US History 1 Timeline: U.S. Expansion by Ella Quilici

The Market Revolution (1820's - 1850's)

ellaquilici — 2025-02-12 19:06:44 UTC

The market revolution was a time of great technological advancements in the US which brought about many factory-based jobs and helped to boost the US economy. It was a major turning point in the way that our country functioned and served as a transition into the US industrial revolution.

The Civil War (April 12, 1861 – April 9, 1865)

ellaquilici — 2025-02-12 19:06:49 UTC

The Civil War was a war that took place between the northern and southern parts of the United States. The war was fought over slavery. The southern states declared themselves the Confederate States of America and they fiercely believed in their right to own slaves. The northern states, however, believed that slavery should be outlawed and that it was not right to own another person.

The Homestead Act (1862)

ellaquilici — 2025-02-12 19:06:55 UTC

The Homestead Act promised land to any adult citizen who had never taken up arms, or worked against, the US government. They promised 160 acres to any people willing people who met the criteria and were willing to live on and deal with the upkeeping of their land.

The Dawes Act (February 8, 1887)

ellaquilici — 2025-02-12 19:07:05 UTC

This act gave the President the right to allot certain areas in a reservation to specific individuals. The land of a reservation was deemed for the entire population that resided on the plot unless specified by the President, who a the time was Grover Cleveland.

Mexican American War (April 1846-February 1848)

geethikapremkumar1 — 2025-02-12 19:11:53 UTC

The Mexican-American War was a conflict fought between the United States and Mexico and resulted in the United States gaining a significant amount of territory, including present-day California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona,and New Mexico. The war was important because it helped the United States expand westward and establish itself as a major power in North America while Mexico experienced a loss of land and influence.

Indian Removal Act (May 28, 1830)

geethikapremkumar1 — 2025-02-12 19:24:52 UTC

It authorized the president to grant land west of the Mississippi River in exchange for land east of the river. The act led to the forced displacement of thousands of Native Americans from their ancestral lands in the southeastern United States. It was important because it opened up vast amounts of land for white settlers and contributed to the tragic Trail of Tears.

Completion of the Transcontinental Railroad (May 10, 1869)

muskanrana — 2025-02-12 19:25:50 UTC

It opened the markets of the west coast and Asia to the east, and brought products of eastern industry to the growing populace beyond the Mississippi. The railroad ensured a production boom, as industry mined the vast resources of the middle and western continent for use in production.

Opening of the Carlisle Industrial School (1879 to 1918)

muskanrana — 2025-02-12 19:27:17 UTC

The purpose of the Carlisle Industrial School was to remove Native Americans from their cultures and lifestyles and assimilate them into the white man’s society. This was accomplished with the separation of the Indian youth from their culture, language, and religion.

Closing of the American Frontier (1840 to 1890 and beyond)

muskanrana — 2025-02-12 19:28:16 UTC

The closure meant that in the west there were no apparent tracks of land without settlers. The frontier represented danger because of the Natives who lived in the region but also freedom and opportunity.

The Exoduster Movement (1879)

muskanrana — 2025-02-12 19:30:05 UTC

The predominantly black communities the Exodusters created provided important models of black self-government and community building in the West at the end of the nineteenth century. The Homestead Act and other liberal land laws offered blacks (in theory) the opportunity to escape the racism and oppression of the post-war South and become owners of their own tracts of private farmland.

The California Gold Rush (January 24, 1848)

geethikapremkumar1 — 2025-02-12 19:34:12 UTC

It was triggered by the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill in Coloma. The Gold Rush attracted more than 300,000 people from all over the world to California, leading to the rapid growth of cities and towns. However, it had a negative impact on the environment and the Native American population, causing violence, disease, and significant loss.

The California Trail (1841-1869)

geethikapremkumar1 — 2025-02-12 19:43:02 UTC

The California Trail was a major route used by settlers to reach California that stretched about 2,000 miles from Missouri River towns to the gold fields and valleys of California. The trail was important because it enabled the rapid population growth of California, leading to its establishment of being a state in 1850.

Louisiana Purchase (April 30, 1803)

juliasztolberg — 2025-02-12 19:45:19 UTC

The Louisiana Purchase was a $15 million transaction between France and America, where America gained 828000 miles of land West of the Mississippi River. This event nearly doubled the size of the US and allowed for the exploration of new lands and materials.

Acquisition of Florida (February 22, 1819)

juliasztolberg — 2025-02-12 19:45:35 UTC

President Adams signed a Treaty with Minister Onis of Spain which ceded Florida to the US in return for the US to assume liability for 5 million dollars of the damage done by American citizens against Spain. Gaining Florida provided control of the Mississippi River which became important for transportation and trade.

Annexation of Texas (December 29, 1845)

juliasztolberg — 2025-02-12 19:45:45 UTC

Texas annexed from Mexico because they sensed a war was coming and they wanted the political and economical benefits that came with being a US citizen. This event contributed to the conflict for the Mexican-American War.

Acquisition of Oregon (June 15, 1846)

juliasztolberg — 2025-02-12 19:46:01 UTC

The Acquisition of Oregon came with the signing of the Oregon Treaty. In this, Britain and the US established a border between their territory and split the territory into Britain's Colombia region and USA's Oregon territory. The Acquisition was important because it clarified the boundary of the North Western United States.

The Santa Fe Trail (1821-1880)

geethikapremkumar1 — 2025-02-12 19:48:27 UTC

It was established in 1821 by William Becknell and served as a vital commercial highway until 1880, when the railroad arrived in Santa Fe. The Santa Fe Trail was important because it helped to open up the American West to trade and settlement. It was a major military supply route for the U.S. Army during the Mexican-American war and helped to connect the Southwest to the rest of the United States.