Map Of Usa Before The Louisiana Purchase

Introduction

The Louisiana Purchase was a significant event in American history, but what did the United States look like before this acquisition? In this article, we will explore the map of the USA before the Louisiana Purchase and learn about the different regions and territories that existed at the time.

The Original Thirteen Colonies

When the United States declared independence from Great Britain in 1776, it consisted of thirteen colonies along the Atlantic coast. These colonies were Virginia, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. The Appalachian Mountains served as a natural barrier between the coastal colonies and the western frontier.

Question:

What were the original thirteen colonies of the United States?

Answer:

The original thirteen colonies of the United States were Virginia, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.

The Northwest Territory

The Northwest Territory was a vast area northwest of the Ohio River that was ceded to the United States by Great Britain after the Revolutionary War. It included the present-day states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin, as well as parts of Minnesota.

Question:

What states were included in the Northwest Territory?

Answer:

The Northwest Territory included the present-day states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin, as well as parts of Minnesota.

The Southwest Territory

The Southwest Territory was a region south of the Ohio River that was also ceded to the United States by Great Britain after the Revolutionary War. It included present-day Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, and Mississippi.

Question:

What states were included in the Southwest Territory?

Answer:

The Southwest Territory included present-day Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, and Mississippi.

The Louisiana Territory

The Louisiana Territory was a vast region west of the Mississippi River that was originally claimed by France. In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson purchased the Louisiana Territory from France, which nearly doubled the size of the United States. The acquisition included present-day Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and parts of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and Louisiana.

Question:

Who purchased the Louisiana Territory from France?

Answer:

President Thomas Jefferson purchased the Louisiana Territory from France.

The Florida Territory

The Florida Territory was a region that was originally claimed by Spain. In 1819, the United States acquired Florida from Spain. It included present-day Florida, as well as parts of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

Question:

Who originally claimed the Florida Territory?

Answer:

Spain originally claimed the Florida Territory.

The Oregon Country

The Oregon Country was a vast region that was jointly claimed by the United States and Great Britain. In 1846, the United States and Great Britain signed the Oregon Treaty, which established the 49th parallel as the boundary between the United States and Canada. The Oregon Country included present-day Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, as well as parts of Montana and Wyoming.

Question:

Who jointly claimed the Oregon Country?

Answer:

The United States and Great Britain jointly claimed the Oregon Country.

The Mexican Cession

The Mexican Cession was a region that was ceded to the United States by Mexico after the Mexican-American War. It included present-day California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and parts of Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, and Oklahoma.

Question:

What was the Mexican Cession?

Answer:

The Mexican Cession was a region that was ceded to the United States by Mexico after the Mexican-American War.

The Gadsden Purchase

The Gadsden Purchase was a region that was purchased by the United States from Mexico in 1853. It included present-day southern Arizona and New Mexico.

Question:

What was the Gadsden Purchase?

Answer:

The Gadsden Purchase was a region that was purchased by the United States from Mexico in 1853.

Conclusion

Before the Louisiana Purchase, the United States consisted of the original thirteen colonies along the Atlantic coast, the Northwest Territory, the Southwest Territory, and various territories claimed by other countries. The Louisiana Purchase nearly doubled the size of the United States and was followed by the acquisition of Florida, the Oregon Country, the Mexican Cession, and the Gadsden Purchase. Today, the United States is a vast and diverse country with 50 states and numerous territories.