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Second Great Awakening
A series of rivals in America, with many new Christian denominations rising to prominence. The Second Great Awakening made the U.S. into a genuinely Christian society, with Baptist and Methodist moments being the largest contributors. Some promient figures at the time include Charles Finney, Lyman Beecher, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry David Thoreau. -
Louisiana Purchase
After Napoleon has to reevaluate his holdings of land in North America, he meets with Robert Livingston, who previously tried to strike a compromise, and offers to sell the Louisiana Territory to America for 15 million. -
The Embargo Act of 1807
A foreign policy enacted by Jefferson, which closed all American ports to foreign trade in hopes of avoiding all-out war with Britain, in hopes of thinking it will help Britain to acknowledge American neutrality. -
The Steamboat
Robert Fulton established the first commercial steamboat service up and down the Hudson River. Soon thereafter, steamboats began to populate major rivers, becoming waterway highways of sorts. -
Declaration of War Against Britain
The War of 1812 stemmed from 2 major issues, the first being America's desire to maintain neutrality and the other being older-rooted in the colonial and revolutionary eras. After an uprising of "war hawks" in the government, James Madison pressured Congress to declare war against Britain, in hopes that they could remove the British from Canada. -
Britain defeats Napoleon
At the time that war was declared with Britain, the nation was still at war with France and Napoleon. Of course, this resulted in multiple defeats in battles up North. However, Britain soon defeated Napoleon and could shift their focus on America. Britain blocked American ports and would eventually burn down Washington D.C. -
Treaty of Ghent
Ended the war of 1812 with Britain. This treaty essentially returned the relations between the United States and Britain to prewar status and strengthened American nationalism. -
Attack on New Orleans
A battle of the War of 1812 after the Treaty of Ghent was signed. The British assaulted New Orleans, achieving a naval victory at Lake Borgne but soon losing the land invasion to Major General Andrew Jackson’s troops. This battle, although fought after the war's official closing, proved to be a psychological victory that boosted American morale and affected how the war has been remembered. -
Adams-Onís Treaty
Gave Florida to the United States, John Quincy Adams used Andrew Jackon's reputation to persuade Spain into giving Flordia to the U.S. -
The Missouri Compromise
A bargain by Congress to solve the Missouri Crisis. It stated that First, Congress would admit Missouri as a slave state. Second, Congress would admit Maine as a free state, maintaining the balance between the number of free and slave states. Third, the rest of the Louisiana Purchase territory would be divided along the 36°30’ line of latitude—or in other words, along the southern border of Missouri. Anything above that line would be free, anything below would be slave. -
The Monroe Doctrine
With the need for westward expansion becoming more promient, the fear of European influence became an issue as well. The Monroe Doctrine stated that no European country could colonize in America and that it would be tolerated no longer. -
Erie Canal
A 350-mile-long human-made waterway that linked the Great Lakes with the Hudson River and the Atlantic Ocean. Allowed easy transportation and a way to carry crops to cities in the east and goods from factors to the midwest. The Erie Canal launced a canal building boom across America, being one of the earliest technnological forms of transportation. -
First Long-Distance Railroad Line
The United States’ first long-distance rail line launched from Maryland in 1827. Funded by Baltimore's city government, The B&O’s founders imagined the line as a means to funnel the agricultural products of the trans-Appalachian West to an outlet on the Chesapeake Bay. The creation and success of this first rail line sparked a railroad building frenzy in other states, all funded by the government. -
Election of 1828
An election between John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson. Regarded as "one of the dirtiest presidential elections to date" each one of the delegates used whatever means possible to demean the other, attacking in personal ways. In the end, Jackson won the election with ease -
The Nullification Crisis
John C. Calhoun, the vice president of Andrew Jackson, publishes an essay titled “South Carolina Exposition and Protest” which lays out a doctrine of nullification and directly calls out Jackson. He also declared South Carolina's federal tariffs unconstitutional. Jackson's response to this caused a crisis, with other southern states backing South Carolina. A bill was eventually passed to lower the federal tariffs in response to this outcry. -
Indian Removal Act of 1830
The Federal Government enacts forced migrations of the Indians to their land granted in Oklahoma and Kansas while dividing and auctioning off the land they occupied previously. -
Nat Turner's Rebellion
