# data[].attributes.body
Missouri became the 24th state in 1821 after President James Monroe signed the federal legislation. It was deemed a slave state because of the Missouri Compromise, which would help maintain a balance between free and slave states.

# data[].attributes.body
Published in 1823 by James Monroe and John Quincy Adams, it prohibited Europeans from interfering and colonizing land in the Western Hemisphere. This was made so the U.S. would have a better opportunity for Westward Expansion. In return for Europeans staying out of the Western Hemisphere, the U.S. in turn, would avoid European affairs.

# data[].attributes.body
Erie Canal was an artificial waterway from the Hudson River to Lake Erie. It provided faster transportation within the U.S. and turned New York into a successful port. It improved the U.S.'s economy, helped Westward Expansion, and also provided a place for new homes.

# data[].attributes.body
Florida which was originally owned by Spain, was ceded to the U.S. in 1819 because of the Adam Onis Treaty. It didn't become a state until 1845 when the Iowa-Florida law, signed by President John Tyler, was passed, admitting it into the Union as the 27th state.

# data[].attributes.body
The French Indian War was a territorial dispute between the French and the British also known as the 7 Years War.

Both sides used Native Americans to help fight against each other.

The French had promised to give back land to the Natives in return for their aid in the war.

In the end, the British won and received the land above the Mississippi River from The Treaty of Paris (1763), although they ended up with immense war time debt.

# data[].attributes.body
In an attempt to earn more money to pay off their debt, the British put a tax on the colonists' sugar. This act was made not only to help pay off their debt but also to restrict the smuggling of sugar from France, which was their opponent at the time.

# data[].attributes.body
The British, still trying to pay off their debt, passed the Stamp Act on all printed materials in 1765. The Stamp Act put a tax on all printed goods which infuriated the colonists because they didn't get a say in this act. Angered, the colonists protested, and after a year it was repealed.

# data[].attributes.body
Great Britain, even after the past acts, still tried to wring more money out of the colonists, so they implemented a third act which would tax all imported goods from Great Britain to America. Because of this, the colonists began to protest and boycott British products. The colonists even began to make their own products to avoid British goods.

# data[].attributes.body
In 1768, Great Britain sent their troops to occupy Boston to help enforce their acts and to collect the revenue the British were earning off the colonists. They wanted to ensure that the colonists were following their policies and made sure that they weren't trying to revolt.

# data[].attributes.body
The tension that arose between the colonists and the British because of the acts, caused a violent scene in the city of Boston. On March 5th, 1770, the Americans threw snowballs and rocks at the Britsh stationed in the city. The troops enraged, fired at the Americans, causing 5 to die and 6 to be injured. News of this spread to colonists such as Paul Revere and Samuel Adams who would influence Anti-British sentiment.

# data[].attributes.body
Similarly to the Townshend Act, the British taxed the colonists' tea but also made it so they could only purchase tea from the British East India Trading Company. The only tea the colonists could buy was from Great Britain which was highly taxed. Fed up with all these acts made to pay off the British's debt, the fury of the colonists would lead to the Boston Tea Party.

# data[].attributes.body
Fed up with all these acts and angered by the British for killing fellow Americans, Samuel Adams and other colonists, dressed as Native Americans, raided a British ship and dumped 342 chests of tea into the sea. After the news spread, the British shut down the port and deployed even more troops in the city.

# data[].attributes.body
In September of 1774, the British and representatives of the colonies came to Philadelphia to discuss concerns and issues. The colonies complained about the British occupation in America but King George III ignored everything they said and decided to issue a Second Continental Congress meeting instead.

# data[].attributes.body
In Lexington Massachusetts on April 18th, 1775, British troops moved into position preparing for a fight against rebelling colonists. The American Revolutionary War began when an unknown shot was fired, causing colonial militiamen and the British troops to begin firing at each other, signaling the start of the war.

