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In 1851, a New York newspaper editor named Horace Greeley published an article titled "To Aspiring Young Men" which became the talk across the nation. "Go West, Young man'" inspired thousand of citizens to pack up their belongings and head west.
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In 1848, Mexico signed the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo. The treaty gave the United States all of California and New Mexico.
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The discovery of gold nuggets in the Sacramento Valley in early 1848 sparked what was called the "Gold Rush." Prior to 1848, roughly 1000 non-native people lived in the California territory, after the Gold Rush over 100,000 people had settled in this region.
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February 1847, Taylor engaged in battle against the Mexican general, Santa Anna, at the Battle of Buena Vista.
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The Americans declared northern California an independent republic like Texas on June 14, 1846. They called their new nation the Bear Flag republic.
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Elias Howe invented the Sewing Machine
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In March 1845, President James K Polk took office. He offered to pay Mexico $30 million for Alta California and Santa Fe de Nuevo Mexico.
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The United states didn't want Texas to be an ally of Britain. It would not serve American if Britain was controlling America's western border. In 1845, Congress passed a joint resolution admitting Texas into the Union.
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In 1844, Sam Houston, the president of Texas, signed a treaty of annexation with the United States.
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Between 1840 and 1860, more than 50,000 people reached Oregon. Their wagon wheels cut so deeply into the plains that the ruts can still be seen today.
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Mexicans and freed African Americans made up the population that increased to 140,000 people by the 1840's.
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Americans believed that the United States had a right and a duty to spread its rule all the way to the Pacific Ocean. In the 1840s, a New York newspaper columnist named John L. O'Sullivan coined the phrase "Manifest Destiny" to support the annexation of Texas and Oregon.
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In the 1840's the entire Southwest belonged to Mexico. This vast region was called the New Mexico Territory.
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During the Panic of 1837, when a financial crisis hit the United States causing a major recession many Americans moved to Texas to get away from paying their debts.
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On March 2, 1836, Texans declared their independence. The new nation was called the Republic of Texas and Sam Houston was appointed commander of the army.
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On February 23, 1836, General Santa Anna began his campaign to retake Texas by sending six-thousand Mexican soldiers into the city of San Antonio.
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On April 2, 1836, Houston's Texas army charged at the surprised Mexicans shouting, "Remember the Alamo!" The Battle of San Jacinto lasted less than 20 minutes as the Texas troops killed 630 Mexicans and captured 700 more.
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In October 1835, Texans in the town of Gonzales clashed with Mexican troops.
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In 1833, General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna aka "the Napoleon of the West" came to power in Mexico.
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By 1830, America has already tried to buy Texas from Mexico twice. Mexico was worried that American settlers would try to make Texas a part of the United States. Mexico passed a law that forbid any American's from entering the country.
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The Erie Canal was invented.
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Mexico gained its independence from Spain in 1821 and Americans were granted permission to settle on the land.
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In 1821, an American merchant, was the first American to travel to Santa Fe.
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By the 1820s, white settlers had occupied most of the land between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River.
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In 1818, the United States and Britain reached an agreement. The two countries would occupy Oregon jointly. Citizens of each nation would have equal rights in Oregon
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The Lewis and Clarke expedition had journeyed through the area in 1805 and 1806.
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In the 18th Century, the Factory System was invented.
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The Cotton Gin was invented by Eli Whitney.
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The steamboat was invented by John Fitch.
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Eli Whitney invented Interchangeable Parts.
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James Hargreaves invented the Spinning Jenny.
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The war of 1812 went from June 18, 2812 to March 23, 1815
