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Louisiana Purchase
In 1803, Thomas Jefferson sent delegates to France to discuss acquiring the New Orleans port in an attempt to establish naval trade in the United States. However, since France was suffering economically from the Haitian Revolution and had recently acquired the territory, France offered to sell the entire Louisiana Territory to Jefferson's delegates. The Louisiana Territory (828,200 square miles) was sold to the U.S. for $15 million dollars. However, its exact boundaries were not discussed. -
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Lewis and Clark Expedition
Following the purchase of the Louisiana Territory, President Thomas Jefferson sent Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to explore the newly acquired Louisiana Territory. During this expedition, Lewis and Clark mapped uncharted lands, rivers and mountains within the territory as well as the species of plants and animals living in it. During the expedition, Lewis and Clark also encountered Native American tribes and kept journals of their many observations, paving the way for future explorations. -
War of 1812: "The Second War of Independence"
A war that was fought between the United States and the British empire. This war was mainly caused by the impressment (forcible seizure) of American sailors by the British army, disagreements over trade, Native American policy and Westward Expansion. Most of the battles of this war were fought in Canada and in the Northern colonies of the United States. The war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Ghent in 1814. This event lead to the "Era of Good Feelings" and American nationalism. -
Missouri Compromise: 36' 30' Parallel
This event came as a result of a rule presented by Henry Clay in response to the Missouri Compromise. This rule stated that states annexed into the U.S. below the 36'30' parallel would be inducted as a slave state while states above the parallel would be admitted as a free state. -
The Missouri Compromise
As states continued to be annexed into the United States, there was a balance between free and slave states. However, in 1820, when Missouri requested to be annexed as a slave state there was an issue of the number becoming unbalanced. Because of this, Henry Clay issued the Missouri Compromise. In this, Missouri was annexed into the United States as a slave state, while Maine was inducted to the U.S. as a free state. This ensured that the number of free-to-slave states remained equal. -
The Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine was instated by President James Monroe. In this, Monroe warned European powers not to interfere with affairs in the Western Hemisphere. This stated that the United States would no longer tolerate further colonization from Europe, and the United States would no longer interfere with European affairs. This doctrine served the purpose of separating the New Word from the control of Europe. -
Nat Turner's Slave Rebellion
With an uprise in slavery and as a result to the unfair treatment of slaves in the U.S., Nat Turner, launched the most well known and deadliest slave revolts in history. As a result to this revolt, about 60 white men, women and children were killed and the slave codes and restrictions were tightened in the U.S. Those involved in the revolt were tried and executed. This revolt showed the enslaved individuals frustration and bravery and led to more resistance to slavery. -
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The Mexican-American War
Following the annexation of Texas in 1845, Mexico was unwilling to recognize Texas as independent or as a part of the United States through the Treaty of Velasco as signed by President Antonio Lopez and Santa Anna. Because of this, there were disagreements surrounding the border of Texas. The Mexican war ensued because Texas claimed its southwest boundary extended to the Rio Grande while Mexico claimed that it was the Nueces River. In the end, the United States gained 500,000 square miles -
Seneca Falls Convention
Inspired by the civil war, female abolitions began to fight for women's rights. The Seneca Falls Convention was the first formal gathering where women's rights in the United States were discussed. This event was hosted by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott. From this, the Declaration of Rights and Sentiments was created and consisted of a list of social injustices against woman and the importance of asserting equality to the unalienable rights, leading to the women's suffrage movement -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hildalgo
This treaty ended the war between the United States and Mexico (the Mexican-American war) and resulted in Mexico giving up 55% of its territory to the United States. Mexico also gave up all rights to the Texas territory and established the Rio Grande as the southern boundary between Texas and Mexico. -
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The California Gold Rush
In 1848, gold was discovered at the Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. This led to a large migration of people into the United States. Because of this, people from all over the world immigrated into the U.S for the promise of wealth in mining for gold. The gold found in California also skyrocketed the U.S. economy at this time. The gold was found by James W. Marshall in 1848. -
The Compromise of 1850/ The Fugitive Slave Act
