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Westward Expansion During the 19th Century
19th Century -
Louisiana Purchase
In 1803, France sold the territory of Louisiana to the United States. What became known as "The Louisiana Purchase" included more than two-million square kilometers. It was the largest land purchase in history.In the early 19th century, the steam engine was invented. Soon steamboats were moving goods and people on the Mississippi River. -
Lewis & Clark Expedition
The Lewis and Clark Expedition set off up the Missouri River from Wood River ( Illinois) on May 14, 1804, just over 175 years ago. A year later, when the exploring party headed west along the river from their 1804-1805 winter establishment at Fort Mandan (North Dakota), Meriwether Lewis, on the day of their departure. -
Treaty of 1818
The U.S. & Great Britain agree to joint occupation of Oregon. -
Spanish Cession of Florida
On Feb. 22, 1819, the controversy was ended by the treaty of Washington, whereby Spain ceded to the United States its provinces of East and West Florida. In accordance with the construction maintained by the United States respecting the southeastern limit of the French cession and the northern limit of the Spanish cession, the latter added the territory of the present State of Florida. -
Moses & Stephen Austin
Moses Austin (who is also known as the father of Texas) received a permit from the Spanish government in Mexico to settle 300 families in the territory that would become Texas. However, Moses Austin died in Missouri before he could realize his plans.Stephen obtained confirmation of the Texas grants from the newly established Mexican government, and in 1821-1823, he established a colony of several hundred American families on the Brazos river -
War for Texas Independence
Known as the cradle of Texas liberty, the Alamo fell to the Mexican Army after a 13-day siege. The massacre of its ragtag defenders in March 1836 provided a galvanizing moment in the war for independence. -
Battle of San Jacinto
Captain Seguin returned to San Antonio after Santa Anna's defeat and surrender at the battle of San Jacinto on April 21,1835. He gathered the charred remains of the bodies of the Alamo's defenders and buried them in the Church of San Fernando. Eventually, he was promoted to Colonel and became commander of the military post at San Antonio de Bexar. -
The Lone Star Republic
Santa Anna's image was temporarily damaged during the Texas secession. As US settlers began to outnumber Mexicans in the lands to the north, Yankee-led independence movements mobilized to protest restrictive immigration laws and the abolition of slavery. Santa Anna responded with 6000 troops, which overwhelmed Texan rebels at the Alamo in February of 1836, killing all 150 defenders. -
Election of 1844
Whigs nominated Henry Clay & Democrats nominated James K. Polk. Issues of expansion in Oregon, Texas, and Clifornia. Polk wins 170 electoral votes to 105 votes for Clay. -
Texas Annexation
The annexation of Texas was one of the campaign pledges of the Democratic party in the 1844 election. Tyler considered the Democratic victory to be an endorsement of this policy. Thus, after the Democratic victory, Tyler rushed a joint resolution through Congress mandating the annexation. He did this despite the opposition of many Northerners to adding an additional slave state to the Union. -
Treaty of 1846
The U.S. & Great britian agree to the Bucharam_Dakeham Treaty line along the 49th parallel. -
Border Skirmish
A border skirmish between Mexican and American troop caused Polk to call for war against Mexico. Polk sent an army to California to join forces with a rebellion that had started in the Mexican territory. Then he sent an army of 6000 soldiers to Northern Mexico which battled Santa Ana. -
Oregon Country
The fulfillment of Benton's westward vision brought to the United States more territory than just that resulting from the war with Mexico. With the acquisition of the Oregon Country in 1846, the United States stretched across a continent. The activity associated with this expansion brought more new plants to the attention of the small American botanical community around Torrey and Gray. -
The Mexican War
The U.S. Army under the command of General Winfield Scott defeats the mexicans at Veracruz & Mexico City. -
Mexican Cession
From the time of the Mexican cession in 1848, Mexicans were targets of prejudice , violence, and economic exploitation in the land that was once theirs. Whether established residents or itinerant agricultural workers, they were an underclass striving to avoid poverty and discrimination in the United States. The Mexican government was indifferent toward them, and public attitudes in the United States ensured that they remained politically inactive. -
Gadsden Purchase
It was acquired by purchase from the Mexican government in 1853, and was then known as the " Gadsden Purchase," for which the United States paid the sum of ten million dollars. The commissioners who made the treaty were greatly surprised and perplexed at the manifest reluctance of Mexico to part with this strip of apparently worthless land. -
The Homestead Act
The Homestead Act, enacted during the Civil War in 1862, provided that any adult citizen, or intended citizen, who had never borne arms against the U.S. government could claim 160 acres of surveyed government land. Claimants were required to “improve” the plot by building a dwelling and cultivating the land.
