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Thomas Jefferson
Was an American Founding Father, the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, and the third President of the United States. -
Embargo Act of 1807
Was a general trade embargo on all foreign nations that was enacted by the United States Congress. The Embargo Act outlawed trade between America and any foreign port, effectively closing in the American economy. -
War of 1812
Conflict fought between the United States and Great Britain over British violations of U.S. maritime rights. It ended with the exchange of ratifications of the Treaty of Ghent. -
Battle of New Orleans
The battle was fought over the fact that the British and their Spanish allies wanted to reclaim the territories of the Louisiana Purchase because they did not recognize any land deals made by Napoleon. The battle was the last major armed engagement between the United States and Britain. -
Mexican-American War
Started from the annexation of the Republic of Texas by the U.S. in 1845 and from a dispute over whether Texas ended at the Nueces River or the Rio Grande. This war helped expand Americas ¨Manifest Destiny¨. -
Start of the Gold Rush
Unleashed the largest migration in United States history and drew people from a dozen countries to form a multi-ethnic society on America's fringe. -
Fugitive Slave Act
The act required that slaves be returned to their owners, even if they were in a free state. The act also made the federal government responsible for finding, returning, and trying escaped slaves. -
Compromise of 1850
Was an effort to settle several outstanding slavery issues and to avert the threat of dissolution of the Union. -
The Civil War
The war was fought between the United States of America and the Confederate States of America. The war started with Confederate troops firing on Fort Sumter in South Carolina's Charleston Harbor. The conflict began primarily as a result of the long-standing disagreement over the institution of slavery. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The battle involved the largest number of casualties of the entire war and is often described as the war's turning point. The Union's eventual victory in the Battle of Gettysburg would give the North a major morale boost and put a definitive end to Confederate General Robert E. Lee's bold plan to invade the North.