34° north. [233] Disputes:
The Battle of Fort Sumter in South Carolina begins the American Civil War. Disputes:
Following the Battle of Fort Sumter and President Abraham Lincoln's call for troops to respond, Virginia proclaimed its secession from the Union, withdrawing from Congress. [223] However, the 1st (along the Eastern Shore), 7th (near Washington, D.C.), and 10th, 11th, and 12th (in the northwest of the state) congressional districts maintained representation in Congress.
Arkansas proclaimed its secession from the Union, withdrawing from Congress. [223]
Virginia was admitted to the Confederate States. [234] Disputes:
Kentucky declared itself neutral in the American Civil War. no change to map
Arkansas was admitted to the Confederate States. [235]
North Carolina proclaimed its secession from the Union, withdrawing from Congress. [223]
North Carolina was admitted to the Confederate States. The law admitting the state required a presidential proclamation before it was to take effect, [236] which sources say took place on this date; [237] the only primary source found so far is a statement from Jefferson Davis on July 20 stating that the proclamation had been made. [238] Disputes:
Robert Williamson Steele, governor of Jefferson Territory, declared the territory disbanded and handed over the government to the first governor of Colorado Territory. [220] Unofficial change:
Tennessee proclaimed its secession from the Union, withdrawing from Congress. [223] However, the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th congressional districts in the central part of the state maintained representation in Congress.
The federal government recognized the Restored Government of Virginia in Wheeling as the legitimate government of Virginia. [239]
Tennessee was admitted to the Confederate States. [240] Disputes:
Following Confederate victory in the First Battle of Mesilla, Arizona Territory was proclaimed as part of the Confederate States. [241] Disputes:
Following the Confederate occupation of Columbus, Kentucky, on September 3, 1861, the state abandoned neutrality and aligned with the Union government. [242] no change to map
A splinter government in Neosho, Missouri, declared the secession of the state from the United States. [223] Disputes:
A convention in Russellville, Kentucky, declared the formation of a splinter government in Bowling Green and the secession of Kentucky from the United States. [223] Disputes:
The splinter Neosho government of Missouri was admitted to the Confederate States. The Confederate States never held much power over the state, but it was given full representation in the legislature. [243] Disputes:
The splinter Bowling Green government of Kentucky was admitted to the Confederate States. The Confederate States never held much power over the state, but it was given full representation in the legislature. [244] Disputes:
The Confederate States ratified treaties with the Osage, and the Seneca and Shawnee. [245] [246] Disputes:
The Confederate States ratified treaties with the Cherokee, granting them a delegate to the Congress of the Confederate States, and with the Seminole, granting them a delegate to be shared with the Creek. [245] [246] Disputes:
The Confederate States ratified treaties with the Choctaw and Chickasaw, granting them a delegate in the Congress of the Confederate States; with the Comanche; with the Creek, granting them a delegate to be shared with the Seminole; and the Quapaw. [245] [246] Disputes:
A decree by the Supreme Court of the United States took effect, modifying the border between Massachusetts and Rhode Island. [lower-alpha 39] [13] [247]
Palmyra Atoll was annexed by Hawaii, and the American claim falls dormant. [248] Pacific Ocean:
The slice of Utah Territory west of 38° west from Washington was transferred to Nevada Territory. [232] [249]
The Swan Islands were claimed under the Guano Islands Act. [3] Caribbean Sea:
Arizona Territory was organized from the half of New Mexico Territory west of 32° west from Washington. [250] [251]
Idaho Territory was organized from the parts of Dakota Territory and Nebraska Territory west of 27° west from Washington, and the half of Washington Territory east of the Snake River and a line north from the mouth of the Clearwater River. [252] [253]
Due to disruption in voting and low turnout, no one was allowed to take the seats in the United States House of Representatives held by the Unionist areas of Louisiana, Tennessee, and Virginia, effectively expelling the states. [254]
The northwestern counties of Virginia, represented by the Restored Government of Virginia in Wheeling, were split from the rest of Virginia and admitted to the Union as the thirty-fifth state, West Virginia. [lower-alpha 40] [256] [255] The Restored Government of Virginia was relocated to Alexandria.
Berkeley County was transferred by the federal government from Virginia to West Virginia. [257]
Jefferson County was transferred from Virginia to West Virginia. [258]
Montana Territory was organized from the northeast third of Idaho Territory, [lower-alpha 41] and the southeast third of Idaho Territory was transferred to Dakota Territory. [lower-alpha 42] [259] [230] [260]
Malden Island was claimed by the United Kingdom. [261] Pacific Ocean:
Nevada Territory was admitted as the thirty-sixth state, Nevada. [232] [262]
The Confederate States cabinet met in Washington, Georgia, and dissolved. [263] Military surrenders were scattered throughout 1865, but the most important is regarded as that of the Army of Northern Virginia following the Battle of Appomattox Court House on April 9. Disputes:
The slice of Utah Territory west of 37° west from Washington was transferred to Nevada. [264]
Tennessee was readmitted to Congress. [265]
Starbuck Island was claimed by the United Kingdom. [261] Pacific Ocean:
The northwestern corner of Arizona Territory, west of the Colorado River and 37° west from Washington, was transferred to Nevada. The law transferring the land was approved May 5, 1866, but unlike the Utah Territory transfer of that day, this transfer was contingent on the state accepting it. [264] [266]
Nebraska Territory was admitted as the thirty-seventh state, Nebraska. [206] [267]
Canada was formed from several British colonies, including New Brunswick, thus inheriting the dispute over Machias Seal Island and North Rock. Disputes:
Midway Atoll was claimed. [268] The largest island of Midway, Sand Island, had been claimed under the Guano Islands Act in 1858, but nothing more is known about this. [269] Pacific Ocean:
Alaska was purchased from the Russian Empire and designated the Department of Alaska. [lower-alpha 43] [271] [272] Due to a vague description and lack of quality surveying, the southeastern border with British holdings was unclear and disputed. [270] Northwestern North America:
Arkansas was readmitted to Congress. [273]
Florida was readmitted to Congress. [274]
North Carolina was readmitted to Congress. [275]
Louisiana and South Carolina were readmitted to Congress. [276]
Caroline Island was claimed by the United Kingdom. [261]
Alabama was readmitted to Congress. [277]
Georgia was readmitted to Congress. [278]
Wyoming Territory was organized from portions of Dakota, Idaho, and Utah Territories. [lower-alpha 44] [280] [279] The territory would remain under the jurisdiction of the Dakota Territory until its own government was organized on May 19, 1869. [281] The act organizing Wyoming Territory became law on this date, but it is unclear if the territory could be considered "organized" until May 19, 1869, as the act specifies it was not to take effect until a government is organized; however, all sources use this date as the creation, and most use it for the organization, of the territory. A tiny portion of the Dakota Territory was erroneously left behind on the western side of Wyoming Territory. [282]
The list of bonded guano island claims mentions "Islands in Caribbean Sea not named" bonded on this date, but it is unknown what this is referring to. [3] no change to map
