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The Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase is a giant chunk of land that added on to the 17 states of the US. The purchase makes up 23% of the USA and 15 more states were added into America. The French leader, Napolean, was in great debt, so he sold the Louisiana Purchase for fifteen million dollars to the US. Our president, Thomas Jefferson, wasn't sure if he had disobeyed the Constitution or not, but everything turned out to be great for America. -
Corps of Discovery Expedition
After the success of the Louisiana Purchase, all that was left to do was to explore it. That is where the Lewis and Clark expediton takes flight. Thomas Jefferson wanted Lewis and Clark to find a water route to the Pacific Ocean and on the way make peace with Native American tribes and find new species of plants and animals. They didn't know about what was coming their way and they needed a guide. Sacagawea was a major help to the expedition. She knew lots of things and helped a lot. They didn't -
Corps of Discovery part 2
...find a Northwest passage waterway, but they did find lots of different species and made peace with some tribes. With lots of information about the Louisiana Purchase, settler start to move westward to fulfill Manifest Destiny. -
War of 1812
Other known as the Forgotten War or the War of Poor Comunication, the War of 1812 started with the fude between France and Britian. The US didn't want anything to do with their war but had to because France and Great Britian were fighting against the US. Britian supplied guns for the Native Americans so the American settlers couldn't move into Native American territory. The war ended with a tie or stalemate with America and Britian. This stalemate gave America the sense of Nationalism. -
Florida Territory (Adams-Onis Treaty)
Andrew Jackson, our seventh president, was sent to Florida and kicked out the people that were living there, but he also didn't follow directions. Him, and his soldiers, were suposed to let the Spanish give the US the Florida Territory. Jackson's troops invaded, captured and killed lots of Siminoles and slaves. Spain gave in and sold the land for five million dollars. The Adams-Onis Treaty was signed to settle the boundaries between Spain's land and America's land. -
The Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine was a really important document to the Americans. It told the Northeastern half of the world to not colonize in North and South America any more. The Americas are off limits to future colonization. Uncle Sam was a cartoon character that represented the western half of the world. He, like the Monroe Doctrine, protect the US and South America from further colonization so no other powers can over throw them. -
The Indian Removal Act & The Trail of Tears
This Act was not fair to the Native Americans at all. Andrew Jackson became president and kicked five major tribes out of their home land. He forced the Cherokee into the Oklahoma Territory along with the Choctaw, the Chickasaw, the Creek and the Siminole tribes. Lots of Native Americans died on the Trail of Tears by sickness or being killed by the troops escorting them to Oklahoma. This was a very bad time in the US especially to the Native Americans. -
Texas
Texas wanted to be an independent country, but couldn't because it belonged to Mexico. The Texans living there didn't like the rules Santa Anna was inforcing, so the Texans didn't follow Santa Anna's rules. He sent some of his troops to teach them to obey his rules. The first battle happened with the Alamo which was defeated by the Mexicans. The second battle was more successful. The Texans captured Santa Anna and forced him to give Texas independance. He did, but just to be safe, Texas joined -
Texas part 2
...America and America accepted them into the Union as a slave state. -
The Oregon Territory
James K. Polk wanted the Oregon Territory when he was voted as president. Fortunantly, he got it because he threatened British Canadians to give him the land or they will fight over it. Polk and other Americans wanted "54, 40 or Fight" which was the latitude and longtitude of what they wanted or they would go to war. The two countries decided to compromise and sell at 49 degress instead of 54 through 40. -
The Mexican American War & The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
California wouldn't be apart of the USA if it wasn't for the Mexican American War. James K. Polk wanted another territory that included California, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. He offered a price, but Mexico refused to give it to him. Polk sent troops down there to force them to get the territory. Polk's troops waited to strike when one woman asked to leave them alone and Mexico will give them the land. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo said that the land beyond the Rio Grande was for America.
