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First Barbary War
In response to the capturing of ships in the Mediterranean Sea, the United States went to war with the Barbary powers. For four years, the Uniteds States engaged in naval battles overseas. Near the end of the war (1805), a force of United States Marines and mercenaries captured Tripoli, marking the first time that United States troops had raised our flag on foreign soil. A peace treaty was eventually signed, returning all American prisoners. -
Marbury v. Madison
William Marbury sued then-Secretary of State James Madison for the latter not serving Marbury papers of appointment for a judgeship under previous president, John Adams. In its ruling, the Supreme Court decided to not give Marbury his judgeship. More importantly, the ruling gave the Supreme Court the power of judicial review, or the ability to declare laws and actions unconstitutional. This gave the judicial branch much more influence and changed our government system forever. -
Louisiana Purchase
In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson paid Napoleon of France $15 million (roughly 4 cents per acre) for the Louisiana Territory. Today, that would be roughly $236 million (42 cents per acre). Napoleon was eager to strike a deal following the Haitian slave revolt and war with England. The United States gained the vast land, covering 13 current states and greatly expanding the country west. -
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Lewis and Clark Expedition
Following the Louisiana Purchase, President Thomas Jefferson planned to have the new areas of the country explored. Jefferson chose two former Army officers to lead the expedition, Captain Meriweather Lewis and Second Lieutenant William Clark. The pair's group reached the Pacific Ocean, successfully mapping and exploring our new land. -
Battle of Tippecanoe
In 1811, near Lafayette, Indiana, Indiana Territory Governor William Henry Harrison met the armies of Shawnee leaders Tecumseh and his brother, Tenskwatawa. The pair's goal was to halt the U.S. government's encroachment onto Native American lands. Harrison defeated the Native Americans. This battle served as a major catalyst for the War of 1812. The British were blamed for supplying the Native Americans with weapons and encouraging them to fight. British-American tensions greatly increased. -
Siege of Detroit
Early in the War of !812, the British experienced one of their easiest and surprising victories of the war. A force of british soldiers, accompannied by a force of Native Americans, marched on Fort Detroit. The British and Indians moved their troops into sight lines to appear to have more fighters and the Native Americans shouted loud war cries for intimidation. Unaware they had a bigger army, the U.S. surrendered quickly at the start of gunfire to avoid a slaughter. -
Burning of Washington
After defeating the United States at the Battle of Bladensburg, the British were able to march on Washington, D.C. The British burned many bbuildings, including the White House and the Capitol. Britain remains as the only foreign country to ever burn Washington, D.C., and occupy our capital. -
Battle of New Orleans
The Battle of New Orleans was the last major battle of the War of 1812. The Americans, led by Andrew Jackson, successfully defended New Orleans from a much larger invading British force. Jackson's men dug in and valiantly defended their position. The battle is famous for taking place AFTER the official end of the war. Word of the peace treaty had not yet reached Louisiana. The battle elevated national pride and gained Jackson national attention, a reason for his successful presidential campaign. -
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was a federal statute that outlawed slavery in western states north of the parallel that formed the southern border of Missouri, except for the state of Missouri. It was repealed 34 years later by the Kansas-Nebraska Act, and served as an important example of the constant and dribing issue of slavery. -
Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine was a U.S. foreign policy regarding European countries. It stated that the any European attempts to re-colonize the west would be met with firm United States opposition and force. It is one of the most important U.S. foreign policies and has been imposed (regarding different issues) by multiple presidents since, including Ulysses S. Grant, Teddy Roosevelt, JFK, and Ronald Reagan. -
Indian Removal Act
The Indian Removal Act was a law passed under Andrew Jackson that authorized the president to "negotiate" with Indian tribes for their removal to federal lands in the west. This led to the eventual removal of Indiands from the east and the infamous Trai of Tears. -
Panic of 1837
The Panic of 1837 was a financial crisis in the United States that started a major recession in the 1830s and 40s. It was the start of mass unemployment and economic instability in America. -
Battle of Fort Sumter
The Battle of Fort Sumter was the start of the Civil War. The Confederacy bombarded the small American force inside the fortress and forced them to surrender as they ran low on food and supplies. After the assault, both sides prepared for the beginning war. -
The First Battle of Bull Run
The First Battle of Bull Run was the first major battle of the Civil War. The Union, responding to the attack on Fort Sumter, was preparing to advance towards the Confederate capital of Richmond. An initial assault stunned the Confederates, but reinforcemnets came to force a Union retreat. General Thomas Jackson firmly held his position, earning his famous nickname "Stonewall" Jackson. The Confederate victory surprised the Union and proved it would be a long war, not an easy Union victory. -
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam was the first battle fought on Union soil. It was the bloodiest battle of the Civil War, with over 22,000 either killed, wounded, captured, or missing following the fatal day of fighting. Although the bloody battle was hardly a victory for either side, General Lee and the Confederacy withdrew back into the south, giving President Lincoln the confidence to impose the Emancipation Proclamation, the abolition of slavery in the south. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg is arguably the Civil War's most famous battle. It is considered the turning point of the war. General Robert E. Lee was attempting to make his push into the north and end the war. The Union stopped Lee at Gettysburg with an important victory, halting his invasion of the north. The south never again attempted to invade the north and spent the remainder of the war on the defensive, until their eventual defeat.
