Civics 104: America's Evolving Boundaries

By Roger L. Kemp

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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Aug 19, 2021
• ISBN: 9781665535205

Roger L. Kemp

Roger L. Kemp has worked in city government for a quarter century, serving nearly two decades of this time as a city manager. He has served in cities in California, New Jersey and Connecticut. He holds a Ph.D. degree in public administration from Golden Gate University, and is a graduate of the Program for Senior Executive in State and Local Government at Harvard University. Dr. Kemp has written, edited, and has been contributing editor of over 50 books dealing with numerous aspects of local government. One of his most significant books, Managing America’s Cities: A Handbook for Local Government Productivity, was published in 1998 - - many years ago. Additionally, he has had over 500 articles published in leading professional journals throughout the world. During his career, Dr. Kemp has served a dozen mayors, several city councils, and scores of elected officials. His experience was gained from many years of public service in politically, economically, socially, and racially diverse communities on both the East and West Coasts. He is frequently called upon to speak about cities and how they work before various community groups and professional organizations, both nationally and internationally. This volume reflects the insights gained by Dr. Kemp from his 25-year career of first-hand experience working in cities, and his dealings with their elected officials and citizens during this time. He resides in the City of Meriden, Connecticut. Dr. Kemp has worked in the following cities, in those states noted, during his public service career: California City of Oakland City of Seaside City of Placentia City of Vallejo New Jersey City of Clifton Connecticut Town of Berlin City of Meriden Roger can be reached by telephone [phone]) or by e-mail ([e-mail]). He is available for speaking and consulting assignments. His personal website shows additional information about his background (http://www.rogerkemp.org/).

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2021 Roger L. Kemp. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 08/18/2021

ISBN: 978-1-6655-3521-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6655-3520-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021916984

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to Kieran,

The best and the brightest

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Grateful acknowledgements are made to the elected officials, appointed officials, and citizens, of those cities that I have worked and lived in during my over a quarter-century public service career on both coasts of the United States.

These states and cities include the following:

CONTENTS

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Preface

Lesson1: The Original Thirteen Colonies

Treaty of Paris

The History*

The Document

Lesson2: The Western Territory Ordinance

Land Ordinance

The History*

The Document

Lesson3: The Northwest Territory Ordinance

Northwest Ordinance

The History*

The Document

Lesson4: The French Territory Treaty

Louisiana Purchase Treaty

The History*

The Document

Lesson5: The West Florida Territory Treaty

Transcontinental Treaty

The History*

The Document

Lesson6: The Texas Annexation Resolution

Resolution for the Annexation of Texas

The History*

The Document

Lesson7: The Oregon Territory Treaty

Oregon Treaty

The History*

The Document

Lesson8: The Southern Mexico Territory Treaty

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

The History*

The Document

Lesson9: The Western Mexico Treaty

Gadsden Purchase Treaty

The History*

The Document

Lesson10: The Alaska Treaty

Alaska Treaty

The History*

The Document

Lesson11: The Hawaiian Island Annexation Resolution

Hawaii Resolution

The History*

The Document

The Future

The Future of Democracy

Civil Rights Act

The History*

The Document

Voting Rights Act

The History*

The Document

Appendices

A. Glossary of Terms

B. Local Government Historical Document

C. United States Voting Rights History

D. National Resource Directory

E. State Municipal League Directory

F. State Library Directory

G. Books by Roger L. Kemp

H. World Travels by Roge L. Kemp

I. Some Final Thoughts

PREFACE

American citizens have a lot to be proud of! They live in one of the oldest democratic forms of government in the world, and this form of government in the world, and this form of government has helped create a society in which citizens are free to get involved in the political process. Citizens can vote, run for political office, endorse incumbents, promote new public office seekers, or merely back other people who do so. Also, between elections citizens are free to attend public meetings, many of which are required by law, speak about their policy and program preferences at these meetings, write letters to the editor, and even organize others to get involved in their political agenda.

The involvement of citizens in the American political process has changed over the years. For many years, citizens believed in Jacksonian Democracy, whereby they would get directly involved in the political process by attending meetings, advocating for pieces of legislation, or trying to change or invalidate legislation that they did not like. This political activism on the part of citizens primarily took place before the era of two income families, before there came to be little time for this type of political involvement. Democracy in America was founded on the principle of active political involvement on the part of its citizens.

