<P> The first great expansion of the country came with the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 , which doubled the country 's territory , but brought it into minor conflict with the colonies of Spain which eventually resulted in the acquisition of Spanish Florida . The Oregon Country gave the United States access to the Pacific Ocean , though it was shared for a time with the United Kingdom . The annexation of the Republic of Texas in 1845 led directly to the Mexican - American War , after which the victorious United States obtained Mexico 's northwestern quarter , including what was quickly made the state of California . However , as the development of the country moved west , the question of slavery became too much to ignore , as there was a struggle to keep the number of northern abolitionist states equal to the number of southern slave states , with vigorous debate over whether the new territories would allow slavery and events such as the Missouri Compromise and Bleeding Kansas . This came to a head in 1860 and 1861 , when the governments of the southern states proclaimed their secession from the country and formed the Confederate States of America . The American Civil War led to the defeat the Confederacy in 1865 and the eventual readmission of the states to the United States Congress . </P>
<P> The first great expansion of the country came with the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 , which doubled the country 's territory , but brought it into minor conflict with the colonies of Spain which eventually resulted in the acquisition of Spanish Florida . The Oregon Country gave the United States access to the Pacific Ocean , though it was shared for a time with the United Kingdom . The annexation of the Republic of Texas in 1845 led directly to the Mexican - American War , after which the victorious United States obtained Mexico 's northwestern quarter , including what was quickly made the state of California . However , as the development of the country moved west , the question of slavery became too much to ignore , as there was a struggle to keep the number of northern abolitionist states equal to the number of southern slave states , with vigorous debate over whether the new territories would allow slavery and events such as the Missouri Compromise and Bleeding Kansas . This came to a head in 1860 and 1861 , when the governments of the southern states proclaimed their secession from the country and formed the Confederate States of America . The American Civil War led to the defeat the Confederacy in 1865 and the eventual readmission of the states to the United States Congress . </P>
what led to the united states full acquisition of florida
what led to the united states full acquisition of florida
the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 , which doubled the country 's territory , but brought it into minor conflict with the colonies of Spain which eventually resulted in the acquisition of Spanish Florida
the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 , which doubled the country 's territory , but brought it into minor conflict with the colonies of Spain which eventually resulted in the acquisition of Spanish Florida