# data[].attributes.body
While many colonists were looking to separate from Great Britain, many were still uncertain about going against what was currently one the greatest armies in the world. With some persuasion from prominent figures such as Patrick Henry, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin, they were able to convince the rest of the colonists to break off from Great Britain. During the Second Continental Congress in July 1776, the colonists issued the Declaration of Independence, stating that the 13 colonies were now an independent country and no longer under Great Britain's rule. The Declaration of Independence managed to get 56 signatures from delegates from all 13 colonies. Some significant delegates who signed the declaration were Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock (the largest signature on the paper), Thomas Jefferson, John Witherspoon, and John Adams.

# data[].attributes.headline
George Washing Crosses Delaware River (1776)

# data[].attributes.subject
George Washing Crosses Delaware River (1776)

# data[].attributes.body
On Christmas night of 1776, George Washington led the Continental Army through the Delaware River in the midst of a storm to ambush the Hessians, German troops hired by the British. He did so on Christmas night, the least expected time to attack, hoping to do a number on them. When they reached Trenton, New Jersey, they managed to ambush the the Hessians and won a drastic victory, significant to the outcome of the war.

# data[].attributes.body
The Battle of Saratoga began when British troops coming from Canada, led by British General John Burgoyne, attempted to attack American troops at Bemis Heights. The British general had hoped to defeat the American troops and then take over the Hudson River but faced a tragic defeat, that ended up with about 5,000 British troops surrendering. This victory greatly boosted American morale and was another significant win for the Continental Army.

# data[].attributes.body
Led by George Washington in October of 1777, the Continental Army attacked the British army led by General William Howe at Germantown but lost and faced numerous casualties. The fog at the battlefield affected the outcome of the battle. It caused confusion and affected the Americans advance towards the British Army. Around 700 American soldiers faced causalities.

# data[].attributes.body
In 1778, the French sent their troops to assist America in the war against Britain which ultimately led to their victory. Although the British had a major advantage when it came to military power, the Americans had more motivation and resolve than the British, a main factor that helped the colonists last so long. British generals made many mistakes due to their overconfidence in military power against the colonists which also contributed to their loss. When the British knew they had lost, British General Lord Cornwallis surrendered with almost 20,000 American and French troops surrounding them.

# data[].attributes.body
In 1789, delegates of the colonies went to Philadelphia to create a new plan for the country's government. The previous Articles of Confederation were found to be very flawed, causing the delegates to reconstruct a plan for the country's government. While devising a plan, many delegates found issues with each others ideas. It took three hot months in the Philadelphia summer for them to compromise with a plan. A couple significant figures who helped create the Constitution were, James Madison, William Paterson, Roger Sherman, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and members of the Committee of Detail & Style. Before the Constitution could be put into place, they would have to ratify it by getting 9 of the 13 colonies to approve it. Federalists such as James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay, wrote numerous letters also known as the Federalist Papers, to help convince more people to support the Constitution, Alexander Hamilton as such, wrote 51 of the 85 articles.

# data[].attributes.body
Not everyone agreed with the Federalists about the Constitution. Many Anti-Federalists feared that the Constitution would affect their individual liberty and freedom, arguing that the Constitution lacked a Bill of Rights. In order to get more colonies to approve the Constitution, the Federalists agreed to add a Bill of Rights to the Constitution, guaranteeing the protection of individual liberty along with other rights. Some prominent Anti-Federalists were Samuel Adams and Patrick Henry. Although the Bill of Rights wouldn't be passed until 1791.

# data[].attributes.body
In 1788, 9 of the 13 colonies passed the constitution, ratifying it and making it the supreme law of the land. To ratify something, at least 9 out of the 13 colonies needed to pass it, which is why it took a year to ratify the Constitution. This Constitution would then be the foundation of democracy and the government system in America.

# data[].attributes.headline
Washington is Elected as President (1789)

# data[].attributes.subject
Washington is Elected as President (1789)

# data[].attributes.body
In 1789, George Washington was elected as the first president of the United States. He greatly contributed to the Revolution as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army and many viewed him as a great leader and model. He would then set the precedents for future presidents and established Term Limits, Title, Inaugural and Farewell Address, and the Cabinet System.

