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Election of 1800
In a highly contentious and acrimonious election, Thomas Jefferson challenged and defeated incumbent President John Adams, marking the end of the Federalist Party's influence and the rise of a more populist Jeffersonian democracy. -
Louisiana Purchase
President Thomas Jefferson purchased a massive swathe of land from France at a very low price, more than doubling the size of the United States. -
Invention of the Steamboat
Robert Fulton invented the steamboat in 1807, revolutionizing the speed at which rivers and other waterways could be traversed. This led to vast improvements in the efficiency of shipping and commerce. -
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War of 1812
The United States declared war on Britain due to perceived infringements on American sovereignty, such as impressment of sailors into the British Navy. The war ended with the Treaty of Ghent and the complete withdrawal of all British presence from American territory. However, the most famous battle of war, the decisive American victory at the Battle of New Orleans, occurred after the peace treaty was signed. -
Compromise of 1820
The admission of Missouri as a state threatened the balance of slave and free states, and therefore, a compromise was negotiated: Missouri would be admitted as a slave state, Maine as a free state, and slavery would be prohibited in the Louisiana Purchase territory above the 36°30 latitude line. -
Election of 1824
In a race among four candidates, Andrew Jackson won a plurality of both electoral and popular votes. However, since no candidate won a majority of the electoral vote, the House of Representatives was forced to decide the election. John Adams persuaded Henry Clay to support him, and they colluded to defeat Jackson in the House. This led to bitter accusations of a "corrupt bargain," and paved the way for Jackson's victory four years later. -
Nullification Crisis
Due to the passage of a tariff that severely affected the Southern economy, South Carolina claimed the right to nullify federal law and disregard the tariff within the state. This led to a crisis which involved the possibility of military action against South Carolina. However, a compromise tariff was negotiated in Congress that averted further escalation. -
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Texas Revolution
White Texian settlers, along with some Tejanos, rebelled against the government of Mexico due to increased centralization and oppression under President Santa Anna. After six months of fighting, the Revolution culminated at the Battle of San Jacinto, in which the Texians routed the Mexican army and forced Santa Anna to recognize the independence of Texas. -
Annexation of Texas
Following intense political debate, due to the implications for slavery and foreign relations, the Republic of Texas was annexed to the United States. The annexation resulted in conflict with Mexico. -
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Mexican-American War
The annexation of Texas caused a severe deterioration of relations with Mexico, as Mexico refused to acknowledge the legitimacy of Texas independence. The United States declared war following an attack by Mexican troops, and the war rapidly turned against Mexico, with American troops occupying Mexico City and forcing surrender terms. As part of the peace treaty, the United States annexed what is now a large portion of the West. -
Compromise of 1850
As with the Compromise of 1820, a crisis was sparked by the proposed annexation of California, this time as a free state. A complex package was negotiated that included various settlements of territorial boundaries, the implementation of a strict Fugitive Slave Law, the end of the slave trade in the District of Columbia, and finally the admission of California as a free state. -
Election of 1860
The decades-long debate over slavery culminated in the presidential election of 1860, as the South threatened to secede if the anti-slavery Republican candidate, Abraham Lincoln, won the election. Lincoln emerged victorious, setting the stage for secession and the Civil War. -
Southern Secessions Begin
Following the election of Abraham Lincoln as a president, South Carolina becomes the first Southern state to secede from the Union on December 20. Several other states followed suit, and the string of secessions continued until February 1861. -
Battle of Fort Sumter
Attempting to eliminate all Union presence from Confederate territory, Confederate forces bombarded the Union-occupied Fort Sumter on the morning of April 12, 1861, forcing Union troops to abandon the fort. However, the Confederate attack marked the beginning of the Civil War. -
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American Civil War
The Confederate States of America (CSA) fought the United States of America (Union) over a period of four years, attempting to establish an independent nation and preserve the institution of slavery. The CSA managed to win some early victories; however, the Union's industrial power ultimately overwhelmed the largely agrarian South. The CSA was defeated, the South was left in ruins, and slavery was abolished all throughout the United States by the 13th Amendment. -
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Reconstruction Era
Following the Civil War, Republicans attempted to integrate the defeated states back into the Union. Military governors were appointed for some areas, a number of CSA supporters were disenfranchised, and federal civil rights legislation was passed for blacks. However, Reconstruction largely proved unsuccessful, as most former Confederates were ultimately granted amnesty and segregationist policies were instituted in the South. Reconstruction formally ended after the disputed election of 1876. -
Battle of Appomattox Courthouse
Union forces led by General Ulysses S. Grant forced the surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Courthouse. The defeat of the Confederacy's most significant army effectively marked the end of the Civil War. -
Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
Seeking vengeance for the South, actor John Wilkes Booth assasinated President Abraham Lincoln as he was watching a play at Ford's Theater in Washington, D.C. Booth was hunted down and killed, while Lincoln's death was mourned by millions of Americans. -
First Transcontinental Railroad Completed
The final spike of the First Transcontinental Railroad was driven on May 10, 1869, marking a historic moment in American history. For the first time, the continent was connected from coast to coast.