The Louisiana purchase was 530,000,000 acres of territory in North America, and the US purchased it from France. This acquisition costed America $15 million dollars (which today, is worth $366,275,000). 

America got access to the Mississippi River AND New orleans 

This was really beneficial because now they had access to the south where they can send goods overseas and reach the Carrabean 

The Oregon Territory stretched from the Pacific coast to the Rocky Mountains. It is a region in North America that now encompasses the present-day states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and parts of Montana and Wyoming.

It was established as a territory on August 14, 1848, but did not become an official state until February 14, 1859.

The US received an official claim over lands in the Oregon territory when both Britain and the US signed the Oregon Treaty.

This ultimately aided in increasing the US territorial expansion, and economic opportunities by giving access to Pacific ports, and helped to avoid conflict with Britain.

The Oregon Territory, 1846 - History State Gov https://www.nps.gov/places/formation-of-the-oregon-territory.htm

The Mormon settlement of Utah began on July 24, 1847, when Bridgham Young led the first group of Mormon pioneers to Salt Lake Valley. This eventually led to the establishment of Utah as a state in 1896.

The Mormon settlement of Utah was motivated by religious persecution and a desire to establish a community where they could practice their faith freely.

The primary and initial settlement in Utah was in Salt Lake City which is located in the northern part of Utah. It lies in between the Great Salt Lake and the Wasatch range of the Rocky Mountains. Utah’s landscape is depicted with rocky mountains, deserts, plateaus, and valleys. 

Before the Mormon Settlement of Utah, it was the home to multiple Native American tribes. The includes but is not limited to the Ute Tribe, Shoshone Tribe, and the Navajo Tribe.

This settlement faced some controversy due to differences in religion and government. This led to the Mormons facing hate and violence from the US, major isolation, and conflicts with the Native American tribes. However, the Mormons ultimately got the religious freedom and community that they sought.

The Mormon settlement of Utah had significant cultural impacts such as their cooperative economic practices including communal farming and resource-sharing. They also implemented innovative irrigation systems to help convert vast stretches of desert land into fertile farmland. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mormon_settlement_techniques_of_the_Salt_Lake_Valley 

https://www.loc.gov/item/today-in-history/july-24/#:~:text=to%20this%20page-,Pioneer%20Day,Mormon%20homeland%2C%20hence%20Pioneer%20Day 

California became the 31st state of the United States on September 9, 1850.

The process leading up to California's statehood was expedited by the discovery of gold there in 1848. This attracted a massive influx of settlers and immigrants during the California Gold Rush. The increased population and economic activity led to its rapid development in California created a need for formal statehood.

California's terrain is very diverse due to its wide-spread geography. It includes coastal areas, mountain ranges, valleys, deserts, forests, islands and peninsulas, volcanic features, and urban and suburban areas.

California's statehood was a pivotal moment in American history, as it marked the inclusion of a dynamic and diverse region into the Union. The state's rapid economic growth fueled by the Gold Rush and subsequent development positioned California as an influential player in national politics. Its admission as a free state through the Compromise of 1850 also played a critical role in maintaining a balance between free and slave states, delaying the outbreak of the Civil War. California's ongoing cultural, economic, and political contributions continue to shape the nation, emphasizing the enduring significance of its statehood.

Before statehood and European colonization, California was home to many Native American groups such as the Ohlone, Miwok, and the Yokuts.

There was a controversy that followed California statehood due to its position on slavery. California wanted to prohibit slavery within its borders. This proposal to the Union disrupted the balance between free and slave states. Southern states were concerned that the asymmetry of free to slave states would tip the balance in favor of antislavery.

• https://www.census.gov/newsroom/stories/california-admission-anniversary.html#:~:text=The%20area%20of%20California%20was,1850%2C%20as%20the%2031st%20state. 

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_California 

• https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=23856#:~:text=In%201849%2C%20Californians%20sought%20statehood,by%20the%20Compromise%20of%201850. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_Act_for_the_Admission_of_the_State_of_California

The Gadsden Purchase occurred on December 30, 1853

Purchase of a 30,000 square-mile region of present-day south Arizona and southwestern New Mexico for 10 million dollars. 

It was purchased by the US in a treaty signed by the American ambassador to Mexico James Gadsden 

The primary  motivation for this purchase was the transcontinental railroad 

This purchase provided the South with access to the transcontinental railroad. Helping with trade, allowed people to settle in the land. It completed the manifest destiny idea that from the Atlantic to the Pacific, they are one.