Serrana Bank was claimed under the Guano Islands Act. [3] Colombia has claimed it throughout its history. Caribbean Sea:
Georgia was again expelled from Congress following failures of Reconstruction in the state. [283]
Bajo Nuevo Bank, Pedro Cays, Quita Sueño Bank, and Roncador Bank were claimed under the Guano Islands Act. [3] [268] Except for Pedro Cays, Colombia has claimed them throughout its history. Caribbean Sea:
Virginia was readmitted to Congress. [284]
Mississippi was readmitted to Congress. [285]
Texas was readmitted to Congress. [286]
Georgia was again readmitted to Congress. [287]
The North-Western Territory was transferred by the United Kingdom to Canada, thus transferring its portion of the Alaska boundary dispute. [288]
A small parcel was transferred from Dakota Territory to Nebraska following a sudden change in course of the Missouri River. [206] [289]
British Columbia joined Canada, transferring the dispute over the San Juan Islands as well as its portion of the Alaska boundary dispute. [290] Disputes:
The dispute with Canada over the San Juan Islands was resolved in the favor of the United States claim. [174] Disputes:
Vostok Island was claimed by the United Kingdom. [291] Pacific Ocean:
The small portion of Dakota Territory that was left behind when Wyoming Territory was created was transferred to Montana Territory. [282] [292]
Colorado Territory was admitted as the thirty-eighth state, Colorado. [226] [293]
The United Kingdom created the British Western Pacific Territories, including Atafu and Nukunono. [294] Pacific Ocean:
The border across the Chesapeake Bay between Maryland and Virginia was decided via arbitration. It is unknown if any land actually changed hands. [12] too vague to map
Arenas Key, claimed by Mexico; the Morant Cays; and Serranilla Bank, claimed by Colombia, were claimed by the United States under the Guano Islands Act; [3] according to the Office of Insular Affairs, Serranilla Bank was claimed again on September 13, 1880. [268] Caribbean Sea:
A very small area of Fair Haven, Vermont was transferred to New York due to a change in the course in the Poultney River. [31] [295] too small to map
Western Triangle Island, claimed by Mexico, was claimed by the United States under the Guano Islands Act. [3] The list of bonded claims also mentions a "De Anes" island claimed on this date, with coordinates matching Isla de Aves; however, the same list points out that the claim to "Aves Island" was found to be invalid. Caribbean Sea:
Flint Island was claimed by the United Kingdom. [296] Pacific Ocean:
The area between 43° north and the Keya Paha and Niobrara Rivers was transferred from Dakota Territory to Nebraska. [230] [297] The act was passed in Congress on March 28 and accepted by the Nebraska legislature on this date. [298]
The Morant Cays and Pedro Cays were annexed by the United Kingdom to Jamaica; it appears they were no longer claimed by the United States after this. [299] Caribbean Sea:
The Department of Alaska was organized into the District of Alaska. [300] Northwestern North America:
The Alacrans Islands, claimed by Mexico, were claimed under the Guano Islands Act. [3] Caribbean Sea:
Fanning Island was annexed by the United Kingdom; it appears the island was no longer claimed by the United States after this. [301] Pacific Ocean:
Christmas Island was claimed by the United Kingdom. [261] Pacific Ocean:
The Cook Islands became a protectorate of the United Kingdom, thus initiating a claim on the atolls of Pukapuka, Manihiki, Penrhyn, and Rakahanga. [261] Pacific Ocean:
Washington Island was annexed by the United Kingdom; it appears the island was no longer claimed by the United States after this. [301] Pacific Ocean:
Jarvis Island was claimed by the United Kingdom. [261] Pacific Ocean:
Sydney Island was claimed by the United Kingdom. [261] Pacific Ocean:
Phoenix Island was claimed by the United Kingdom. [261] Pacific Ocean:
Birnie Island was claimed by the United Kingdom. [261] Pacific Ocean:
Dakota Territory was split in half along the "seventh standard parallel north", a few miles south of 46° north, and admitted as the thirty-ninth state, North Dakota, and the fortieth state, South Dakota. [230] [302]
Montana Territory was admitted as the forty-first state, Montana. [259] [302]
Washington Territory was admitted as the forty-second state, Washington. [203] [302]
Oklahoma Territory was organized from the Public Land Strip and the western half of Indian Territory, except for the Cherokee Outlet, which would be added later upon cession from the Cherokee. [lower-alpha 45] [304] [303]
Idaho Territory was admitted as the forty-third state, Idaho. [253] [305]
Wyoming Territory was admitted as the forty-fourth state, Wyoming. [279] [306]
The Gilbert Islands became a protectorate of the United Kingdom, thus initiating a claim on Butaritari and Marakei. [261] No record of a United States claim exists after this point, so it is assumed this is when the claim fell dormant. Pacific Ocean:
Gardner Island was claimed by the United Kingdom. [261] Pacific Ocean:
Per a treaty with the Cherokee, the federal government purchased the Cherokee Outlet in the Indian Territory and opened it to settlement, transferring it to Oklahoma Territory as provided in the Oklahoma Organic Act. [303] [307]
The Alacrans Islands, Arenas Key, and Western Triangle Island were stricken from the list of claimed guano islands. [3] Caribbean Sea:
Utah Territory was admitted as the forty-fifth state, Utah. [197] [308]
The dispute between the federal government, on behalf of Oklahoma Territory, and Texas over Greer County was resolved in favor of the federal claim. [221]
Due to an earlier shift in the course of the Missouri River, an island was transferred from Nebraska to South Dakota. [309]
The Republic of Hawaii was annexed. [310] The ceremony to transfer sovereignty occurred on this date; the act was signed on July 7, 1898. [311] Johnston Atoll was not included with Hawaii, nor was Sikaiana Atoll, which had been ceded to Hawaii in 1856 by its residents and approved by King Kamehameha IV. However, the annexation was based on the islands named in a report of the Hawaiian Commission, which omitted Sikaiana. [312] [313] Pacific Ocean:
Wake Island was claimed. [314] Pacific Ocean:
Guam, Porto Rico, and, on agreed payment of $20 million, the Philippines were ceded by Spain following the Spanish–American War. [315] The Philippines were claimed by the First Philippine Republic. The ceded region for the Philippines included the island of Palmas, which was administered by the Netherlands. This overlap would not be noticed until January 21, 1906. [316] While the United States occupied Cuba for a time, it was not ceded nor claimed. Pacific Ocean:
Caribbean Sea:
The United States took ownership of the Samoan Islands east of 171° west, per the terms of the Tripartite Convention. [317] Pacific Ocean:
The newly acquired Samoan islands were established as Naval Station, Tutuila. It included all of the islands granted by the Tripartite Convention, though formal cession of the islands by local authorities would take place later in 1900 and 1904. [317] Pacific Ocean:
Porto Rico was organized into a civil territory. [318] no change to map
The island of Tutuila was formally ceded to the United States and added to Naval Station, Tutuila. [317] [319] As the United States had already claimed the island on February 19, 1900, no change is mapped. The treaty would be ratified by Congress on February 20, 1929. no change to map
The former Republic of Hawaii was organized into Hawaii Territory. [320] [321] Pacific Ocean:
The transfer for a thin sliver of Bristol, Tennessee, to Bristol, Virginia, was approved by Congress after having been approved by both states. [322] [323] The location of the border along Main Street (now State Street) between the two cities was either the northern sidewalk of the street, or down the middle of the street; Tennessee's cession of the northern half of the street laid the issue to rest. too small to map
The president of the First Philippine Republic, Emilio Aguinaldo, was captured, and the republic was dissolved.
