US Borders 1585-1865

Founded in 1663. Carolina colony was divided into two colonies, North Carolina and South Carolina, in 1712. Both colonies became royal colonies in 1729.

The Dutch formally turn over New Amsterdam to the British in 1667 who name it New York.

King Charles II of England formally grants William Penn a land charter in the New World which he turns into Pennsylvania.

Great Britain created the Dominion of New England in the present day New England in the United States. It composed of present-day Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey.

At the end of the American Revolution, Great Britain ceded what we know as the original 13 states to the United States.

This treaty ended the French and Indian War during which the British gave up everything from the Atlantic to the Mississippi River. Loyalist were offered a free trip to Canada.

In the Louisiana Purchase, the United States bought all of Louisiana from France for $15 million. With this purchase, they more than doubled their landmass and they now controlled the port of New Orleans.

In the Treaty of 1818, the United States gained land from Britain in present day North Dakota and Minnesota. In exchange, both nations were granted joint control in the Oregon Country for ten years.

The Adams-Onís Treaty was a treaty between the United States and Spain in which Spain ceded Florida to the US in two parts, East Florida (modern day Florida) and West Florida (the southernmost parts of Mississippi and Alabama). The US also redefined their territory line along the 32N, the Sabine and Arkansas Rivers, and the 42N all the way to the Pacific Ocean.

The United States annexed Texas in 1845 and admitted it into the Union as its 28th state. With this new state, the US also adopted Texas' border scuffles which lead to the Mexican-American War of 1848-1848.

The Oregon Treaty was a treaty between Britain and the United States. In this treaty, the border between British and American claims was set at the 49th parallel. It was negotiated by James Buchanan and Richard Pakenham.

In the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, Mexico ceded what is now the southwest United States to the United States.

The US purchased what is now southern Arizona and southwest New Mexico in the Gadsden Purchase. The treaty was signed by the then US ambassador to Mexico, James Gadsden, for $10 million.

South Carolina was the first state to secede from the Union.

Mississippi was the second state to secede from the Union and later formed the Confederate States of America.

Florida was the third state to secede from the Union only one day after Mississippi.

Alabama was the fourth state to secede from the Union, only a day behind Florida.

Georgia was the fifth state to secede from the Union and join the Confederacy.

Louisiana was the sixth state to secede from the Union and join the Confederacy.

Texas was the seventh state to secede from the Union and join the Confederacy.

Virginia was the eigth state to secede from the Union and join the Confederacy.

Arkansas was the ninth state to secede from the Union and join the Confederacy.

Tennessee was the tenth state to secede from the Union and join the Confederacy.

North Carolina was the eleventh and final state to secede from the Union and join the Confederacy.

General Lee surrenders to Grant and the Union is restored.