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Signing of the Declaration of Independence
The Founding Fathers sign the Declaration of Independence. -
Thomas Jefferson Becomes U.S. president
Thomas Jefferson becomes the U.S.'s third president. -
The Louisiana Purchase
Thomas Jefferson purchases all French Territory in present-day U.S. from Napoleon Bonaparte for $15 million. -
Corps of Discovery Expedition
Meriwether Lewis leads a group of explorers on an expedition westward, to scout out the land for Thomas Jefferson. -
War of 1812
The War of 1812 with Britain started. -
Francis Scott Key pens a poem, later to become the Star-Spangled Banner.
Francis Scott Key pens the "Defence of Fort McHenry, which went on to be set to music and used as the national anthem of America. -
The Ratification of the Treat of Ghent.
The Treaty of Ghent had been signed and had ended the War of 1812. -
Andrew Jackson was sworn into office.
Andrew Jackson was sworn into office. -
The Oregon Trail was first used.
The first immigrants to Oregon blazed a trail for fellow immigrants in 1841 when a small band of 70 left Independence, Missouri. They followed a route which took them west along the Platte River through the Rocky Mountains through the South Pass in Wyoming and then northwest to the Columbia River. -
James K. Polk's Election
James K. Polk was sworn into office on March 4, 1845. -
The term "Manifest Destiny" was first used.
The term "Manifest Destiny" was first used by John L. O'Sullivan in an article about the annexation of Texas in 1845. -
The Mexican-American War
The Mexican-American War was America's first war on foreign soil. America received lots of territory, including present-day California, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and part of Texas. -
Mexico Cedes it's Northern Territory
The Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo is signed and Mexico cedes it's territory north of the Rio Grande. -
The Gold Rush
The discovery of gold nuggets in the Sacramento had been spread around the nation, and thousands of gold prospectors headed west. -
The Star-Spangled Banner becomes the National Anthem
The Star-Spangled Banner becomes the National Anthem.