-
Louisiana Purchase
Louisiana Purchase bought for 15,000,000 dollars. -
Lewis and Clark expedition
Lewis and Clark have an expedition to explore the west. They return 3 years later -
Indian Removal Act
Congress passes a law to move Native Americans from the Southeast to the west of the Mississippi River. -
Battle of the Alamo
Mexican troops attack the Alamo Mission killing all but two Texans. This spurs the Texans on in the Texas Revolution. -
Trail of Tears
The Cherokee Nation is forced to march from the east coast to Oklahoma. Many thousands die along the way. -
Oregon Trail
People begin to travel west in wagon trains on the Oregon Trail. Around 300,000 people would take the trail over the next 20 years. -
Manifest Destiny
Journalist John O'Sullivan first uses the term "Manifest Destiny" to describe the westward expansion of the United States. -
Texas becomes a state
The United States officially claims Texas as a state, eventually leading to the Mexican-American War. -
Mexican-American War
A war fought over the rights to Texas. After the war, the United States paid Mexico $15 million for land that would later become California, Texas, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and parts of several other states. -
Oregon Country
England signs the Oregon Treaty handing over the Oregon Territory to the United States. -
Gold Rush
James Marshall discovers gold at Sutter's Mill. Soon word is out and people rush to California to strike it rich. -
Homestead Act
The U.S. government offers up free land to farmers who agree to live on the land for five years and make improvements to the land. Many people rush to places like Oklahoma to claim their land.