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Indian Removal Act
The Indian Removal Act of 1830, forcefully relocated Native American tribes such as the Cherokees, Choctaws, and Seminoles, from the Eastern United States to the West of the Mississippi, and was a big lead-up to the trail of tears. -
Trail of Tears
The Trail of Tears refers to the forceful relocation of Native American Tribes such as the Cherokee, Choctaws, Creek, and Seminoles. During the march, thousands died from disease, starvation, and hypothermia. It now symbolizes the mistreatment of the government and the westward expansion of the pioneers. -
The Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail was a historic route used by Pioneers in the 19th century to travel from the Missouri River to Oregon in the Pacific Northwest. Spanning over 2,000 miles, the trail was a challenging journey marked by harsh conditions, disease, and breaking axles It played a crucial role in westward expansion, and the settlement of the western United States. -
Manifest Destiny
John L. O'Sullivan first used the term "Manifest Destiny" in 1845 in an article titled "Annexation". In it, he wrote that it was "our manifest destiny to overspread the continent allotted by Providence for the free development of our yearly multiplying millions." It became a belief among Americans that it was their duty to expand across the North American continent. This ideology fueled westward expansion, resulting in territorial acquisition and the annexation of Texas, Oregon, and California. -
Texas Becomes a State
Texas became a state in the United States on December 29, 1845. This followed its annexation by the United States, which occurred after Texas gained independence from Mexico in 1836. The annexation sparked tensions with Mexico, ultimately leading to the Mexican-American War (1846-1848). After the war, Texas's borders were confirmed, and it entered the Union as the 28th state. -
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began in January 1848 when gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. News of the discovery spread, sparking a massive flood of people from around the world seeking fortune. Over the next few years, hundreds of thousands of prospectors, known as '49ers, moved to California, hoping to strike it rich. The Gold Rush transformed California's economy and demographics, leading to rapid population growth, urban development, and cultural diversity. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed on February 2, 1848, ending the Mexican-American War. Mexico ceded large amounts of territory to the United States, including present-day California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and parts of Texas, Wyoming, Kansas, and Oklahoma. In return, the U.S. paid Mexico 15 million dollars. -
Gadsden Purchase
The Gadsden Purchase was an agreement between the United States and Mexico signed on December 30, 1853. It involved the purchase of 29,670 square miles of land in present-day southern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. The purpose of the purchase was to buy land for the construction of a southern transcontinental railroad route. The U.S. paid Mexico $10 million for the territory, which resolved a boundary dispute and finalized the current borders between the two nations in the region. -
Homestead Act
The Homestead Act was signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln on May 20, 1862. It offered 160 acres of public land to settlers willing to live on and cultivate the land for five years. The act aimed to encourage westward expansion and create agricultural development. By offering land to individuals, including immigrants and freed slaves, the Homestead Act played a significant role in shaping the landscape of the American West. -
Purchase Of Alaska
The United States purchased Alaska from Russia on March 30, 1867, in a transaction known as the Alaska Purchase. Secretary of State William H. Seward negotiated the deal with the Russian Minister to the United States, Eduard de Stoeckl, for $7.2 million, approximately 2 cents per acre. Despite initial skepticism, the purchase of Alaska, with its vast natural resources, eventually proved to be a strategic and economic plus for the United States. -
Transcontinental Railroad
The Transcontinental Railroad was completed on May 10, 1869, when the Central Pacific Railroad and the Union Pacific Railroad met at Promontory Summit, Utah. It played a significant part in reducing travel time from coast to coast and cheapened prices of goods and materials it was also one of the largest engineering feats at the time spanning 1900 miles. the completion of the railroad would also symbolically shows the end to westward expansion as each coast would be connected from there on.