CHAPTER II. THE PEOPLE AND THE LAND. 230. Title of the People to the Land.-The eastern coast of North America from the 38th to the 67th degree of north latitude was claimed by England by reason of the discoveries of the Cabots in 1498. Colonization secured the English claim. The first charter was granted to Sir Walter Raleigh by Queen Elizabeth, March 25, 1584. Many other grants and charters followed to companies and to individuals. The title to the land claimed by England in North America was, by the law of England, vested in the king. When the American colonies separated from England in 1776, the king's title to the land passed by right to the people of the thirteen States represented by the State Governments which were ordained and established at the suggestion of the Continental Congress, and since that time they have obtained a title to all the land purchased, ceded, conquered and received into the national domain from France, Spain, Texas, Mexico and Russia. 231. The Original United States.-The treaty of Paris, September 3, 1783, between the United States, France and Great Britain, confirmed the title of the people to the land east of the Mississippi River south of Canada and north of the two Floridas, comprising about 830,000 square miles, of which 341,752 square miles were included in the area of the thirteen original States. The remainder, 488,248 square miles, comprised the lands then known as "the Western Territory," which was claimed by the States of Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. 232. The Louisiana Purchase.--By the purchase of the province of Louisiana from France, April 30, 1803, the area of the United States was increased 1,182,752 square miles, at a total cost of $27,267,621.98, or three and threefifths cents per acre. 233. Purchase of the Floridas.-By the purchase from Spain of East and West Florida, February 2, 1819, the United States secured 59,268 square miles of land, at a total cost of $6,489,768, or seventeen and one-tenth cents per acre. 234. Annexation of Texas.-By the annexation of the Republic of Texas, December 29, 1845, the national area was increased 274,356 square miles. 235. The Purchase of California.-By the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, February 2, 1848, there was obtained from Mexico an area of 522,568 square miles, costing $15,000,000, or four and one-half cents per acre. This purchase comprised the land in the present areas of California, Nevada, Utah, the greater part of Arizona and New Mexico and a part of Colorado. 236. The Purchase of the Mesilla Valley. By the Gadsden purchase of the Mesilla Valley from Mexico, December 30, 1853, an area of 45,535 square miles was obtained, costing $10,000,000, or thirty-four and threetenths cents per acre. 237. The Oregon Country.-The area comprised within Oregon, Washington Territory and Idaho, 250,000 square miles, belongs to the people of the United States by four titles: 1. By discovery, Captain Grey, 1792; 2. By exploration, Lewis and Clarke, 1805; 3. By settlement, 1811; 4. By treaty with Spain, 1819. 238. The Purchase of Alaska.-Alaska was added |