Question

How and when did the United States gain what is now Florida? A. from Britain in 1783 B. from Spain in 1819 C. in the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 D. from Mexico in 1848

Short answer

B. from Spain in 1819.

Step-by-step solution

- Identify the Choices

Look at the given choices for the year and country from which the United States gained Florida. The options are:A. from Britain in 1783B. from Spain in 1819C. in the Louisiana Purchase in 1803D. from Mexico in 1848

- Recall Historical Events

Recall key events in U.S. history. The United States acquired territories won from Britain after the American Revolution in 1783, made the Louisiana Purchase from France in 1803, signed the Adams-Onís Treaty with Spain in 1819, and acquired lands from Mexico after the Mexican-American War in 1848.

- Analyze the Treaty

The Adams-Onís Treaty, signed in 1819, is crucial. This treaty between the United States and Spain resulted in Spain ceding Florida to the United States.

- Determine the Correct Answer

Based on the understanding from Step 3, the correct answer must be related to the Adams-Onís Treaty of 1819 with Spain. This matches option B.

Key concepts

Adams-Onís Treaty

The Adams-Onís Treaty was a significant agreement between the United States and Spain, signed in 1819. It is also known as the Transcontinental Treaty or the Florida Purchase Treaty. This treaty had a major impact on U.S. territorial expansion by transferring control of Florida from Spain to the United States. Beyond the acquisition of Florida, the treaty also defined the boundary between U.S. and Spanish territories in the west. This helped in settling long-standing border disputes and provided a clearer demarcation of territories. The Adams-Onís Treaty was negotiated by John Quincy Adams, the U.S. Secretary of State, and the Spanish minister Luis de Onís, and it marked an important step in the westward expansion of the United States.

U.S. territorial expansion

The United States has grown significantly since its founding, largely through a series of treaties, purchases, and acts of war. The acquisition of Florida in 1819 via the Adams-Onís Treaty is one example of this expansion. Other notable expansions include:

• The Louisiana Purchase in 1803, which doubled the size of the U.S. by acquiring territory from France.
• The Treaty of Paris in 1783, which ended the American Revolutionary War and granted the U.S. territories east of the Mississippi River.
• The acquisition of territories following the Mexican-American War, including California and New Mexico, formalized through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848.

These expansions were key in establishing the U.S. as a vast and powerful nation, and each played a crucial role in its development and growth.

Historical treaties

Treaties have played a pivotal role in shaping the boundaries and growth of nations throughout history. The U.S. has engaged in numerous treaties to accomplish its territorial ambitions, including the acquisition of Florida via the Adams-Onís Treaty. Here are some other important treaties:

• The Treaty of Paris (1783), which ended the American Revolutionary War and established boundaries between the U.S. and British North America.
• The Louisiana Purchase Treaty (1803), in which the U.S. bought a vast territory from France, significantly increasing its size.
• The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848), ending the Mexican-American War and leading to the U.S. gaining California and other southwestern territories.
• The Oregon Treaty (1846), which settled the boundary dispute with Britain in the Pacific Northwest.

These historical treaties not only facilitated U.S. territorial expansion but also had lasting impacts on the nation's political and cultural landscape.