-
Lousiana Purchase
The Lousiana Purchase expanded the land in the United States. They gave $15 million. The land would fuel the nations expantion to the west which would also double the nations size. -
Expeditions of Lewis and Clark
Designated by President Jackson, the Lewis and Clark Expeditions purposes were to map a course to the Pacific Ocean and explore the "unknown and undiscovered" western territories. -
Erie Canal
In this year, work began on a long waterway, called the Erie Canal, that effectively linked the Great Lakes and Northwestern Territories to New York. -
Indian Removal Act
In the area that lay to the eastern side of the Mississippi River, there lived many Native Americans. The 1830, the Indian Removal Act was passed so that the U.S. president could force the Natives to move, thus allowing U.S. citizens to settle there. -
Trail of Tears
The Trail of Tears was the process of relocating several Native American tribes from their homes. It was a very difficult journey for them and thousands of them died while battling natural elements that they were not prepared to cope with. -
Establishment of Indian Territory
Congress establishes Indian Territory, which coversparts of the present-day states of Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Kansas, far smaller than the "all lands west of the Mississippi" that whites had once promised. -
Battle of San Jacinto
Battle which was led by General Sam Houston. Texas launched a surprise attack and destroyed Mexican Army and captured General Santa Ana, forcing him to recognize Texas's newly found independence. -
Battle Of The Alamo
Mexican troops under President General Antonio López de Santa Anna launched an assault on the Alamo Mission near San Antonio de Béxar. -
Third Siminole War
When Colonel Loomis declared an end to the Third Seminole War, the government believed that only about 100 Seminole were left in Florida. In December 1858, the US recruited two bands totaling 75 people, who agreed to removal to the West; they were shipped out on February 15, 1859. -
Oregon Treaty
The British and American people had several disagreements over who should have the Oregon County. Eventually they signed the Oregon Treaty that defined which areas of the land would officially belong to each party. -
California Gold Rush
With American settlers newly transplanted in California, a wave of gold fever hit when a man called John Sutter accidentally discovered nuggets of gold on his land. -
The Gadsden Purchase
The next area of land to be bought by the United States was the region that we know as Arizona and a part of New Mexico. This was called the Gadsden Purchase. -
The Pony Express
The Pony Express was a fast mail service crossing the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento, California, from April 1860 to October 1861. It became the west's most direct means of east-west communication before the telegraph and was vital for tying California closely with the Union just before the American Civil War. -
Battle of Little Big Horn
A great battle between Native Americans and American settlers occurred in this year, known as the Battle of Little Bighorn. Led by the famous Indian chief, Sitting Bull, and several others, the Natives managed to defeat the Americans. -
Expansion In the North West
The United States added additional areas as the four newest states, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington and Montana, after passing the Enabling Act. -
Statehood For Arizona
Arizona was finally admitted as the 48th state, marking the completion of the contiguous 48 states.