Most adult households now have both parents working, and family time is limited to a few hours in the evenings after work. Many citizens nowadays merely elect their political representatives, and hold them accountable at voting time from election to election. This evolving type of democratic involvement on the part of citizens is called Jeffersonian Democracy. Many citizens have justified this type of political involvement by acknowledging that elections and voting give the common person a chance to elect the uncommon person to represent them. Under this evolving practice, the typical involvement of many citizens in the political process is merely voting at election time.

The political involvement of many Americans in years past included picketing, protesting, marching, signing petitions, attending public meetings, and publicly debating the issues. Today Americans may wear a political button, display a bumper sticker on their car, or place a candidate’s sign in their front yard. Many citizens may also contribute financially to political campaigns. Because of other social and economic commitments, American citizens have evolved throughout history from engaging in very active political involvement to more passive political activities.

Everyone will agree that there is no perfect form of government, and the best form is one that has evolved and changed over time to best serve its citizens. Most citizens today take their form of government for granted. After all, it is the only form of government they have ever known. While history is provided to students in high school and college, little time is spent focusing on how our country’s geographic area was established and, most importantly, how it has evolved over time to become one of the most respected national governments in the world. Many history classes start with the landing of the Pilgrims, and never cover the background and mind-set of the early settlers from the Kingdom of England. They had a form of government that greatly influenced and impacted the early settlers in the New World.

This volume focuses on how the country expanded over the years through legislation, constitutional amendments, supreme court decisions, and the impact of the evolution of our culture over time on our political processes. Many of the political changes to our democracy, and its form of government, resulted over time in response to changing citizen values and expectations. As American society evolved, so did many aspects of its democracy. These changes have manifested themselves in every changing political process, new and revised laws and regulations, as well as the magnitude and type of services provided by its governments.

For ease of reference, this volume is divided into eleven sections. This book focuses on the territorial expansion of the United States, from the establishment of the colonies to a country with fifty states. The final section examines the future of democracy, as well as its worldwide implications. Several appendices are also included to provide the reader with a greater understanding of the complex and dynamic field of America’s democracy.

Territory

The nation started with the English Colony of Roanoke, which was established in 1585. This colony ceased to exist as the residents either went their own way to avoid the aboriginal people, and to find suitable farmland to grow food. The Virginia Company of Plymouth, England, was granted rights to land in what became the Colony of Virginia. The people they brought over lived in a settlement subsequently called Jamestown. The first citizens not involved in a private venture such as the Virginia Company were the Pilgrims, who landed in what later became known as the Colony of Massachusetts. The American War of Independence ultimately led to the recognition of the original 13 colonies in the New World. What was Colonial America ultimately became the United States of America, which now consists of 50 states. The documents included within relative to the territorial formation of America are listed below.

• The Treaty of Paris, which was approved by the Congress of the Confederation on September 3, 1783. This document led to the recognition of the original 13 colonies in the New World.

• The Land Ordinance, which was approved by the Congress of the Confederation on May 20, 1785. This document led to the westward expansion of the original colonies.

• The Northwest Ordinance, which was approved by the Congress of the Confederation on July 13, 1787, and led to the ultimate colonization of the land northwest of the Ohio River.

• The Louisiana Purchase Treaty, which was approved by the United States Congress on April 30, 1803. This document led to the expansion of the nation to the south and southwest of the original Thirteen Colonies.

• The Transcontinental Treaty, approved by the United States Congress on February 22, 1819. This document led to the expansion of the nation in parts of what would later be called the state of Florida.

• The Resolution for the Annexation of Texas, which was approved by the United States Congress on March 1, 1845. This document approved the voluntary annexation for the Republic of Texas to become a part of the United States of America.

• The Oregon Treaty, which was approved by the United States Congress on June 15, 1846. This document between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland settled the border dispute for what was then known as Oregon Country, which is located in the northwest section of the United States.

• The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which was approved by the United States Congress on February 22, 1848. This document gave the United States legal rights to southwestern and western portions of the United States.

• The Gadsden Purchase Treaty, which was approved by the United States Congress on December 30, 1853. This document settled the ongoing border dispute between the United States and Mexico in the territory that now forms the states of Arizona and New Mexico.

• The Alaska Treaty, which was approved by the United States Congress on March 30, 1867. This document approved the transfer of the Territory of Alaska from Russia to the United States of America.