On this same date several islands, Cagayan de Sulu and Sibutu among them, were purchased from Spain and assigned to the Philippines, which was then being governed as a U.S. insular area. The borders specified in the Treaty of Paris of 1898 had excluded these islands; the new treaty simply ceded "any and all islands belonging to the Philippine Archipelago". [324] [325]
The Alaska boundary dispute with Canada was resolved, generally in favor of the United States claim. [270] Northwestern North America:
Land along southern Guantánamo Bay was leased in perpetuity from Cuba for use as a naval base; [326] the treaty took effect February 23, 1903, and the formal handover occurred on this date. [327] no change to map
The United States took ownership of the Panama Canal Zone. At this stage, only the most basic borders were defined; it was a zone surrounding the canal on each side for five miles, but excluded the cities of Colón and Panama City, which remained exclaves of Panama, as well as the water for their harbors. [328] The Hay–Bunau-Varilla Treaty granting it to the United States was ratified on February 26, 1904. [329] A formal border agreement, which also gave the Canal Zone some land and a lighthouse in northwest Colón, would be ratified on June 15, 1904. [330] [331] Caribbean Sea:
The Manuʻa islands were formally ceded to the United States and added to Naval Station, Tutuila. [317] As the United States had already claimed the islands on February 19, 1900, no change is mapped. The treaty would be ratified by Congress on February 20, 1929. no change to map
The "Taft Agreement" was made with Panama on December 3, with one of its sections refining the maritime boundary of the harbor of Panama City and the Panama Canal Zone. [332] [333] It became effective December 12. no change to map
The border between Arkansas and Indian Territory was slightly adjusted near Fort Smith, Arkansas, transferring a small amount of land on the east side of the Poteau River to Arkansas. [334] [335]
Indian Territory and Oklahoma Territory were combined and admitted as the forty-sixth state, Oklahoma. [303] [336]
A boundary treaty with the United Kingdom on behalf of Canada redefined the maritime borders between the United States and Canada. [337] Among other changes, this "de-enclaved" Horseshoe Reef in Lake Erie by making the water around it contiguous with the water on the American side of the border. [198] [338] no change to map
The new Constitution of Michigan included some area of Wisconsin within its definition of Michigan. [339]
A boundary treaty with the United Kingdom on behalf of Canada addressed a slight uncertainty in the maritime border in Passamaquoddy Bay between Maine and Canada. [340] [341] [342] The border was adjusted to run east of Pope's Folly Island, which previously lay on the border line, and had been the subject of some debate for many years. [343] [344]
Naval Station, Tutuila, was renamed American Samoa; [345] the station continued to operate separate from territorial governance until 1951. Pacific Ocean:
New Mexico Territory was admitted as the forty-seventh state, New Mexico. [199] [346]
Arizona Territory was admitted as the forty-eighth state, Arizona. [250] [347]
The District of Alaska was reorganized as the Alaska Territory. [348] Northwestern North America:
New Mexico filed suit in the Supreme Court against Texas over the "Country Club Dispute", questioning whether the present course or the 1850 course of the Rio Grande should be their border. [349]
The Corn Islands were leased from Nicaragua for a period of 99 years; however, this was not a full transfer of sovereignty, and the islands were never administered as an insular area. [350] no change to map
The borders of the Panama Canal Zone were explicitly defined. Whereas the original definition was a simple corridor surrounding the canal, this treaty specified the actual border. Among the changes this caused were: a slice of Canal Zone was ceded to Panama so Panama City would be connected with the rest of the country; the middle island of the Las Tres Hermanas Islands, which marked the border of Panama City's harbor, was wholly made part of Canal Zone; Gatun Lake and other surrounding waters were formally annexed to the territory; and an area of northwest Colón was ceded to Canal Zone. [351] [352] [353] Caribbean Sea:
Under Article II of the 1903 Treaty, the United States expropriated from Panama several areas around the mouth of the Rio Chagres, annexing them to the Panama Canal Zone. [354] too small to map
The United States expropriated from Panama a triangle of land, which included the historic Fort San Lorenzo, between the Rio Chagres, Caribbean Sea and the Panama Canal Zone, to which it was annexed. [354] too small to map
Navassa Island was formally claimed for lighthouse purposes. [355] no change to map
The Danish Virgin Islands were purchased from Denmark [356] and renamed the United States Virgin Islands. [357] Caribbean Sea:
The United States expropriated from Panama 2.6 hectares of land at Punta Paitilla in Panama City and annexed it to the Panama Canal Zone. [358] That area was enlarged to about 50 hectares within several months. [354] [359] [360] [361] too small to map
The United States expropriated from Panama land between the Rio Chagres and the Quebrada Majagual and annexed it to the Panama Canal Zone. [354] [361] Caribbean Sea:
Minnesota and Wisconsin exchanged islands in the Mississippi River: Island Seventytwo was transferred to Winona, Minnesota, and Barron's Island was transferred to La Crosse, Wisconsin. [155] [362]
The island of Largo Remo was annexed to the Panama Canal Zone under the United States right of expropriation in the 1903 Canal Treaty. [363] Caribbean Sea:
Fifteen hectares on the island of Taboga Island were annexed to the Panama Canal Zone. [364] too small to map
The "Wedge" dispute between Delaware and Pennsylvania was resolved in Delaware's favor. The disputed land had generally been administered by Delaware, even electing a member of the Delaware legislature in the mid-19th century, [365] but federal maps had included the land as part of Pennsylvania at least as late as 1900. [366] The states had agreed on a resolution, and it was affirmed by an act of Congress on this date. [367] [368] Some sources, both contemporary and modern, note that, in the original process of resurveying the border in 1892, a very thin, horn-shaped region along the arc was transferred from Delaware to Pennsylvania; [365] [368] [369] however, no federal maps found reflect this, and it is unclear if this transfer actually occurred.
