Lost American Lands: Territories the U.S. Used to Own - History Collection

Renaming the Land, Erasing the People

How toponymic erasure becomes a strategy of cultural domination For many unrepresented nations and peoples, place names are more than geographical labels, they are expressions of cultural identity, historical continuity, and collective memory. They are often deeply connected to the land in which they reside, and hold spiritual meanings that can date back centuries or longer. The deliberate replacement or suppression of place names by state autho…

Lost American Lands: Territories the U.S. Used to Own - History Collection

The story of the United States is not just one of expansion, but also of territories lost or given up over time. From sun-drenched islands in distant oceans to lands once claimed across the continent, the U.S. has held—and then released—a surprising array of lands. How did these regions come under American control? What prompted ...