# data[].attributes.body
In 1891, the Bill of Rights was passed which guaranteed RASPP, Bare Arms, No Illegal Searches and Seizures, No Cruel and Unusual Punishments, along with more. The Bill of Rights was proposed by Anti-Federalists and mainly drafted by James Madison.

# data[].attributes.body
The Jay Treaty was an agreement between the U.S. and the British that resolved issues between the two countries. The British promised to remove their troops from the colonies and that the agreement would improve trade between the two. The British also agreed to compensate for the damage they had done to American ships. It essentially created peace between the U.S. and Great Britain although many people in the U.S. had mixed opinions about it. It split the U.S. into two political parties, known as the Federalists and Democratic-Republicans.

# data[].attributes.body
After hearing that the U.S. and Great Britain created the Jay Treaty and had come to peaceful terms, the French became infuriated. They believed it violated the Treaty of Alliance (1779), which stated neither country could make a separate peace treaty with Britain. Because of that, France seized multiple American merchant ships. John Adam, who was president at the time, sent a three-man delegation to France in an attempt to resolve issues between the two countries. When they arrived to meet Frances's foreign minister, however, the minister's agents, also known as XYZ, demanded the U.S. pay France a hefty amount and offer a loan in order to meet with him. The U.S. refused to pay and the conflict between the two countries would lead to an undeclared naval war, known as the Quasi War.

# data[].attributes.body
To end the Quasi-War, the U.S. and France created the Treaty of Mortefontaine to come to peaceful terms. They annulled the Treaty of Alliance, ending the alliance between the two countries which would also then allow the U.S. to have free trade. The creation of this treaty also freed the ships France had seized.

# data[].attributes.body
During Thomas Jeffersons time as the 3rd president of the United States, he bought Louisiana from France for $15 million dollars. France had also recently gone through a costly revolution so their leader, Napoleon Bonaparte, sold their foreign land to Thomas Jefferson. Thanks to this purchase, it doubled the size of the U.S. and allowed for more growth.

# data[].attributes.body
About 30 years after the end of the Revolutionary War, the fourth president, James Madison, declared war on the British and invaded Canada, which at the time was British property. James Madison had felt like he was trapped between the Natives at the West and the British at sea, so he decided to declare war in attempt to help America expand. The result of the war ended as Status Quo Ante Bellum, meaning the same state they were in before the war.

# data[].attributes.body
In June of 1775, during the start of the Revolutionary War, the first major battle to take place was the Battle of Bunker Hill, in Charlestown. It was a very bloody battle and despite the British having more troops than the colonists, they suffered more casualties. They had won the battle but suffered more than 1,000 causalities while the colonists only suffered about 500 casualties. Although the colonists had lost, the outcome and comparison of casualties boosted their morale and motivation.

# data[].attributes.body
During the War of 1812, in 1814, the British set the White House on fire as revenge for the Americans burning down the Canadian capitol of York. Something like this would seem to demoralize Americans but it instead created public sentiment and acted as a bond between fellow Americans to rally against the British.

# data[].attributes.body
The Battle of New Orleans was the last battle of the War of 1812. Led by General Andrew Jackson, the American army, outnumbered by opposing troops led by General Edward Pakenham, quickly defeated the British army and ended the War of 1812. The battle not only ended the war but also made Andrew Jackson a hero, helping him become the 7th president of the U.S.

# data[].attributes.body
The Missouri Compromise was a compromise between the North which supported free slaves and the South which supported slavery. It was where any new state that joined the Union above the 36 30 line would be a free state and any new state below that line would be a slave state. The North was more industrialized so they didn't have a need for slavery while the South was more agricultural so they needed slavery. It would then promise Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state in order to keep the balance between free and slave states.

# data[].attributes.body
In 1820, Maine was admitted into the states as a free state. This would keep the balance of free states and slave states in the U.S. alongside Missouri which was a slave state. The Missouri Compromise promised that Maine would be a free state while Missouri would be a slave state.

