From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Overview of national border changes from the end of the Napoleonic Wars to World War I
The list of national border changes from 1815 to 1914 refers to the changes in international borders since the end of the
Napoleonic Wars until
World War I . This period of time saw the fall of the
Spanish colonial empire to the
United States and the progression of European colonial efforts. This period also saw the reshaping of
Europe with the rise of
the German Empire and
Italy as unified states, while the
Ottoman Empire 's territory in Europe steadily dissolved. This was the time of continued
colonisation of Africa during the age of
New Imperialism . In
Asia , the
Mughal Empire fell to the
British , while the
French
colonised Indochina . In North America, the
United States , as well as the new nation of
Canada , expanded their territories. Over 40% of the world’s borders today, were drawn as a result of British and French imperialism.
[1]
[2]
[3]
As a result of
New Imperialism , the
European countries with the most colonies throughout history were: the
United Kingdom (130),
France (90),
Portugal (52),
Spain (44), the
Netherlands (29),
Germany (20),
Russia (17),
Denmark (9),
Sweden (8),
Italy (7),
Norway (6), and
Belgium (3).
[4]
Africa
Comparison of Africa in the years 1880 and 1913.
1820 – The colony of
Liberia is founded by former slaves from the
United States .
1834 – The colony of
French Algeria is formally established.
1854 – The
Orange Free State is founded in what is today South Africa.
1856 – The state of
Transvaal is founded.
1877 –
Transvaal is dissolved after the
First Boer War .
1881 – France creates the colony of
Brazzaville .
Tunisia is made a
French protectorate . Transvaal is recreated with the agreement at the
Pretoria Convention , which gives the local
Boer population self-rule.
1882 –
Egypt is occupied by the
United Kingdom and becomes a colony.
1884 – The colony of
British Somaliland is created. Germany creates the colonies of
Kamerun and
German South-West Africa .
1885 – The colony of
German East Africa is created. The
Belgian Congo is created (then officially called the
Congo Free State ).
1889–1890 –
Italy establishes its first two colonies, the colony of
Eritrea in 1889 and the colony of
Italian Somaliland , which is created in 1889 and quickly expands until 1890.
1894 –
Dahomey (now named
Benin ) is annexed by France as a colony.
1899–1902 – The
Second Boer War occurs in which two independent, self-governed
Boer Republics , known as the
Orange Free State and the
South African Republic , created by the Dutch-speaking inhabitants of the
Cape Colony , are occupied by the
British Empire and become the
Orange River Colony and
Transvaal Colony .
[5]
1910 – The
Cape Colony ,
Natal Colony ,
Transvaal Colony and
Orange River Colony are united to form the
Union of South Africa .
French Equatorial Africa is founded, uniting the territories of
Gabon ,
Middle Congo (now the
Republic of the Congo ), and
Oubangui-Chari (or Ubangi-Shari, now the
Central African Republic ).
1911 – France cedes territory to
German Cameroon .
1912 – The
Ottoman Empire loses
Libyan provinces to
Italy .
Morocco becomes a French colony.
Asia
Imperial powers in 1800
Imperial powers in 1914
Europe
The
Austro-Hungarian annexation of Bosnia (blue) in 1908 was a crucial turning point in European diplomacy that produced many of the conditions that contributed to
World War I .
The territorial gains of the Balkan states after the
Balkan Wars .
1815 –
Congress of Vienna : With the defeat of
Napoleon in 1814, Europe is substantially reorganised, with
France losing large amounts of territory and the reorganisation of the
German states.
1829 –
Treaty of Adrianople : The
Ottoman Empire returns
Brăila ,
Giurgiu and
Turnu Măgurele to
Wallachia .
1830 –
London Protocol :
Greece attains independence from the Ottoman Empire.
1839 –
Treaty of London :
Belgium separates from the
Netherlands ; a major part of the
Grand Duchy of Luxembourg becomes the Belgian
Province of Luxembourg ; the
Duchy of Limburg separates from the Netherlands and joins the
German Confederation .
1846 – The
Free City of Cracow is annexed by the
Austrian Empire .
1850 – The German principalities of
Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen and
Hohenzollern-Hechingen are ceded by their rulers to the
Kingdom of Prussia .
1856 –
Southern Bessarabia is ceded to
Moldavia by the
Treaty of Paris of 1856.
1859 – Moldavia
unites with Wallachia to form the
United Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia (later renamed as the Principality of Romania). As a result of the
Second War of Italian Independence , the
Austrian Empire cedes
Lombardy to the
Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia . The
Duchy of Parma ,
Duchy of Modena and Reggio ,
Grand Duchy of Tuscany , and the
Papal Legations combine to form the
United Provinces of Central Italy .
