Civics 104

This volume contains all of the official documents that have expanded America's political boundaries over the years. This volume starts with the Treaty of Paris, that led to the formation of America's original thirteen colonies.

After this, the United States geographically expanded by the approval of the Western Terrority Land Ordinance, and the Northwest Territory Ordinance. These legal documents helped to expand America to the west and the northwest. Then came the expansion of our nation to the south with the passage of the Louisiana Purchase Treaty, frequently called the French Territory Treaty.. Then came the West Florida Territory Treaty, frequently referred to as the transcontinental Treaty.

These original land acquisition documents were prepared for the country's westward movement. As the nation moved west, the Texas Annexation Resolution was adopted, the Oregon Territory Treaty was approved, the Southern Mexico Territory Treaty, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, was also adopted. The nation's movement west was completed with the approval of the Western Mexico Territory Treaty, sometimes called the Gadsden Purchase Treaty.

Our nation's final two states, Alaska and Hawaii, were approved by the adoption of the Alaska Treaty, and the approval of the Hawaiian Island Annexation Resolution, which is frequently called the Hawaii Resolution. These two documents led to the formation of our nation's 49th and 50th states.

Once the nation was formed, additional information is provided on the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act, laws the were approved by the U.S. Congress that must be followed by all our nation's state governments.