Platte Purchase

The plate Purchase was a land acquisition of the United States by the Indians in 1836. This 8156 km ² the state of Missouri have been added so that its northwest frontier now corresponded to the course of the Missouri River.

The name derives from this land acquisition was the Platte River, a tributary of the Missouri River, which flows through the coming of Iowa the area.

The region includes the counties today Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Holt, Nodaway and plate. The northwestern parts of the city of Kansas City, the towns of Saint Joseph, Mound City and Marysville as well as the present-day Kansas City International Airport are in the area of the plate Purchase.

History

On the so-called Unorganized Territory Indians lived, which the possession of these areas was assured in the long term. Nevertheless, a number of white settlers did not stop this agreement and demanded the inclusion of the populated area of their in the state of Missouri.

With the trunks of Iowa and Sauk and Fox combined a contract was concluded at Fort Leavenworth by William Clark. The tribes were paid $ 7,500; the U.S. government established, however reservations for the Indians west of the Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska one. The Indians undertook to settle there. Even today there exist the Sac and Fox Reservation and the Ioway Reservation.

The acquired land was officially added to the state of Missouri in March 1837 by President Martin Van Buren. The western border of Missouri made ​​now to the northern boundary of the State of Missouri River. Thus, Missouri became the then largest surface state in the U.S..