# data[].attributes.body
Thomas Jefferson was an American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, architect, philosopher, and Founding Father who served as the third president of the United States from 1801 to 1809.

# data[].attributes.body
After the American revolution , the United States received a vast amount of land from Great Britain  . The new territory stretched from the Appalachian mountains to the Mississippi river , and from Canada to Spanish Florida . For the next 20 years , following the revolution , no new territory was added . However from 1803 to 1853 , through negotiation and war , America acquired seven new territories . In this era Americans believed that it was their Manifest destiny (God-given right to expand ) .

# data[].attributes.body
In 1803 France controlled a vast area in the middle of the United States from 1699 to 1762 , The year is ceded (gave up ) the territory to Spain . Under the French leader's (napoleon Bonaparte) leadership , France took back the area in mind of reestablishing a new empire in the north of America . However a slave revolt in the French colony of Haiti and an impeding war with Great Britain led French officials to Abaddon (gave up) these plans and sell the entire territory to the United States .

# data[].attributes.body
The U.S president (Thomas Jefferson) wanted new Orleans as a key port in the south and a transportation hub at the end of the Mississippi river . He negotiated with France to buy new Orleans and the whole Louisiana territory (828,000 square miles ) for 15 million dollars , which equated cents per acre .The Louisiana territory secured a major port in new Orleans and doubled the size of the United States .

# data[].attributes.body
He (Thomas Jefferson) appointed Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to explore the Louisiana territory . They traced the Missouri River to it source in the Rocky Mountains , then followed the Colombian river to the Pacific ocean .

# data[].attributes.body
Zebulon Pike led the Pike Expedition ,sent out by President Thomas Jefferson .The Purpose of this expedition  was to explore and document the southern portion of the Louisiana Territory .

# data[].attributes.body
President Monroe sent General Andrew Jackson to drive the Indians out . During the war of 1812 , Jackson chased the Seminoles into Florida and captured 2 Spanish forts .
In 1819 Spain was busy trying to fight revolutionaries in it Latin American colonies . This , coupled with the inability to keep Americans from attacking this area , forced Spain to reconsider ownership of Florida . America negotiated to buy the Florida cession from Spain for 5 million. The land included Florida and parts of Alabama , Mississippi and Louisiana .

# data[].attributes.headline
Land Above the Louisiana Purchase (1818)

# data[].attributes.subject
Land Above the Louisiana Purchase (1818)

# data[].attributes.body
In this era, Britain owned Canada .The British and American governments both claimed land along the boundary between Canada and the Louisiana Territory .Finally an agreement was negotiated to divide the land . The United States was given a small area just above the Louisiana Territory , in exchange Britain received a small piece of land father north in what is Canada now .

# data[].attributes.body
The Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the United States in 1803 .The land had territories and each own had populations . They could become states . Alabama and Illinois applied to become states around the same time , both were accepted . But Alabama was a slave state and Illinois was a free state . However when Missouri applied to become a state , it made congress into months of debates . If Missouri was allowed to enter the union as a free state , the south would've loose it voting power and it power to block anti-slavery bills . There for the south representative fought against Missouri becoming a state

# data[].attributes.body
Missouri would be added as a free state . However Maine will become a slave state .

A line would be drawn across the Louisiana Territory , Below The Missouri territory , at the 36'30 latitude line . New states below the line would allow slavery while new states above the line would not allow slavery .

# data[].attributes.body
In 1819 Florida had been under Spanish control since the expedition of Ponce de Leon in the 1500's .By the early 1800's, it had become a trouble spot for the united states for a few reasons , first hundreds of runaway slaves went there to escape . Second , Seminole Indians of Florida often crossed into Georgia and attacked American settlers .

# data[].attributes.body
In 1822 Mexico was hoping to gain more population in this territory , Mexico decided to open Texas (northern Mexico) to settlers . They gave land to the new settlers if they obeyed the Mexican laws . Stephen Austin led the first American families into Texas .
in 1830 new immigrants ignored the Mexican laws . for example , even though slavery was against the Mexican law , many settlers brought slaves , this resulted in Mexico closing their borders to future settlers .

