-
54' 40' or Fight!
James K. Polk was nominated as the Democratic Presidential candidate in 1844 and adopted the slogan 54' 40' or Fight! in reference to expansion of US territories to the top of the Oregon boundary (54 degrees, 40 minutes). Picture: The Oregon Treaty of 1846 where the border line between present-day Canada and the US was agreed upon. -
The Mexican Cession
The treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed in 1848 and gave the territories of all of present-day California, Utah, Nevada, most of Arizona, and parts of Wyoming, New Mexico and Colorado. (Manifest Destiny). Picture: This picture shows the Mexican Cession and how much land was acquired through the treaty. This shows how Manifest Destiny made the US want to keep stretching westward by gaining territories. -
The Morrill Tariff Act of 1861
The Morrill Tariff Act was another protective tariff that benefited the North more than the South and was a contributing factor to the frustrations of the South that led to the Civil War. The protective tariffs were not looked upon with favor from the South, but the tariffs greatly benefited the Northern economy and contributed to the building of other US industries. Picture: Shows the North "getting fat" off the protective tariffs while the South starves. -
Morrill Act of 1862
The act provided land grants to states to finance the establishment of universitites. This was a giant leap in the right direction by being able to make higher education a possibility for many more people. Picture: A portrait of Justin Smith Morrill, the congressman who introduced the bill. -
National Banking Acts of 1863 and 1864
The Naitonal Banking Acts of 1863 and 1864 are responsible for creating a new national currency and establishing a new national bank and tax laws to fix the financial issues from the Civil War. (Civil War). Picture: The "greenback" is the paper money that was issued after the National Banking acts instead of the specie (paying in gold and silver) that had been used before. -
The Thirteenth Ammendment
The thirteenth ammendment formally abolished slavery in the United States. Picture: This picture shows the names of each division of the Union (the North and the South) had given the other. There was still a great deal of discord within the Union and, even though they were technically one country, they had the mindset and the values of two very different regions. -
Purchase of Alaska from Russia
Secretary of State, William H. Seward was labeled as "crazy" for paying $7.2 million for a piece of unexplored land, but these purchase laid the "groundwork" for America becoming an international power. Picture: The purchase was labeled as "Seward's folly" because it seemed ridiculous at the time. -
Burlingame-Seward Treaty
This treaty was a sign of growing status of the US and a friendly agreement between the US and China of how they would handle immigration to China (and allowing missionaries in China) and the emigration of Chinese workers. Picture: Some US citizens were not in favor of the treaty, but it was still an important for America to establish good realtionships with other powerful countries. -
Transcontinental Railroad is Finished
Building the transcontinental railroad connected the West to the rest of the country and provided each region of the US with more economic opportunity. Picture: The picture shows the celebration of the last spike being put into the railroad, thus finishing it. It was a big moment for the United States. -
The Ratification of the Fifteenth Ammendment
The fifteenth ammendment gave previous slaves the ability to vote and dropped the property requirements for voting. (reconstruction). Picture: The picture depicts an african american man who is able to vote for the first time.
