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Louisiana Purchase
The U.S. purchased the Louisiana Territory from France in 1803. The purchase was made for $11,250,000 and a debt cancellation worth $3,750,000. The Louisiana Territory contained land from 15 states and two Canadian provinces. The treaty was signed on April 30, announced to the American people on July 4, ratified by Senate on October 20. the Senate authorized president Jefferson to take possession of the territory on Oct. 31. -
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Lewis and Clark Expedition
Captain Meriwether Lewis and Second Lieutenant William Clark led an expedition by the Corps of Discovery to explore the Louisiana Territory. The expedition departed from near St. Louis, made its way to the Pacific coast, and back to St. Louis. The goal was to map the territory, find a practical way across the territory, and establish an American presence in the new territory. -
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War of 1812
In the early 1800s Britain was at war with France. Britain began a blockade of American trade to France in order to stop them from getting supplies which the U.S. viewed as illegal under international law. In addition Britain forces American merchant sailors to man the blockade. After a series of incidents, members of Congress pressured President James Madison into signing the declaration of war. The war ended with the Treaty of Ghent. -
Burning of Washington
After the American defeat at the Battle of Bladensburg, British Major General Robert Ross led a force into D.C. The British force burned down the Presidential Mansion (White House), the Capitol building, and other government buildings. Before the British forces entered the city, president Madison and other officials fled to Brookeville, Maryland. -
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise admitted Main as a free state and Missouri as a slave state. It also banned slavery north of the 36°30′ parallel. Missouri was admitted as a slave state north of the parallel to maintain balance between slave and not slave states. -
Indian Removal Act
This act was signed by President Andrew Jackson. It allowed the government to remove Indian tribes to territory west of the Mississippi in exchange for their lands to the east. The act was supported by the south, but strongly opposed by Indians, Whigsm and north easterners. The Cherokee united to fight the act but failed. They were forcibly removed in what became known as the Trail of Tears. -
Annexation of Texas
Texas had recently declared its independence from Mexico in 1836. Most Texans desired annexation into the U.S., but many people in the U.S. were opposed because of the slavery in Texas and the fact that Mexico did not consider the republic independent. President John Tyler secretly worked with Texas president Sam Houston to form a treaty of annexation. The annexation of Texas became a political issue during the 1844 election. Texas became the 28th state in the union in 1845. -
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Mexican-American War
Even after the annexation of Texas, Mexican president Santa Anna still considered Texas a territory of Mexico. After Mexican forces attacked American forces on the border, president Polk asked Congress to declare war. The war ended with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, forcing the Mexican goverment to give up the territories of territories of Alta California and Santa Fe de Nuevo México .
