Westward Expansion Timeline Summerlin By ElizabethJewel 1598 european settlement 1680 france claimed land 1783 American revolution ended 1803 President Thomas Jefferson purchased the vast Louisiana Territory from France. President Thomas Jefferson purchased the vast Louisiana Territory from France. 1830 Manifest Destiny 1845 United States took control of texas 1848 Mexico gave the United States a vast area that later formed all of California 1856 United States and Great britain came to agreement 1862 Congress made that easier by passing the Homestead Act 1869 United States purchased Alaska from Russia for just over $7 million. 1870 A huge reserve of silver turned them to nevada 1898 gold and copper were found in alaska 1900 hawaii becomes part of the USA they seized the government and requested that the United States annex Hawaii