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Robert Fulton developed the first steamboat to operate on the Hudson River.
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Eli Whitney began working on the cotton gin in the late 18th century but did not receive a patent until 1807. A single cotton gin was capable of producing 55lbs of cotton per day. There is no doubt this invention contributed to Antebellum South and the industrial revolution.
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In the War of 1812, caused by British restrictions on U.S. trade and Americas desire to expand its territory, the United States took on the greatest naval power in the world, Great Britain. The United States and the United Kingdom signed the Treaty of Ghent on December 24, 1814. The treaty basically restored relations between the two countries to postwar era.
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The Mexican- American War took place from 1846-1848. The war was a result of manifest destiny as well as boundary disputes with Mexico. At the time Mexico was a young country occupying land as far north as Oregon and south to Texas. Though Texas had won it’s independence a decade earlier it was still under Mexican law.Texas wanted to become part of the Union and the Union wanted Texas and all of the other western territories. The Treaty of Guadeloupe Hidalgo would end the war.
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In the 1860 presidential election, Republicans, led by Abraham Lincoln, supported banning slavery in all the U.S. territories. The Southern states viewed this as a violation of their constitutional rights. 11 slave states went to war with the Union leading to the nations bloodiest war. The Union won with the surrender of Robert E Lee at the Appomattox Courthouse. As a result of the war 4 million slaves gained freedom at the cost of 750,000 lives.
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Alexander Graham Bell patented his “electric telegraph” in March of 1876, it was not only a reality, but was to forever change the country.