Kingman Reef was formally annexed. [370] no change to map
Michigan expanded its claim to Wisconsin territory, though Wisconsin never lost control over the area. [339]
The Swan Islands were claimed by Honduras. [371] Caribbean Sea:
The future area for Madden Lake was annexed to the Panama Canal Zone under the United States right of expropriation in the 1903 Canal Treaty. [331] [372] [373] Caribbean Sea:
Swains Island was added to American Samoa. [374] Pacific Ocean:
The border with Canada was adjusted in several places. [375] [376] The only change to a land border redefined how the border between the Lake of the Woods and the Rocky Mountains should be considered; previously, the border followed the curve of the parallel between each border monument, while the treaty changed this to straight lines between each monument. Through this, the United States netted a gain of between 30 and 35 acres of land. Due to the extremely small shift, the lack of specific documentation of where the changes occurred, and the lack of any human impact, this change is not mapped. There was also a change to the border in the Lake of the Woods; due to a surveying anomaly, the previous border intersected itself several times in the lake, creating enclaves of United States water surrounded by Canadian water. The treaty changed the border to use the southernmost intersection as the northwestern point of the Lake of the Woods. Finally, the maritime border in the Bay of Fundy was adjusted, netting Canada roughly 9 acres of water. too small to map
The Supreme Court of the United States resolved the conflict between Michigan and Wisconsin in the favor of Wisconsin. [339]
Johnston Atoll was established as a federal bird refuge and placed under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Agriculture. [377] The atoll had originally been claimed by both the United States and Hawaii in 1858, but little activity apart from guano mining had taken place, and it had been largely abandoned for decades. [219] no change to map
The Supreme Court of the United States defined the border between Michigan and Wisconsin, transferring all islands south of the Quinnesec Falls on the Menominee River to Wisconsin, and all islands north of the falls to Michigan; it is unknown specifically which islands were transferred in this fashion. However, an error in the border description introduced a small overlap between the two states over several islands in Lake Michigan north of the Door Peninsula. [378]
The United States expropriated from Panama another 33 hectares of land on the islands of Taboga and Taboguilla and annexed them to the Panama Canal Zone. [354] too small to map
Two bancos along the Colorado River were ceded from Mexico to Arizona. [379] [380] too small to map
The "Country Club Dispute" between New Mexico and Texas was resolved in Texas's favor. [381]
The Island of Palmas Case was decided in the favor of the Netherlands, ceding Palmas to the Dutch East Indies. [316] Pacific Ocean:
The United States expropriated from Panama three hectares of land at El Cerro de Doscientos Pies ("200-Foot Hill") near Las Minas Bay and annexed it to the Panama Canal Zone. [354] [361] too small to map
The United States expropriated from Panama 25 hectares on Jicarita Island and 60 hectares at Punta Morro de Puercos and annexed them to the Panama Canal Zone. [354] too small to map
The United States expropriated from Panama additional areas around the soon-to-be-built Madden Dam and annexed them to the Panama Canal Zone. [354] [361] Caribbean Sea:
The United States adjusted the border at Punta Paitilla in the Canal Zone, returning a small amount of land to Panama. This was the site for a planned new American embassy, which had to be built on foreign soil. [382] too small to map
Porto Rico was renamed Puerto Rico. [383] Caribbean Sea:
The Mangsee Islands and seven of the Turtle Islands were ceded by the United Kingdom from North Borneo to the Philippines. The islands were supposed to be included in the 1900 transfer of islands from Spain to the United States. Per the terms of the treaty, the United Kingdom continued to administer the islands until requested, and after its independence, the Philippine government made such a request and took control. [384] Pacific Ocean:
The Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the border between New Hampshire and Vermont was the low water mark of the west bank of the Connecticut River; Vermont had sought to have the border placed in the middle of the river. [43] no change to map
A treaty created the Rio Grande Rectification Project, which, from 1935 to 1938, straightened and stabilized the path of the Rio Grande through the El Paso–Juárez Valley. By the end of the project, 174 parcels had been transferred between Mexico and Texas, each side receiving an equal area of land. [385] [386] too small to map
Kingman Reef was placed under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of the Navy. [370] no change to map
The de jure overlap between Michigan and Wisconsin was resolved by the Supreme Court of the United States. [387]
Baker Island, Howland Island, and Jarvis Island were formally annexed and placed under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of the Interior, [388] ending the United Kingdom's claim to Jarvis Island. [261] Pacific Ocean:
The U.S. Virgin Islands were organized into a civil territory. [389] no change to map
Canton Island, Enderbury Island, and McKean Island were claimed by the United Kingdom. [261] Pacific Ocean:
The condominium of the Canton and Enderbury Islands was established with the United Kingdom. [390] Pacific Ocean:
Panama gained a sovereign corridor that was carved out of the Panama Canal Zone connecting Colón with the rest of Panama, along with a three-dimensional "tube" of sovereignty for a future crossing over an American highway. A corridor consisting of the road from the Canal Zone boundary to Madden Dam was annexed to the Canal Zone. [391] Caribbean Sea:
This is the earliest date so far discovered for when the United States began claiming Fakaofo, Funafuti, Hull Island, Niulakita, Nukufetau, and Nukulaelae. [392] Pacific Ocean:
Governor George McMillin surrendered Guam to the Japanese military. [393] Pacific Ocean:
The garrison on Wake Island surrendered to the Japanese military. [394] Pacific Ocean:
The government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines evacuated from the territory in the face of Japanese advance. A government-in-exile would be established in Washington, D.C. on May 17, 1942. The United States Army Forces in the Far East would surrender on April 9, 1942, following the Battle of Bataan, and the final military holdouts would surrender on May 6, 1942, following the Battle of Corregidor. [395] Pacific Ocean:
The Second Philippine Republic was established as a puppet state of Japan. [395] Pacific Ocean:
Guam was captured from Japan. [393] Pacific Ocean:
The Second Philippine Republic, in exile in Tokyo since April 3, 1945, was dissolved. The process of re-establishing the Commonwealth government on Philippine soil had started on October 23, 1944. [395] Pacific Ocean:
The Japanese garrison on Wake Island surrendered to the United States. [394] Pacific Ocean:
The Commonwealth of the Philippines became independent as the Republic of the Philippines. [396] Pacific Ocean:
The United Nations entrusted the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands to the United States. [6] Pacific Ocean:
The Tokelau Islands were incorporated into New Zealand, which inherited the claims on Atafu, Fakaofo, and Nukunono. [397] Pacific Ocean:
Guam was organized into a civil territory. [398] [399] no change to map
Kansas and Missouri exchanged small portions of land along the Missouri River, due to shifts in the river following a flood in 1944. [400]
Panama's corridor connecting Colón with the rest of Panama was realigned within the Panama Canal Zone. Several three-dimensional "tubes" of sovereignty were also created, allowing Panamanian bridges to pass over rivers and a highway at several locations within the Canal Zone. [401] [402] too small to map
Several border locations of the Panama Canal Zone were redefined. Punta Paitilla, the land held on Taboga Island, and the remaining American holdings in Colón and Panama City were ceded to Panama. [331] [403] Caribbean Sea:
The Alaska Territory was admitted as the forty-ninth state, Alaska. [271] Northwestern North America:
Most of Hawaii Territory was admitted as the fiftieth state, Hawaii. Palmyra Atoll was excluded from statehood and remained a territory. [248] [321] Pacific Ocean:
About 20 acres of land was transferred from Minnesota to North Dakota near Fargo, North Dakota. [166] [404] too small to map
The Chamizal, a tract of land between El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, was divided between the United States and Mexico. [405]
The Cook Islands became self-governing from New Zealand. It claimed the atolls of Pukapuka, Manihiki, Penrhyn, and Rakahanga. [406] Pacific Ocean:
Land on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean was leased from the United Kingdom for use as a military base. [407] no change to map
The lease of the Corn Islands from Nicaragua was terminated. [350] no change to map
The United States recognized the sovereignty of Honduras over the Swan Islands. [350] [408] Caribbean Sea:
The United States claimed maritime borders west of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, within the Dixon Entrance, and in the Beaufort Sea that conflicted with claims of Canada. [409] no change to map
