-
Marbury v. Madison
By establishing the Court's right to declare acts of Congress illegal, a landmark Supreme Court decision dramatically enhances the Court's power. -
Louisiana Purchase
The United States and France agree to pay $15 million for the Louisiana Territory, which stretches west from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains and covers approximately 830,000 square miles. As a result, the United States' GDP practically doubled. -
Lewis and Clark
Lewis and Clark set out on an expedition from St. Louis, Missouri, to explore the West and find a way to the Pacific Ocean. -
War of 1812
The United States declares war on the United Kingdom for interfering with American marine shipping and westward expansion. -
Star Spangled Banner written
As he watches the British onslaught on Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Francis Scott Key creates the Star-Spangled Banner. -
McCulloch v. Maryland
McCulloch v. Maryland: A landmark Supreme Court decision maintains Congress's right to establish a national bank, a power that the Constitution implies but does not expressly grant. -
Missouri Compromise
Maine (previously part of Massachusetts) is admitted as a free state so that Missouri can be admitted as a slave state; slavery is outlawed in the Louisiana Purchase territory north of latitude 3630' except for Missouri. -
Monroe Doctrine
President Monroe declares the American continents off-limits to further colonization by European nations in his yearly speech to Congress.