U.S. Territorial Acquisitions

Date

Territory

Area
(square miles)

Comment

1783

Former colonies

892,135

Treaty of Paris of 1783 following military victory

1803

Louisiana Purchase

827,987

Purchased from France for $15 million, including assumed claims

1819

Florida (East and West)

72,101

Purchased from Spain for $5 million in assumed claims under Adams-Onís Treaty

1845

Texas

389,166

Annexation of independent republic

1846

Oregon Territory

286,541

The Oregon Treaty with Great Britain

1848

Mexican Cession

529,189

Purchase from Mexico following military victory; $15 million plus 3.25 million in assumed claims

1853

Gadsden Purchase

29,670

Purchased from Mexico for $10 million

1857

Baker Island
Howland Island
Jarvis Island

.5
.6
1.7

Unincorporated territory claimed under Guano Act of 1856

1858

Johnston Atoll

1.1

Unincorporated territory annexed under Guano Act of 1856; chemical weapon disposal site

1867

Alaska

591,000

Purchased from Russia for $7.2 million; statehood 1959

1867

Midway Islands

2

Annexation of unoccupied area

1898

Hawaiian Islands

6,450

Annexation of independent republic; statehood 1959

1898

Philippine Islands

115,800

Purchased from Spain following military victory; independent in 1946

1898

Puerto Rico

3,508

Annexed following military victory over Spain

1898

Guam

209

Annexed following military victory over Spain

1899

American Samoa

76

Annexed in settlement with Britain and Germany

1899

Wake Island

3

Annexation of unoccupied area

1903

Panama Canal Zone

553

Leased from Panama for $10 million, plus $250,000 annually; ceded to Panama in 1999

1917

Virgin Islands

136

Purchased from Denmark for $25 million; currently an organized, unincorporated U.S. territory under jurisdiction of Office of Insular Affairs of the Dept. of the Interior

1922

Kingman Reef

.4

Annexed 1922; later airline refueling; currently uninhabited; National Wildlife Refuge

1938

Kanton and Enderbury islands

3.5
3.0

Joint occupation with Britain; independent as Kiribati in 1979

1947

Mariana Islands

179

United Nations Trust Territory; self-governing as Northern Mariana Islands

1947

Caroline Islands

500

United Nations Trust Territory; 1986 most islands adopt commonwealth status as Federated States of Micronesia

1947

Marshall Islands

70

United Nations Trust Territory; 1979 self-governing; 1986 independent as Republic of the Marshall Islands

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U.S. Commission on Civil Rights - Acquisition Opportunities
... Rights is seeking a contractor to conduct a full scope financial audit of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rightsâ€™ annual financial statement for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006. A copy of the Solicitation may be requested via email ...
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Travel and Tourism Sites for the 50 States and U.S. Territories: FirstGov.gov
Territories Travel and Tourism Sites for the 50 States and U.S. Territories Local Weather ForecastEnter City or Zip Code: Featured SitesAlabama Vacation Planning Guide Visit one of the U.S. states or visit them all. You'll see that the U.S ...
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Official Name and Status History of the several States and U.S. Territories
Territory and the only Territory organized by the Congress that operated under the Articles of Confederation17th1 March 1803(Admitted)by an Act of Congress of 19 February 1803 recognizing a State government already formed30 April 1802authorizing ...
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Date	Territory	Area (square miles)	Comment
1783	Former colonies	892,135	Treaty of Paris of 1783 following military victory
1803	Louisiana Purchase	827,987	Purchased from France for $15 million, including assumed claims
1819	Florida (East and West)	72,101	Purchased from Spain for $5 million in assumed claims under Adams-Onís Treaty
1845	Texas	389,166	Annexation of independent republic
1846	Oregon Territory	286,541	The Oregon Treaty with Great Britain
1848	Mexican Cession	529,189	Purchase from Mexico following military victory; $15 million plus 3.25 million in assumed claims
1853	Gadsden Purchase	29,670	Purchased from Mexico for $10 million
1857	Baker Island Howland Island Jarvis Island	.5 .6 1.7	Unincorporated territory claimed under Guano Act of 1856
1858	Johnston Atoll	1.1	Unincorporated territory annexed under Guano Act of 1856; chemical weapon disposal site
1867	Alaska	591,000	Purchased from Russia for $7.2 million; statehood 1959
1867	Midway Islands	2	Annexation of unoccupied area
1898	Hawaiian Islands	6,450	Annexation of independent republic; statehood 1959
1898	Philippine Islands	115,800	Purchased from Spain following military victory; independent in 1946
1898	Puerto Rico	3,508	Annexed following military victory over Spain
1898	Guam	209	Annexed following military victory over Spain
1899	American Samoa	76	Annexed in settlement with Britain and Germany
1899	Wake Island	3	Annexation of unoccupied area
1903	Panama Canal Zone	553	Leased from Panama for $10 million, plus $250,000 annually; ceded to Panama in 1999
1917	Virgin Islands	136	Purchased from Denmark for $25 million; currently an organized, unincorporated U.S. territory under jurisdiction of Office of Insular Affairs of the Dept. of the Interior
1922	Kingman Reef	.4	Annexed 1922; later airline refueling; currently uninhabited; National Wildlife Refuge
1938	Kanton and Enderbury islands	3.5 3.0	Joint occupation with Britain; independent as Kiribati in 1979
1947	Mariana Islands	179	United Nations Trust Territory; self-governing as Northern Mariana Islands
1947	Caroline Islands	500	United Nations Trust Territory; 1986 most islands adopt commonwealth status as Federated States of Micronesia
1947	Marshall Islands	70	United Nations Trust Territory; 1979 self-governing; 1986 independent as Republic of the Marshall Islands

U.S. Territorial Acquisitions

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