Several parcels were exchanged between Texas and Mexico along the Rio Grande in areas near Presidio and Hidalgo, Texas, [410] including the Horcón Tract, on which the town of Río Rico was located, [411] and Beaver Island near Roma, Texas. In addition, Mexico ceded 823 acres (3.33 km2) to the U.S., while the U.S. ceded 2,177 acres (8.81 km2) to Mexico, primarily to straighten sections of the Rio Grande for flood control. [412]
A treaty defining the maritime border with Cuba was signed; though it has never been ratified by the United States Senate, it is provisionally enforced by agreement renewed every two years. [342] no change to map
Tuvalu became independent from the United Kingdom. It claimed the atolls of Funafuti, Nukufetau, Nukulaelae, and Niulakita. [413] Pacific Ocean:
The Republic of Kiribati became independent from the United Kingdom. It claimed Birnie Island, Canton Island, Caroline Island, Christmas Island, Enderbury Island, Flint Island, Gardner Island, Hull Island, Malden Island, McKean Island, Phoenix Island, Starbuck Island, Sydney Island, and Vostok Island. This dissolved the condominium of the Canton and Enderbury Islands. [414] Pacific Ocean:
The Panama Canal Zone was ceded to Panama. The United States and Panama continued to share operational control of the canal until December 31, 1999, when it would be fully turned over to Panama. [415] The United States retained control over several hundred specified areas to be turned over in piecemeal fashion over the years. Caribbean Sea:
The maritime border between the United States and Venezuela was defined. [342] [416] no change to map
The United States recognized the sovereignty of Colombia over Roncador Bank and Serrana Bank, and the claim on Quita Sueño Bank was abandoned by the United States, as it was no longer above the seas at high tide, and thus the government considered it unclaimable. [350] [417] Caribbean Sea:
The United States recognized the sovereignty of the New Zealand territory of Tokelau over Atafu, Fakaofo, and Nukunono, and defined the maritime border with Tokelau. [342] [350] [418] Pacific Ocean:
The United States recognized the sovereignty of the Cook Islands over Pukapuka, Manihiki, Penrhyn, and Rakahanga, and the maritime border with the Cook Islands was defined. [342] [350] [419] Pacific Ocean:
The United States recognized the sovereignty of Kiribati over Birnie Island, Canton Island, Caroline Island, Christmas Island, Enderbury Island, Flint Island, Gardner Island, Hull Island, Malden Island, McKean Island, Phoenix Island, Starbuck Island, Sydney Island, and Vostok Island. [350] [420]
The United States recognized the sovereignty of Tuvalu over Funafuti, Nukufetau, Nukulaelae, and Niulakita. [350] [421]
The International Court of Justice made its judgment on where the maritime border should be in the Gulf of Maine between the United States and Canada. [422] [342] No land changed hands. The scope of the case did not include the sovereignty of Machias Seal Island, but the judgment enabled defining the extent of the disputed water area around that island (an area of 210 square nautical miles). [409] no change to map
The Marshall Islands District of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands became independent as the Republic of the Marshall Islands. [423] The Marshall Islanders had claimed Wake Island as part of their territory since at least 1973, and continued that after independence. [424] Pacific Ocean:
Most of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands was dissolved by the United Nations. The districts of Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Yap became independent as the Federated States of Micronesia. The Mariana Islands District, having already been taking moves towards integration with the United States, became a territory of the United States, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. [423] Pacific Ocean:
The maritime border between the United States and the Soviet Union was provisionally defined. [425] [342] The two countries agreed on this date to abide by the terms of the treaty pending its ratification and entry into force, [426] but while it was ratified by the United States Senate on September 16, 1991, [427] it is unknown if either the Soviet Union or its successor state, Russia, ratified it.[ citation needed ] no change to map
The remaining district of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the Palau District, became independent as the Republic of Palau, dissolving the TTPI. [428] Pacific Ocean:
The maritime border between the United States and territories of the United Kingdom in the Caribbean Sea was defined. [342] [429] [430] no change to map
Navassa Island was transferred to the United States Department of the Interior. [431] [432] no change to map
The maritime border between the United States and Mexico was defined. [342] [433] no change to map
The Supreme Court ruled that extra land added to Ellis Island since the original island was officially granted to New York in an interstate compact with New Jersey in 1834 belonged to New Jersey, owing to the fact that the island was within the territorial waters of New Jersey. The original natural boundary of Ellis Island remained an enclave of New York. [434] no change to map
All former Panama Canal Zone parcels not turned over since 1979, as well as all joint canal operations areas, were transferred to Panama. too small to map
The maritime border between the United States and Mexico on the continental shelf in the western Gulf of Mexico beyond 200 nautical miles was defined. [342] [435] no change to map
Six islands along the Rio Grande were ceded from Texas to Mexico, and three islands and two bancos were ceded from Mexico to Texas. The transfer, which had been pending for 20 years, was the first application of Article III of the 1970 Boundary Treaty. [342] [380] [436] too small to map
The maritime border between the United States and Niue was defined. [342] [437] The treaty was signed on May 13, 1997, but it was not ratified by the United States until at least 2002, and the United Nations shows it as entering into force on this date. [438] no change to map
The border between North Carolina and South Carolina was clarified following years of surveys and negotiation, moving 19 homes across state lines. [439] [440] too small to map
The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations adopted a constitutional amendment, renaming itself the State of Rhode Island. [441] [442] no change to map
An example of a banco, created when a meander is cut off by a new, shorter channel, leaving a cut-off section of land surrounded by a U-shaped (oxbow) lake.
The Banco Convention of 1905 between the United States and Mexico allowed, in the event of sudden changes in the course of the Rio Grande (as by flooding), for the border to be altered to follow the new course. [443] The sudden changes often created bancos (land surrounded by bends in the river that became segregated from either country by a cutoff, often due to rapid accretion or avulsion of the alluvial channel), especially in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. When these bancos are created, the International Boundary and Water Commission investigates if land previously belonging to the United States or Mexico is to be considered on the other side of the border. [444] In all cases of these adjustments along the Rio Grande under the 1905 convention, which occurred on 37 different dates from 1910 to 1976, the transferred land was minuscule (ranging from one to 646 acres) and uninhabited. [445] [446] [447]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to snapshots of the country at any given moment .
Annexation movements of Canada
Geography of the United States
Historic regions of the United States
List of U.S. state partition proposals
List of U.S. states by date of statehood
National Atlas of the United States
Ostend Manifesto (annexation of Cuba)
Territorial evolution of Arizona
Territorial evolution of California
Territorial evolution of Colorado
Territorial evolution of Idaho
Territorial evolution of Montana
Territorial evolution of Nevada
Territorial evolution of New Mexico
Territorial evolution of North Dakota
Territorial evolution of Oregon
Territorial evolution of South Dakota
Territorial evolution of Utah
Territorial evolution of Washington
Territorial evolution of Wyoming
Territories of the United States on stamps
↑ The borders of the country followed the colonial borders; for simplicity, the maps use the borders defined in the 1783 Treaty of Paris. The only substantive difference between the borders before and after the Treaty of Paris is the southwest border: when Great Britain had ownership over West Florida, they had moved its border north, to a line east from the mouth of the Yazoo River, and that area thus did not belong to Georgia; the treaty granted the area between this and 31° north to the United States.
↑ The New Hampshire towns petitioning to join Vermont were: Apthorp (now Littleton), Bath, Canaan, Cardigan (now Orange), Cornish, Dresden (now part of Hanover), Enfield, Franconia, Gunthwaite (now Lisbon), Haverhill, Landaff, Lebanon, Lyman, Lyme, Orford, and Piermont. [34] The specific extent of the towns annexed is unknown, as township borders were often delineated only when a dispute arose; the map uses the common interpretation.
