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The Declaration of Independence
Through the Declaration of Independence, drafted by Thomas Jefferson and adopted at the Second Continental Congress on July 4th, 1776, the thirteen American colonies declared themselves as independent of Great Britain, establishing themselves as thirteen sovereign states under the new United States of America. -
The United States Constitution
Ratified on June 21, 1788 in response to America’s previous State-oriented Confederate government displaying inadequacies, the United States Constitution established a Federal Government – a balance between state and government authority – with a division of power oriented to protect the people’s liberties. -
Louisiana Purchase
Although proving to be controversial through domestic and constitutional opposition, on July 4th, 1803 President Thomas Jefferson purchased the 530 million acre Louisiana Territory from their previous opposition France for $15 million USD, effectively doubling the United States’ territory, expanding trade routes, and creating a climate perfect for the expansionist period that followed. -
California Gold Rush
By chance gold is discovered by a Californian carpenter on January 24th, 1848, attracting several thousand opportunistic miners domestic and foreign alike, transforming the newly annexed California to a booming commerce central filled with all walks of life and drawing opportunity-chasing Americans westward for decades to come. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Concluding the 1846-1848 Mexican-American war over the Republic of Texas’ annexation, the Treaty of Guadalupe signed on February 2nd, 1848 fulfilled the United States’ Manifest Destiny through cession of Mexico’s west coast territories of California and New Mexico, alongside portions of Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado. -
Southern Secession leads to Civil War
Due to disagreements regarding the morality and acceptance of slavery, South Carolina had seceded from the Union on December 20, 1860, with several Southern states following and ultimately forming the Confederate States of America later on March 11th, 1861 and eventually leading to a civil war with the Union. -
The Thirteenth Amendment is ratified
Through the Thirteenth Amendment’s ratification on December 6th, 1865, liberty had finally prevailed in the United States as slavery had been completely abolished nine months after both the Confederate Nation’s surrender and Union President Abraham Lincoln’s untimely passing.
