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Antebellum Period
A period generally considered to start before the civil war, but after the War of 1812, although some historians increase this timespan from the adoption of the constitution leading up to the American Civil War. It marked the division of Northern and Southern economies,ideologies, and societies. It also showed greater leaps in American annexation of new territories, and the rise of social movements(i.e. abolitionism,and women's rights). -
Louisiana Purchase
A purchase of a massive amount of western territory by President Thomas Jefferson from Napoleon Bonaparte. The purchase of land was approximately 828,000 sq. miles in area and extended from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains. The acquisition of land doubled the US in size and acted as a gateway to further expansion in the West. -
Lewis and Clark Expedition
Otherwise known as the Corps of Discovery, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were assigned to explore the territory gained by the Louisiana purchase. Clark, being the field scientist, was to chronicle botanical, zoological, meteorological, geographic, and ethnographic information. They traveled down the Ohio River, up the Mississippi River, across the Great Divide, and all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Their work charted information that would be useful to settling down in this new territory. -
The War of 1812 (1812-1815)
A battle which had been fought between the US and British with their, the British', Native American Allies. The battle would end in a stalemate along with America's expansion into the Canadian frontier. -
The Battle of Horseshoe Bend
A battle during the War of 1812, in which Andrew Jackson and a force of Tennessee militiamen would defeat British and Spanish-supported Creek Indians and gain 23 million acres of Indian land. -
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was one of the first government policies dealing with western expansion. The compromise regulated slavery within the Louisiana purchase. The Missouri Compromise was intended to reestablish the balance between slave-holding and free states, when Missouri prepared to enter the union as a slave state. . -
Monroe Doctrine
Started by President Monroe in the Address of the Union to Congress. The doctrine stated that any European intervention in the Western hemisphere would be seen as an act of aggression. The main objective of this doctrine was to secure the new independent colonies in Latin America away from European intervention. -
The Indian Removal Act
Signed into law by President Andrew Jackson. The Indian Removal Act granted the ability to negotiate for Indian lands to the president. Generally, it resettled Natives away from territories East of the Mississippi to those farther West of the Mississippi. -
Manifest Destiny
Manifest Destiny, a term coined by John O'Sullivan. It was a belief that Americans and American institutions are morally superior and therefore are obligated to uplift the "less civilized" societies and free them from European monarchies. This belief would be used to justify westward expansion as a means of bettering "less civilized" people. -
The Mexican American War (1846-1848)
A war between the Mexicans and the Americans. It resulted when President James K. Polk wrote the Mexican government asking to purchase Mexican land such as California, New Mexico, and the rest of the Southwest. -
The California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush was the largest mass migration in American history. It started when gold was discovered at John Sutter's Mill in Coloma. The gold rush would result in the hasty development of California with churches, homes, etc. being built to accommodate miners. This would speed up California process to statehood. Preparation for admission in terms of constitution and legislature had been completed by 1849 and by 1850 California would be made a state. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Passed by the US Congress. The Act would legally create the territories of Kansas and Nebraska. Theses territories would be governed by popular sovereignty, the principle that ultimate power lies with the electorate.