# data[].attributes.body
Several years after Texas declared independence from Mexico in 1836, the United States annexed it, making it the 28th state. It greatly expanded the U.S. but also grew tensions between slave states and free states. They argued over which side it would be on, which led to Texas being a slave state. Although after being annexed, it started a war between Mexico and the U.S.

# data[].attributes.body
After Texas was annexed, Mexico argued that it was still their property. The tensions between Mexico and the U.S. arose and the Mexican-American War broke out when Mexican forces attacked a group of American troops at a disputed border area. War wasn't officially declared until President James K. Polk requested it on May 13, 1846. After 2 years, the U.S. won and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed, ceding what is now known as Texas, California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, parts of Arizona, New Mexico, and Wyoming. This greatly expanded the U.S. by almost twice its size, although tension between slave states and free states arose once again.

# data[].attributes.body
The compromise of 1850 was where California was admitted as a free state while the other states were divided by Utah Territory and New Mexico territories. Whether or not these two were either free or slave states was left up to popular sovereignty.

# data[].attributes.body
The Western land of Missouri was split into Nebraska and Kansas but people argued whether or not it'd be a free state or a slave state. In order to decide, they let it be chosen by popular sovereignty so they had to repeal the Missouri Compromise. Both sides were engrossed in making it a slave state or free state which ended up with heavy bloodshed. This bloodshed would come to be known as "Bleeding Kansas".

# data[].attributes.body
Dred Scott vs. Sanford was where the Supreme Court ruled African Americans as non-citizens of the U.S., meaning they couldn't be granted rights. Dred Scott went to court suing for his freedom but ended up losing the case. This not only ruled African Americans with no rights, but it also helped to continue the support of slavery.

# data[].attributes.headline
Abraham Lincoln is Elected as President (1860)

# data[].attributes.subject
Abraham Lincoln is Elected as President (1860)

# data[].attributes.body
Abraham Lincoln was elected as the 16th president in 1860 during a time when the country was greatly divided between free states and slave states. Abraham Lincoln, however, was in favor of free states. People in favor of free states, particularly the North, favored him while people in favor of slave states (the South) did not support him.

# data[].attributes.headline
Formation of the Confederacy (1861-1865)

# data[].attributes.subject
Formation of the Confederacy (1861-1865)

# data[].attributes.body
The Confederacy was made up of 11 southern states that broke off from the Union led by their President, Jefferson Davis. These states consisted of Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia. These states broke off because they wanted to keep slavery.

# data[].attributes.body
The Civil War began when the Confederates opened fire on Fort Sumter, causing the Union to surrender. Two days later on April 15, Abraham Lincoln officially announced their attack as an insurrection, declaring war. Lincoln wanted to keep the states together and preserve the Union but the Confederacy wanted to break off as an independent state/country so they could protect their rights to slavery.

# data[].attributes.body
The first major battle of the Civil War took place in July 1861 and was a discouraging defeat for the Union. The Union, led by General Irvin McDowell, lost to the Confederacy, led by General P.G.T. Beauregard, and a major factor that affected this battle was the similarities between the two forces' uniforms. This caused much confusion and made it hard to differentiate who was on which side. This battle caused over 3,000 casualties/deaths.

# data[].attributes.body
Known as the bloodiest single-day battle in history, the Battle of Antietam took place in Maryland and caused the death of 5,000 soldiers and more than 20,000 casualties. The Union, led by Major General George B. McClellan, won against the Confederacy, led by General Robert E. Lee. This victory gave Abraham Lincoln the courage to issue the Emancipation Proclamation.

# data[].attributes.body
After the Battle of Antietam, Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. This proclamation declared that all slaves were now freed, although it did not immediately go into effect, it did influence many African American men to join the Union army. The Confederacy was very unhappy and angered by this news, causing them to be even more motivated to fight.

