Changes of Land policies
1. What was the Treaty of Paris, 1783?
Independence from Britain. The treaty defines the boundaries of the original United States
2. Why did the U.S. want transit rights to the port of New Orleans?
US wanted the access to Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico. So the goods produced in the territory west of the
Appalachian Mountains could be transported to the east by cheap water route.
3. Why did Napoleon offer the Louisiana Territory for $15million when Monroe was only authorized to spend
$2million?
After losing control in Heidi, Napolean needed money for war with British.
4. Why did it take from 1836 to 1845 for the Republic of Texas to be annexed?
There was a debate regarding whether to annex them given that they would be a slave state. This would put more votes in congress on the side of the Southern Elites. North does not like that.
Later the US decided to annex Texas as Texas faced threat of invasion from Mexico.
5. Was the acquisition of the Oregon Country in 1846 difficult for the U.S.?
NO, already co-ruling. Brit doesn’t want war.
6. Be able to describe manifest destiny and how it relates to the Mexican War.
Spread freedom, should not force ideal upon others.
Manifest destiny was the philosophy that it was up to the US to extend the boundaries of freedom to all those capable of self rule.
7. What aspects of the situation in Mexico made winning the Mexican War easier for the Americans?
a. Political instability in Mexico shortly after its independent from Spain.
b. Sparse settlement of the Mexicans VS. willing settlements of Americans due to pop growth.
c. People on the frontier of Mexico have no loyalty to the Mexican government.
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8. How did the Federalists believe that the 1.2 billion acres of land should be distributed? Why?
Federalism (Alexander Hamilton):
Pro - big government, pro- industrialization, should sell the land for full value (high prices, big lots)
-extracting high revenues from land would:
Strengthen Federal Government by adding to treasury
Discourage settlement: less agriculture-encouragement of manufacturing. be good for current owners.
9. How did the Anti-Federalists believe that the 1.2 billion acres of land should be distributed? Why?
Distribute wealth to the worthy (small lots sold on credit for low prices or given away)--Anti-federalists (Thomas
Jefferson)
-ration of small handed farmers—pro-democracy
-right to labor the earth
10. What were the details of the Land Ordinance of 1785 and Northwest Ordinance of 1787? Was this policy more
“Federalist” or “Anti-federalist” in nature? iii Land Ordinance of 1785 and Northwest ordinance of 1787
land ordinance of 1785 &Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Orderly settlement
-surveyed in advance
-rectangular grid
-six-mile square townships
Prices & size
-alternating townships sold whole
-640 acre sections
-Auctions with minimum price of $1/acre
-cash sales
NW Ordinance of 1787
- A Governor would be appointed by congress initially.
- >5,000 males of voting age then elect a territorial legislature.
- >60,000 populations deemed a state on equal footing with original states.
- Civic and religious liberty
- Slavery prohibited
NW Ordinance of 1787 called for dividing the territory into gridded townships, so that once the lands were surveyed, they could be sold to individuals and speculative land companies. This would provide both a new source of federal government revenue and an orderly pattern for future settlement.
Started Federalist, although did not carry out well.
11. As time passed, between 1800 and 1830, what was the evolution of Land Policy?
Easier cheaper and more anti-Federalism
12. What was the 1830 Preemption Act? How can we relate this to illegal immigration in the U.S. today?
Squatters could pay 1.25 /acre up to 160acres.