Nappanee High School - Napanet Yearbook (Nappanee, IN)

Page 30 text:

Texas as a slave state and cries of, “All Oregon or none,’' and “54 degrees. 40 minutes or fight,” were raised and for a while it seemed as though war would result between the two nations: but peaceful consuls prevailed and the matter was compromised to 49 degrees. This was a continuation of the northern boundary of the United States from the Lake of the Woods to the Rocky Mountains and is the present boundary. From thlsterritory the states of Oregon and Washington were formed. In 1836 the state of Texas broke away from the existing subjugation to Mexico and formed a Republic known and recognized by the leading powers as independent of the authority of Mexico. For a period of ten years, it existed as a government of itself: but the finances fell into such disorder that its annexations to the United States was as desirable to them as it was to the Union, it became one of the leading questions in the election of 1344, and after the election of Polk was annexed in 1845. The limits of Texas were doubtful, Texas and the United States contended that it extended to the Rio Grande river as this had been the boundary in 1800 when Spain ceded it to France and when the United States bought Louisiana. The controversy rapidly developed until war was declared, in this war the United States was everywhere successful aud their generals seized and held California and New Mexico. In the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo it was agreed that the United States should pay 315,000.000 direct to Mexico and some $3,MO,000 more to American citizens for claims against Mexico and got in return, Texas in its widest sense. New Mexico. California, Nevada. Utah, and Arizona and parts of Colorado and Wyoming. After the war, disputes arose over the boundary line between the Gila river and Chihuahua and ended in the purchase, known as the Gadsden purchase, of about 45,000 square miles for 10,000,000. In 1807 W. ii. Seward closed negotiations with Russia which resulted in the purchase of Alaska. For the stipulated sum of 7,200,000, Russia agreed to give up all the land held by them west of the 141st degree of west longitude. Few people at that time realized the marvelous resources of this territory, but an idea may be gotten from the facts that the farthest extent north and south is nearly as great as from Maine to Florida and that the extent east and west is about equal to the distance from Virginia to California. The area of Alaska is about 577,000 square miles or over one-sixth as large as the United States It is one of our most valuable gold Helds, and the islands abound In seals. The products have amply paid for its cost many times over. The last territorial increase was in 1898 at the close of the war with Spain. The territory gained was small in comparison with the cost, but it added wonderfully to our island possessions. We acquired the islands of Guam, Hawaii, and Porto Rico, besides the control of the Phtllipines and Cuba. In all territorial acquisition there lias been none which would not uphold the honest policy that the United States government lias always been guided by: or none that would spot the pages of history as other great powers have been disgraced by. The land was needed: for as Europe poured her increasing horde of immigration into this great land of hope and freedom, space was required for them: and it is safe to say that these additions have made the nation that now stands forth, the greatest accomplishment of man. He would be a bold prophet indeed who would assert that the limit of our national expansion has been reached. There has already been oiiened to the American people the opportunity for such good work within theirown borders as has not been placed before any other nation since the sun first shone upon the earth. Let the people of the United Slates rise to the level of their opportunity and they will accomplish that for the benefit of mankind which it has not yet been given to any other nation to perform. 8