Early map of the United States during Westward expansion showing an unusual border configuration of the mid-western states and a very early rendition of Alabama Territory. The northern border of the Illinois Terr., Indiana and Ohio is shown in a straight east to west configuration; Illinois lobbied for access to Lake Michigan and succeeded in moving their border to include the small trading settlement of Chicago. In the South, Mississippi Territory was thought to be too large to govern efficiently so the Alabama Territory was created in 1817 and admitted to the Union as a State in 1819. This is one of the few maps that show it as a Territory. Original hand colour. [USA8927]