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Lousiana Purchase
U.S. negotiates Louisiana Purchase from France for $15 million doubling the U.S. territory -
Lewis and Clark Exploration Begins
The Corps of Discovery embarks from Camp Dubois outside of St. Louis, Missouri, in a 55-foot keelboat to begin the westward journey up the Missouri Rive -
Haiti Declares Independence from France
First black nation to gain freedom from European colonial rule -
War of 1812
U.S. declared war on Britain over Britian's interference and prevetion of American shipping to Europe and over their interference of America's westward expansion -
Stephen F. Austin Brings Settlers to Texas
Austin inherited 300 land grants and settled families near the Brazos and Colorado River. -
Slavery Abolished in British Colonies
An act of Parliament that abolished slavery in most British colonies, freeing more than 800,000 enslaved Africans in the Caribbean and South Africa as well as a small number in Canada. -
Battle of the Alamo
A tragic siege at the Alamo becomes a legendary battle in the Texas War for Independence. Texans held out for 13 days before being defeated and killed. -
Great Famine
Ireland experienced a massive food shortage when the potato crop has severe disease. Almost 1000 Irish died. -
Mexican American War
Battle of Palo Alto, (May 8, 1846), was the first clash in the Mexican-American War, fought in the disputed territory between the Nueces and the Rio Grande rivers -
Gold Rush Begins
James W. Marshall discovered gold on the property of Johann A. Sutter near Coloma, California. This started the influx of people to begin the gold rush. -
Civil War Begins
April 12, 1861, rebels opened fire on Fort Sumter, at the entrance to the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina.