The Deals That Turned Money into Power
The vast size of the United States wasn’t inevitable. It was purchased.
Over more than a century, the U.S. expanded not only through war, but through calculated land deals that reshaped North America and built a global power.
In 1803, the Louisiana Purchase doubled the country’s size when the U.S. paid $15 million to France for one of the largest land transfers in history.
In 1819, Florida was secured from Spain through the Adams–Onís Treaty, trading debt settlements for long-term stability in the Southeast.
Between 1848 and 1854, vast territories were acquired from Mexico, including California and Arizona, capped by the Gadsden Purchase, ensuring future railroad expansion.
In 1867, the U.S. bought Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million—a deal once mocked, now recognized as one of the most strategic acquisitions ever.
Finally, in 1917, the U.S. purchased the Virgin Islands from Denmark for $25 million, prioritizing security over size during World War I.
The pattern is clear:
money, diplomacy, and long-term strategy built the American map.
Empires are not always conquered.
Some are signed into existence.
