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The Louisiana Purchase
United States agrees to pay France $15 million for the Louisiana Territory, which extends west from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains and comprises about 830,000 sq mi. As a result, the U.S. nearly doubles in size. -
War of 1812
U.S. declares war on Britain over British interference with American maritime shipping and westward expansion. -
Missouri Compromise
In an effort to maintain the balance between free and slave states, Maine (formerly part of Massachusetts) is admitted as a free state so that Missouri can be admitted as a slave state; except for Missouri, slavery is prohibited in the Louisiana Purchase lands north of latitude 36°30'. -
Harmonica
The harmonica was invented by Friedrich Buschmann. -
Felix conducted Bach’s “St. Matthew Passion”
Felix Mendelssohn conducted the first modern performance of J.S. Bach's "St. Matthew Passion." -
Frédéric Chopin performed 2 works in Paris
Frédéric Chopin performed his "Piano Concerto in F Minor" and the "Variations, opus 2" in Paris. -
Trail of Tears
More than 15,000 Cherokee Indians are forced to march from Georgia to Indian Territory in present-day Oklahoma. Approximately 4,000 die from starvation and disease along the “Trail of Tears.” -
The Mexican War
Mexican War: U.S. declares war on Mexico in effort to gain California and other territory in Southwest. -
Civil War
Conflict between the North (the Union) and the South (the Confederacy) over the expansion of slavery into western states. -
Louis-Hector died and Faust was performed in the same year
Louis-Hector Berlioz died. In the same year, the opera "Faust" by Charles Gounod was first performed in Paris. -
Significant works of Requiem and Swan Lake
"Requiem" by Gabriel Fauré was first performed in Paris. That same year, Thomas Edison patented the phonograph, which would change the way people listened to music. Also, "Swan Lake" by Tchaikovsky, was first performed in Moscow. -
Tosca premiered in Rome
Giacomo Puccini's opera, "Tosca," premiered in Rome.