• The Hawaii Resolution, which was approved by the United States Congress on July 7, 1898. This document approved the annexation of the Hawaiian Islands as a territory, and granted legal possession of this area to the United States of America.

The Future

The final chapter of this volume, The Future of Democracy, examines the impact that democracy has had on the United States of America, as well as the goal of its government to advance freedom and democracy throughout the world over the years. The author discusses the history of America’s democracy, including past problems and threats, and goes on to examine international threats facing our nation and its citizens, as well as their form of government. The author states that the underlying theme of American history has been the willingness of our government, as influenced by its politicians, to defend our security and our interests in ways that, in the long run, have led to the expansion of democratic values and institutions. He concludes by stating that America, and its form of government, is looked upon as a model to emulate by citizens of other countries throughout the world. Our nation also promotes civil rights and voting rights.

Appendices

Many hours were spent researching the valuable resource materials contained in this volume. Since this volume focuses on document, every effort was made to provide background information for the reader to become more familiar with the history of America’s democratic form of governance, and the various documents that have changed its boundaries over the years.

Lastly, the appendices at the end of this volume include a glossary of government terms, a history of citizen voting rights in our nation, as well as state and natural government resource directories. Closing appendices include a listing of books by the author, the world travels during his public service career, and some important final thoughts.

Roger L. Kemp

LESSON ONE

THE ORIGINAL THIRTEEN COLONIES

Treaty of Paris

(September 3, 1783)

Congress of the Confederation

78956.png The History¹*

The American War for Independence (1775–83) was actually a world conflict, involving not only the United States and Great Britain but also France, Spain, and the Netherlands. The peace process brought a vaguely formed, newly born United States into the arena of international diplomacy, playing against the largest, most sophisticated, and most established powers on earth.

The three American negotiators, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay, proved themselves to be masters of the game, outmaneuvering their counterparts and clinging fiercely to the points of national interest that guaranteed a future for the United States. Two crucial provisions of the treaty were British recognition of U.S. independence and the delineation of boundaries that would allow for American western expansion.

The Treaty of Paris of 1783 ended the War of Independence and granted the thirteen colonies political freedom. A preliminary treaty between Great Britain and the United States had been signed in 1782, but the final agreement was not signed until September 3, 1783.

In the final agreement, the British recognized the independence of the United States. The treaty established generous boundaries for the United States; U.S. territory now extended from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River in the west, and from the Great Lakes and Canada in the north to the 31st parallel in the south. The U.S. fishing fleet was guaranteed access to the fisheries off the coast of Newfoundland with their plentiful supply of cod.

Navigation of the Mississippi River was to be open to both the United States and Great Britain. Creditors of both countries were not to be impeded from collecting their debts, and Congress was to recommend to the states that loyalists to the British cause during the war should be treated fairly and their rights and confiscated property restored.

The treaty is named for the city in which it was negotiated and signed. The last page bears the signatures of David Hartley, who represented Great Britain, and the three American negotiators, who signed their names in alphabetical order.

Many treaty documents, however, can be considered as originals. In this case, for example, the U.S. and British representatives signed at least three originals, two of which are in the holdings of the National Archives. On one of the signed originals the signatures and wax seals are arranged horizontally; on the other they are arranged vertically. In addition, handwritten certified copies were made for the use of Congress. Some online transcriptions of the treaty omit Delaware from the list of the former colonies, but the original text does list Delaware.

78956.png The Document

Treaty of Paris

In the name of the most holy and undivided Trinity.

