The 19th Century: A World, a Country, and a State

  • Napoleonic Wars

    Napoleonic Wars

    Napoleon Bonaparte, leader of France, attempted to conquer Europe through a series of military campaigns that lasted until the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.
  • War of 1812

    War of 1812

    The United States and Britain engaged in another conflict just decades after the American Revolution. This one resulted in the invasion of Canada by the American army, the burning of Washington DC, and the establishment of Andrew Jackson as a champion for the people.
  • Moses Austin Receives a Land Grant from Mexico to Establish Settlements in What Would Become Texas

    Moses Austin Receives a Land Grant from Mexico to Establish Settlements in What Would Become Texas

    Moses Austin receives a land grant from the Mexican government, making him the first American empresario. While he died before he could lead settlers to Texas, his son Austin became one of Texas's founding fathers.
  • Queen Victoria Ascends the Throne

    Queen Victoria Ascends the Throne

    Queen Victoria ascended the throne of the United Kingdom in 1837. Until Queen Elizabeth II took her spot, she was the longest-serving British monarch, and is still considered one of the most influential. The Victorian era is still recognized for its economic, cultural, and social achievements.
  • California Gold Rush

    California Gold Rush

    After gold was discovered in Northern California, a population explosion occurred there, resulting in its applications to statehood and further divide between North and South.
  • Compromise of 1850

    Compromise of 1850

    The Fugitive Slave Law was passed, the current borders of the state of Texas were established, and California entered the Union as a free state.
  • Meiji Restoration

    Meiji Restoration

    A revolution that toppled the Shogun-run government of Japan, opening the door for Japan to the West, and encouraging the development of technology and science.
  • Custer's Last Stand

    Custer's Last Stand

    General George A. Custer fought a disastrous battle against combined forces of Lakota, Dakota, Arapahoe and Cheyenne. As a result, Custer and many of his men died, and Sitting Bull the Sioux leader became an American legend.
  • Jaybird-Woodpecker War

    Jaybird-Woodpecker War

    A racio-political feud in Fort Bend County, Texas, that resulted in the deaths of 7 people, as well as the development of all-white primary elections. The system became rigged to disenfranchise blacks in the county.
  • Marie and Pierre Curie Discover Radium

    Marie and Pierre Curie Discover Radium

    Radium is the second element the French chemists Marie and Pierre Curie discovered. Their discovery helped pave the way for our current understanding of radioactivity and the use of nuclear energy.