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Louisiana Purchase
The United States bought 828,000 square miles of land from France, doubling their size, for about 3 cents per acre. This allowed the United States to start its expansion to the west. -
Lewis and Clark Expedition
President Jefferson asked Meriwether Lewis to explore west of the Mississippi River that was bought with the Louisiana Purchase. Lewis asked William Clark to help as co-leader with his excursion which lasted 2 years. With of Sacajawea, they successfully surveyed the Louisiana Purchase. -
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Antebellum Period
Antebellum Period took place after the War of 1812 to the beginning of the Civil War. During this time, the United States went through many developments of northern and southern economic differences, westward expansion, and marks of reform. -
Indian Removal Act
Signed by Andrew Jackson, this act allows the United States to remove Native Americans living east of the Mississippi River to the west. This lead to the Trail of Tears where thousands of Native Americans traveled west and where many died, and US citizens moved into the place the Native Americans moved out. -
Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail, roughly 2,000-mile route, starts in Independence, Missouri, to Oregon City, Oregon was used by thousands of pioneers who were heading west. This lead to the Oregon Treaty and the continued expansion to the west. -
Preemption Act of 1841
Preemption, also known as squatters rights, was a policy which squatters, the first settlers, were allowed the land they improve upon. This act lead to corruption with people illegally buying land and the Headstead Act of 1862. -
Great Emigration of 1843
Marcus Whitman was headed west to spread his beliefs. He meets up with a group of 120 wagons which had about 1,000 people and thousands of livestock. -
Manifest Destiny
Manifest Destiny is the belief that the people of the US were given god rights to expand the nation from the coast to coast. This lead to the United State citizens to travel from the east coast to the west coast -
Transcontinental Railroad
The Transcontinental Railroad was built in 1863-1869. It crossed the western half of the United States, stretching 1,776 miles, connecting the Pacific to the Atlantic Oceans. The first ideas of the transcontinental railroad were brought to Congress on 1945 by Asa Whitney. -
Oregon Treaty
The Oregon Treaty settled the dispute between the United States and Great Britan on the border between Canada and the United States. This was on the 49th parallel and was signed by President James K. Polk. -
California Gold Rush
When James Marshall found gold in California, it caused one of the United States' biggest migration of 300,000 people. People from all over the went to hope of striking it rich, leading them to be called the 49ers after the time period when most migrated to California. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the Mexico-American War which involved the borders of Texas. The treaty gave the United States 525,000 square miles of land owned by Mexico. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas and Nebraska Act allowed Popular Sovereignty within the state borders, overturning the Missouri Compromise. This lead to the Bleeding of Kansas which was the conflict between pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers.
