Between 1764 and 1775, thirteen British colonies were established in North America. Each colony was unique, with its own government, religious beliefs, and customs. They didn’t interact much with each other. John Adams, one of the Founding Fathers, thought it would be amazing if these colonies could unite under the same ideas and actions. It was the pressure from the British Empire that eventually led to the Revolutionary War, bringing them together.
On July 2, 1776, the Continental Congress decided to declare independence from Great Britain. Just two days later, on July 4, 1776, they accepted the Declaration of Independence, creating a new nation instead of just a group of colonies. On September 9, 1776, the name “United States of America” was officially adopted, replacing “United Colonies.”
The American Revolutionary War ended with the Treaty of Paris on September 3, 1783. This treaty was signed by representatives of King George III of Great Britain and the United States. It set the boundaries between the British Empire and the new country, giving the United States all land east of the Mississippi River, north of Florida, and south of Canada.
When Thomas Jefferson became the third president in 1801, he made a significant purchase known as the Louisiana Territory. In 1803, the U.S. bought this land from France for 15 million dollars, which would be about 250 billion dollars today. This purchase doubled the size of the United States, stretching from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains and from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian border.
After James Madison became the fourth president, Florida was acquired in 1810. It declared independence from Spain, and the U.S. took possession after the Adams-Onís Treaty. General Andrew Jackson received West Florida from the Spanish governor on July 17, 1821.
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848 brought Texas, California, and parts of New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado into the U.S. The country paid Mexico 18.25 million dollars for these territories. In 1846, the Oregon Treaty divided the land at the 49th parallel. The Gadsden Purchase in 1853 added a strip of land along the Mexico-U.S. border for 10 million dollars, intended for a railroad.
The U.S. bought Alaska from Russia on March 30, 1867, for 7.2 million dollars. Alaska became a state on January 3, 1959. The Hawaiian Islands became a U.S. territory in 1900.
Starting with Delaware as the first state on December 7, 1787, and ending with Hawaii as the 50th state on August 21, 1959, the United States grew through these land acquisitions. Each addition shaped the nation we know today.
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Using the information from the article, create a timeline that shows the key events from the formation of the thirteen colonies to the acquisition of Hawaii as the 50th state. Use different colors to highlight significant events like the Declaration of Independence and major land acquisitions.
Draw a map of the United States and label the original thirteen colonies. Then, add the territories acquired over time, such as the Louisiana Purchase and the acquisition of Alaska and Hawaii. Use arrows to show how the country expanded geographically.
In groups, role-play a meeting of the Continental Congress. Assign roles such as John Adams and other Founding Fathers. Discuss and debate the decision to declare independence from Great Britain. Present your group’s decision and reasoning to the class.
Choose one of the states mentioned in the article, such as Texas or California, and research its journey to becoming part of the United States. Create a short presentation or poster that includes key dates, treaties, and any challenges faced during the process.
Imagine you are a colonist living during the time of the Revolutionary War. Write a letter to a friend or family member explaining your thoughts on the colonies uniting and declaring independence. Include your hopes and concerns for the future of the new nation.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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Between 1764 and 1775, 13 British colonies were formed in North America. Each independent colony was quite different from the others, with its own government, religious practices, and customs, and they had very little interaction with one another. John Adams noted that uniting the 13 colonies under the same principles and system of action would be an extraordinary feat. It took persistent pressure from the British Empire, which led to the Revolutionary War, to bring them together.
On July 2, 1776, Congress voted to declare independence from Great Britain, and on July 4, 1776, Congress accepted the Declaration of Independence, establishing a new independent nation rather than just a collection of colonies. On September 9, 1776, the Continental Congress formally named the new nation the United States of America, replacing the term “United Colonies.”
The American Revolutionary War officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris on September 3, 1783, by representatives of King George III of Great Britain and representatives of the United States. The treaty set the boundaries between the British Empire and the new country, granting the United States all areas east of the Mississippi River, north of Florida, and south of Canada.
With the election of Thomas Jefferson as the third president in 1801 came the purchase of the Louisiana Territory. This territory was acquired from France in 1803 for 15 million U.S. dollars, which in today’s money would be approximately a quarter of a billion dollars. The territory was about 828,000 square miles, effectively doubling the size of the young Republic. The Louisiana Territory stretched from the Mississippi River in the east to the Rocky Mountains in the west, and from the Gulf of Mexico in the south to the Canadian border in the north.
A year after James Madison, the fourth president, was elected, Florida was acquired and declared a U.S. possession in 1810 after it declared independence from Spain. Spain did not relinquish its claim until the ratification of the Adams-Onís Treaty. General Andrew Jackson accepted the delivery of West Florida from its Spanish governor on July 17, 1821.
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed in 1848, resulted in the acquisition of Texas, California, and a large area that included most of New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Wyoming and Colorado. The U.S. paid a total of 18 million two hundred fifty thousand dollars to Mexico for these territories.
On June 15, 1846, the Oregon Treaty divided the territory at the 49th parallel, and with the Gadsden Purchase in 1853, the United States acquired a strip of land along the Mexico-United States border for 10 million dollars, intended for a southern Transcontinental Railroad.
The U.S. purchased Alaska from the Russian Empire on March 30, 1867, for 7 million two hundred thousand dollars. Alaska did not become a state until January 3, 1959. The Hawaiian Islands officially became a territory of the U.S. in 1900.
From December 7, 1787, when Delaware was the first state admitted to the Union, to August 21, 1959, when Hawaii was the last state admitted, the United States was shaped by these land acquisitions over time.
Hope you enjoyed learning with us! Visit us at learnbrite.org for thousands of free resources and turnkey solutions for teachers and homeschoolers.
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This version removes any potentially sensitive or inappropriate language while maintaining the informative content of the transcript.
Colonies – Settlements or territories established and governed by a foreign power. – The thirteen American colonies declared their independence from British rule in 1776.
Independence – The state of being free from control or support by another country or government. – After years of struggle, India gained independence from British rule in 1947.
Treaty – A formal agreement between two or more countries, often to end a conflict or establish terms of peace. – The Treaty of Versailles officially ended World War I in 1919.
Territory – An area of land under the jurisdiction of a ruler or state. – The Louisiana Purchase significantly expanded the territory of the United States in 1803.
Purchase – The act of buying something, often referring to land or property in historical contexts. – The United States made the Alaska Purchase from Russia in 1867, acquiring a vast new territory.
Florida – A state in the southeastern region of the United States, known for its history of Spanish colonization and later becoming a U.S. territory. – Florida was ceded to the United States by Spain in 1819 through the Adams-Onís Treaty.
Texas – A state in the south-central region of the United States, once an independent republic before joining the Union. – Texas declared its independence from Mexico in 1836 and became a U.S. state in 1845.
California – A state on the west coast of the United States, known for its Gold Rush in the mid-1800s. – The California Gold Rush of 1849 attracted thousands of people seeking fortune and helped the state rapidly grow in population.
Alaska – The largest state in the United States, located in the northwest extremity of North America, known for its vast wilderness. – Alaska was purchased from Russia in 1867 and became the 49th U.S. state in 1959.
Geography – The study of Earth’s physical features, climate, and the distribution of life, including human activity. – Understanding geography helps us learn how different landscapes and climates have influenced human history and settlement patterns.