The most famous slave uprising, with Turner and 70 other armed slaves or free blacks slaughtering their white neighbors who had enslaved them. By the second day, they had killed 55-60 white people and attacked 15 homes. When moving towards Jerusalem, Virginia, Turner lost support and was eventually tried and executed. This rebellion was a response to the increasing of slaves in the South and is one of the more violent rebellions enacted by slaves. -
Treaty of New Echota
Ceded lands in Georgia for $5 million and, the signatories hoped, limiting future conflicts between the Cherokee and white settlers. However, most of the tribe refused to adhere to the terms, viewing the treaty as illegitimately negotiated. -
The Panic of 1837
After Jackson's declared "victory" over the Bank of America during his reelection, the number of state-chartered banks began to grow. While originally looking good, banks became careless with the amount of hard currency kept on hand to redeem banknotes. And as banks began to increase the number of federal deposits, the federal sales plummeted. In a panic, buys tried to exchange their banknotes for hard currency, and the banks, running out, couldn't exchange it back, causing economic depression. -
Trail of Tears
Martin van Buren used the Treaty of New Etocha to force the Cherokee out of their land and onto the Trail of Tears, a long path which resulted in the deaths of 6,000 Cherokee members. -
The Whigs
The Whig party holds its first gathering in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. They gain much public support after the Panic of 1837, releasing many political ads against Jackson and recognizing William Henry Harrison as the candidate for president in 1840. He eventually won the presidency and the Whigs gained more promience. -
Telegraph
Samuel Morse persuades Congress to fund a forty-mile telegraph line stretching from Washington, D.C., to Baltimore. -
Texas
John Tyler, seeing the annexation of Texas as saving his political career, extends an offer to the republic at the end of his presidency, they accept, becoming the 28th state. -
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The Mexican-American War
A two-year war which resulted from sending U.S. soldiers past the Nueces River in Texas, which Mexico claimed as the border. The U.S. army invaded multiple Mexican fronts, with Winfield Scott’s men taking control of Mexico City in about a year. Peace came with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which forced Mexico to give up almost half of their land to the U.S. -
Westward Expansion
After winning the Mexican-American War, many Americans who romanticized settling westward packed up their bags and moved. Many went along the Oregon Trail, to a land with great environmental and economic potential. Others went to California, especially after gold was struck, sparking a mass exodus to the land. Overall, the allurence of these areas struck settlers in a massive way, with both them and foreigners moving there for a new life. -
The Fugitive Slave Act
An act to assist the South with maintaining a tight reign on a slaveholder's property, aka a slave. The law also had the right to deny a jury trial to accused blacks, which results in free blacks and white abolitionists to aid escaped slaves. After Uncle Tom's Cabin was written, the North began to oppose this act, and further drove apart the North and South. -
The Election of 1860
The election was between Stephen Douglas and Abraham Lincoln, with the Democrats divided between their representative. At the end, Lincoln won the election with 40% of the popular vote, carrying Northern and Western states. Lincoln's election as president soon sparked the secession of South Carolina and other Southern states. -
The Anaconda Plan
A Union Strategy adopted by Winfield Scott to establish a naval blockade among Southern ports and "strangle" the South. -
The Battle of Fort Sumter
Takes place at Charleston Harbor in South Carolina, with Confederates winning the battle. This battle is the first battle in the Civil War and allowed the Confederates to create a valuable hole in the Union blockade of the Atlantic seaboard. -
1st Battle of Bull Run
After winning the battle, the Confederates proved to the Union that the war would be long and costly, which then increased the number of soldiers deployed, with George. B McClellan becoming General. -
Battle of Antietam
Takes place in Maryland, and is won by the Union. Antietam allowed the Union to repel the first Confederation invasion of the North and forced them to stay in the South. -
Emancipation Proclamation
A Proclamation issued by Abraham Lincoln stating that any slaves living in the states of the Confederacy are now free. Lincoln used this Proclamation to keep other slave states still in the Union happy and to try and sway the war his way. -
Siege of Vicksburg
Takes place at Vicksburg, Tennesse and is a major Union victory. With this victory, the Union manages to scatter and divide the Southern forces, beginning to chip away at their numbers to turn the tide of the war. -
Battle of Gettysburg
Takes place at Gettysburg, Virginia being a decisive Union victory. This was a major turning point for the Civil War, with Robert E. Lee's plan to invade the North failing entirely. -
Appomattox Court House Battle
The final battle of the Civil War, led to the surrender of Robert E. Lee and the victory of General Ulysses S. Grant. -
Lincoln Assassination
While watching a play at Ford's Theater in Washington D.C. Lincoln is killed by John Wilkes Booth, a Southern sympathizer who wanted to negotiate the release of Confederate prisoners.