# data[].attributes.body
From May to July of 1963, Union troops, led by Major General Ulysses S. Grant, would fight Confederate troops, led by Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton, for almost 50 days. The outcome of this battle ended with the Union winning against the Confederates and the Union taking control of the Mississippi River, cutting off the Confederacy's supply life. The Union's victory and control of the Mississippi would also then cut the Confederacy's force in half.

# data[].attributes.body
The Battle of Gettysburg (July 1-3) was one of the most significant battles during the Civil War. Union troops led by General George Meade defeated 1/3 of General Robert E. Lee's forces, making it the last time Lee would invade the Union. Later Abraham Lincoln would give the Gettysburg Address, a speech talking about the nation's principles and reasons for this war, which also honored the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the war.

# data[].attributes.body
In 1865, General Robert E. Lee surrendered to the Union at the Appomattox Court House after being surrendered by Union Troops, signaling the end of the Civil War. The Union troops, led by General William T. Sherman, before the surrender, targeted and destroyed the Confederate's resources and supplies making them weaker and more vulnerable.

# data[].attributes.body
While watching a play in a theatre, one week after the Confederacy surrendered, Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth. He didn't die immediately but suffered mortal wounds, causing his death 12 days later. John Wilkes Booth had hoped to reignite the Confederacy again after assassinating Lincoln but that would not come true.

# data[].attributes.body
In December of 1865, the congress would pass the 13th Amendment, declaring that slavery would now be illegal across the whole country. To prevent former Confederate troops from retaliating, the Union troops would temporarily occupy the South to keep an eye on them. This amendment would be the kickstart to African Americans fighting for their civil rights.

# data[].attributes.body
The Haymarket Riots was originally a peaceful riot/strike fighting for 8-hour work days until someone through a bomb, injuring and killing both police members and some protesters. This caused people to be cautious of labor movements, worried that something similar would happen, causing labor activists and protests to be cracked down.

# data[].attributes.body
The Sherman Anti-Trust Act prohibited unfair monopolies that manipulated and exploited their workers and prohibited anti-competitive agreements that tried to fix prices. This anti-trust act would help to build fairer trade, competition, and businesses, as well as benefit prices of products for customers.

# data[].attributes.body
The Homestead Strike was a violent labor dispute between the Carnegie Steel Company and its workers in Homestead, Pennsylvania. The workers started to protest after the company had cut their wages and fired thousands of workers. In order to get the workers to get back to work the company hired private security guards known as the Pinkertons, but the workers ended up in violent protests against these Pinkertons.

# data[].attributes.body
The Pullman Strike was a protest from Pullman Palace Car Company workers, fighting to protest wage cuts and high-cost rent. When the American Railway Union found out that supported the protesters and even joined them by refusing to handle Pullman cars which would then cause nationwide railroad traffic. This affected the U.S. economy and also influenced Labor Day to be made.

# data[].attributes.body
Around 1898, the U.S. overthrew Queen Lili'uokalanai and annexed Hawaii but it didn't become the 50th state of the U.S. until many years later. By acquiring this land, they then had access to large reservoirs of sugar and a new strategic point for their military. This would help improve the U.S. economy and America's belief in Westward Expansion.

# data[].attributes.body
The second Spanish-American War took place in 1989 and was influenced by yellow journalism. Tensions between Spain and the U.S. began when one of America's USS Marine ships mysteriously sunk. Yellow journalism exaggerated and painted the Spanish as the bad guys to build public sentiment against them which essentially caused the U.S. to go to war with Spain. Once again, the U.S. won and Spain ceded Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to the U.S. through the Treaty of Paris 1898. Acquiring this land helped expand the U.S. globally which basically supported and followed America's belief of Westward Expansion.

# data[].attributes.body
The Open Door Policy was a policy made to promote equal trade and respect for China's sovereignty. U.S. Secretary of State, John Hay, from 1899-900, would send notes to countries in Asia, prompting them to agree to these policies mainly for the purpose of helping the U.S. access Chinese markets. This policy was made so the U.S. could expand its influence beyond Latin America and around the globe.

