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Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was a deal made in 1803 where the United States bought 828,000 square miles of land from France which doubled the size of the United States territory; this opened up more land for westward expansion, strengthening the US's global position. (National Archives, 2021a) -
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Louis & Clark Expedition
This expedition was commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson to explore the new land acquired through the Louisiana Purchase and find a route to the Pacific Ocean. It is a significant event in history because Louis and Clark mapped unchartered regions while gaining newfound knowledge of the territory. (National Archives, 2018) -
Treaty of Gent
The Treaty of Gent ended the War of 1812 between the US and Great Britain and established peace. It is significant because the US was then able to expand within the Northwest territory that British troops were protecting. (Treaty of Ghent (1814), 2021) -
Adam-Onis Treaty
The Adams-Onis Treaty was an agreement where Spain gave up Florida to the US which expanded and defined US borders. (Office of the Historian, 2019) -
The Missouri Compromise
This agreement allowed Missouri to enter the union as a slave state, and allowed Maine to enter as a free state. Slavery was banned for the rest of the Louisiana territory north of the 36° 30´ latitude line. This compromise eased tensions on both sides of the slavery debate. (Drexler, 2019) -
The Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine declared that the western hemisphere was off limits to any more European colonization and any interventions would be seen as an act of aggression. It is significant because the US asserted its influence as a global power. (National Archives, 2021b) -
The Erie Canal
This 363 mile waterway connects the Hudson River to Lake Erie and facilitates transportation between the Atlantic Ocean and the interior US. it is significant for its impact on trade, economic growth, and expansion. (Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, n.d.) -
Baltimore-Ohio Railroad
The Baltimore-Ohio Railroad was the first major railroad in the US and connected Baltimore to the Ohio River. Its significant because it opened up newer and faster transportation routes to the western frontier. (History, n.d.) -
Indian Removal Act
The Indian Removal Act authorized the US government to forcibly relocate Native American tribes from their land to designated land west of the Mississippi River. its a significant period in time where expansion was prioritized over Native Americans. (Office of The Historian, 2019) -
Trail of Tears
The Trail of Tears was the forced migration of Native Americans from their land making room for white settlements; over 10,000 Native Americans died during this displacement. Art by Robert Lindneux (Trail of Tears (Term) | the Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, n.d.) -
Nat Turner's Rebellion
Nat Turner's Rebellion was the most deadly slave revolt in US history and resulted in the deaths of 60 white people. This event is significant because led to a violent crackdown resulting in the killing of over 100 slaves; in addition, it led to stricter slave laws and inspired movements advocating to end slavery. (Breen, 2022) -
Texas Declares Independence from Mexico
Texas declared independence from Mexico in 1836 and established that slavery would not be prohibited in Texas (Texas Declaration of Independence, 1836 | Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, n.d.) -
Panic of 1837
The panic of 1837 was a major depression that lasted until 1844 and caused hundreds of banks to close and highlighted the need for banking reform and better management. (Encyclopedia of Arkansas, n.d.) -
Texas is Annexed by US
In December of 1845, Texas is formally recognized as the 28th state of the union, a huge expansion of the US. (Office of the Historian, 2018) -
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Mexican American War
The Mexican American war was a conflict over territories that lasted two years and resulted in the US gaining more land in its efforts of westward expansion. (Mexican-American War, 2009) -
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush of 1848 caused one of the largest migrations in US history when gold was found in Sacramento Valley. This caused an influx in Californias population and economy and eventually led to California entering the Union as the 31st state. (Norwich University, 2024) -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
This treaty ended the Mexican American War and resulted in America gaining 525,000 square miles of territory. (Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming) (Gray, 2018) -
Seneca Falls Convention
The Seneca Falls Convention was the first women's right convention in the US, it was there that the Declaration of Sentiments was written. This convention sparked the women's rights movement and influenced gender equality reforms. (Wellman, n.d) -
Harriet Tubman Escapes
Harriet Tubman escaped slavery in 1849 and eventually helped many other slaves reach freedom through the underground railroad; she was a prominent figure in the abolition movement. (Balkansky, 2020) -
Compromise of 1850
The compromise of 1850 was a series of measures proposed to settle issues regarding slavery as well as ensuring California was a free state and prohibiting slave trade in Washington D.C. (National Archives, 2021c)