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Western Expansion
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Texas Annexation
Texas was the 28th state to join the U.S. after gaining independence from Mexico. Some worried Texas would upset the slave vs non-slave state balance as Texas had quite a bit of slavery. -
California Gold Rush
The Gold Rush started when James W. Marshall found gold on his land. News soon spread of his finding and sparked the largest mass migration in American history bringing about 300,000 people to California. -
Treaty of Hidalgo
The Treaty of Hidalgo was signed after the Americans won the Mexican-American war relatively easily. The treaty gave the U.S. Texas, California, Nevada and Utah. -
Comprimise of 1850
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California Joins Union
California was admitted as a free state by congress after heated political debate. Their admition may not have happened with out th comprimise of 1850. -
Kansas Nebraska act
The act created a temporary balance between the North and South. The balance allowed the union to attemp to continue expanding westward. -
Oregon Statehood and Oregon trail
Oregon territory served the American states as an outlet to the rest of the western world. The Oregon trail was traveled by around 350,00 people from 1830 through 1869. The Teritory -
Pony Express
The Pony express was founded as a method of communication across the nation. It's founding allowed an even more rapid spread of the west. -
Transcontinental Railroad
1776 mile long railroad crossing the the western half of the United States. The railroad made it significantly easier for settlers to travel across the nation. -
Homstead Act of 1862
The homestead act aloud Americans to purchase land out west at a very minimal price. This included women and liberated slaves. The act greatly accelerated western expansion