↑ The New Hampshire towns petitioning to join Vermont were: Acworth, Alstead, Bath, Cardigan (now Orange), Charlestown, Chesterfield, Claremont, Cornish, Croydon, Dorchester, Dresden, Franconia, "Gilsom" (likely Gilsum), Grafton, Grantham, Gunthwaite (now Lisbon), Hanover, Haverhill, Hinsdale, Landaff, Lancaster, Lebanon, "Leinster" (possibly Lempster), Lincoln, Lyman, Lyme, Marlow, Newport, Piermont, Plainfield, Richmond, Saville (now Sunapee), Surry, Walpole, and Westmoreland. [40] The specific extent of the towns annexed is unknown, as township borders were often delineated only when a dispute arose; the map uses the common interpretation.
↑ The New York towns petitioning to join Vermont were: "Black-Creek" (unknown; possibly is or is near Hebron), Cambridge, Fort Edward, Granville, "Greenfield" (unknown; there is a town named Greenfield but it lies west of the Hudson River, which was explicitly the western extent of the West Union), Hoosick, Kingsbury, "Little Hoosack" (unknown; presumably near Hoosick), Saratoga, "Scorticook" (possibly Schaghticoke), Skeensborough (now Whitehall), and "Upper-White-Creek" (probably White Creek). [41] The specific extent of the towns annexed is unknown, as township borders were often delineated only when a dispute arose; the map uses the common interpretation.
↑ The treaty established the boundaries of the new country, from the Bay of Fundy: up the "St. Croix River" (which river this referred to was disputed) to its source; north to the height of the land (the "Northwest Angle of Nova Scotia"); along the height of the land to the "northwesternmost Head" of the Connecticut River (which source this referred to was disputed); down that to 45° north; west to the St. Lawrence River; up that to the Great Lakes, through Lake Ontario, the Niagara River, Lake Erie, the Detroit River, Lake St. Clair, St. Clair River, Lake Huron, and Lake Superior; to "Long Lake" (which lake this referred to was disputed) towards the Lake of the Woods; to the northwest angle of the Lake of the Woods; then west to the Mississippi River. However, the Lake of the Woods was north of the source of the Mississippi River; maps universally show this undefined border as a straight line, nearly straight south, between the two points. From there, it followed the Mississippi River down to 31° north; east to the Chattahoochee River; down that to the Flint River; a line from there to the source of the St. Mary's River; then down that to the Atlantic Ocean. [50]
↑ The boundaries of Frankland were never defined; the map uses the common depiction of it.
↑ Massachusetts's ceded claim was a strip of land west of New York and Pennsylvania stretching to the Mississippi River, bounded by the latitudes of Massachusetts Bay Colony's original charter: on the north by a line west from one league north of Lake Winnipesaukee, and on the south by a line west from Massachusetts' southwest corner. [44]
↑ Connecticut's ceded claim was a strip of land west of 120 miles west of Pennsylvania (the western border of its Western Reserve) stretching to the Mississippi River, bounded by 41° north and the southern edge of Massachusetts's western claim, roughly 42°2′ north. [44]
↑ Massachusetts's ceded claim was the portion of New York 82 miles west of where the Delaware River left New York, to an unclear western boundary, with one source saying it was as far as one mile east of the Niagara River. [44]
↑ The new North Carolina–federal border was, from the north, southwest along various ridges of the Great Smoky Mountains; however, issues caused surveyors to eventually run a line roughly due south rather than continue along the ridge. [18]
↑ The new New York–Vermont border was, from the north: Lake Champlain, the Poultney River, then south following borders of townships. [31]
↑ The new Kentucky–Virginia border was, from the south: north along the Cumberland Mountains and Pine Mountain to the Russell Fork; northeast to the Tug Fork; then down that to the Big Sandy River and to the Ohio River. [82]
↑ The new Indiana Territory–Northwest Territory border was, from the south, a line from the mouth of the Kentucky River to Fort Recovery, then north. [95]
↑ The new Georgia–federal border was, from the south, up the Chattahoochie River to its great bend (near West Point), then a line from there towards and past Nickajack. The border's description said it would go until it reached the Tennessee River, and follow that up the river to Tennessee, but the river lay entirely within Tennessee. [11]
↑ There was some question as to whether the purchase also included the basins of the Missouri River and the Red River of the North, but the question was not relevant before the Treaty of 1818 definitively settled the border. Maps universally show the purchase including the Missouri River basin but excluding the Red River basin. [102]
↑ The western border of West Florida was a series of waterways, mainly the Mississippi, Iberville, and Amite Rivers, and Lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas. [103]
↑ The new Illinois Territory–Indiana Territory border was, from the south, the Wabash River up to Post Vincennes, then north. [110]
↑ The northwestern remainder of Orleans Territory presumably rejoined Louisiana Territory, as its extent was still vaguely defined.
↑ Indiana was defined as the territory north of the Ohio River and east of the Wabash River, but while the territory's line turned north at Post Vincennes, the state's border continued up the Wabash until it reached the point where a line drawn north from Post Vincennes would last intersect the river as it weaved back and forth. The northern border of the state was a line east from 10 miles north of the southern tip of Lake Michigan, until it reached the meridian that formed Ohio's western border, which was a line drawn north from the mouth of the Great Miami River. [95]
↑ The new Alabama Territory–Mississippi Territory border was, from the north: up the Tennessee River to Bear Creek (around today's Pickwick Lake); a line to the northwestern corner of Washington County, Mississippi Territory; then south. [125]
↑ The new Arkansaw Territory–Missouri Territory border was, from where the Mississippi River meets 36° north: west to the St. Francis River, up that to 36°30′ north, then west. [118]
↑ The new border was, from the Gulf of Mexico: up the Sabine River to 32° north; north to the Red River; up that to 100° west; north to the Arkansas River; up that to its source; north to 42° north; then west to the Pacific Ocean. [103]
↑ The new Missouri–federal border was, from the mouth of the Des Moines River: up the river to a point west of the Des Moines Rapids on the Mississippi River, west to a point north of the mouth of the Kansas River, then south. [118]
↑ The new Arkansas Territory–federal border, from the north, a line from the southwestern corner of Missouri to a point on the Arkansas River "100 paces east" of Fort Smith, as the border of the lands of the Eastern Choctaw, then south. [134] However, the Arkansas Supreme Court determined in 1909 that the "100 paces east" was a clerical error, and that logically it should have said "100 paces west". [147]
↑ The new Michigan Territory–Wisconsin Territory border was, from Lake Superior: up the Montreal River to Lac Vieux Desert; a line to the source of the Menominee River; then down that to Green Bay. However, this definition was impossible: The Montreal River ended long before it reached Lac Vieux Desert. The issue would be resolved in 1850. [108]
↑ The new northeastern border was, from Passamaquoddy Bay: up the St. Croix River to its source; north to the St. John River; up that to the St. Francis River; up that to its source outlet at Lake Pohenegamook; southwest to the northwest branch of the St. John River; a line from there to where the St. John River crosses 46°25' north; up the river to its source; along the highlands to the source of Halls Stream, then down that to 45° north. [137] [14]
↑ The new northern border was, from Lake Superior: up the Pigeon River to the many lakes and rivers of the Boundary Waters, eventually reaching the Rainy River; then down that to the Lake of the Woods. [166]
↑ The new Wisconsin–Wisconsin Territory border was, from Lake Superior: up the St. Louis River to its first rapids; south to the St. Croix River; then down that to the Mississippi River. [155]