The Compromise of 1850 was enacted by U.S. Senator Henry Clay. This compromise consisted of measures that would settle issues in the States regarding slavery. This included: California being admitted as a free state, the borders of Texas being outlined, slave trade being abolished in the District of Columbia and the establishment of the Fugitive Slave Act. The Fugitive Slave Act made it so that all runaway slaves found in the U.S. must be returned to their owners, even if found in a free state. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
A novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe that portrayed the realistic horrors of slavery. This novel led to an uprise in support for the abolition movement throughout the North. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
This occurrence repealed the Missouri Compromise and created two new territories. This was a final attempt at compromise between free and slave states. In this, the U.S. Congress divided Kansas into two territories (Kansas and Nebraska). Upon the division, the U.S. Congress allowed each state to vote for whether it became a free or a slave state. This instituted the idea of Popular Sovereignty. Because of heavy debate, and armed southerners invading Kansas, violence erupted and hostility ensued. -
Dred Scott v. Sandford
Dred Scott was an enslaved person who traveled with his owner to Illinois, a free state, and Wisconsin, a free territory before returning to Missouri, a slave state. Upon arrival, Scott and his wife sued for their freedom as they resided in a free state for a period of time. However, the court case came to the decision that enslaved people were not citizens of the United States and ruled the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional due to its limiting factors to slavery. -
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The Civil War
The Civil War was fought between the United States of America (the Union) and the Confederate States of America. This war took place over the institution of slavery, state vs. federal rights, and the economy among other topics. The Confederate States of America wanted slavery to continue while the Northern United States (the Union) wanted it to end, This resulted in a four year battle over slavery and a states rights to make decisions regarding it. -
Battle of Gettysburg
This battle was one of the turning points of the American Civil War and took place in the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The Battle of Gettysburg resulted in the largest number of casualties of the entire Civil War. The battle ended with a victory to the Union when the Confederates general Robert E. Lee had the Confederate army retreat south. -
The Emancipation Proclamation
In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in the third year of the Civil War. This proclamation freed slaves in the Confederate States of America as Lincoln stated that the slaves would be freed. -
The 13th Amendments
The 13th amendment came soon after the Emancipation Proclamation and officially ended slavery and servitude in the United States of America. -
14th Amendment
Amendment that granted citizenship to all people born or naturalized in the United States. This law gave citizenship to formerly enslaved people and came as a result of the Dred Scot v. Sandford case. -
National Woman Suffrage Association Founded
Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Matilda Joslyn Gage formed this association in response to the passing of the 15th amendment, which granted African Americans the right to vote. In response to this, the NWSA sought to extend this right to women as well. The formation of this group, and other events, led to the passing of the 19th amendment in 1920. This amendment granted women the right to vote. -
The 15th Amendment
The 15th amendment guaranteed the right to vote for all citizens, regardless of their race, color or previous conditions of servitude. However, this did not get rid of other tests or obstacles that prevented formerly enslaved or poor people from voting such as literacy tests and poll taxes. -
American Federation of Labor founded
In response to the unfair conditions in the workplace, many labor unions were created. The National Labor Union (1866) and the Knights of Labor (1869) joined forces to establish the American Federation of Labor (AFL) that defended the interests of working people (skilled white men) in unfair working conditions. This union fought against labor forces, debated work conditions and served as a voice to the working class. As a result, there were many labor strikes which led to moderate improvements. -
Sherman Anti-Trust Act
This act was one of the results of the Progressive Movement. This act authorized the federal government to enforce rules against trusts so that they would be dissolved. This prohibited activities that restricted interstate commerce and competition in the marketplace as well as any form of business that restrained foreign or interstate trade. This act also outlawed monopolies in businesses. -
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The Progressive Movement
The Progressive Movement came as a result of discontent to the imbalance of power between the "haves" and "have-nots". This meant that the wealthy were kept wealthy and the poor were kept poor. Because of this, the middle and lower classes began to push for changes to the economical and civil rights system. Many changes occurred as a result of this movement. For example, the 18th amendment of 1917 prohibited the production, transport and sale of liquors in the U.S.