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Louisiana Purchase
the territory sold by France to the US in 1803, comprising the western part of the Mississippi valley and including the modern state of Louisiana. The area had been explored by France, ceded to Spain in 1762, and returned to France in 1800. -
Lewis and Clark Expedition
The Lewis and Clark Expedition from August 31, 1803, to September 25, 1806, also known as the Corps of Discovery Expedition, was the United States expedition to cross the newly acquired western portion of the country after the Louisiana Purchase. -
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was an armed conflict between the United States and the British Empire. The British restricted the American trade since they feared it was harmful for their war with France. -
Mexican War
The Mexican War was caused by the unresolved border dispute between Texas and Mexico after the United States had annexed Texas. -
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush (1848–1855) was a gold rush that began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The news of gold brought approximately 300,000 people to California from the rest of the United States and abroad. -
Abraham Lincoln's election
Ultimately, Abraham Lincoln was elected the 16th President of the United States of America the first president ever to be elected with less than 50% of the vote. -
Civil War
Fought from 1861–1865, the American Civil War was the result of decades of sectional tensions between the North and South. Focused on enslavement and states' rights, these issues came to a head following the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860. -
Spanish American War
The Spanish-American War was an 1898 conflict between the United States and Spain that ended Spanish colonial and resulted in U.S. acquisition of territories in the western Pacific and Latin America.