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The Louisiana Purchase
Thomas Jefferson bought the territory from Napoleon who needed the money for war. It was purchased for 15 million dollars, and Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark to go explore it. -
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The War of 1812
The War of 1812 stemmed from deteriorating relationships with England. Although at first America's land campaign was lacking, they were able to hold their own on the naval front. The Treaty of Ghent on December 24, 1814 ended the war and returned both nations to prewar status. Although the war did not physically alter America, it boosted people's morale. -
The Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was in three parts. Missouri would be admitted as a slave state, Maine would be admitted as a free state, and the rest of the Louisiana Purchase would be divided into free and slave states along the 36º30' latitude line. -
The Indian Removal Act of 1830
The Indian Removal Act was the cause of the deaths of many Native Americans and was responsible for the "Trail of Tears." Natives were forced to move West of the Mississippi River. -
The Nullification Crisis
Andrew Jackson's own Vice President, John C. Calhoun, was from South Carolina. So Calhoun decided to nullify the tariffs of 1828 and 1832 at a special state convention. Jackson "denounced the ordinance of nullification and declared that 'disunion, by armed force, is TREASON'" (American YAWP). He passed the force bill which allowed him to bring troops into South Carolina. However, congress was able to pass a compromise that suited both sides. -
Texas Accepts Statehood
After the Texas Revolution from 1835-1836, Texas stood as an independent republic for almost a decade. The debate over Texas centered around fears that it would anger Mexico and break the balance between free and slave states. President John Tyler eventually officially extended the offer of statehood to Texas on March 3, 1845. Texas accepted on July 4 of the same year. -
The Dread Scott Decision
When Dred Scott brought his case to the Supreme Court, Chief Justice Roger Taney ruled black people could not be citizens of America. Therefore Scott could not sue the courts. This decision actually brought more people over to the abolitionists cause. -
South Carolina Secedes from the Union.
South Carolina was the first of the Southern States to secede. Abraham Lincoln's election was the tipping point for most slave states. They realized an anti-slavery president would bode badly for the slave states. Other slave states would follow close behind South Carolina in the days and months after and also sewed from the Union. -
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The American Civil War
The American Civil War was first thought of as a war for union. Lincoln believed neither side would prosper without unity through the entire land. As the war went on however, Lincoln and other generals realized the usefulness of allowing slaves to fight with the North. So the Emancipation Proclamation was issued in 1862, and the war became a war for emancipation.