1783 |
1803 |
1805 |
1830 |
1836-1841 |
1848-1869 |
1890 |
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris of 1783, negotiated between the United States and Great Britain, ended the revolutionary war and recognized American independence. The Continental Congress named a five-member commission to negotiate a treaty–John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, Thomas Jefferson, and Henry Laurens.
Social Studies for Kids Ducksters |
Louisiana Purchase
In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson purchased the Louisiana Territory from France. This territory stretched far beyond the modern state of Louisiana, encompassing much of thirteen modern states west of the Mississippi River. The Louisiana Purchase nearly doubled the size of the United States.
History See Video Below |
Lewis and Clark
Jefferson wanted a better understanding of what he had bought, so in 1804 he sent Meriwether Lewis and William Clark on an expedition to uncover the secrets of Louisiana. Over the course of the next three years, the team traveled through land previously seen only by Native Americans. The reports and artifacts the team sent back to President Jefferson piqued national interest in the new territory, and eventually helped encourage rapid emigration to the area. The group also learned a great deal about the Native American nations present in the territory, though their communication about these nations is certainly clouded by prejudice.
|
Indian Removal Act
As in the eastern states, as more and more people moved into an area, Native Americans were generally forced from their lands. Some entered into treaties to retain specific portions of their homes, while others engaged in armed conflict. Disease continued to kill untold number of Native American people, as new germs arrived with each wave of settlers. Finally, the United States government had settled on a policy of “Indian removal,” meaning that Native Americans had virtually no legal rights to any of their ancestral lands, and U.S. Army troops were often involved in relocating people against their will.
|
The Trails
At the same time, politicians in Washington looked to end three decades of shared ownership of the Oregon Territory with Great Britain. The British proposed a northern border drawn further south than President James K. Polk and his supporters preferred. However, facing war over Texas, few in Congress were willing to risk additional armed conflict. In 1846, Congress ratified the British treaty, and gained Oregon for the United States. Many Americans had moved to Oregon (using the overland Oregon Trail) following reports of abundant fertile land for settlers.
|
Mexican American War
Not included in the Louisiana Purchase was the desert Southwest, most of which was part of Mexico. Texas had declared itself independent, and sought to join the United States. One of the major events of the Texan war for independence was the Battle of the Alamo, fought in 1836 in San Antonio. After a long siege by Mexican forces, Texan independence fighters made a “last stand” at the Alamo. A more numerous Mexican army defeated them, but “remember the Alamo” became a rallying cry for the remaining months of the independence struggle. In 1846, Texas became an American state, which Mexico saw as a declaration of war. The resulting Mexican War lasted until 1848, when Mexico gave up all claims to Texan lands (including portions of modern New Mexico).
|
THE WEST HAS BEEN EXPLORED!!
Gold was discovered at Sutter’s Mill, California, in 1848, and the resulting gold rush sent people from around the world to California, hoping for instant wealth. Many reports of how easily gold could be obtained were exaggerated, and thus many migrants found themselves in an unfamiliar land with few prospects. Fortunately, California’s mild climate encouraged a variety of economic activities and the area’s population boomed. In 1850, California became a state.
|