The crisis that led to the compromise was California’s request to be admitted into the union with a constitution prohibiting slavery. 

Henry Clay had a compromise that he had hoped would settle the issues for at least a generation but had to put it on pause because president Zachary Taylor did not approve of it. However, when Taylor died, his replacement Millard Fillmore encouraged clay to proceede with his proposal. 

Clay wanted to maintain teh balance between free and slave states in order to satisfy both sides. 

The compromise included the admission of California as a free state, provided a territorial government for Utah and New Mexico ( meaning that teh US looked over these territories although they were not yet admitted as states.), established a boundary between Texas and the US, called for the abolition of slave trade in Washington DC, and amended the fugitive slave act. 

https://www.history.com/news/lewis-clark-timeline-expedition

• Months before the Louisiana Purchase, President Thomas Jefferson got approval to send explorers to find a water route West of the Pacific Ocean. 

• Mariwether Lewis was Jefferson’s personal secretary, and William Clark was his army friend. 

• Lewis and Clark were sent to explore the Western area of America after the Louisiana Purchase 1804-1806. It was approximately 8,000 mile long journey 

• They started from the Missouri River to the Mouth of the Columbian River

• Their conditions were dangerous, as Patrick Gass, one of the crew members writes, “warlike nations of savages of gigantic stature”. 

• They also dealt with impassable mountain ranges, disease, harsh wheather, treacherous waters, and suffered from disease and starvation.  

• This expidition was crucial for the discovery of geographic information on these areas of North America. 

https://mrnussbaum.com/causes-and-effects-of-the-war-of-1812-2

In June of 1812, America declared war on Great Britain and the war lasted until 1814. 

There were many things that occurred that built up the tension between America and Great Britian that eventually led to war. 

After the Revolutionary War and Treaty of Paris, Great Britian refused to give up western areas, therefore breaking the pact and betraying America. 

“Impressment”- this was when British were stopping Americans on sea and forcing them into the British military against their will. They felt this was jusitified since the Americans used to be subjects of the king. 

Britain had been funding arms for the Native tribes in the West who were attacking American settlers. 

America wanted to get rid of the British in North America and expand America. 

Members of the Federalist party, which was founded by Alexander Hamilton, were opposed to the war, as they feared it would upset the maritime trade, which many busnisses in the Northwest relied on. 

During this time, the nationalism in America was stronger than ever, and the desire to expand westward became more intense. 

America won the war, and for the next 10 years there was prosperity in the US (Era of “Good Feeing”)

Winning against one of the strongest militaries in the world gave America a lot of pride and impressed other nations. 

https://history.state.gov/milestones/1801-1829/florida#:~:text=the%20full%20notice.-,Acquisition%20of%20Florida%3A%20Treaty%20of%20Adams%2DOnis%20(1819),they%20returned%20to%20Spanish%20control.

• The acquisition of Florida took place in 1819

• At this time, West Florida was part of Spain’s territory, and Minister Onis was the leader. 

• John Quincy Adams demanded that Minister Onis give up East Florida to the United States. 

• Spain ceded East Florida to America and renounced all claims to West Florida. Spain did not receive compensation for this. 

• Gaining control of Florida was a significant accomplishment for the United States because it meant they gained access to the Mississippi River, which was a huge advantage for trade. 

 https://history.com/topics/slavery/missouri-compromise

• The Missouri Compromise of 1820 was a law signed by President James Monroe that stated that Missouri would be a slave state, and Maine would be a free state. 

• The Missouri Compromise banned slavery from the states in the territoy of the Louisiana Purchase. 

• 30 years later, the Compromise of 1820 would be declared unconstitutional, as the federal government should not have had the power to decide of a state is a slave territory or not. 

• Some states in the South that were reliant on slavery were upset that their economy could be effected by Congress’ decision, and felt that it took away the state rights for government to intrude on that. 

• The Compromise of 1820 had a huge impact on America, as it led to the Dred Scott Decision, undoing the compromise, which led to the Civil War. 

• Abolitionists were furious that the Supreme court was stepping back from debating about the slavery territories, and this created more division between the North and South, and led to the beginning of the Confederate States of America.

https://www.loc.gov/rr/program//bib/ourdocs/indian.html#:~:text=The%20Indian%20Removal%20Act%20was,many%20resisted%20the%20relocation%20policy.

https://americanindian.si.edu/nk360/removal-cherokee/resisting-removal.html#section-8

https://americanindian.si.edu/nk360/removal-cherokee/resisting-removal.html#section-13

• This was signed as a law by President Andrew Jackson on May 28, 1830. 

