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The Louisiana Purchase occurred in 1803 when the U.S. acquired approximately 828,000 square miles of land from France for $15 million.

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The Lewis & Clark Expedition, initiated in 1804 and completed in 1806, was an early exploration of the American West. Commissioned by President Jefferson following the Louisiana Purchase, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led the expedition to map the newly acquired territory, establish American presence before European powers, and study the area's resources, geography, and native peoples.

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The Indian Removal Act, passed in 1830, authorized the U.S. government to relocate Native American tribes living east of the Mississippi River to lands west of the river. This policy, championed by President Andrew Jackson, led to the forced and often deadly relocation of thousands of Native Americans, most notably in the event known as the Trail of Tears.

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The Great Migration via the Oregon Trail began in the early 1840s as thousands of settlers moved westward to Oregon, California, and other territories. They were drawn by promises of land ownership and the fertile farmlands of the Pacific Northwest.

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The Homestead Act, passed in 1862, offered 160 acres of public land for a small fee to any adult citizen who could improve the land by building a dwelling and cultivating crops for five years. This act encouraged the migration of millions of Americans to the Great Plains and the West, contributing significantly to the settlement and agricultural development of vast new territories.

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The California Gold Rush was sparked in 1848 when gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill, leading to an influx of over 300,000 people to California from the rest of the United States and abroad. This event significantly accelerated the westward expansion, contributed to the economic development of the West Coast, and led to California's quick admission as a state in 1850.

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By the late 19th century, the notion that America was 'settled' began to take hold. This was symbolized by the Census Bureau's declaration in 1890 that the American frontier was closed, as continuous settlement now spanned the continent. This declaration marked the end of the era of westward expansion, suggesting that the U.S. had fully explored and settled its territorial claims.