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Constitution Ratified
The Constitution was a big deal for this young country. This document set precedents, rules, principals, etc. in place, as well as a bill of rights, which states all the amendments. -
Washington's Farewell Address
In his address, Washington gave a lot of advice and hints as to the direction future leaders should take. He specifically states that they should stay away from parties and stay neutral in foreign affairs. These words are still famous to this day. -
Madison v. Marbury
In Marbury v. Madison, the U.S. Supreme Court first declared an act of Congress unconstitutional, therefore establishing judicial review. In the last weeks of Jefferson's presidency, Adams attempted to fill the congress with Federalists, making his famous midnight appointments. William Marbury never received his appointment which spurred the court case against James Madison. -
Louisiana Purchase
In order to fund his conquering and wars, Napoleon sold America a large piece of land to the west. This doubled the size of America and begged the question of its constitutionality. This also helped America to secure the Mississippi and the Gulf of Mexico. -
Lewis and Clark Expedition
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were hired by Jefferson to explore America's new land to the west of the pacific. The expedition lasted for 2 years and held its fair share of trials and difficulties. Along the way they received a lot of help from a Native American women named Sacajawea. In the end Lewis and Clark were able to make many geographic, ecological, and social discoveries. -
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a war against Britain due to the impressment of American ships, trade restrictions, as well as interference via Native Americans. The war ended with the Treaty of Ghent which reset all previous boundaries with Britain. -
Treaty of Ghent
The Treaty of Ghent was signed by British and American representatives at Ghent, Belgium, ending the War of 1812. By terms of the treaty, all conquered territory was to be returned, and commissions were planned to settle the boundary of the United States and Canada. Britain also promised to stop impressment and Native interference. -
Adams-Onis Treaty
Also known as the Transcontinental Treaty, the Florida Purchase Treaty, or the Florida Treaty, the Adams-Onis Treaty between the United States and Spain ceded Florida to the U.S. and defined the boundary between the U.S. and New Spain. -
Monroe Doctrine
Monroe declared that America was the dominant power in North America and that any interference (such as Britain with the Natives) would be seen as a hostile act. This sent out a clear message to Europe that no further colonization of America would be tolerated. Monroe focused a lot on foreign affairs during his presidency. -
Indian Removal Act
The Indian Removal Act was signed by President Andrew Jackson. The law negotiated the removal of Natives to federal territory west of the Mississippi River in exchange for their lands. A big part of this act was the Trail of Tears. During the relocation process, many Natives died due to disease, violence, conditions, or exposure. -
Webster-Ashburton Treaty
The Webster-Ashburton Treaty was a treaty that resolved several border issues between the United States and the British North American colonies. It was signed under John Tyler's presidency. It also soothed Anglo-American relations. -
Texas Annexation
Texas was admitted into the United States after declaring independence fro Mexico and being their own Republic for a few years. This occurred under Polk's presidency. -
Mexican American War
Mexican-American War was a war between the United States and Mexico because of the United States’ annexation of Texas in and a dispute over whether Texas ended at the Nueces River or the Rio Grande. This war resulted in American victory and the border settled at the Rio Grande. This event happened under Polk's presidency. -
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush resulted in 300,000 people migrating in search of gold. When a few lucky settlers struck it rich, word spread and soon everyone left in hopes of getting some gold. This resulted in a huge boom in population in California as well as a change in the American economy. -
Treaty of Guadeloupe-Hidalgo
This treaty ended the Mexican-American War. The treaty drew the boundary between the United States and Mexico at the Rio Grande and the Gila River. All of this new land from Mexico left many unsure of the possibility of the land. It left open the question of slavery and divisions that would soon be settled in a series of acts and compromises to come. -
Gadsden Purchase
The Gadsden Purchase, or Treaty, was an agreement between the United States and Mexico in which the United States agreed to pay Mexico $10 million for a 29,670 square mile portion of Mexico that later became part of Arizona and New Mexico. This exchange helped strengthen the relationship between Mexico and America. -
Secession of South Carolina
After Lincoln, a northern and Republican candidate, was elected president, South Carolina seceded from America. This was the beginning of a series of successions from other southern states. Due to the threat of the end of slavery which they felt threatened their way of life and their agricultural economy, South Carolina decided it was in their best interest to secede. -
Civil War Begins
Because of many issues, a Civil War broke out between the north and the south, the Union and the Confederacy. Some causes were tension over slavery, disputes over states' rights, and the election of a Republican. Lincoln did his best to keep the nation together but was unsuccessful. He will go on to install many important and fundamental documents and policies. -
Trent Affair
Charles Wilkes, a U.S. Navy Officer, captured two Confederate envoys aboard the British mail ship, the Trent. Great Britain accused the United States of violating British neutrality, and the incident created a diplomatic crisis between the United States and Great Britain during the Civil War. -
Civil War Ends
$5.2 billion and 620,000 deaths later, the civil war came to an end. Many factors such as the north's strength over the south ultimately led to the surrender of Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox. -
Purchase of Alaska
The purchase of Alaska was an exchange between Russia and America for 7.2 million dollars. This land ended Russia's expansion era but opened up a whole new world of Asia-Pacific power to America. -
Burlingame-Seward Treaty
This treaty established some immigration precedents with China and showed the Chinese effort to restrict American interference as much. Unlimited immigration and open travel, study and residence freely in the other nation were also part of it. More than anything this treaty established a friendship and kind relationship between America and China.