1860 –
Parma ,
Tuscany ,
Modena , and
Romagna vote in referendums to join the
Kingdom of Sardinia . France forces the Kingdom of Sardinia to cede
Savoy and
Nice to France. Sardinia occupies most of the
Papal States , with the exception of a narrow strip of land comprising
Rome .
1861 – The
Kingdom of Italy is founded by the unification of the Kingdom of Sardinia, the
United Provinces of Central Italy (a Sardinian client state), and the
Kingdom of Two Sicilies .
1864 –
Denmark is forced to concede
Schleswig to
Prussia and
Holstein to
Austria . Meanwhile, with the
Treaty of Lisbon of 1864,
Spain and
Portugal agree to share the
Couto Mixto , which will go to Spain, and the "promiscuous towns", which will go to Portugal.
1866 – Austria cedes Holstein to
Prussia and
Lombardy-Venetia to
Italy , a Prussian ally, after Austria loses the
Austro-Prussian War . Prussia annexes the
Kingdom of Hannover .
1867 –
Prussia and the North German states unite to form the
North German Federation .
1870 – Rome joins
Italy .
1871 – The North German Federation and the South German states, with the exception of the
Austrian Empire , join together to form the
German Empire , the state that is considered the beginning of modern-day
Germany .
Alsace–Lorraine is ceded by
France to
Germany .
1878 – The
Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878) ends with the
Treaty of San Stefano . The
Principality of Bulgaria is established. The
Ottoman Empire recognises
Montenegro and cedes
Nikšić ,
Podgorica , and
Antivari . The
Principality of Serbia gains independence and annexes
Niš and
Leskovac . Romanian independence is recognised by the
Ottoman Empire . The
Russian Empire cedes
Northern Dobruja to Romania, and Romania cedes Southern Bessarabia to Russia. The
Ottoman Empire cedes
Ardahan ,
Artvin ,
Batum ,
Kars ,
Olti ,
Beyazit , and
Alashkert . The
Vilayet of Bosnia becomes an autonomous province. However, with the
Treaty of Berlin , the territories are changed, the
Principality of Bulgaria's borders are reduced,
Eastern Rumelia is created as an autonomous province of the
Ottoman Empire , and
Bosnia Vilayet is occupied by
Austria-Hungary .
1881 – The
Kingdom of Romania supersedes the Principality of Romania.
1882 – The
Kingdom of Serbia supersedes the
Principality of Serbia .
1885 – The
Principality of Bulgaria annexes
Eastern Rumelia .
1890 – Personal union between the
Kingdom of the Netherlands and the
Grand Duchy of Luxembourg .
1905 –
Norway separates from
Sweden .
1908 –
Austria-Hungary annexes occupied Bosnia, and the
Condominium of Bosnia and Herzegovina is established.
1912–1913 – The two
Balkan Wars occur and end with the Ottoman Empire being forced to concede more territory during the
Treaty of Bucharest (1913) . This included allowing the creation of the state of
Albania . Serbia expands to
Vardar Macedonia , gaining regions including
Ohrid ,
Bitola ,
Kosovo ,
Å tip , and
KoÄani . Greece gains
Epirus , southern Macedonia,
Thessaloniki ,
Kavala , and parts of the
Aegean
Littoral .
Bulgaria gains
Strumica ,
Western Thrace , and a section of the Aegean Littoral. Romania first gains from Bulgaria the port of
Silistra with the
Protocol of St. Petersburg of 1913 and then the region of
Southern Dobruja following the Second Balkan War. With these losses, the Ottoman Empire is almost completely cut off from Europe.
North America
1815 – With the end of the
War of 1812 , the borders between
British North America and the
United States of America return to their pre-war borders.
1818 – The borders between
British North America and the
United States during the
Treaty of 1818 are established at the
49th parallel north , west of the
Lake of the Woods . The
Oregon Country is established by both the United States and Britain, which hold it in condominium.
1821, July 10 – The borders between
Oregon Country and
Mexico are changed, as well as
Spain ceding
Florida , after Spain ratifies the
Adams-OnÃs Treaty , which was drafted in 1819.
1822–1823 – The
First Mexican Empire
annexes Central America , but Central America declares independence in July 1823 following the fall of the Mexican monarchy.
1836, March 2 – The
Republic of Texas is declared after it separates from
Mexico , but its western territory remains disputed with Mexico.
1845, December 29 –
Texas is
annexed by the United States.
Territorial acquisitions of the United States between 1783 and 1917.
1846, June 18 – The
Oregon Treaty ends the sharing of the
Oregon Country , with the territory north of the
49th parallel going to
British Columbia and the territory south of the 49th parallel becoming an unorganised territory of the United States.
1846–1848 – The
Mexican–American War occurs and ends with the
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo , in which Mexico cedes territories consisting of all of present-day
California ,
Nevada ,
Utah , most of
Arizona , and portions of
Colorado ,
New Mexico , and
Wyoming .
