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The United States expanded the land considerably with what is known today as the Louisiana Purchase A deal worth fifteen million, this extended the US reach across the Mississippi, which doubled the size of the young republic. Part or all of 15 states were eventually created from the land and this purchase is considered one of the most important achievements of Thomas Jefferson's presidency. -
Napoleon positioning himself as Emperor of the French Empire, over a decade of war in Europe followed, with many hoping to dethrone the General. Conquering Italy, much of Spain, and most of Continental Europe, Napoleon was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 and exiled permanently to Saint Helena. The French monarchy was restored. -
Although efforts were made long before the year of 1807, this date marked a significant change with the US and UK both banning the international slave trade and blocking slave ships. The trade was made illegal for Britain on May 1st, 1807, while the US didn't officially ban the importation of slaves until January 1st, 1808. Although this was a big shift, there was still change to be made within the countries itself as the slavery in the US was a key factor in triggering their civil war. -
Also called Texas War of Independence, this war was fought between October 2, 1835 through April 21, 1836 between Mexico and Texas colonist. This resulted in Texas's independence from Mexico and the founding of the Republic of Texas, which also lasted from 1836-1845. This war is where the famous Battle of the Alamo occurred, due to Santa Anna being determined to punish the rebellious Texans. -
Also known as Spring of Nations, had sent shockwaves across the continent. The most famous was the second great French Revolution, which led to the fall of the King, creation of the French Second Republic, and another Bonaparte on the throne. Elsewhere, 39 German confederation states revolted, rebellion in Sicily began, Denmark forced a new constitution, those within the Habsburg Monarchy threatened, and mass rebellion broke out in Ireland. Many of the revolutions across the continent failed. -
Closed for nearly 200 years, Japan's isolation policy had been in place since 1639 which banned anyone from entering and leaving the country, under penalty of death. This also severely restricted trade and foreign relations. Looking for more trade the country no longer could last. American ships arrived in 1853 and demanded Japan sign a treaty agreeing to trade. Isolation was dropped and Japan emerged as a modern Empire. -
Juneteenth marks the anniversary of the day African Americans first learned if the Emancipation Proclamation more than two years after it was initially issued. The holiday was originally celebrated with prayer meetings, singing spirituals, and wearing new clothes to represent newfound freedom. It commemorates the end of slavery in the US. -
Known as the Russian flu, this pandemic was the last great pandemic of the 19th century and is among the deadliest. Killing one million people out of a global population of 1.5 billion. Starting in Turkestan and hitting the Russian Empire, it then reached all European countries, the US, and the whole world. The large spread was due to the new train routes and left the world aware of the consequences of global trade and travel. -
On September 19, 1893 the governor signed a new Electoral Act into law. This landmark legislation had New Zealand become the first self-governing country in the world in which women had the right to vote in parliamentary elections. This achievement was the result of years of effort by suffrage campaigners, led by Kate Sheppard. A series of massive petitions calling on Parliament to grant the vote to women. Sheppard is acknowledged on the $10 note in New Zealand. -
A revolution directed against Spain had two phases. The first from the declaration of defiance against Spanish rule on August 23, 1896 till the conclusion of a truce in December 1897; the second from the return till the outbreak of the Filipino-American War in February 1899. Members of a secret revolutionary society tore up their cedulas (ID receipts issued for payment of taxes) as a symbol of their determination to take up arms against Spain. -
Conflict between the US and Spain that effectively ended Spain's role as a colonial power in the New World. The immediate cause of the war being Cuba's struggle for independence from Spain. The US emerged from the war as a world power with significant territorial claims stretching from the Caribbean to Southeast Asia. The US replaced Spain as the colonial power in the Philippines.