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Exploration of Kentucky
Daniel Boone explores Kentucky for the first time -
Louisana purchase
Thomas Jefferson buys the Louisiana territory from France for $15 million. -
The Pacific Ocean
Lewis and Clarke map out the territory of the Louisiana Purchase and reach the Pacific Ocean -
Indian Removal Act
Native Americans are forced to move from the southeast to the west of the Mississippi River -
Battle of the Alamo
Mexicans attack the Alamo, killing a massive number of Texans. This spurs the Texas Revolution -
Trail of Tears
The Cherokees are forced to march west leading to thousands of casualties -
Oregon Trail
People begin to travel west in wagon trains on the Oregon Trail. Over the next 20 years, 300,000 people took the trail. -
Manifest Destiny
The expansion is described as "Manifest Destiny" by Journalist John O. Sullivan. Manifest Destiny revolves around the idea that the U.S. is destined to expand. -
Texas becomes a U.S. State
Texas finally becomes a part of the United States, which led to the Mexican-American war. -
Brigham Young leads 5,000 Mormons to Utah.
Mormons move to salt lake city to avoid persecution. -
Oregon Treaty
England hands over the Oregon Territory to the U.S. by signing the Oregon Treaty. -
The Mexican - American War
The War starts over the rights to Texas. The U.S. pays Mexico $15 million for land that would later become California, Texas, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and parts of several other states. It lasts for two years. -
The Gold Rush Begins
People rush to California after the discovery of huge deposits of gold. -
Forty-Niners move to California.
Around 90,000 "Forty-Niners" move to California to find gold. -
The Pony Express begins to deliver mail.
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The First Transcontinetal Telegraph line
The First Transcontinetal Telegraph line is finished leading to the shut down of the Pony Express. -
Pacific Railroad Act
The U.S. government agrees to fund a railroad from California to Missouri. -
Homestead Act
The Government starts offering free land to people who are willing to live there for five years and improve the land. People rush to places like Oklahoma. -
The Transcontinetal Railroad is completed
The Union Pacific Railroad and the Central Pacific Railroads connect at Promontory, Utah and the railroad is finished. -
The Yellowstone National Park
The Yellowstone National Park is dedicated as the nation's first national park by President Ulysses S. Grant. -
Gold is discovered in the Black Hills of South Dakota
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Battle of Little Bighorn
An American Indian army composed of Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapahoe defeat General Custer and the 7th Calvary. -
The U.S. Government announces that the Western lands have been explored.