# data[].attributes.body
In 1836 Texas declares it independence from Mexico . General Santa Anna led the Mexican army to Texas .Several thousand Mexican surrounded less than 200 American at the Alamo , a mission in San Antonio . William Travis , Davey Crockett, Jim Bowie ,and other Mexicans fought a courageous two week battle before being killed . General Sam Houston was named commander of the Texan army. The battle cry became "Remember the Alamo". General Houston defeated Santa Anna at the battle of San Jacinto and the Texan revolution came to an end .

# data[].attributes.body
When Texas won it's independence from Mexico ,it asked Congress to be admitted in the Union as a state. The northern states voted not to admit Texas a state . This was largely because they believed that the admittance of another slave state would tip the delicate balance of slave vs non slave states in congress .Many also feared a war with Mexico since Mexico never truly acknowledged Texas as an independent state . Thus , for a short period , Texas remained an independent state known as the Lone Star Republic . Sam Houston was elected president of the new nation .
in 1845 after Texas threaten to become a territory of Britain , congress annexed (add) Texas as the 28th State .

# data[].attributes.body
in 1818-1843 The United States and Britain agreed to have shared ownership of the Oregon Country (Northwestern U.S. and land that is part of modern Canada) . Initially , the population of this territory was predominately fur traders who became known as mountain men .However , by the 1840's , thousands of pioneer settlers migrated to Oregon Country . They traveled together in wagon trains for protections against the Indians . The Oregon trail (as it became known ) stretched for 2,000 miles from independence , Missouri ,to the Willamette Valley of Oregon .

# data[].attributes.body
In the election of 1844 James K. Polk ran with the promise to acquire the northwest territory from Britain .in 1846 , President Polk negotiated with Britain to divide the Oregon Country into two parts . The United States was given the southern half , and Britain took the control of the northern half . The boundary was the 49th latitude line .

# data[].attributes.body
While the Missouri Compromise  stopped the debate in the congress , the nation was still divided over the issue of slavery . Abolitionists (People who wanted to end slavery ) sent thousands of anti slavery petitions to Washington D.C congress decided to not accept and these petitions in 1836 .
In 1831 , Nat turner started a slave rebellion and more than 50 white people were killed . Fear of more uprisings led to stricter slave laws . Meanwhile enslaved people continued to run away in order to be free in the north . The good northerners began helping those slaves .

# data[].attributes.body
In 1846 a boundary dispute arose between the United States and Mexico . Initially, The U.S offered to buy New Mexico and California from Mexico for 30 million ,but Mexico refused .An altercation was provoked at the border near Rio Grande causing shots to be fired . Two days later , congress declared war on Mexico . The war is called the Mexican-American War .

# data[].attributes.headline
Mexican Cession (Mexican -American War).

# data[].attributes.subject
Mexican Cession (Mexican -American War).

# data[].attributes.body
In 1846-1848 General Zachary Taylor defeated Santa Anna at the battle of Buena Vista . In addition , Colonel Stephen Kearney marched to California and helped American settlers to overthrow the Mexicans in the Bear Flag Revolt . General Winfield Scott captured Veracruz and Mexico City, and Mexico surrendered .

# data[].attributes.body
For the north , California would be added as a free state .The fugitive slave act was passed - this act made fugitives go back in the south where they ran away from .Slave trade in Washington D.C ended slavery . Mexican cession was divided into 2 territories - Utah and New Mexico - both decided the issue of slavery by letting citizens vote . Finally a border dispute between New Mexico and Texas was decided in favor of New Mexico .

# data[].attributes.body
The northern territory in the Louisiana Purchase as been made as the Official Indian Territory since the territory became part of the U.S . However in 1854 , Senator Stephen Douglas Proposed cutting the land into 2 part : Kansas and Nebraska . Both will decide the issue of slavery by letting citizens vote . Douglas Wanted to open up the land so that transcontinental railroad could pass through . While the act was made it just caused more tension . Soon Kansas became breeding ground for political violence . Settlers both anti and pro slavery poured over the border of Kansas to support their parties . Two governments were set up , one supported slavery and the other against it . Violence broke out between pro and anti slavery people. And it Known as bleeding Kansas .