1853, December 30 – The
Gadsden Purchase gives territory from Mexico to the United States, establishing the present-day border with Mexico.
1861–1865 – The
American Civil War happens. After the
Confederate States of America (CSA) is founded in February of the year, war breaks out in April between the Unionists and the Confederates of the CSA, as well as rebel CSA-supporting governments in some southern states. The war ended with the CSA being defeated and annexed by the United States.
1867, July 1 –
Canada is created after the British North American provinces of
Ontario ,
Quebec ,
New Brunswick , and
Nova Scotia join during the
Canadian Confederation . October 11 – The
United States annexes Alaska after it is sold from
Russia in the
Alaska Purchase .
1870, July 15 – The
United Kingdom formally cedes the
North-Western Territory and
Rupert's Land and its interests there to Canada, and the province of
Manitoba joins Canada.
1871, July 20 – The British colony of
British Columbia joins Canada.
1873, July 1 –
Prince Edward Island joins Canada.
1880, September 1 – The United Kingdom cedes its remaining
Arctic Islands to Canada.
1903, October 20 – The
Hay-Herbert Treaty is signed by Britain and the United States, which settles the
Alaska boundary dispute between Canada and the United States, which gives the United States more territory.
Oceania
The
Flag of Hawaii over
ʻIolani Palace is lowered following the
Annexation of Hawaii by the
United States (12 August 1898).
1857 –
Baker Island is annexed by the United States.
1860, February 8 –
Kingman Reef is informally taken by the United States (it would not be formally annexed until May 10, 1922).
1867, August 28 –
Midway Atoll is annexed by the United States.
1856, September 28 –
Howland Island is annexed by the United States.
1858 – The modern-day Cook Islands unite to form the
Kingdom of Rarotonga . February 27 –
Jarvis Island is annexed by the United States.
1888 – The
United Kingdom annexes the
Kingdom of Rarotonga , whose territory later becomes known as the
Cook Islands .
Nauru is annexed by
Germany .
1889, June 3 – Jarvis Island is annexed by the United Kingdom after the United States abandons it.
1898, August 12 – The
Republic of Hawaii is annexed by the United States.
Guam is ceded from Spain to the United States.
1899, January 17 –
Wake Island is annexed by the United States. September 16 –
Johnston Atoll is annexed by the United States. The
Treaty of Berlin divides the Samoan archipelago between
Germany and the
United States , respectively, creating
American Samoa and
German Samoa . With the end of the
Spanish–American War , Spanish colonies in Oceania are divided: Germany gains the
Mariana Islands (except
Guam ) and the
Caroline Islands ; Spain cedes Guam to the United States.
1901, January 1 – The state of
Australia is formed from six British colonies.
1912, February 21 –
Palmyra Atoll is annexed by the United States.
South America
Bolivia 's territorial losses (1867–1938)
1819 –
Gran Colombia (Greater Colombia) is created from New Granada, the
Royal Audience of Quito , and former Spanish territories, composed of modern-day
Colombia ,
Ecuador ,
Panama ,
Venezuela and other territories.
1831 – Gran Colombia is dissolved and the following states are created: the
Republic of the New Granada (Colombia), Ecuador, and Venezuela.
1836–1839 – The
War of the Confederation , which is fought between the recently formed
Peru-Bolivian Confederation versus
Chile and its ally
Argentina as well as anti-confederate
Peruvians . The war ended with Chile winning the war and the re-creation of the separate states of
Peru and
Bolivia .
1872 – The
Loizaga–Cotegipe Treaty established the boundaries between Paraguay and Brazil after Paraguay's defeat in the
Paraguayan War .
1884 – Bolivia signed a truce, the
Treaty of Valparaiso , that ended the
War of the Pacific and accepted the military occupation of the entire Bolivian coast. The
Treaty of Peace and Friendship (1904) ceded the complete region of
Antofagasta to Chile.
1899–1900 – The breakaway state of the Republic of Acre is formed after
Acre (state) separates from Bolivia and is annexed by Brazil three years later.
1903 –
Panama
separates from Colombia.
See also
References
^ Manning, Patrick (1990). Slavery and African Life: Occidental, Oriental, and African Slave Trades . London: Cambridge University Press.
^ Lovejoy, Paul E. (2012). Transformations of Slavery: A History of Slavery in Africa. London: Cambridge University Press.
^ Martin Klein, "Slave Descent and Social Status in Sahara and Sudan", in Reconfiguring Slavery: West African Trajectories , ed. Benedetta Rossi (Liverpool:
Liverpool University Press , 2009), 29.
^
"A map of Europe based on how many colonies each country had" . 2023-09-26. Retrieved 2023-09-26 .
^
" 'No end of a lesson': The Boer War, 1899-1902" . National Portrait Gallery.