The Adams-Onis Treaty, also known as the Transcontinental Treaty of 1819, was an agreement between the United States and Spain signed on February 22, 1819. The treaty was named after the American Secretary of State John Quincy Adams and the Spanish Minister Luis de Onís.
Historical Context
The treaty came at a time when Spain was facing numerous challenges, including the loss of much of its American empire due to independence movements. The United States, on the other hand, was expanding westward, and the issue of the Florida territories was a significant point of contention. The Louisiana Purchase of 1803 had left the boundaries between American and Spanish territories ambiguous, leading to conflicts and disputes over territory rights.
Key Provisions
- Florida Annexation: Spain ceded East Florida and West Florida to the United States. This resolved longstanding issues related to American settlers in these territories and the incursions by Andrew Jackson's forces during the First Seminole War.
- Boundary Clarification: The treaty established a clear boundary between the United States and the remaining Spanish territories in North America. The border ran from the Sabine River (the western boundary of Louisiana) westward to the Arroyo Hondo just west of the Nueces River, then north along the Rocky Mountains to the 42nd parallel and finally to the Pacific Ocean.
- Spanish Claims: Spain relinquished all claims to the Oregon Country, which was then jointly occupied by the United States and Great Britain.
- US Claims: The United States agreed to give up any claims to Texas under the Louisiana Purchase but reserved the right to claim it in the future.
- Payment for Claims: The United States assumed $5 million in damages claims by American citizens against Spain.
Impact
The Adams-Onis Treaty had several significant impacts:
- It effectively ended Spanish colonial presence in North America, except for Texas which would later become independent and then part of the U.S.
- The treaty facilitated American expansion westward by clarifying territorial boundaries, thus avoiding potential conflicts with Spain over these territories.
- It set the stage for future U.S. expansion into Texas and beyond, as the U.S. continued its westward movement.
- The treaty also influenced subsequent treaties, like the Oregon Treaty with Great Britain, which finalized the borders of the United States in the northwest.
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