Stránka:roll 1911.djvu/345

3z4 Boy Scouts Florida Purchase: In xSx9, we purchased Florida from Spafin at a cost of over $5,ooo,ooo, and thi_? single state is larger in territorial area than the combined territory of Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium, and Switzerland. Texas: In x845, Texas came to us by annexation, but the outcome of this annexation later on was our war with Mexico. In territorial area this is an empire in itseft.--larger than the whole German Empire. Oregon Territory: In x846, by treaty with Great Brita/n, we acquired what is known as the Oregon Territory. This includes the states of Oregon, V?'ashington, and Idaho. Mexican Cession and Purcimse from Texas: As an outcome of the Mexican War, we obtained from Mexico, in z848, the territory of California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and a part of New Mexico at a cost of $x5,ooo,ooo; and in x85o, we pur- chased from Texas the remaining part of New Mexico and that part of Colorado not included in the Louisiana Purchase, at a cost of $zo,ooo,ooo. Godsden Purchase: In x853, we made what is known az the Gadsden Purchase, acquiring thus from Mexico a needed tract of land on the boundary between Mexico, Arizona, and New Mexico, paying for this tract Alaska: In x867, we paid Ru?la $7,ooo,o0o, and ?Ided Alaska to our possessions. This purchase is spoken of in history as "Seward's Folly," because the transaction, made while he was secretary of state, was not generally considered a good bargain. Nevertheless it has proved one of our most valuable po?essious. Hawaii: In x898, we reached out into the Pacific waters and armexed the beautiful Hawaiian or S?ndwich Islands. Porto Rico, Pi?e Islands, Guam,' Philippine IslamIs: In x898, the island of Porto Rico with an area of 36eo square miles came into our possession as an outcome of the Spanish-American War; likewise the Pine Islands with their 882 square miles; Guam with x75 square miles; and the Philippine Islands with a territorial area of x45,ooo square milcs. But for these latter in settlement of a number of private claims, and to gain peaceable possession of various public lands, we paid Spain $20,0007000. Samoan Islands: In z899 , we acquired the Samoan Islands, with an area of 73 square miles; and, in x9ox, some additional islands in the Philippines.