Overview
The land east of the Mississippi River is one of the most historically significant regions in the United States. The area includes all or parts of Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, as well as some parts of Arkansas, Missouri, and Illinois. Throughout history, this region has been fought over, traded, and exchanged by various different entities, changing hands multiple times. How much do we really know about the history behind this region, and how was this land acquired east of the Mississippi River?
Colonization
The acquisition of this land by Europeans began with colonization by the French and Spanish. In 1562, Jean Ribault and Francis le Moyne founded Charlesfort in what is today South Carolina, paving the way for further expansion. The French soon acquired Louisiana in 1682, and by 1758, the British had secured land in the Ohio Valley. With these acquisitions, the European powers had established a foothold in the North American continent.
The colonization of the land east of the Mississippi River was not without issue. Many Native American tribes, such as the Chickasaw, Cherokee, and Choctaw, inhabited the area and fiercely resisted the Europeans’ intrusion. Rivalries between different European powers led to conflicts such as the Seven Years War, which in part was fought over the land east of the Mississippi River. In the end, the British emerged victorious, and the French were forced to give up Louisiana to the Spanish.
Donee Strip
In 1775, the Continental Congress declared the land west of the Mississippi River and south of the Ohio River to be the “donee strip”, which would be given to veterans of the American Revolution in lieu of salary for their service. This decision led to an influx of settlers into the region and the beginning of the displacement of the many Native American tribes.
The US Government continued to acquire land by offering treaties to the Native American tribes. In 1810, The United States and the Cherokee Nation signed the Treaty of Tellico, which gave the US Government control of the land west of the Appalachians and south of the Ohio River. This treaty opened up the door for further expansion by the United States, and in 1818, the US Government and the Cherokee Nation signed the Second Treaty of Tellico, which gave the US government control of the land west of the Appalachians and south of the Ohio River.
Louisiana Purchase
In 1803, Thomas Jefferson made the most significant acquisition of land in US history with the Louisiana Purchase. The purchase included the whole of modern-day Louisiana, along with parts of Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Oklahoma, and Texas. This purchase marked a major shift in the history of the United States as it was the first time the nation had acquired land outside its declared boundaries.
The Louisiana Purchase also had a significant impact on the expansion of US territory at the time. The Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the US and allowed settlers to expand their territories beyond the Appalachians into what is today the Midwest. In addition, the purchase made it possible for the US to build the transcontinental railway and the Panama Canal, making it much easier for US citizens to travel and expand their businesses.
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
In 1848, the US and Mexico signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ended the Mexican-American War and ceded all land east of the Rio Grande to the United States. This was the second major acquisition of land for the United States and effectively doubled the size of the country. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo also marked the beginning of the Americanization of Texas, Arizona, California, New Mexico, and parts of Utah and Colorado.
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was also significant as it marked the end of the war between the US and Mexico. The war had been costly, both in terms of lives and resources, and the treaty ended the fighting and established a border between the two countries. This allowed the US to focus its energy on expanding to the West and developing its territories.
Annexation of the Republic of Texas
In 1845, the United States annexed the Republic of Texas. The Republic of Texas had declared its independence from Mexico in 1836. The annexation of Texas marked the beginning of the US’s involvement in what we now know as the “Mexican-American War”. This war resulted in the US acquiring vast amounts of land from Mexico, including much of modern-day Texas. The annexation of Texas also allowed the US to establish much of its current borders.
The annexation marked an end to the Texan war for independence and established Texas as a state in the union. The annexation also opened the door for further expansion of the United States into what is today the Southwestern United States. The Texas Annexation was an important milestone in US history and played a major role in establishing the current size of the US.
Gadsden Purchase
The Gadsden Purchase was the final major acquisition of land by the United States. In 1853, the US and Mexico signed the Gadsden Purchase, in which the US paid Mexico $10 million for an area of land in what is today southern Arizona and New Mexico. This area was intended to be used to build a transcontinental railway.
The Gadsden Purchase marked the last major acquisition of land by the US and effectively changed the borders of the country. This purchase also marked the end of the expansion westward for the US, as the country no longer had any land to acquire from Mexico.
Conclusion
The history of the land east of the Mississippi River is one that is full of wars, treaties, acquisitions, and expansions. Over the centuries, the land has been acquired, exchanged, and fought over by numerous power, from the French and Spanish in the 16th century to the United States in the 19th century. Through the treaties, wars, and purchases, the United States eventually established its current borders, making it the powerful and influential country it is today.
