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The Northwest Ordinance
A law named the Northwest Ordinance was passed and it allowed expansion to the lands north and west of the Ohio river. -
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Westward Expansion
Beginning with the Northwest Ordianance law in 1787" and ending with the publication of "The Significance of the Frontier in American History" in 1893 and Frederick Jackson Turner stating the expasion was over, the Westward Expansion played a vital role in the making of our country. -
The Louisiana Purchase
The United States bought this vast piece of land from the French. This new and unexplored territory expanded from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains. -
The Lewis and Clark Expedition
Two explorers, Lewis and Clark, was summoned to explore the newly purchased territory. They began their journey from St. Louis, MO to the Pacific Ocean. -
The Cumberland Road( The National Road)
The Cumberland Road, also known as the Natoinal Road, began constructino in 1811 in Cumberland, MD to the Ohio River in 1818 then finally to Vandalia, IL in 1839. This was the first major highway built by the federal goverment of the United States and aided tremendously as a pathway during expansion. -
1st Seminole War
The 1st Seminole War was sparked because of U.S. authorities' attempts to recapture runaway slaves who resided on the lands of the Seminoles. The military invaded the area and captured Spain's Pensacola and St. Marks. Later in 1819, under the Transcontinental Treaty, Spain surrendered its Florida territory. -
Construction of the Erie Canal
This artificial waterway began building and finished in 1825. It connected New York City with the Great Lakes and aided in the trade and travel revolution. -
The Indian Removal Act
This act gave President Jackson the authority to expel Native Americans residing on the east side of the Mississippi River. Settlers could now move and reside on these initially inaccessible areas. -
2nd Seminole War
The 2nd Seminole War lasted from 1835 through 1842 was caused by the Indians' refusal for resettlement. Osceola, a Seminole chief, led his people to fight with guerilla tactics and defend their land. The Indians later agreed to truce after Osceola waa captured. -
Texas Rebellion
This was an insurrection by Mexico and Coahuila, a Mexican state, rising against the goverment of Mexico. Famous battles such as the Battle of the Alamo (won by the Mexicans under Santa Anna) was fought during this uprising.Texas leaders broke away from the state and created the Republic of Texa and declared themselves as independent. -
The Trail of Tears
As part of The Indian Removal Act, the Cherokee Indians migrated against their will from the east of the Mississippi River to present- day Oklahoma. Whilst the Native Americans traveled far and long they caught illnesses, exhaustion and hunger. This lead to the deaths of over 4,000 Indians out of 15,000 that marched. -
Migration from Independence, MO
This significant migration consisted of 47 people whom rode on the first emigrant wagon train that made way for California. -
John C. Fremont maps the West
John C. Fremont, also known as The Great Pathfinder, mapped out the West. -
Texas becomes the 28th state
In 1845, Texas officially becomes the 28th state. -
Mormon settlement in Salt Lake City, Utah
Brigham Young, leader of the Mormons, lead his followers to migrate from Nauvoo, Illinois to Salt Lake City, Utah. -
Gold Rush
Gold is discovered in California to which over 80,000 people migrated to California in search of fortune and fame. -
War with Mexico
The United States engage in war with Mexico and in overall later acquires Arizona, Nevada, Texas, California, New Mexico, Utah and various areas of Colorado. The United State payed over $15 million for these lands. -
California becomes a state
In only a matter of a couple of years since vast amounts of people migrated to California, it is later annexed as a state. -
3rd Seminole War
The 3rd series of the Seminole Wars last from 1855 through 1858. It was less bloody and significant than the others because it only consisted of U.S. officials tracking down remaining Seminoles in their homeland and bribing them to migrate. -
First Productive Commercial Oil Well
The first oil well was drilled by Edwin Drake in the state of Pennsylvania. This resulted in even more migration and expansion in the southwest in search of oil and wealth. -
The Homestead Act
This act granted free farms to families according to their size and required only a fixed period of residence.The act urged families from the east to migrate to the west. -
Transcontinental Railroad
This railroad was built to join together Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railways. People could travel from one coast to another in a much shorter period of time -
Century of Dishonor by Helen Hunt Jackson
This book was published in the purpose of denouncing the U.S. governement's cruel and unjust treatment to the Native Americans. -
Buffalo shortage
Fewer than 2,000 buffalo remain out of the 20 million that roamed the lands. -
The Significance of the Frontier in American History
Frederick Jackson Turner published this book declaring that the Western frontier disappeared.
