Understanding Annexation: A Guide to the Legal and Historical Context

Annexation is the act of legally absorbing or adding territory to a larger country or state. It involves the extension of the territory, jurisdiction, and control of one political entity over another territory. The process of annexation can be voluntary, as in the case of a territory choosing to join a larger country, or involuntary, as in the case of a country forcibly taking control of another territory.
Annexation can be done through various means, such as treaties, agreements, or military conquest. Once a territory is annexed, it becomes part of the annexing country and is subject to its laws, regulations, and government.
Examples of annexation include:
1. The annexation of Hawaii by the United States in 1898.
2. The annexation of Alsace-Lorraine by Germany in 1871.
3. The annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014.
4. The annexation of Tibet by China in 1951.
5. The annexation of the Golan Heights by Israel in 1981.