The United States of America is a federal republic composed of a union of independent States, and at this writing (1888) consists of thirty-eight States and eleven organized Territories, under the control of the General Government, and covers an area of 3,678,392 square miles, and extends from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, a distance of about 3,000 miles, and from the Gulf of Mexico to the great lakes, a distance of over 1,000 miles, with an Atlantic and Pacific seaboard of over 5,000 miles. The Confederation. prior to 1783, claimed for their western boundary the Mississippi River, and some even as far west as the Pacific. These States, one after another, ceded to the United States all the territory west of their present limits. The original thirteen States, By treaty with Great Britain, September 3, 1783 (at the close of the Revolutionary War), the territory of the United States was declared to extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River on the west, and from the great lakes to the southern border of Georgia, and comprised 815,615 square miles. The Province of Louisiana, acquired by purchase from France, April 30, 1803, for $15,000,000, includes all the territory west of the Mississippi River, except the present States and Territories of Oregon, Texas, California, Arizona, and Alaska, comprising 930,928 square miles. Florida, ceded by Spain, February 22, 1819, for the consideration of $5,000,000, included the State of Florida and southern portions of Alabama and Mississippi, and comprised 59,268 square miles. Texas, an independent republic of Mexico, was admitted December 29, 1845, and gave rise to the Mexican War. Comprised 237,504 square miles. Oregon, acquired by treaty with Great Britain, in April, 1846, comprised 280,420 square miles. California and Nevada, ceded by Mexico at the close of the Mexican War, February. 2, 1848, comprised 649,762 square miles. Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico, acquired by treaty with Mexico, December 30, 1853, comprised 127,500 square miles. Alaska,by purchase from Russia, May 28, 1867, for $7,200,000. Comprised 577,390 square miles. The growth of our Republic, its increase in wealth, commerce, manufactures, and arts, has no parallel among the nations of the world. What may be accomplished in the 100 years to come we are unable to predicate. Patrick Henry said: "We are to judge of the future by the past." With the record of a century before us, and Mexico, the Canadas, Cuba, and the islands of the sea knocking for admission, who can estimate the prospective power, grandness, and extent of the United States of America at its second centennial anniversary? HISTORY OF EACH STATE COMPRISING THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. In the order of their admission into the Union. DELAWARE RATIFIED THE CON STITUTION Dec. 7, 1787. Area, 2,112 sq. miles. Capital, DOVER. Pop. 1880, 146,654. So named after Lord de la Warr, Governor of Va., and popularly known as the Diamond State. First settled by Swedes and Fins at Cape Henlopen in 1627. Embraced in the Charter of Pennsylvania until the adoption of a Constitution September 20, 1776. So named after William Penn in 1681, and popularly known as the Keystone State. First settled by Wm. Penn on the Delaware River in 1682; chartered Feb. 28, 1681; formed a Constitution Sept. 28, 1776. |