Timeline of Events in American Westward Expansion

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  • Lewis and Clark Expedition

    The Missouri River and Oregon Territory is explored.
  • Period: to

    Westward Expansion

  • Erie Canal Opens

    Erie Canal connects New York city with the Great Lakes.

  • Indian Removal Act

    Grants President Jackson to remove Native Americans living east of the Mississippi River.

  • Texas Declares Independence from Mexico

    Followed by the Texan-Mexican War. (specific date not available)

  • Treaty of New Echota

    Removes all Natives from Florida and leads them on the Trail of Tears.

  • Annexation of Texas

    Texas is now part of the United States.

  • The Donner Party

    The Donner Pary became snowbound in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and had to resort to cannibalism. (specific date unavailable)

  • Mormons Move West

    Lead by Brigham Young, Mormoms settle the Great Salt Lake, eventually founding Salt Lake City. (specific date unavailable)

  • Gold Discovery in California

    Followed by more than 80,000 people moving to California in search of gold.

  • United States Pays for More Land

    The USA pays Mexico $15 million dollars for the areas of Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, and parts of Colorado. (specific date unavailable)

  • California Becomes a State

    California is now officially part of the United States.

  • First Productive Oil Well

    First oil well is drilled in Pennsylvania by Edwin Drake.

  • First Transcontinental Telegraph

    Faster and more reliable communication across great distances.

  • Homestead Act

    Gave free farms to families based on family size. The only requirement was residence for a fixed period of time.

  • Transcontinental Railroad

    The Transcontinental Railroad is completed connecting the East coast with the West coast.