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Manifest Destiny Timeline
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Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris was signed on September 3, 1783 in Paris. England recognized American independence all the way to the Mississippi River, and America retained some fishing rights in Newfoundland. American Loyalists were to be treated fairly, and Congress was to recommend to the states that the land taken from the Loyalist was to be returned. -
The Land Ordinance of 1785
The Land Ordinance of 1785 surveyed the new lands of the Ohio Valley and divided it into squares to be sold. A section was 1 mile by 1 mile or 1 sq. mile and a township was 6 miles by 6 miles or 6 sq. miles. The standard going-price for land was $1 per acre and the money was used to pay for the Revolutionary War debt. -
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Land agreement of 1787 created the Northwest Territory, enabling the United States to expand into the Great Lakes area. States created from the Northwest Territory included Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. -
Pinckney Treaty
The Pinckney Treaty was Spain's attempt to befriend America in response to Britian's Jay's Treaty with America. The Pinckney Treaty gave Americans the right to travel down and out of the Mississippi River and it gave America the disputed land of Florida. -
Louisiana Purchase
Napoleon got Louisiana from Spain. This interfered with America's Pinckney's Treaty with Spain, so President Jefferson sent Robert Livingston to France in attempt buy a small piece of land to get down the river to the Gulf of Mexico. France counter-offered all of Louisiana for $15 million and President Jefferson accepted. -
Lewis and Clark's Expedition
Jefferson sends Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to explore the new territory of Louisiana.The first portion of the expedition followed the route of the Missouri River during which, they passed through places such as present-day Kansas City, Missouri and Omaha, Nebraska. -
Zebulon Pike Explores the American Southwest
Zebulon Pike explored the Spanish-owned areas of the American Southwest. He went into Colorado (hence Pike's Peak), then south into current New Mexico, Mexico, and Texas. -
Battle of New Orleans
On January 8, 1815, American forces commanded by General Jackson, defeated the British forces as they tried to capture New Orleans. The battle, which took place after the Treaty of Ghent had been signed, effectively ended the war in American's minds. -
The Florida Purchase Treaty
America made a treaty with Spain with America paying $5 million and getting Florida, Spain giving up a claim in Oregon, and America giving up Texas. The south limit of Oregon was set at 42 degrees latitude. -
The Land Act of 1820
The Land Act of 1820 allowed buyers to purchase acres at $1.25 per acre. However, buyers could not purchase more than 80 acres of land. -
The Russo-American Treaty of 1824
The Russo-American Treaty of 1824 set the southern boundary of Russian land at 54 degrees 40'. This set the Russian territory at the present southern tip of Alaska panhandle. -
The Indian Removal Act
President Jackson believed that Indians and whites couldn't live together peacefully so the Indians were to be removed to the new Indian Territory, Oklahoma. The Indian Removal Act was passed by Congress and the military rounded up eastern tribes and drove them westward. The most infamous was the "Trail of Tears" where the Cherokee wree forced to walk from their George home to Oklahoma. -
The Lone Star Republic
Texas declared independence early in 1836 and called itself the "Lone Star Republic". Texas wanted to join American but the northern states would not allow another slave state. Texas would have to wait to be annexed. -
The Webster-Ashburton Treaty
The Webster-Ashburton Treaty drew a line generally at the Aroostook River to solve land disputes between Britain and America over the Maine-Canada border. The U.S. got the Mesabi range in Minnesota which unbeknownst then, was rich in iron ore. -
The Lone Star State
The urge to annex Texas grew as the independent republic became friends with Britain, France, Belgium, and Holland. In 1845, Texas was invited to join the U.S. and accepted. -
Claiming California
Gen. Stephen W. Kearny and Cpt. John C. Fremont met in San Diego, California with around a thousand troops. Cpt. John C. Fremont took California and proclaimed the "Bear Flag Republic" on June 14, 1846. Commodore Sloat arrived by boat with the U.S. Navy to secure California for good on July 7, 1846. -
Oregon Treaty
Disputes between the U.S. and Britain erupted over Oregon's border. The agreement was roughly split the land at the 49th parallel (excluding Vancouver). The U.S. agreed to half Oregon and push for all of the Mexican lands because England was strong and Mexico was weak. -
California Gold Rush
At Sutter's Mill in 1848, gold was discovered. Millions of hopefuls flooded California in 1849, these people were named "Forty-Niners". More people made their fortunes out of the things needed to accompany the miners than actually hunting for gold (general stores, lumberyards, bars, babershops, bakeries, etc.). -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo gave America the Mexican Cession lands. This entailed California, but also the future states of NV, AZ, NM, CO, and UT. The U.S. would pay $15 million for the land, and assume $3.5 million in debts owed from Mexico to U.S. -
The Gadsden Purchase
James Gadsden was sent to Mexico to work a deal for land to build a railroad connecting the east and west coasts. The Gadsden Purchase bought the southern chunk of present Arizona and New Mexico for $10 million.
