The United States has been buying other countries' lands for centuries. What you need to know

Over the centuries, the United States has repeatedly bought foreign territories. Washington viewed such deals as a way to strengthen security and control over strategically important regions. These purchases have often attracted criticism within the United States. What you need to know about key American deals is in the Izvestia article.

Acquisition of Louisiana

• During its existence, the United States has significantly expanded its territory, especially in the 19th century. Washington acquired Louisiana from France, Florida from Spain, vast territories from Mexico, Alaska from the Russian Empire, as well as island possessions, including the Philippines and the Virgin Islands. These large territorial purchases played a key role in shaping the country's modern borders. As a result, the United States has transformed from a narrow strip of former British colonies on the Atlantic coast into a state covering almost the entire North American continent.

The first and most significant precedent was the purchase of Louisiana from France in 1803 for $15 million. For the administration of the third President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, this meant gaining control over a vast area in the Mississippi Basin. It also eliminated the threat of a strong European power near the vital river system.

• At the same time, the deal was accompanied by disputes within the United States about the constitutionality of such an acquisition and whether such a drastic expansion of the country was acceptable. Some Americans feared a change in the political balance between the states.

Deals with Spain

• Spanish Florida was in a state of chronic instability. The Territory was sparsely populated, poorly managed and did not provide sufficient control over the borders, which led to constant conflicts with neighboring American states. Escaped slaves and Native American groups found refuge on its territory, raiding the lands of the United States, which caused serious tension.

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• The American Government sought to secure the southern borders and establish full control over the region, which is of great strategic importance for trade and navigation in the Gulf of Mexico. In 1819, the Adams—Onis Treaty was signed, according to which Spain transferred Florida to the United States, and the United States undertook to pay compensation in the amount of $ 5 million. The deal was formally completed in 1821, after which the territory of Florida came under the control of the United States, becoming the 27th state in 1845.

• The Philippines was acquired from Spain after the Spanish-American War of 1898. By the end of the 19th century, Spain had lost its status as a global colonial power. After the military defeat, Spain was forced to enter into negotiations, which resulted in the Paris Peace Treaty. According to its terms, the United States paid Spain $20 million, and the Philippines came under American sovereignty.

For the United States, this step meant expanding its presence in Asia, gaining naval bases and entering new markets, which corresponded to the policy of strengthening the country's role in world politics. The transfer of the archipelago was accompanied by the establishment of the American administration and the inclusion of the Philippines in the system of foreign policy and economic interests of the United States.

• Washington's loss of control over the Philippines was the result of a long national liberation movement. After a transitional period of self-government and recognition of the archipelago's political independence, the United States officially granted independence to the Philippines in 1946.

Ousting Mexico

The key event for the expansion of the US territory to the south was the Mexican-American War of 1846-1848, which ended with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Mexico ceded vast northern and western lands to the United States in exchange for a payment of $15 million. As a result of this agreement, the United States received territories that included modern California, Nevada, Utah, most of Arizona, large areas of New Mexico, as well as parts of Colorado and Wyoming.

• An additional acquisition occurred in 1853 as part of a deal known as the Gadsden Purchase, when the United States paid Mexico $10 million for a piece of land in southern Arizona and New Mexico needed to build a railroad and clarify the border. Collectively, these acquisitions have fundamentally changed the geography of North America. The idea of the country moving towards its "natural" borders has spread in the public consciousness.

The deal with Russia

• A special place in this story is occupied by the acquisition of Alaska from the Russian Empire in 1867 for $7.2 million. The Russian side assumed that its North American possessions were economically underdeveloped and vulnerable in the event of a possible conflict with the British Empire, which controlled Canada. In the 19th century, Russia and the United States maintained friendly ties, largely based on a shared distrust of British influence. Therefore, the sale was seen as a way to strengthen relations with the United States.

At that time, Alaska was mostly a "bare land" with little obvious economic value by the standards of that time. This was the reason for the skeptical reaction within the United States itself. In the American press and political circles, the deal was called a waste of money on an icy desert. Nevertheless, the administration viewed the purchase as a strategic investment that strengthens the US position in the Pacific and eliminates the possibility of another European power appearing there. Over time, the discovery of natural resources and the growing strategic importance of Alaska have changed attitudes towards the deal.

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Control of the Panama Canal

In 1903, after the declaration of independence of Panama, an agreement was signed under which the United States received the exclusive right to build, manage and provide military support for the Panama Canal. For this, the American government paid Panama $ 10 million in a lump sum and pledged to transfer an annual rent payment of $250 thousand. The construction of the canal was completed in 1914, after which it became a key element of world trade and military logistics in the United States.

• The loss of control occurred gradually in the second half of the 20th century against the background of the growth of the Panamanian national movement and the changing approaches of the United States to the management of foreign territories. In 1977, agreements were signed providing for the phased transfer of control of the canal to the Panamanian side, the preservation of joint administration during the transition period and the full transfer of sovereignty to Panama on December 31, 1999.

Purchase of the Virgin Islands

The Danes appeared in the Caribbean in the 17th century. At that time, Denmark existed as a united kingdom with Norway and had a strong navy. In the 1670s, the Danish West India Company received a royal charter and began the development of parts of the Virgin Islands (St. Thomas, St. John and Santa Cruz). These territories became part of the so-called Danish West Indies, which was focused on exporting sugar and rum to Europe.

Throughout the 18th and early 19th centuries, the islands brought income to the Danish Crown. However, Denmark banned slavery in 1848. As a result, the Danish West Indies has become a burdensome asset. By the end of the 19th century, Copenhagen was increasingly considering selling the islands.

• U.S. interest in the Virgin Islands increased as the country became a major maritime power. So, in 1898, Spain transferred its part of these islands to the States (Puerto Rico is located on them). The archipelago is located at the entrance to the Caribbean Sea, close to key trade routes. This gave it strategic importance for controlling the region and protecting the coast. The sale has been negotiated since the 19th century, but the decisive period was the First World War. Denmark adhered to neutrality, however, realizing the vulnerability of its overseas possessions, it considered the transfer of the islands to the United States an advantageous solution. In 1916, the Danes approved the sale in a plebiscite, after which an agreement was signed on the transfer of sovereignty for $ 25 million in gold. Formally, the islands came under the control of the United States on March 31, 1917.

• The deal was accompanied by the Greenland agreement, under which the United States recognized Danish sovereignty over this Arctic island (we wrote about the current disputes over this island here). This was of great importance for Copenhagen, but for Washington it did not contradict its own strategic interests.

• After the transfer, these three islands became known as the U.S. Virgin Islands (the other islands of the archipelago belong to Great Britain and Puerto Rico, which is under U.S. administration). At first, management was carried out by the naval authorities, then civilian management was introduced. In 1927, the residents received American citizenship. The Territory includes three large islands and a number of small ones, has its own government and an elected governor, while remaining under the supreme jurisdiction of the US Congress. The islands' economy eventually focused on tourism and rum production.

What's happening now

• The United States has no plans to stop its territorial expansion. According to media reports, they are ready to pay $700 billion for Greenland. At the same time, new trade wars may break out due to the claims of the American side (we wrote about this here). In addition, the US intentions towards Greenland endanger the entire Euro-Atlantic security system (for more information, see this article). At the moment, there is little chance that Denmark will agree to sell the island.