1800s Timeline by Morgan Murray

The Louisiana Purchase (1803)

7murraymorga — 2025-10-13 20:14:08 UTC

Thomas Jefferson initiated the Louisiana Purchase with France in 1803, buying land from France and doubling the size of the United States. The land purchase gave the United States control over the Mississippi River and New Orleans, providing better trade opportunities and economic growth.

Lewis & Clark Expedition (Began in 1804)

7murraymorga — 2025-10-13 20:14:32 UTC

Thomas Jefferson appointed Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to the expedition in 1804. Jefferson's goal for the expedition was to learn more about the land of the U.S. and build relationships with Native people living there. The Lewis and Clark Expedition opened new trade routes and explored new places for future settlement.

Increased Voting Rights (1828)

7murraymorga — 2025-10-13 20:15:00 UTC

Before Andrew Jackson's presidency, he upheld the interests of the "common man". After he was elected, Jackson expanded voting rights for ordinary citizens in the U.S. By doing so, he gave Americans a voice in the way they were being governed.

Indian Removal Act (1830)

7murraymorga — 2025-10-13 20:15:41 UTC

The United States government pressured Native Americans to leave their land under the Indian Removal Act in 1830. President Andrew Jackson signed it, giving the U.S. government the power to trade Native American land away, ignoring court rulings against the act.

Trail of Tears (1838-1839)

7murraymorga — 2025-10-13 20:15:57 UTC

The Trail of Tears was the forced removal of the Cherokee people from their homes by armed militias in 1838. Andrew Jackson, the president at the time, wanted to continue America's expansion westward, causing many Native Americans to die along the way.

Manifest Destiny (Around 1840)

7murraymorga — 2025-10-13 20:16:42 UTC

John O' Sullivan used the term "Manifest Destiny" in 1845 to describe the reasoning behind westward expansion in the United States. "Manifest Destiny" claimed that the expansion westward was led by God and, therefore, meant to happen.

Invention of the Cotton Gin (1793)

7murraymorga — 2025-10-13 20:17:49 UTC

Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin in 1793, making cotton farming more efficient and profitable. The increased production rates required more labor, increasing slavery in the south. This caused tensions to grow between the northern and southern states over the expansion of slavery.

Lowell Mill System (1820s)

7murraymorga — 2025-10-15 17:46:49 UTC

Francis Cabot Lowell created the Lowell Mill System during the 1820s to make textile production more efficient. Lowell hired young, female employees to work in these mills providing living quarters and wages. The system created unsafe workplaces, inequality, and child labor.

The Abolitionist Movement (1820s-1830s)

7murraymorga — 2025-10-15 17:47:59 UTC

Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, William Lloyd Garrison and the Grimke Sisters joined together in the 1820s and 30s to fight against slavery. They created The Underground Railroad, the newspaper "Garrison's The Liberator", and held speeches and petitions to call an end to slavery. The Abolitionist Movement raised awareness about slavery and began a fight for freedom in the United States.

Mexican-American War (1846-1848)

7murraymorga — 2025-10-15 17:48:58 UTC

In 1846, Mexican forces attacked United States troops, marking the start of the Mexican-American War. The War ended in 1848 with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, where Mexico gave up half it's territory in exchange for $15 million from the U.S. The War led to tension within the United States, contributing to the start of the Civil War, and Mexico suffered territorial losses as well as a threatened relationship with The States.