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Louisiana Purchase
How in the world did Thomas Jefferson get America the biggest single purchase of land in our history? Well, the US wanted New Orleans becasue it was a great trading route and wanted to find the Northwest Passage. When Nepoleon saw no use in the Louisiana Territory and needed quick money, he sold it to Jefferson for 15 million dollars and gave away 828,000 square miles. That means Jefferson paid him 4 cents an acre! This purchase helped the US fully realize their Manifest Destiny dream. -
The Corps of Discovery Expedition
The Corps of Discovery Expedition lead the US to spread and become stronger thanks to Lewis and Clark. They set out to explore the new land we had bought and to find the NW Passage through the Missouri River. They brought along Sacegewea to translate for them, but she did much more than translate; she cooked/gathered their food. They were not successful of finding a direct root to the Northwest Passage, but did find the Pacific. This expedition was extremely important to Westward Expansion. -
The War of 1812
Whose heard of the Revolutionary War Part 2? This war was known as the "Frogotten War" when Britain wasn't happy that the US didn't want to get involved with their conflict with France. Out of this war came our national athem The Star Spangled Banner. Also, the biggest battle happened 15 days after the treaty was already signed and America had won. This war was still a war and shouldn't be left out because it was important. -
Florida Territory
How did one man with the name of Andrew Jackson buy Florida? At first, he was just there to get back some escaped slaves, but without orders, decided to take over Spanish military posts and overthrew their govenor. The Spanish then sold him the Florida Territory for 5 million dollars. Some people think Andrew Jackson was a villianous military leader, but others think of him as a hero for getting so much land just off of instinct. -
The Monroe Doctrine
Wouldn't it be nice to have a contract saying no one was allowed to mess with you? America's 5th president, James Monroe made the Monroe Doctrine telling European countries they couldn't try to take the US's land and not to get into America's wars and in return, the US would stay out of their wars and wouldn't bother them. James Monroe didn't get the US any land, but he sure knew how to keep it. -
Indian Removal Act/Trail of Tears
In 1830, Andrew Jackson signed a contract enforcing arguably the worst thing America ever did. He signed the Indian Removal Act which made Native Americans move west to Oklahoma from their tribes in the Southeast. More than 4,000 Cherokee people died on this walk including the elderly and children. This was a very dark thing the US did in its time of Westward Expansion and trying to fulfill the idea of Manifest Destiny. -
Texas
Did you know the Lone Star State was once its own country? In 1836, it won its independence after a few bloody battles including the Alamo and wanted to become a part of the US. It wasn't added for 9 years because the President Van Buren was hesitant to take Texas in. He was afraid it would start a war with Mexico and didn't want there to be more slave states than free states. In 1845, James K. Polk allowed Texas to a part of the US. Texas has a great history and is loved by lots. -
The Mexican American War and the Treaty of Guadelupe Hidalgo
What was the biggest war America fought in the time of Manifest Destiny? In 1846, America declared war on Mexico because Mexico wanted Texas' borders to be on the Neuces River while the US wanted it on the Rio Grande. America won and in 1848, the Treaty of Guadelupe Hidalgo was signed and California, New Mexico, New Nevada, Utah, Arizona, etc. were also added. Although this wasn't the most land added to America, it was a pretty large chunk. Thanks Mexico! -
Oregon Territory
There was a piece of land that the US and Britain compromised over? That's right, the Oregon Territory. America wanted the 54-40 latitude line or we would fight them so the 54-40 or fight(!) slogan was made. The 49 degrees latitude line was what they agreed on and no one had to go to war or buy land. Adding the Oregon Territory was a crucial step for completing Manifest Destiny and expanding further west.
