-
Louisiana Purchase
In 1800, the French owned Louisiana while the English-speaking people of the United Sates only owned a small amount of land. Since the French needed to raise more money, President Jefferson struck a deal and bought Louisiana from them. This was known as the Louisiana Purchase. -
Ghent Peace Conference
The Native Americans allied to the British lost their case to create a neutral Indian zone. The proposal was rejected at the Ghent peace conference and never resurfaced. After 1814, the natives, who lost most of their fur gathering territory, became an undesirable burden to British policymakers who now looked to the United States for markets and raw materials. -
First Seminole War
The First Seminole War (1817–18) began over attempts by U.S. authorities to recapture runaway black slaves living among Seminole bands. Under General Andrew Jackson, U.S. military forces invaded the area, scattering the villagers, burning their towns, and seizing Spanish-held Pensacola and St. Marks. As a result, in 1819 Spain was induced to cede its Florida territory under the terms of the Transcontinental Treaty. -
Spanish Cession
Pirates had long been known to use Florida, which was controlled by Spain, as a refuge and hideout from the United States authorities. Finally tired of the pirate raids, a General called Andrew Jackson invaded and captured a number of forts in the area. Since Spain did not want to go to war, they agreed to hand over Florida to the U.S. We call this transaction the Spanish Cession. -
Erie Canal
The Erie Canal was the nation's first Important transportation system connecting the Atlantic Ocean, via the Hudson River in Albany, eastern New York, with Lake Erie. The Erie Canal stretched for 363 miles providing the first waterway connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. Construction began on July 4, 1817, it was first used on May 17, 1821 and finally completed on October 26, 1825. -
Indian Removal Act
he 1830, the Indian Removal Act was passed so that the U.S. president could force the Natives to move, thus allowing U.S. citizens to settle there. "The national policy, founded alike in interest and in humanity, so long and so steadily pursued by this Government for the removal of the Indian tribes originally settled on this side of the Mississippi to the West of that river, may be said to have been consummated by the conclusion of the late treaty with the Cherokees." -- Andrew Jackson -
Trail of Tears
The Trail of Tears was the process of relocating several Native American tribes from their homes. It was a very difficult journey for them and thousands of them died while battling natural elements that they were not prepared to cope with.
