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Thomas Jefferson Inauguration
On this day, Thomas Jefferson was inaugurated as President of the United States. He was the 3rd President of the U.S. Significance: He was the first President to be inaugurated in Washington, D.C. His most significant accomplishment as President was the Louisiana Purchase. -
Louisiana Purchase
The United States buys territory from Napoleon's France. The size of the United States is doubled with this purchase. Significance: The Louisiana Purchase paved the way for Westward Expansion. The U.S. now had control of the Mississippi River which was used by farmers to ship their crops. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WIMJOhOGKQ -
War of 1812 Begins
The War of 1812 was caused by British restrictions on U.S. trade. The U.S. also wanted to expand its territory. Significance: The U.S. had taken on the greatest navel power in the world, which at the time was Great Britain. The war boosted national confidence. The ratification of the Treaty of Ghent ended the war. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5E2y1-m898 -
The White House is Burned
The White House was burned by British forces during the War of 1812. This was in retaliation of the U.S. destroying Canadian public buildings (which at the time was British colonies). It caused President Madison to evacuate. Significance: The British were sending the United States a message. They were letting it be known that they would retaliate. -
The Construction of the Erie Canal Begins
The construction of the Erie Canal began in Rome, New York. It was completed in 1825. The canal would eventually connect the Atlantic Ocean, through the Hudson River, to the Great Lakes. Significance: This canal cut transport costs by 90%. This canal gave western states direct access to the Atlantic Ocean. Western states no longer had to ship goods downstream on the Mississippi River. -
Convention of 1818
This treaty established the boundary between the U.S. and the United Kingdom, but what is now Canada. It established a joint occupation of Oregon by the British and U.S. for the next 10 years. Significance: The Convention of 1818 marked the beginning of improved relations between America and Great Britain. It also established boundaries that we have between the U.S. and Canada today. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMkYlIA7mgw -
Missouri Compromise Bill passes in Congress
This bill allowed slavery in the Missouri territory. However, allowing Missouri to be a slave state would upset the balance between slave states and free states at this time. Significance: The compromise delayed the slavery debate for a short time (eventually the civil war broke out). Main was added to the union as a non slave state to create balance again. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68gi3C0A9Fo -
First Legal International Trade on Santa Fe Trail
William Becknell, a Missouri trader, created the first legal international trade after Governor Melgares agreed. This trail was 870 miles long from Independence, Missouri, to Santa Fe, Mecixo (which is now New Mexico). Significance: The trail led to 60 years of profitable trade. This trail merged the cultures of New Spain, Mexico, and the United States. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQqw-hMs4cU -
Bureau of Indian Affairs is Established
The Bureau of Indian Affairs is established by the U.S. War Department. It was formed by Secretary of War John C. Calhoun. He created the agency as a division within his department without authorization from U.S. Congress. Significance: The department was meant to regulate trade with Native American tribes. This department still exists today and is responsible for managing land held in trust by the U.S. for Native Americans. -
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad is Incorporated
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was the first railroad in the United States to offer transportation for not only people, but for commercial goods as well. Before it was created, there was no efficient way to transport bulky goods by land.
Significance: Although the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was not that significant on its own, it paved the way for America to create more railroads. It marks the start of the beginning of the boom in American railroads, which changed the way we transported goods. -
Indian Removal Act
The Indian Removal Act of 1830 was approved by congress and signed by President Andrew Jackson. It gave "permission" to the United States to relocate Native American tribes west of the Mississippi River in exchange for their land. Significance: The Trail of Tears emerged from this Act; it shows how little Native Americans were thought of and were forced to give up their homes and belongings, also losing many people. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3E4f_oekpzI -
Battle of Gonzales
The Battle of Gonzales was the starting point of the Revolution of Texas, where Texan and Mexican soldiers fought over a cannon. From this, the phrase, "come and get it" developed, where Texans taunted the Mexican soldiers to come and get the cannon. Significance: This was the beginning of the Texan Rebellion against the Mexican government, which would then lead to Texas seceding from Mexico. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BofLuzThspg -
Samuel Morse
A portrait painter named Samuel Morse invented the first telegraph and the Morse Code system. Significance: Our country was able to communicate in long distances and in secret, this method of communication was used by many, especially those in combat/war. -
Webster-Ashburton Treaty
On August 9th, 1842, the Webster Ashburton Treaty was signed between the United States and British colonies to resolve border issues. Significance: Due to this treaty, Canada came about. -
Mexican War
May 8th, 1846 was when the first major conflict of the Mexican War that happened in Palo Alto, Texas, where the United States seized disputed Texas land. The United States declared war on the 13th and 10 days later Mexico declared War back. Significance: From this war, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was created and signed in 1848, which ended the war and established the Mexican Cession. -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was introduced by Senator Henry Clay; it was a 5 part bill that was passed by Congress. From this the Fugitive Slave Act was amended. Significance: It ended the "confrontation" between free and slave states (North and South). Also, it ended the slave trade in the District of Columbia. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
United States Congress passed the Kansas-Nebraska Act, this established the territories of Kansas and Nebraska. Also, it allowed the people of Kansas and Nebraska to decide whether or not to allow slavery within their border. Significance: Also known as Bleeding Kansas, this act tested many of the surrounding territories (Anti-slavery/pro-slavery) because this act also challenged Missouri Compromise of 1820. -
Pottawatomie Massacre
The Pottawatomie Massacre was the result of John Brown and some accomplices murdering five pro-slavery men. Just three days before, John Brown became enraged because of the anti-slavery community not wanting to fight back. Significance: This Massacre led to many people on both sides (North and South) having mixed emotions and distrusting in each other. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tJ0ZjRxKhs -
Abraham Lincoln Inauguration
As the 16th presidential election came about, Abraham Lincoln won the presidency against three other opponents. Lincoln was the first from the Republican Party on a anti-slavery platform. Significance: Through his anti-slavery platform, Lincoln initiated the freedom for slaves. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8u94d6STjc -
Battle of Bull Run
The Battle of Bull Run was the first major battle of the Civil War; it was fought in Manassas, Virginia. Fought between the Union and Confederacy armies, where the Confederate army won. Significance: The battle made it clear that the Civil War was not going to end quickly/easily and "without cost." Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMecSHNA9UU
