Long before Greenland. 5 large and small territories US bought from other countries

Louisiana Purchase (1803)

In 1803, the United States purchased the Louisiana Territory from France for $15 million. This transaction, known as the Louisiana Purchase, doubled the country's area, adding approximately 2.1 million square kilometers. The territory included land from the Mississippi to the Rocky Mountains and from the Gulf of Mexico to Canada.

President Thomas Jefferson initiated this purchase in an effort to secure control of the port of New Orleans and the Mississippi River. This acquisition contributed to western expansion and the idea of Manifest Destiny. The Louisiana Purchase was one of the largest land deals in U.S. history.

The acquisition of Louisiana was a huge expansion of the US territory (photo: Wikipedia)

The acquisition of Florida (1819)

In 1819, the United States signed the Adams-Onís Treaty with Spain, which granted it the territory of Florida. Although it was technically a transfer of territory, the United States agreed to pay compensation to Spanish settlers in the amount of $5 million. Florida became the 27th state of the United States in 1845.

This acquisition strengthened the country's southeastern borders and secured control of strategically important ports. The treaty also defined the western border of the United States with New Spain (modern Mexico). The acquisition of Florida facilitated further expansion to the south and west.

The purchase of Florida gave the United States access to the south (photo: Wikipedia)

The acquisition of Alaska (1867)

In 1867, the United States purchased Alaska from the Russian Empire for $7.2 million. The deal, initiated by Secretary of State William Seward, added approximately 1.5 million square kilometers to the US territory. Initially, the purchase of Alaska was criticized and called "Seward's Folly."

However, later the discovered natural resources such as gold and oil proved the strategic and economic value of the region. Alaska became the 49th state of the United States in 1959. This acquisition expanded the American presence in North America and provided access to Arctic resources.

The purchase of Alaska seemed like a mistake at first, but later it turned out to be justified (photo: Wikipedia)

Acquisition of the Virgin Islands (1917)

In 1917, the United States purchased the Virgin Islands from Denmark for $25 million. This deal was motivated by strategic interests during the First World War. The Virgin Islands became an integral part of the American Caribbean.

The acquisition ensured control over sea routes and strengthened the US military presence in the region. The islands received the status of an unincorporated organized territory of the United States. This acquisition helped strengthen the US position in the West Indies.

Map of the Virgin Islands (photo: Wikipedia)

The Gadsden Purchase (1853)

In 1853, the United States purchased from Mexico 120,000 square kilometers of border territory south of the Gila River and west of the Rio Grande (these lands now make up the southern parts of Arizona and New Mexico) for $10 million. This transaction, known as the Gadsden Purchase, added approximately 76,800 square kilometers to the territory of the United States.

The purpose of the acquisition was to build a transcontinental railroad on a southern route. The territory included parts of the present-day states of Arizona and New Mexico. The Gadsden Purchase resolved the border disputes between the United States and Mexico after the American-Mexican War. This acquisition completed the continental expansion of the United States to the south.

Gadsden's acquisition on the border with Mexico (photo: Wikipedia)

Earlier, we wrote which 8 travelers could have discovered America before Columbus.

Read also, how Greenland is looking for ways to cooperate with the US, but on its own terms.

Sources: Listverse, TED, History, Wikipedia.