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Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail, established from 1811-1840, was a 2,170 mile route from Missouri to Oregon (and California). It enabled the migrating of early pioneers to the western United States. -
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Era of Good Feelings
Between 1815 and 1825, the U.S. had an era of peace, pride, and progress. In two court cases, the country's national government's rights were protected, such as the fact that the states could not interfere with the power of Congress to regulate interstate commerce. -
Adams-Onis Treaty Signed
After a long dispute over territory between Spain and the U.S. (especially over the US-Florida border), Spanish leaders were finally willing to negotiate after some convincing from General Andrew Jackson. The two nations settled with the Adams-Onis Treaty, which gave present-day Texas to Spain, and Florida to the U.S. -
McCulloch v. Maryland
Maryland attempted to pass a tax that would limit the federal bank's operation. James McCulloch, the cashier of the Maryland branch of the national bank, refused to pay this tax. The case went all the way to Supreme Court, and the Court ruled that the national bacnk was constitutional, -
Missouri Compromise Passed
In 1819, MIssouri wished to join the United States as a slvae state. This however, was a big problem in Congress, because if Missouri joined, then there would be 12 slave states and 11 free states -- tipping the scales in the Senate! Henry Clay urged Congress to pass the Missouri Compromise, in which Missouri would join the Union as a slave state, Maine would join the Union as a free state, and any land west of the southern Missouri border would be a free state. -
Santa Fe Trail Established
The Santa Fe Trial is pioneered by William Becknell as a vital commercial highway that links Independence, Missouri with Santa Fe, New Mexico. -
Monroe Doctrine Issued
After Mexico broke free of Spain, many European nations were worried that their enemies would influence or take over the new independent colonies. Britain wanted to make a joint treaty with the U.S., but instead, President James Monroe and Secretary of State Adams created the Monroe Doctrine, which was a new American foreign policy. It said that the U.S. would not interfere with European affairs, and that nations in the Western Hemisphere were off-limits for foriegn colonization. -
Bureau of Indian Affairs Founded
The Bureau of Indian Affairs is founded by Secretary of War John C. Calhounto oversee and carry out the Federal government's trade and treaty relations with Native American ("Indian") tribes. -
States' Rights Doctrine
After much controversy over tariffs (especially the "Tariff of Abominations") Vice President John C. Calhoun drafted the States' Rights Doctrine, which stated that since the states had formed the national governmnet, state power should be greater than federal power. -
Tariff of Abominations
Congress placed a tax on imports after Northerners demanded it, so that they could keep up with European factories. This, however, greatly angered Southerners, whom needed the imported goods to make important necessities such as rope. Southerners called this tax the "Tariff of Abominations". -
Spoils System
After Andrew Jackson was elected, he gave his followers government jobs. This "spoils system" is the practice of giving jobs to people that agree with you politically. -
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Jacksonian Democracy
During this period, Andrew Jackson was president. His followers founded the basis of the Democratic Party -- this was known as Jacksonian Democracy. -
Indian Removal Act
The Indian Removal authorized the removail of Native Americans who lives east of the Mississippi River to lands in the West. -
Indian Territory
Following the Indian Removal Act, Congress established Indian Territory -- land in present-day Oklahoma, where Native Americans were moved to. -
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The Nullification Crisis
The Nullification Crisis was a time period during Jackson's presidental office, when South Carolina confronted the federal governmnet in a sectional crisis. -
Whig Party Established
Jackson chose not to run again in 1836. However, a new party was still formed to oppose Jackson. It was called the Whig Party. The party wished to have a weak President and a strong Congress. -
Battle of the Alamo
A major battle in Texas' war for independence from Mexico. Thousands of Mexican soldiers led by General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna began a siege of the Alamo. The Alamo’s 200 defenders commanded by James Bowie and William Travis fought valiantly for 13 days before the Mexicans finally won. While Texas lost the battle, it was a huge landmark of their perserverance. Later that year, Texas gained its freedom, and eventually made its way as a U.S. state. -
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Trial of Tears
Because of the Indian Removal Act, the Cherokee tribes were forced to migrate to present-day Oklahoma. The Cherokee called this journey the "Trial of Tears". -
Manifest Destiny
Manifest Destiny - a term for the attitude that helped fuel western settlement, removal of Native Americans, and war with Mexico. The term was first used by John L. O'Sullivan in an article. -
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California Gold Rush
A gold rush in California when gold was found my James W. Marshall that attracted a lot of attention from settlers and immigrants from other countries. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
A treaty between the U.S and Mexico to end the Texas War. The U.S. had to pay fines, and in return, they were given California, half of New Mexico, most of Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Wyoming and Colorado. -
Donner Party
Group of American pioneers led by George Donner and James F. Reed who set out for California in a wagon train and were met with a lot of difficulties. -
Forty-Niners
The name for the gold miners in California during the California Gold Rush. (The name was derived from the year 1849) -
Gadsden Purchase
The Gadsden Purchase was a puchase of a 29,640-square-mile (76,800 km2) region of present-day southern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico by the U.S. and signed by Franklin Pierce.
