“Where is this world heading???”, – this was roughly the society’s reaction to Trump’s recent statement expressing interest in buying Greenland, proposing Canada to become the 51st state, and warning about attempts to regain control of the Panama Canal. Society seemed not quite ready for such a format of geopolitics. Or… is it not such a novelty after all?
As history shows, acquiring lands is not a new concept for the United States. Over the past centuries, they have had several successful deals on purchasing territories. Let’s take a closer look together at why and how this happens periodically, and at the same time determine whether this is a transition from wars to a business model in modern politics.
The history of the United States’ territorial expansion is filled with military conquests, diplomatic maneuvers, and strategic agreements. One of the most interesting cases is the annexation of Florida. Americans did not conquer this region in the traditional sense, but rather forced Spain to cede it as part of the concept of “better to buy than to fight.” How did this happen? Let’s find out.
Why Florida Became a “Hot” Territory
At the beginning of the 19th century, Florida was a Spanish colony, but its strategic location attracted the United States. Americans sought to control the entire southeastern part of the continent, and Florida was an important piece of this puzzle.
The territory of Florida also became a site of conflicts due to Indian wars, pirate activities, and attacks on American settlers. In 1818, General Andrew Jackson, the future U.S. president, invaded Florida without the official permission of Congress, defeated Indian settlements, and captured several Spanish forts.
This put Spain in a difficult position: it could not effectively control the territory and did not have the resources to go to war with the U.S. Therefore, Madrid decided that it was better to transfer Florida diplomatically rather than risk its capture.
The Agreement that Changed the Map of North America
In 1819, US Secretary of State John Quincy Adams and the Spanish Ambassador Luis de Onis signed an agreement known as the Adams-Onis Treaty. The main conditions were as follows:
- Florida was transferred to US control – formally for free, but Washington agreed to pay up to 5 million Spanish dollars to cover American claims against Spain.
- The borders between the US and Spanish territories were clearly defined – America relinquished claims to Texas (then still Spanish).
- Spain retained its territories in the Western part of America – including California, New Mexico, and Arizona.
The treaty was ratified in 1821, and Florida officially became American soil.
Did the US Keep Their Promises?
Initially, the agreement seemed to bring peace and stability. However, in practice, the US quickly reneged on their commitments regarding Texas. Within a few years, American settlers began to actively encroach on this territory, ultimately leading to the Texas Revolution (1835–1836) and the subsequent annexation of Texas to the US in 1845.
Thus, while the agreement with Spain initially appeared as a compromise, the US effectively used it as a tactical move for further territorial expansion.
Conclusions
The history of Florida shows that the United States preferred a diplomatic approach to expanding its borders when it was advantageous. However, as seen from subsequent events, their strategic plans went far beyond simple land purchases or exchanges.
The concept of “better to buy than to fight” helped the United States avoid conflict with Spain, but did not stop their expansion. Florida was just one step on the path to becoming a powerful empire that rapidly expanded its borders using diplomacy, military force, and economic pressure.
Read about the history of the largest real estate purchase – the state of Louisiana – by the US government in the first part of the cycle “Better to sell than to fight? – territory acquisition as a transition from wars to peaceful land grabbing”:
