USA Expansion (1789-1831)

Introduction

• Time Period: 1789-1831
• Initial USA Territory: Original 13 colonies (in blue on the Eastern coast)
• Expansion: By 1831, USA expanded into yellow and purple regions, forming nearly half of the current USA territory

Key Expansions

1. Northwest and Southwest Territories (Yellow Region)
2. Louisiana Territory (Purple Region)

Reasons for Expansion

1. Taking Native American Land

• British Control (before 1783): Claimed but did not own Native American land
• Post-1783: British ceded the control to USA
  • Northwest & Southwest Territories established
  • Battle of Fallen Timbers (1794): Defeat of Native Americans led to Treaty of Greenville
  • Native American lands officially became part of the USA

2. Encouraging Settlers

• Jefferson's Approach: Encouraged white settlers to move west
  • Divided land into 640-acre plots
  • Land speculators bought large plots, selling smaller sections to settlers
  • Tensions with squatters who occupied unsettled lands

3. Louisiana Purchase (1803)

• French Control (1800): Claimed the purple region
• Purchase Details:
  • France sold the land to the USA for $15 million
  • The land was vast, following Missouri and Mississippi rivers
  • Expansion provided an immense territory for settlement and development

4. Exploration and Trade Routes

• Explorers: Lewis and Clark
  • Established new trade and travel routes
  • Aided by Native Americans, notably Sacagawea
  • Mapped routes leading to the Pacific
  • Importance in establishing fur trade routes

Summary

• Expansion: Massive increase from original 13 colonies to a territory 6-7 times larger

• Main Reasons for Expansion:

  1. Acquisition of Native American lands
  2. Settlement encouragement
  3. Louisiana Purchase
  4. Exploration and trade route establishment

• Outcome: USA quickly expanded both territorially and economically through strategic acquisitions and settlement policies.