What was the Adams-Onís Treaty's purpose regarding Texas?

• A. It defined a free trade route with Texas.
• B. It defined the boundary between the United States and Spanish/Mexican territories and affected Texas's future status.
• C. It granted Texas immediate independence from Mexico.
• D. It opened Texas to settlement by Europeans.

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that this treaty settled what the borders would be in North America and, in doing so, determined who controlled Texas. By drawing a clear boundary between the United States and Spanish (and later Mexican) lands—from the Sabine River westward to the Pacific—the agreement made Texas part of Spanish/Mexican territory rather than an American one for the foreseeable future. That boundary decision directly shaped Texas’s status for years to come, influencing its path toward independence from Mexico rather than immediate annexation by the United States.