Forging a National Identity

  • 1865 BCE

    Slavery

    Slavery
    Slavery was practiced throughout the American colonies in the 17th and 18th centuries, and African-American slaves helped build the economic foundations of the new nation. Slavery was abolished in 1865. Slavery was significant to the conflict of this time period because the south was based on agriculture, while the north was based on industry. The north felt slavery was unnecessary while the South felt it was needed to survive.
  • 1854 BCE

    Gadsden Purcahse

    Gadsden Purcahse
    The Gadsden an agreement between the United States and Mexico, finalized in 1854, in which the United States agreed to pay Mexico $10 million for a 29,670 square mile portion of Mexico that later became part of Arizona and New Mexico. The Gadsden Purchase was significant to the expansion during this time period because the land received later became Arizona and New Mexico; states of today.
  • 1853 BCE

    Grimke Sisters

    Grimke Sisters
    The Grimke Sisters were the first American female advocates of abolition and women's rights. The Grimke sisters were significant to the reformation of this time period because these were the first females to actively participate in wanting a change for America.
  • 1850 BCE

    Harriet Tubman

    Harriet Tubman
    Harriet Tubman was an American abolitionist, humanitarian, and an armed scout and spy for the United States Army during the American Civil War. She introduced the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman was significant to the reformation of this time period because she was one of the activists that helped abolish slavery.
  • 1849 BCE

    Edgar Allan Poe

    Edgar Allan Poe
    US short-story writer, poet, and critic. Most of his short stories are about death, decay, and madness. Edgar Allan Poe is significant to the American dream during this time period because he showed people that not all stories had to have an uplifting background to be entertaining.
  • 1848 BCE

    Mexican Cession

    Mexican Cession
    Area of the present-day United States that Mexico agreed to give up as part of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ended the Mexican-American War. The Mexican Cession ceded to the US for $15 million. The Mexican Cession is significant to the expansion during this time period because this was what ended the Mexican-American war.
  • 1848 BCE

    The Declaration of Sentiments

    The Declaration of Sentiments
    The Declaration of Sentiments was a document signed at the first women's rights convention to be organized by women. The Declaration of Sentiments was significant to the reformation of this period because it involved women's rights.
  • 1845 BCE

    Manifest Destiny

    Manifest Destiny
    Manifest Destiny is the belief that Americans have a God given right to expand from Atlantic to the Pacific Coast. Manifest Destiny is significant to the expansion during this time period because the idea of Manifest Destiny allowed people to escape religious persecution, find new markets for commerce,claim land for farming, ranching, and mining,locate harbors on the Pacific to trade with Asia, seek employment and avoid creditors, and spread the virtues of democracy.
  • 1845 BCE

    Frederick Douglas

    Frederick Douglas
    Frederick Douglas was a prominent American abolitionist, author and orator; wrote ';The Liberator'. Frederick Douglas was significant to the reformation of this time period because he was one of the many activists that provided the north with information about how slaves were treated, in which took a major role in the abolition of slavery.
  • 1837 BCE

    Horace Mann

    Horace Mann
    Horace Mann was an American politician and educational reformer. Horace Mann was significant to the reformation of this time period because he increased the population America wanting to learn.
  • 1836 BCE

    Oregon Trail

    Oregon Trail
    The Oregon Trail was a route to the Northwest; Independence Missouri. The Oregon Trail was significant to expansion during this time period because the west included economic opportunities.
  • 1836 BCE

    Lone Star Republic

    Lone Star Republic
    The Lone Star Republic (Republic of Texas) represented pride, defiance, and the assertion that Texas was strong enough to stand on its own as an independent nation. The Lone Star Republic was significant to the expansion during this time period because having Texas a part of the Union of the United States was considered a great deal because of the power behind Texas.
  • 1832 BCE

    Utopian Communities

    Utopian Communities
    Utopian communities were settlements that experimented wildly with different models of government, marriage, labor and wealth. Utopian communities were significant to the reformation during this time period because the idea of a utopian community allowed people to change their societies for the better
  • 1830 BCE

    Mormons

    Mormons
    The Mormons was a religion founded in the US in 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr. The Mormons was significant to the expansion during this time period because they were founded in the west in which economic opportunity was a key feature and was considered a religious haven for people fleeing persecution.
  • 1827 BCE

    Abolitionism

    Abolitionism
    Abolitionism was a movement to end slavery; a historical movement to end the African and Indian slave trade. Abolitionism was significant to the reformation during this time period because many were awaken of the brutality of slavery, in which soon resulted in the end of slavery.
  • 1825 BCE

    Hudson River School

    Hudson River School
    The Hudson River School a mid-19th century American art movement embodied by a group of landscape painters whose aesthetic vision was influenced by romanticism. The Hudson River School was significant to the American dream of this time period because it showed nationalism.
  • 1820 BCE

    Temperance

    Temperance
    Temperance enabled the social movement against the consumption of alcoholic beverages. Temperance was significant to the reform of America because now alcohol was viewed as an evil.
  • 1820 BCE

    Second Great Awakening

    Second Great Awakening
    The Second Great Awakening was a Protestant religious revival movement during the early 19th century in the United States. The Second Great Awakening was significant to the reformation during this time period because religion was enhanced and broadened.
  • Transcendentalism

    Transcendentalism
    Transcendentalism was a literary movement stressing individualism. nature, emotions; a philosophy that believed industrialization was harming man's morals. Transcendentalism is significant to the the American dream during this time period because it pushed the freedom and rights of the people.
  • Annexation of Texas

    Annexation of Texas
    The annexation of Texas was incorporation of the Republic of Texas into the United States of America, which was admitted to the Union as the 28th state. The annexation of Texas was significant to the conflict of this time period because this resulted in the US war with Mexico.