The Romantic Period By kpatrick 1801 Jefferson becomes President 1803 The Louisiana Purchase 1804 Lewis and Clark Expedition 1812 War of 1812 1817 William Cullen Bryant publishes "Thanatopsis" 1820 The Compromise of 1820 1821 US buys FL 1838 The Trail of Tears 1846 Lincoln was first elected to Congress 1846 Mexican - American War begins 1851 Melville publishes Moby Dick 1861 Civil War begins 1864 Lincoln is shot and killed 1865 End of Civil War