Landmark Treaties

Landmark treaties shaped the United States' growth and international standing. From gaining independence to expanding territory, these agreements influenced relationships with other nations and defined borders, setting the stage for America's emergence as a global power.

1. Treaty of Paris (1783)

   • Ended the American Revolutionary War between Great Britain and the United States.
   • Recognized American independence and established borders for the new nation.
   • Granted the U.S. significant territory, including land east of the Mississippi River.

2. Jay's Treaty (1794)

   • Aimed to resolve issues remaining after the Treaty of Paris, particularly British interference in American trade.
   • Established a commission to settle financial claims and addressed the withdrawal of British troops from the Northwest Territory.
   • Helped prevent war with Britain and improved trade relations.

3. Pinckney's Treaty (1795)

   • Established friendly relations between the U.S. and Spain.
   • Granted Americans the right to navigate the Mississippi River and use the port of New Orleans.
   • Defined the boundary between the U.S. and Spanish Florida.

4. Louisiana Purchase Treaty (1803)

   • Doubled the size of the United States by acquiring territory from France for $15 million.
   • Included land from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains.
   • Facilitated westward expansion and exploration, including the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

5. Treaty of Ghent (1814)

   • Ended the War of 1812 between the U.S. and Britain.
   • Restored pre-war boundaries and status quo, with no territorial gains for either side.
   • Marked the beginning of a long-lasting peace between the U.S. and Britain.

6. Adams-Onís Treaty (1819)

   • Settled border disputes between the U.S. and Spain.
   • Resulted in the U.S. acquiring Florida and defined the boundary between U.S. and Spanish territories in the West.
   • Strengthened U.S. claims to the Pacific Northwest.

7. Webster-Ashburton Treaty (1842)

   • Resolved border disputes between the U.S. and Britain, particularly in Maine and the Great Lakes region.
   • Established a clear boundary and improved diplomatic relations.
   • Addressed issues of slavery and the slave trade.

8. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848)

   • Ended the Mexican-American War and resulted in significant territorial gains for the U.S.
   • The U.S. acquired present-day California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and parts of Colorado and New Mexico.
   • Established the Rio Grande as the border between Texas and Mexico.

9. Gadsden Purchase (1853)

   • Acquired land from Mexico (present-day southern Arizona and New Mexico) for $10 million.
   • Aimed to facilitate the construction of a southern transcontinental railroad.
   • Further defined the U.S.-Mexico border.

10. Treaty of Paris (1898)

    • Ended the Spanish-American War, resulting in the U.S. gaining territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines.
    • Marked the emergence of the U.S. as a global power.
    • Established the principle of American imperialism.

11. Hay-Pauncefote Treaty (1901)

    • Allowed the U.S. to construct and control a canal across Central America.
    • Nullified the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty, which had previously required joint British-American control.
    • Set the stage for the construction of the Panama Canal.

12. Panama Canal Treaty (1903)

    • Granted the U.S. control over the Panama Canal Zone.
    • Facilitated the construction of the canal, which opened in 1914.
    • Enhanced U.S. naval and commercial mobility between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

13. Treaty of Portsmouth (1905)

    • Ended the Russo-Japanese War, mediated by President Theodore Roosevelt.
    • Recognized Japan's interests in Korea and ceded territories in Manchuria.
    • Established the U.S. as a mediator in international conflicts.

14. Treaty of Versailles (1919)

    • Ended World War I and imposed heavy reparations and territorial losses on Germany.
    • Established the League of Nations, aimed at preventing future conflicts.
    • Reflected the U.S. role in global diplomacy, though the Senate ultimately rejected U.S. membership in the League.

15. Washington Naval Treaty (1922)

    • Aimed to prevent an arms race by limiting naval construction among major powers.
    • Established ratios for battleship tonnage among the U.S., Britain, Japan, France, and Italy.
    • Marked a significant effort in disarmament and international cooperation in the post-World War I era.