↑ The new international border was, from the Rio Grande: along the southern and western border of New Mexico until it meets the Gila River; down that to the Colorado River; then a line to a point one league south of the port of San Diego. However, the southern border of New Mexico was in question, with the US claim being 31°52′ north, and the Mexican claim being 32°22′ north. [184]
↑ The new California–federal border was, from the north: south along 120° west to 39° north; a line to where the Colorado River intersects 35° north; then down the Colorado River. [2]
↑ The new Texas–federal border was, from the south: up the Rio Grande to 32° north; east to 103° west; north to 36°30′ north; then east. [171]
↑ The borders of New Mexico Territory were, from where its border with Texas ended at 36°30′ north and 103° west: north to 38° north; west to the summit of the San Juan Mountains (called then the Sierra Madre); south along the ridge to 37° north; then west. [199]
↑ The new international border was, starting from where the Rio Grande crosses 31°47′ north: west 100 miles; south to 31°20′ north; west to 111° west; a line to a point on the Colorado River 20 miles below the mouth of the Gila River; then up the Colorado River. [208]
↑ The new Minnesota–federal border was, from the north: up the Red River to the Bois de Sioux River; up that to Lake Traverse and its southern tip; a line to Big Stone Lake and through that to its southern tip; then south. [166]
↑ The new Oregon–Washington Territory border was, from the north, up the Snake River to the mouth of the Owyhee River, then south. [187]
↑ The claimed borders of Jefferson Territory were between 37° north, 43° north, 102° west, and 110° west. [220]
↑ The borders of Colorado Territory were parallels 32° north, 37° north, and Washington meridians 25° west and 32° west. [226]
↑ The new Nebraska Territory–Dakota Territory border was, from the east: up the Missouri River to the Niobrara River; up that to the Keya Paha River; up that to 43° north; then west. [206]
↑ The decree transferred land from the left bank of the Blackstone River to Rhode Island, including what is now East Providence, in exchange land around Fall River being transferred to Massachusetts. [13]
↑ The Virginia counties that became West Virginia were: Barbour, Boone, Braxton, Brooke, Cabell, Calhoun, Clay, Doddridge, Fayette, Gilmer, Greenbrier, Hampshire, Hancock, Hardy, Harrison, Jackson, Kanawha, Lewis, Logan, McDowell, Marion, Marshall, Mason, Mercer, Monongalia, Monroe, Morgan, Nicholas, Ohio, Pendleton, Pleasants, Pocahontas, Preston, Putnam, Raleigh, Randolph, Ritchie, Roane, Taylor, Tucker, Tyler, Upshur, Wayne, Webster, Wetzel, Wirt, Wood, and Wyoming. [255]
↑ The new Idaho Territory–Montana Territory border was, from the north: south along 39° west from Washington to the crest of the Bitterroot Range and the Rocky Mountains; along that to 44°30′ north; east to 34° west from Washington; north to 45° north; then east. [259]
↑ The new Dakota Territory–Idaho Territory border was, from the south: north along 33° west from Washington to the crest of the Rocky Mountains, then northwest along that to the new tripoint with Montana Territory. [230]
↑ The borders of the Department of Alaska were, from the Dixon Entrance: Up the Portland Channel to 56° north; then along the "summit of the mountains situated parallel to the coast" (the definition of which was disputed) to 141° west; then north. [270]
↑ The borders of Wyoming Territory were parallels 41° north and 45° north, and Washington meridians 27° west and 34° west. [279]
↑ The new Oklahoma Territory–federal border was, from where the Red River meets 98° west: north to the Canadian River; down that to Seminole land; north along that border to the North Canadian River; down that to Creek land; north and east along that border to 96° west; then north. This omits the Cherokee Outlet, whose complex borders separated the main portion of Oklahoma Territory from the former Public Land Strip. [303]
The Louisiana Purchase was the acquisition of the territory of Louisiana by the United States from France in 1803. In return for fifteen million dollars, or approximately eighteen dollars per square mile, the United States nominally acquired a total of 828,000 sq mi. However, France only controlled a small fraction of this area, most of it inhabited by American Indians; for the majority of the area, what the United States bought was the "preemptive" right to obtain Indian lands by treaty or by conquest, to the exclusion of other colonial powers. The total cost of all subsequent treaties and financial settlements over the land has been estimated to be around 2.6 billion dollars.
The Indian Territory and the Indian Territories are terms that generally describe an evolving land area set aside by the United States Government for the relocation of Native Americans who held aboriginal title to their land as a sovereign independent state. In general, the tribes ceded land they occupied in exchange for land grants in 1803. The concept of an Indian Territory was an outcome of the US federal government's 18th- and 19th-century policy of Indian removal. After the American Civil War (1861–1865), the policy of the US government was one of assimilation.
Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2019, the population was 49,402, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Its county seat is the city of St. Albans. It borders the Canadian province of Quebec. The county was created in 1792 and organized in 1796. Franklin County is part of the Burlington metropolitan area.
The Treaty of Ghent was the peace treaty that ended the War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain. It took effect in February 1815. Both sides signed it on December 24, 1814, in the city of Ghent, United Netherlands. The treaty restored relations between the two parties to status quo ante bellum by restoring the prewar borders of June 1812.
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, officially titled the Treaty of Peace, Friendship, Limits and Settlement between the United States of America and the Mexican Republic, is the peace treaty that was signed on February 2, 1848, in the Villa de Guadalupe Hidalgo between the United States and Mexico that ended the Mexican–American War (1846–1848). The treaty was ratified by the United States on March 10 and by Mexico on May 19. The ratifications were exchanged on May 30, and the treaty was proclaimed on July 4, 1848.
The Treaty of Paris, signed in Paris by representatives of King George III of Great Britain and representatives of the United States of America on September 3, 1783, officially ended the American Revolutionary War. The treaty set the boundaries between the British Empire in North America and the United States of America, on lines "exceedingly generous" to the latter. Details included fishing rights and restoration of property and prisoners of war.
The Webster–Ashburton Treaty, signed August 9, 1842, was a treaty that resolved several border issues between the United States and the British North American colonies. Signed under John Tyler's presidency, it resolved the Aroostook War, a nonviolent dispute over the location of the Maine–New Brunswick border. It:
The Adams–Onís Treaty of 1819, also known as the Transcontinental Treaty, the Florida Purchase Treaty, or the Florida Treaty, was a treaty between the United States and Spain in 1819 that ceded Florida to the U.S. and defined the boundary between the U.S. and New Spain. It settled a standing border dispute between the two countries and was considered a triumph of American diplomacy. It came in the midst of increasing tensions related to Spain's territorial boundaries in North America against the United States and the United Kingdom in the aftermath of the American Revolution; it also came during the Latin American wars of independence.
West Florida was a region on the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico that underwent several boundary and sovereignty changes during its history. As its name suggests, it was formed out of the western part of former Spanish Florida, along with lands taken from French Louisiana; Pensacola became West Florida's capital. The colony included about two thirds of what is now the Florida Panhandle, as well as parts of the modern U.S. states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.
