Texas Surveyors Practice Exam

Which treaty saw the United States relinquish any claims to Texas in 1819?

1. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

2. Adams-Onis Treaty

3. Treaty of Paris

4. Treaty of Velasco

The correct answer is: Adams-Onis Treaty

The Adams-Onis Treaty, also known as the Transcontinental Treaty, was significant in shaping U.S. territory and foreign relations in the early 19th century. In this treaty, signed in 1819 between the United States and Spain, the U.S. agreed to relinquish its claims to Texas, which was then part of Spanish territory. This was a strategic move that helped to define the border between U.S. and Spanish lands, as well as facilitate the acquisition of Florida by the United States. In addition to the ceding of Texas claims, the treaty established the boundary between the U.S. and New Spain (now Mexico) from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific, thus setting the stage for future territorial expansion. The context of the treaty reflects a period when the U.S. was looking to solidify its borders and prevent further conflict with Spain, which at the time held territories in North America. The other treaties mentioned do not pertain to the relinquishing of claims to Texas. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, for example, involved the U.S. acquiring a large portion of territory from Mexico in 1848, while the Treaty of Paris primarily dealt with the recognition of American independence from Britain in 1783. The Treaty