It having pleased the Divine Providence to dispose the hearts of the most serene and most potent Prince George the Third, by the grace of God, king of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, defender of the faith, duke of Brunswick and Lunebourg, arch-treasurer and prince elector of the Holy Roman Empire etc., and of the United States of America, to forget all past misunderstandings and differences that have unhappily interrupted the good correspondence and friendship which they mutually wish to restore, and to establish such a beneficial and satisfactory intercourse, between the two countries upon the ground of reciprocal advantages and mutual convenience as may promote and secure to both perpetual peace and harmony; and having for this desirable end already laid the foundation of peace and reconciliation by the Provisional Articles signed at Paris on the 30th of November 1782, by the commissioners empowered on each part, which articles were agreed to be inserted in and constitute the Treaty of Peace proposed to be concluded between the Crown of Great Britain and the said United States, but which treaty was not to be concluded until terms of peace should be agreed upon between Great Britain and France and his Britannic Majesty should be ready to conclude such treaty accordingly; and the treaty between Great Britain and France having since been concluded, his Britannic Majesty and the United States of America, in order to carry into full effect the Provisional Articles above mentioned, according to the tenor thereof, have constituted and appointed, that is to say his Britannic Majesty on his part, David Hartley, Esqr., member of the Parliament of Great Britain, and the said United States on their part, John Adams, Esqr., late a commissioner of the United States of America at the court of Versailles, late delegate in Congress from the state of Massachusetts, and chief justice of the said state, and minister plenipotentiary of the said United States to their high mightinesses the States General of the United Netherlands; Benjamin Franklin, Esqr., late delegate in Congress from the state of Pennsylvania, president of the convention of the said state, and minister plenipotentiary from the United States of America at the court of Versailles; John Jay, Esqr., late president of Congress and chief justice of the state of New York, and minister plenipotentiary from the said United States at the court of Madrid; to be plenipotentiaries for the concluding and signing the present definitive treaty; who after having reciprocally communicated their respective full powers have agreed upon and confirmed the following articles.

ARTICLE 1:

His Britannic Majesty acknowledges the said United States, viz., New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, to be free sovereign and independent states, that he treats with them as such, and for himself, his heirs, and successors, relinquishes all claims to the government, propriety, and territorial rights of the same and every part thereof.

ARTICLE 2:

And that all disputes which might arise in future on the subject of the boundaries of the said United States may be prevented, it is hereby agreed and declared, that the following are and shall be their boundaries, viz.; from the northwest angle of Nova Scotia, viz., that angle which is formed by a line drawn due north from the source of St. Croix River to the highlands; along the said highlands which divide those rivers that empty themselves into the river St. Lawrence, from those which fall into the Atlantic Ocean, to the northwesternmost head of Connecticut River; thence down along the middle of that river to the forty-fifth degree of north latitude; from thence by a line due west on said latitude until it strikes the river Iroquois or Cataraquy; thence along the middle of said river into Lake Ontario; through the middle of said lake until it strikes the communication by water between that lake and Lake Erie; thence along the middle of said communication into Lake Erie, through the middle of said lake until it arrives at the water communication between that lake and Lake Huron; thence along the middle of said water communication into Lake Huron, thence through the middle of said lake to the water communication between that lake and Lake Superior; thence through Lake Superior northward of the Isles Royal and Phelipeaux to the Long Lake; thence through the middle of said Long Lake and the water communication between it and the Lake of the Woods, to the said Lake of the Woods; thence through the said lake to the most northwesternmost point thereof, and from thence on a due west course to the river Mississippi; thence by a line to be drawn along the middle of the said river Mississippi until it shall intersect the northernmost part of the thirty-first degree of north latitude, South, by a line to be drawn due east from the determination of the line last mentioned in the latitude of thirty-one degrees of the equator, to the middle of the river Apalachicola or Catahouche; thence along the middle thereof to its junction with the Flint River, thence straight to the head of Saint Mary’s River; and thence down along the middle of Saint Mary’s River to the Atlantic Ocean; east, by a line to be drawn along the middle of the river Saint Croix, from its mouth in the Bay of Fundy to its source, and from its source directly north to the aforesaid highlands which divide the rivers that fall into the Atlantic Ocean from those which fall into the river Saint Lawrence; comprehending all islands within twenty leagues of any part of the shores of the United States, and lying between lines to be drawn due east from the points where the aforesaid boundaries between Nova Scotia on the one part and East Florida on the other shall, respectively, touch the Bay of Fundy and the Atlantic Ocean, excepting such islands as now are or heretofore have been within the limits of the said province of Nova Scotia.

ARTICLE 3:

It is agreed that the people of the United States shall continue to enjoy unmolested the right to take fish of every kind on the Grand Bank and on all the other banks of Newfoundland, also in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and at all other places in the sea, where the inhabitants of both countries used at any time heretofore to fish. And also that the inhabitants of the United States shall have liberty to take fish of every kind on such part of the coast of Newfoundland as British fishermen shall use, (but not to dry or cure the same on that island) and also on the coasts, bays and creeks of all other of his Britannic Majesty’s dominions in America; and that the American fishermen shall have liberty to dry and cure fish in any of the unsettled bays, harbors, and creeks