East Florida was a colony of Great Britain from 1763 to 1783 and a province of Spanish Florida from 1783 to 1821. Great Britain gained control of the long-established Spanish colony of La Florida in 1763 as part of the treaty ending the French and Indian War. Deciding that the territory was too large to administer as a single unit, Britain divided Florida into two colonies separated by the Apalachicola River: East Florida with its capital in St. Augustine and West Florida with its capital in Pensacola. East Florida was much larger and comprised the bulk of the former Spanish territory of Florida and most of the current state of Florida. The sparsely populated Florida colonies remained loyal to Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. However, as part of the 1783 treaty in which Britain officially recognized the independence of its former American colonies, it also ceded both Floridas back to Spain, which maintained them as separate colonies while moving the boundary east to the Suwannee River.
Pinckney's Treaty, also known as the Treaty of San Lorenzo or the Treaty of Madrid, was signed on October 27, 1795 by the United States and Spain.
The Texas annexation was the 1845 annexation of the Republic of Texas into the United States of America, which was admitted to the Union as the 28th state on December 29, 1845.
The Treaty of Tripoli was signed in 1796. It was the first treaty between the United States of America and Tripoli to secure commercial shipping rights and protect American ships in the Mediterranean Sea from local Barbary pirates.
The Treaty of Sugauli, the treaty that established the boundary line of Nepal, was signed on 2 December 1815 and ratified by 4 March 1816 between the East India Company and Raj Guru Gajaraj Mishra with Chandra Shekhar Upadhaya for Nepal following the Anglo-Nepalese War of 1814-16. The treaty represented a Nepali surrender to the British and contained the cession of Nepal's western territory to the British East India Company.
The Republic of West Florida was a short-lived republic in the western region of Spanish West Florida for just over two and a half months during 1810. It was annexed and occupied by the United States later in 1810 and subsequently became part of eastern Louisiana.
This is a timeline of country and capital changes around the world since 1900. It includes dates of declarations of independence, changes in country name, changes of capital city or name, and changes in territory such as the annexation, cession, concession, occupation, or secession of land. Territorial conquests as a result of war are included on the timeline at the conclusion of military campaigns, but changes in the course of specific battles and day-to-day operations are generally not included. Changes in airspace and maritime territory are included only when they are subject to a dispute.
The history of post-confederation Canada began on July 1, 1867, when the British North American colonies of Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia were united to form a single Dominion within the British Empire. Upon Confederation, the United Province of Canada was immediately split into the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. The colonies of Prince Edward Island and British Columbia joined shortly after, and Canada acquired the vast expanse of the continent controlled by the Hudson's Bay Company, which was eventually divided into new territories and provinces. Canada evolved into a fully sovereign state by 1982.
The 1763 Treaty of Paris ended the major war known by Americans as the French and Indian War and by Canadians as the Seven Years' War / Guerre de Sept Ans, or by French-Canadians, La Guerre de la Conquête. It was signed by Great Britain, France and Spain, with Portugal in agreement. Preferring to keep Guadeloupe, France gave up Canada and all of its claims to territory east of the Mississippi River to Britain. With France out of North America this dramatically changed the European political scene on the continent.
The Admission to the Union Clause of the United States Constitution, often called the New States Clause, found at Article IV, Section 3, Clause 1, authorizes the Congress to admit new states into the United States beyond the thirteen already in existence at the time the Constitution went into effect. The Constitution went into effect on June 21, 1788, after ratification by 9 of the 13 states, and the federal government began operations under it on March 4, 1789. Since then, 37 states have been admitted into the Union. Each new state has been admitted on an equal footing with those already in existence.
This is a timeline of country and capital changes around the world up to 1899. It includes dates of declarations of independence, changes in country name, changes of capital city or name, and changes in territory such as the annexation, cession, concession, occupation, or secession of land. Territorial conquests as a result of war are included on the timeline at the conclusion of military campaigns, but changes in the course of specific battles and day-to-day operations are generally not included.
1 2 Van Zandt, pp. 14–15
1 2 Van Zandt, pp. 151–153
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Moore, John Bassett (1906). "A Digest of International Law as Embodied in Diplomatic Discussions, Treaties and Other International Agreements, International Awards, the Decisions of Municipal Courts, and the Writings of Jurists and Especially in Documents, Published and Unpublished, Issued by Presidents and Secretaries of State of the United States, the Opinions of the Attorneys-General, and the Decisions of Courts, Federal and State". Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 566–580. Archived from the original on May 1, 2016.
↑ Ryden, George Herbert. The Foreign Policy of the United States in Relation to Samoa. New York: Octagon Books, 1975.
↑ http://www.vinow.com/general_usvi/history/ Vinow.com. Virgin Islands History. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
1 2 Exec. Order No. 11021 (July 1, 1962; in English) President of the United States . Retrieved on April 10, 2015.
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↑ Van Zandt, pp. 84–85
↑ "Delaware Government Facts & Symbols". Government of Delaware. Archived from the original on January 9, 2017. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
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↑ Hampshire, New (1824). The Laws of the State of New Hampshire. pp. 239–240. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
1 2 3 4 Van Zandt, pp. 80–84
↑ "Rhode Island declares independence". History Channel. Archived from the original on January 18, 2017. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
1 2 Van Zandt, pp. 99–100
1 2 3 Van Zandt, pp. 92–95
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Nine Capitals of the United States". U.S. Senate. Archived from the original on March 20, 2016. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "8 Forgotten Capitals of the United States". History. Archived from the original on January 26, 2017. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
↑ "The North Carolina – South Carolina Border Surveys – 1730 to 1815". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
↑ Kelly, Stephen R. (August 23, 2014). "How the Carolinas Fixed Their Blurred Lines". The New York Times . Archived from the original on August 31, 2014. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
↑ O'Connor, Joe (November 27, 2012). "Puffin Wars: The island paradise at centre of last Canada-U.S. land dispute". National Post . Retrieved April 1, 2019.
↑ "Constitution of Delaware". Avalon Project . Yale Law School. 1776. Archived from the original on July 9, 2009. Retrieved June 10, 2009.
↑ "Constitution of Pennsylvania". Avalon Project . Yale Law School. 1776. Archived from the original on January 26, 2017. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Van Zandt, pp. 64–65
↑ Court, New Hampshire (Colony) Probate (1877). Provincial and State Papers relating to New Hampshire. pp. 242–246. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
1 2 Vermont 2006 J.R.H. 3, Joint Resolution Designating January as Vermont History and Independence Month Archived October 11, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
1 2 Vermont State Papers, pp. 89–103
1 2 3 4 "The Historical Geography of Vermont". Archived from the original on January 12, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
1 2 3 4 "East Union". The Vermont Encyclopedia. University Press of New England. 2003. p. 111. ISBN 978-1-58465-086-7. 1584650869.
↑ Crumrine, Boyd (1902). "Boundary Controversy between Pennsylvania and Virginia; 1748–1785". Annals of Carnegie Museum . 1: 505–568. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
1 2 3 "Virginia-Tennessee Border". Archived from the original on February 6, 2016. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
↑ "Articles of Confederation". The Avalon Project at Yale Law School. Archived from the original on October 29, 2015. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
↑ Vermont State Papers, pp. 136–137: "Agreeably to the recommendation of the committees, the Legislature of Vermont was adjourned to the first Wednesday of April [1781]; at which time, it met at Windsor, and the union of the grants, east and west of Connecticut river, was consummated"
↑ Vermont State Papers, pp. 138–141
1 2 "West Union". The Vermont Encyclopedia. University Press of New England. 2003. p. 319. ISBN 978-1-58465-086-7. 1584650869.