The first territory the united states acquired beyond the borders of its 48 contiguous states was a. alaska. b. guam. c. hawaii. d. the philippines.

A.Alaska

The United States acquired Alaska from the Russian Empire on March 30, 1867. This was done by a treaty ratified  by the  Senate of the United States and signed and approved by the then President of USA,Andrew Johnson.

Russia sold Alaska for a price of $7.2 million. This was done as the living conditions were difficult and due to the lack of natural resources. In 1896 gold was discovered in Alaska. Alaska added an area of 586,412 square miles (1,518,800 km2)  to the United States of America.

The first territory the United States acquired beyond the borders of its contiguous states was A. Alaska.

Explanation: The United States acquired Alaska in 1867 by means of a treaty with Russia, which established that the United States purchased Alaska for a price of $7.2 million. The agreement was signed by the Secretary of State William Seward and the Russian Minister to the United States Edouard de Stoeckl. In that way, Alaska, which is located on the northwest extremity of North America, became the first territory to be acquired beyond the borders of its 48 contiguous states. Guam and the Phillippines became part of the United States in 1889, while Hawaii was the last one to be incorporated in 1959.

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explanation:

1.d 2.a c.!