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Marbury vs. Madison
When Thomas Jefferson became president he repealed the Judiciary Act of 1801. William Marbury was supposed to become justice of peace in the District of Columbia, but Jefferson made James Madison hold the delivery of the letter of appointment. Marbury sued Madison, and Chief Justice Marshall ordered that he should receive his judgeship. This court also established the right of Judaical review, which allowed the court to declare acts of congress unconstitutional. -
The Louisiana Purchase
Napoleon offered to sell New Orleans and all of the Louisiana territory to America. He did this because the French army has suffered tremendous losses. President Jefferson wanted to accept the land, but he didn't know if it was constitutional. He accepted it and doubled the size of the U.S. It allowed western expansion to flourish. -
Lewis and Clark Expedition
In 1804 Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were sent on an exploration to learn more about the Louisiana territory. They traveled up the Mississippi River and then the Missouri River. They traveled all across the land after, collecting samples and writing journal entries. They met Sacagawea along the way, and she served as their guide. They came back in 1806, and their stories inspired many to move westward. -
Embargo Act
To prevent American sailors from the practice of impressment, Jefferson passed the Embargo Act. It stopped Americans from going to foreign ports. Instead of getting France and Britain to stop violating the American freedoms, it destroyed America's economy. It was ended in 1809. -
First Steamboat
Flatboats were only able to travel downstream, so the creation of two-way travel of the steamboats was a huge success. Robert Fulton and Robert R. Livingston launched the first steamboat, Clermont, into the Hudson River in 1807. Steamboats helped trade become more efficient, and transformed ports to booming cities. -
Battle of Tippecanoe
Shawnee leaders Tecumseh & Tenskwatawa formed an alliance with other tribes to ward off American expansion into their land. In this battle William Henry Harrison defeated the Natives and burned their village. Tecumseh then fled to Canada -
War of 1812 Begins
President James Madison and the Republican party decided the only way to end impressment and attacks, was to declare war on the British. The desire for war was much more common in the South than in New England. People in the South viewed the war as a way to protect America's national honor. This was the first time Congress declared war. -
U.S. Invasion of Canada
After a 3-pronged invasion was approved, only one prong was successful. This army was led by General Zebulon Pike as they attacked York. They caused the British to surrender, and inspired the desire for naval control of the Great Lakes and other waterways. -
The Burning of Washington D.C.
The British troops captured the capitol, Washington D.C. They burned most of the city, including government buildings. Like the Executive Mansion, Capitol, and the Library of Congress. The British tried to take over Fort McHenry on the harbor, but the Americans held their ground. That battle prompted the creation of "The Star Spangled Banner". -
Treaty of Ghent
U.S. Diplomats, Henry Clay & John Quincy Adams, meet with the British in Ghent. They negotiated the terms for a treaty to end the war. They included returning each sides prisoners, restoring previous boundaries, and the British stopping the support of Indian attacks. -
Battle of New Orleans
Before news of the treaty reached America, Andrew Jackson was awaiting a British invasion in New Orleans. British General Sir Edward Pakenham took a long time to prepare, this gave Jackson time to create an army of slaves. In the end the British were forced to retreat. This opened the West for American expansion, and helped Jackson become a good presidential candidate. -
Steel Plow Invented
John Deere invented the Steel Plow in 1837. It helped make farming more efficient. It helped create an abundance of crops sold all over. With the creation of transportation technology these crops could get sent all over America.