“Where is this world rolling to???” – this was roughly the society’s reaction to Trump’s recent statement of interest in purchasing Greenland, the proposal for Canada to become the 51st state, and the warning about attempts to regain control of the Panama Canal. Society seemed not quite ready for such a format of geopolitics. Or… is this not really something new?
As history shows, acquiring land is not a novelty for the United States. Over the past centuries, they have had several successful land purchase agreements. Let’s take a look together at why and how this periodically happens, and also determine whether this is a transition from wars to a business model in modern politics.
The history of the expansion of the United States’ territory 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 persuaded Spain to cede it as part of the concept “better to buy than to fight”. How did this happen? Let’s find out.
Throughout the 19th century, the United States of America actively expanded their territories, using both military and diplomatic methods. Particularly interesting are the cases of annexing Florida and Texas, which demonstrate the strategy of “better to buy than to fight”.
Once again about Florida: diplomacy instead of war
At the beginning of the 19th century, Florida was a Spanish colony, however, its strategic location and instability attracted the attention of the United States. American forces under the command of General Andrew Jackson captured several Spanish forts, creating tension between the two countries. Understanding that holding onto Florida was becoming increasingly difficult, Spain decided to transfer this territory to the United States.
In 1819, US Secretary of State John Quincy Adams and Spanish Ambassador Luis de Onís signed a treaty known as the Adams-Onís Treaty. According to the terms of the agreement, the US acquired Florida, committing to pay up to 5 million dollars to cover the claims of American citizens against Spain. Additionally, the US renounced claims to Texas, which at the time remained under Spanish control. The treaty was ratified in 1821, and Florida officially became part of the US.
Texas: From Independence to Annexation
Texas had a complicated history of relations with Mexico. After declaring independence from Spain in 1821, Mexico sought to control the territory of Texas, where many American settlers lived. Dissatisfied with the policies of the Mexican government, Texans declared independence in 1836, establishing the Republic of Texas. For the next nine years, Texas remained an independent state, but most of its residents desired annexation to the US.
In 1845, after lengthy negotiations and political debates, the US Congress passed a resolution for the annexation of Texas. On December 29, 1845, Texas officially became the 28th state of the US. This decision led to tension in relations with Mexico, eventually culminating in the Mexican-American War of 1846-1848.
Conclusion
The history of the annexation of Florida and Texas demonstrates the different approaches of the US to territorial expansion. The diplomatic route was chosen for Florida, while the annexation of Texas combined elements of support for local insurgents and subsequent annexation. These events underscore the US’s ambition to expand its borders, using both peaceful and military means.
Read about the history of the largest real estate purchase – the state of Louisiana – by the US government in the first part of the series “Better to Buy Than to Fight? – the acquisition of territories as a transition from wars to peaceful land grabbing”:
Read about the history of Florida’s annexation and the conditions that preceded it in the second part of the series “Better to Sell than to Fight? – territorial acquisitions as a transition from wars to peaceful land seizure”:
