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Louisiana Purchase
On April 30th, 1803 the United States purchased the Louisiana territory from France for 15 million dollars. It was aproximately 800,000 sq miles and almost doubled the size of the United States. Owning Louisiana territory could only leave Americans curious about the West. -
Lewis and Clark Expidition
The Lewis and Clark Expiditition begins.It was a journey to find out what resources were on the West coast. -
The War of 1812
A 32 month military conflict between America and the British Empire.The war was declaired by America for many reasons but one includes the trade restictions by Britain's continuous war with France. -
Establishment of the Underground Railroad
The underground railroad was established to help slaves escape from plantations. -
Panic of 1837
Panic began in New York on May 10th, 1837 when every bank stopped payment in gold and silver coinage. It was followed by a five year depression. The Panic caused a huge unemployment rate. President Martin Van Buren was blamed for the event although he had just got into office when he realized the future financial crisis. -
Compromise of 1850
California enters the Union as a free state. This, of course, will cause slave to want to move westward to California. -
Civil War Begins
11 southern slave states declaired succesion from the Untied states and formed the confederacy.The north and the south began to create large armies and many wrongs were commited by both sides such as the murdering of civilians.This war also remains the deadliest war in American history. -
Homestead act
The Homestead act claims, "any adult citizen, or intended citizen, who had never borne arms against the U.S. government could claim 160 acres of surveyed government land." This made people want to claim more land. -
End of the Civil war
The Civil war ended. 10 percent of all Northen males age 20-45 died and 30 percent of all males 18-30 died.In the end there were about 620,000 soldiers dead and an unknown amount of civilians. -
Enactment of Jim Crow laws
These laws enforced a "seperate but equal" policy for blacks in all public facilities in the Southern states of the former Confederacy. This most likely also inspired blacks to head westward as blakcs soon began recieving numerous disadvantages.
