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Election of 1800
Often called a "bloodless revolution" because of the peaceful switching of power, the tense Election of 1800 resulted with the victory of Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson then became President of the United States. -
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Expiration of the Alien and Sedition Acts
The Alien and Sedition Acts were passed by Congress in 1789 to make it increasingly difficult for immigrants to become U.S. citizens. The acts also gave to deport anyone he deemed a "threat" to the country. -
Thomas Jefferson's Inauguration
Thomas Jefferson was inaugurated into presidency on March 4, 1801, after the bitter Election of 1800. -
Marbury vs. Madison
The case of Marbury vs. Madison established the process of judicial review in the United States. This case took much power away from the federal government and, instead, placed it in the hands of American courts. -
Louisiana Purchase
President Thomas Jefferson doubled the size of the United States in 1803 by buying the Louisiana Territory from France. -
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Lewis and Clark Expedition
After the Louisiana Purchase, President Thomas Jefferson commissioned Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to explore the new territory. -
First Commercially-Successful Steamboat
In 1807, Robert Fulton was credited with creating the first commercially successful steamboat in America. His boat, the Clermont, made its first voyage along the Hudson River. -
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James Madison's Presidency
After winning the Election of 1808 against Charles Pinckney, James Madison became President of the United States of America. -
Battle of Tippecanoe
The Battle of Tippecanoe was fought between American soldiers and Native Americans over the settling and encroaching of Americans on Indigenous lands. Led by Tecumseh, the Native Americans lost the battle and were driven out of their homelands by the forces of William Henry Harrison. -
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War of 1812
The War of 1812 stemmed from the international issue of America's desire to remain a neutral trading nation throughout the Anglo-French Wars, which took place after the French Revolution. It was fought between the British and America and resulted in a stalemate. The war was ended with the Treaty of Ghent, which returned both nations to their prewar statuses. -
James Monroe's Presidency
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Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise stated that Missouri would be admitted to the nation as a slave state, Maine would be admitted as a free state, and the Louisiana Purchase territory would be divided along the southern border of Missouri. States above this line would be considered free states, and states below this line would be considered slave states. -
Opening of the Erie Canal
The opening of the 350-mile Erie Canal by the state of New York linked the Great Lakes, Hudson River, and the Atlantic Ocean. This addition revolutionized the American trade system and allowed goods to travel much faster and easier. -
John Quincy Adam's Presidency
After a tense presidential race in 1824 between Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay, William Crawford, and John Quincy Adams, Adams won by persuading Clay to support him. -
Andrew Jackson's Presidency
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Invention of the Mechanical Reaper
The mechanical reaper, invented by Cyrus McCormick in 1831, was a wheat-harvesting, horse-drawn machine. His invention cut down the amount of time it took to harvest wheat tremendously. -
Martin Van Buren's Presidency
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William Henry Harrison
After becoming a widely recognized war veteran, William Henry Harrison become President of the United States. He died after only 32 days in office. -
John Tyler's Presidency
John Tyler was the Vice President to William Henry Harrison and so he succeeded him after Harrison's death. -
James K. Polk's Presidency
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Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 mandated that popular sovereignty would rule within states. The act was proposed by Stephen A. Douglas and allowed each state to chose whether slavery would be allowed in each state. -
Abraham Lincoln's Presidency
Abraham Lincoln, an anti-slavery advocate, led America through the American Civil War. -
Battle of Fort Sumter
The Battle of Fort Sumter was the first battle that officially began the Civil War. Confederate forces bombarded a Union fort at Charleston, South Carolina, and opened fire. Major Robert Anderson's forces surrendered to the Confederate soldiers. -
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American Civil War
The American Civil War was mainly fought over the desire of several states to secede from the Union and over the disagreement of the system of slavery in the U.S.. The war was extremely bloody and resulted in a Union victory. The states then reunited once again under the Federal Constitution. -
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh is known as one of the costliest battles in American history. The Union won a shocking victory with 23,000 casualties. -
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was a statement by President Abraham Lincoln that emancipated all slaves engaged in rebellion against the Union. It went into effect on January 1, 1863. -
Battle of Gettysburg
After a Confederate win at Chancellorsville, Robert E. Lee marched his troops into Pennsylvania where they clashed with Union forces at the Potomac. The battle lasted for around 3 days and included charges upon enemy lines and a Union victory. Lee was forced to have his army retreat. Around 51,000 people died as a result of the battle. -
Lincoln's Assasination
Only 5 days after the end of the American Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln is assassinated while attending a play at Ford's Theater in Washington, D.C.. -
First National Park
On March 3, 1872, Ulysses S. Grant established Yellowstone as America's first national park. -
Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty was a gift of friendship from France to America. It is known as a symbol of freedom and democracy.