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The Big LBR Non Google Trivia Quiz


bumblebee

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Yes it was Polk. He was determined to expand the US to the coast.

 

For years prior to Polk the Republic of Texas under Sam Houston petitioned the US for statehood. They were denied since the fear then was Texas would become a slave state thus strengthening the south's posture on slavery. When Polk was elected he immediately granted Texas statehood. He then mischievously used a minor, common occurrence spat with Mexicans on the Texas border to declare war on Mexico. Within a short time the Americans won the war and took New Mexico, territories which are now Arizona, Nevada and all of California. After that he set his sights on the Oregon territory which was then claimed by both the US and Britain (Canada). He successfully negotiated  a deal with the British drawing the border at the 49th parallel where it stands today. 

 

Polk did much more than Jefferson to expand the US and manifest destiny. Jefferson had the good fortune of Napoleon needing money to finance his war with Britain. To get that money Napoleon decided to sell the Louisiana Territory to the US. Jefferson saw the opportunity, signed a peace of paper and paid something like a million dollars. Not a bad deal with the added bonus there was not an ounce of blood shed. Well at least not until the Americans moved into the territory and had their way with the Indians. Polk on the other hand went to war to expand and was quite clever in how he achieved the expansion.  

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Yes it was Polk. He was determined to expand the US to the coast.

 

For years prior to Polk the Republic of Texas under Sam Houston petitioned the US for statehood. They were denied since the fear then was Texas would become a slave state thus strengthening the south's posture on slavery. When Polk was elected he immediately granted Texas statehood. He then mischievously used a minor, common occurrence spat with Mexicans on the Texas border to declare war on Mexico. Within a short time the Americans won the war and took New Mexico, territories which are now Arizona, Nevada and all of California. After that he set his sights on the Oregon territory which was then claimed by both the US and Britain (Canada). He successfully negotiated  a deal with the British drawing the border at the 49th parallel where it stands today. 

 

Polk did much more than Jefferson to expand the US and manifest destiny. Jefferson had the good fortune of Napoleon needing money to finance his war with Britain. To get that money Napoleon decided to sell the Louisiana Territory to the US. Jefferson saw the opportunity, signed a peace of paper and paid something like a million dollars. Not a bad deal with the added bonus there was not an ounce of blood shed. Well at least not until the Americans moved into the territory and had their way with the Indians. Polk on the other hand went to war to expand and was quite clever in how he achieved the expansion.  

What about the Gadsden Purchase? That was under Pierce and is part of current Arizona. 

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What about the Gadsden Purchase? That was under Pierce and is part of current Arizona. 

 

The Gadsden Purchase was a very small part of today's Arizona. It was a small sliver of land south of Yuma and Phoenix. The Louisiana Purchase did not include the Territory of Oregon. However it did include Idaho and most of Wyoming as we know it today. 

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The Gadsden Purchase was a very small part of today's Arizona. It was a small sliver of land south of Yuma and Phoenix. The Louisiana Purchase did not include the Territory of Oregon. However it did include Idaho and most of Wyoming as we know it today. 

Yes, however it was a part of today's Arizona. Hence the boundaries under Polk for the lower 48 do not reflect today's.

 

Looks like more than a sliver to me

 

723px-Gadsden_Purchase_Cities_ZP.svg.png

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You're right and wrong about the LA Purchase. I was thinking Oregon was part because Lewis and Clark went all the way to the Pacific Ocean, down the Columbia River when they were sent by TJ on the expedition to explore the new territory. Idaho is a tiny part of it. Hardly enough to consider. 

800px-LouisianaPurchase.png

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