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The Louisiana Purchase
In 1802, Jefferson sent an American ambassador to buy New Orleans from Napoleon, the leader of France. Jefferson wanted to buy New Orleans because it was an important trading port. Astonishingly, Napoleon offered the entire Louisiana territory to the U.S. ; Jefferson ended up buying the territory for $15 million. By October 1803, Congress approved the agreement and America’s size doubled. -
Lewis and Clark's Expedition
In January of 1803, Jefferson hired Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to explore the newly obtained Louisiana Territory. Their assignment was to find a river route to the Pacific Ocean, observe plants and animals, and take note of the natives they encountered. Their expedition lasted from May,1804 to September,1806. They brought back journals full of uncharted land, rivers, and mountains, details of the Native American tribes, and notes about plants and animals. -
The Embargo Act
Proposed by Thomas Jefferson, the Embargo Act was a law that prohibited American ships from trading in all foreign ports. This law was passed on December 22nd, 1807 to stop the British from seizing American ships. -
The War of 1812
In June of 1812, the U.S declared war on Great Britain. Great Britain was a threat because they seized American ships and sailors, interfered with international shipping, and provided aid to Native Americans some of which wanted war with the United States. -
The Hartford Convention
The Hartford Convention took place from December 15th, 1814 to January 5th, 1815. The New England Federalist Party met in Hartford, Connecticut to discuss ending the war. They decided the war needed stop and sent delegates to meet with Congress. Before these delegates got to Washington, the war had already ended making the delegates look like idiots due to lack of communication. -
The Treaty of Ghent
The Treaty of Ghent was the peace treaty that ended the War of 1812 between the U.S and Great Britain. It was signed in Ghent, a city in Belgium, on December 24th, 1814. -
Rush - Bagot Agreement
This agreement limited naval power on the Great Lakes for the U.S and British Canada. -
The Convention of 1818
During this convention, Britain and the US signed the Treaty of 1818. It set the borderbetween the US and Canada at 49°N latitude as far as the Rocky Mountains. -
McCulloch vs. Maryland
McCulloch versus Maryland was a court case that argued a Second National Bank. This case is one of the most important Supreme Court cases on federal power. The Supreme Court ruled that the “ Necessary and Proper ’’ Clause gave congress power to establish a National Bank. -
The Adams - Onis Treaty
This treaty settled all border disputes between the U.S and Spain. It defines the Western limits of the Louisiana Purchase, and ended Spain's claims to the Pacific Northwest.In return, Spain got control of Texas. -
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was an agreement to balance power between slave states and free states. The compromise admitted Missouri to the Union as a slave state, Maine as a free state, and set a rule that prohibited slaves in all new states north of 36°30 ՛latitude line. -
The Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine put together by President James Monroe and Secretary of State John Quincy Adams, warned European powers to not interfere with the Americas. The US wouldn't interfere with European nations and their existing colonies, the Western Hemisphere was off-limits to future colonization by any foreign power, and breaking this agreement would be considered as a hostile act. -
The Election of 1824
In this election, Andrew Jackson won the popular vote but not the electoral vote. The House of Representatives had to choose a winner. They ended up choosing John Quincy Adams. Adams was accused by many to have bribed Henry Clay into voting for him. After Adams elected Clay as Secretary of State, the controversy grew and weakened Adams’ support system. -
The Erie Canal's Grand Opening
After eight years of construction, the Erie Canal is finally finished. The canal stretches from Albany to Buffalo, New York and allowed goods and people to move between towns. As a result of the Erie Canal, New York's trade skyrocketed and the cost of shipping dropped. -
The Hudson River School
The Hudson River School was an American art movement. Artists created paintings that reflected national pride. The movement changed the style of American painting to include more landscape scenes.