# data[].attributes.body
After Panama gained independence from Colombia, with the support of the U.S. and the Hay-Buna-Varilla Treaty, it built the Panama Canal, one of the biggest trade canals in the world. This canal greatly impacted trading across the world by connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and is significant to military strategy.

# data[].attributes.body
The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire was a terrible incident that caused many lives to be lost when a garment factory in New York caught on fire and the workers couldn't get out due to locked doors and poor working conditions. Almost 150 workers died and the result of this caused new working regulations and conditions to be made to ensure workers safety.

# data[].attributes.body
AFL was a big labor union created in 1869 that fought for 8-hour work days, equal pay for men and women, and the removal of child labor. With the help of this organization, they helped to establish 8-hour work days, fight for laws banning child labor, and also helped organize a nationwide strike.

# data[].attributes.body
The assassination of Arch-Duke Franz Ferdinand created a conflict between Austria-Hungary and Serbia, sparking WWI. Austria goes against Serbia but as their conflict grows, both sides receive backup from multiple countries causing a world war to break out. Germany joins Austria's side while Russia backs up Serbia. Many more countries join in later on.

# data[].attributes.body
Lusitania, a passenger ship with over 1000 passengers and over 100 American citizens, was sunk when a German boat torpedoed it. This attack caused all the passengers to die, creating tension between the U.S. and Germany. This would essentially build up a reason for the U.S. to join the army.

# data[].attributes.body
The creation of tanks during WWI played a big role in many battles and advances. Using these tanks, troops were able to drive past wired borders and cross trenches but they couldn't quite get past German troops. It did provide more military power/firepower for troops using them.

# data[].attributes.body
The Battle of the Somme was fought between the allied British and French against Germany on the Western Front. Over a million casualties were caused which were caused by the use of landmines and tanks. This was one of the bloodiest battles during WWI. The Allies won this fight although both sides suffered around or more than 400,000 casualties.

# data[].attributes.body
The Battle of Verdun was a battle mainly between France and Germany and is known to be the longest fight in WWI. It lasted from February of 1916 to December of 1916, which is almost a year. It costed over 800,000 casualties and ended up with the French winning thanks to "creeping barrage", artillery, and the weather. The reason for the frightening amount of casualties was because of the great amount of artillery the Germans used. They had planned to attack France before they could get any backup or support from other countries such as Britain.

# data[].attributes.body
The U.S. who tried to keep away from the war at the beginning, later on joined the war when they discovered the Zimmerman telegram. In this note, Germany tried to convince Mexico to attack the U.S. but before it could reach Mexico the British intercepted it. This was the push factor that led the U.S. to join the war. Before this, the sinking of the Lusitania had already built tension between the U.S. and Germany but the U.S. at the time was still unsure whether or not to join the war.

# data[].attributes.headline
Use of Shotguns in Trench Warfare (1917)

# data[].attributes.subject
Use of Shotguns in Trench Warfare (1917)

# data[].attributes.body
During the war, both sides were at a stalemate in Trench Warfare. Neither side could push a great amount of territory causing barely anything to change for three years. That was until America began to supply the Alliance with shotguns which proved to be deadly against the other side in Trench Warfare. The Germans faced an utter loss when it came to close combat in the trenches which deeply upset them.

# data[].attributes.body
The Russian Revolution was an act of communism which was a revolution where the Russians overthrew the imperial government and replaced it with the communist party known as the Bolsheviks. This revolution created the Red Scare in America which was a period of time where people were afraid of communism.

# data[].attributes.body
Germany who was undersupplied and outnumbered by Russia and France, surrendered and signed an armistice with the Allies. This would end WWI and make Germany leave all the countries and come to peaceful terms with the Allies.

# data[].attributes.body
The Treaty of Versailles was a punishment for Germany that made them pay for reparations, cede their territory to other countries, reduce its military, and give up its colonies overseas. It was made to help prevent Germany from starting another war and was what officially ended WWI. (Although it was slightly after 1918, it is still an important event to WWI)