• Government could grant lands west of the Mississippi for Indians that agreed to give up their land (under pressure) within state borders.

• Some tribes left peacefully, but others refused to leave their homeland.

• In the winters of 1838 and 1839, the Cherokee people were forcibly marched westward by the government, and about 4,000 people died. 

  • This march is called the “Trail of Tears”. 

• Chief John Ross, who was the leader of the Cherokee nation, resisted the Indian Removal Act by not signing the Treaty of New Echota. 

  • The Treaty of Echota was signed by four Cherokee men living in Echota (present day Georgia), who decided to leave. The treaty said they will cede all their land in the East for lands West of the Mississippi River. They signed treaty illegally, without approval of the leader, John Ross. 

  • In 1836, the Cherokee nation started a petition against the Treaty of New Enchota, and 2,174 people signed it. 

  • President Andrew Jackson did not have mercy on the Cherokee people no matter how much they pleaded. 

https://www.thealamo.org/remember/battle-and-revolution

https://www.history.com/topics/latin-america/alamo

https://www.thealamo.org/remember/military-occupation/independence-and-annexation#:~:text=Meeting%20on%20June%2016%2C%201845,polls%20on%20October%2013%2C%201845.

• On December 27, 1845, Texas became the 28th state of America. 

• Texas had been a part of Mexico, and an independent country since 1836. 

• Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821, and established a Monarchy and Republic. 

• Many colonists moved to Texas, with desire to start over there. 

• Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, was elected President of Mexico in 1833 and abolished the constitution of 1824, which caused outrage from many people and led to a civil war, and the movement for in Independence of texas began. 

• The Battle of Alamo

  • This Battle was during the war for independance from Mexico; this battle went on for thirteen days- February 23, 1836- March 6, 1836. 

  • A number of Texan volunteer soldiers had occupied Alamo, and on February 23, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna led a seige with thousands of men. 

  • James Bowie and William Travis, the commanders of the Alamo defense, along 200 men, fought for thriteen days until Mexico dominated and won. 

  • After losing the Alamo, it became important for the Texans to remember the Alamo as resistance against oppression, and “Remember the Alamo”  was especially honored during the Mexican-American War on 1846-1848.  

• On March 19-20, 1836, James Walker Fannin, head of the Texan army, engaged in battle with Mexican army, led by general Jose Urrea. 

  • Texas surrendered but on March 27, Fannin along with 300 men were captured and executed. People began fleeing to Louisiana. 

• On April 21, 1836, Sam Houston, general of the Texan army attacked Santa Anna’s army and it was an astounding victory for Texas. 

• On Apreil 22, 1836, Santa Anna was abducted and brought to Houston, and they made an agreement establishing that the Mexican army would leave the region, establishing the Republic of Texas. 

• On February 27, 1845, the Senate and House of Representatives voted in favor of the Annexation of Texas that would bring it into the Union. 

• It was proposed to President Anson Jones of Texas, who presented it to the people of Texas. On October 13, 1845, the majority of the population voted in favor. 

• On December 27, 1845, President James K. Polk signed the annexation bill and Texas was officially declared part of the Union as the 28th state of America.

https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/treaty-of-guadalupe-hidalgo

• All the lands that were ceded to the United States as a result of the Mexican-American war. 

• This was signed in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo on February 2, 1848, which officially ended the war. 

• The treaty signing took place in the city Guadalupe Hidalgo, which was the city the Mexican leaders had fled to during the war. 

• The lands Mexico would cede over to America were: present day California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, majority of Colorado and Arizona, some of Oaklahoma, Kansas, and Wyoming. 

  • This was 55% of Mexico’s territory. 

  • They released all claims to Texas, and reckognized that the Southern border of the US was the Rio Grande.  

• The end of the war came to be because Mexico decided to surrender and negotiate their lands to end the war. 

• Chief clerk of the state department, Nicholas Trist, was involved in the peace negotiation with Don Bernardo Couto, Don Miguel Atristain, and Don Luiz Gonzaga Cuevas, who were part of Mexico’s special commission. 

  • There had been two unsuccessful attempts at peace negotiations with President Santa Anna previously. 

• President Polk recieved a copy of the treaty from Trist, forwarded it to the Senate, and it got a vote of 34 to 14. 

• The US military removed its troops from Mexico’s capital. 

• The land annexed was more than 525,000 square miles of land. 

• After the treaty, the US borders were extended west to the Pacific Ocean. 

• Mexico was compensated $15 million dollars