-
1783 Treaty of Paris
The War of Independence (1775–1783) ends, and the U.S. acquires the first 13 colonies in the east by the Treaty of Paris that establishes the first U.S. boundaries -
Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase of land from France extends US lands from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains between the Canadian border and the Gulf of Mexico -
Lewis and Clark Expedition
The Lewis and Clark Expedition explores and map the US lands bought in the 1803 Louisiana Purchase -
War of 1812
The War of 1812 resulted in the people of America thinking of itself as a unified and strong nation increasing the urge for Westward Expansion -
American System
The economic plan introduced by Henry Clay, called the American System, was aimed at creating a subsidized transportation infrastructure of new roads and canals -
Florida Treaty
The Florida Treaty, aka the Adams Onis Treaty, set the boundary between the US and New Spain (now Mexico) -
Trail of Tears
Between 1830 to 1840 the forced migration included the terrible journey of the Creek nation on the infamous Trail of Tears -
Mexican-American War
The Mexican American War begins, also known as the Invasion of Mexico -
Gadsden Purchase
The Gadsden Purchase acquires territory in Arizona and New Mexico -
Pony Express
The short lived Pony Express was established as the most direct means of east–west communication before the telegraph was established
