Unit 5 Timeline

By annamartin

  • Horace Mann

    (Date Born) Horace Mann was a Whig politician who fought for public education for all and believed everyone should get an education. Mann sought to reform the education system and making it more attainable to all people, not just the wealthy, and creating a better system.

  • Dorothea Dix

    (Date Born) Dix fought for the rights of the mentally ill for better treatment and living conditions by speaking to state legislatures and Congress about her cause. Her fight for the mentally ill caused reforms in their treatment and led to some of the first asylums being made.

  • Edgar Allan Poe

    (Date Born) Poe was an American author who wrote many poems and short stories that were very dark, filled with murder and madness. This contribute to the American Dream by showing people that you can break the mold of what is "normal" or "socially acceptable" and be successful in doing so.

  • Frederick Douglass

    (Date Born, specific day unknown) Douglass was a runaway slave who spoke out against slavery through his writings. Douglass helped shine the light on the realities of slavery, which ultimately led to reforms and the abolishing of slavery.

  • Santa Fe Trail

    (Specific day and month unknown) This trail went through central North America and connected Santa Fe, New mexico to Independence, Missouri. This contributed to expansion by making travel to western territories easier and more people settled in these lands because of it.

  • Harriet Tubman

    (Date Born, specific date unknown) Tubman helped runaway slaves escape into safe lands through the use of the Underground Railroad. She later also fought for women's rights as well. By instilling a sense of hope and making freedom seem within reach, Tubman helped reform slavery and led the country to seek change and freedom for all.

  • Oregon Trail

    (Specific date unknown) This trail, established by fur traders, connected Oregon to the Missouri River. The trail allowed safer passage by wagons easier, so people could get to territory to settle, which contributing to expansion.

  • The Alamo

    A battle near San Antonio in the Texas Revolution that resulted in all the Texas defenders dying by the hand of Mexican soldiers. This was a conflict between Mexico and those who wanted Texas to secede from Mexico.

  • Lone Star Republic

    Texas became independent from Mexico, becoming it's own republic for a short time. This eventually led to the annexation of Texas, which expanded US territory.

  • Webster-Ashburton Treaty

    This treaty settled many border disputes with Great Britain, including the one between Canada and the US. This caused conflict due to differing views on where the borders should lie, and through those who were unhappy with the treaty.

  • 54 40 or Fight

    This was the saying Polk used in his presidential election expressing his desire for the expansion of the US into Texas, California, and Oregon. This slogan led to Polk's victory and the pursuit of taking this territory, ultimately resulting in conflicts with Mexico like the Mexican- American War,

  • Annexation of Texas

    This was the admittance of Texas into the Union after Texas declared itself independent from Mexico. This caused conflict between Mexico and the US, and also between the North and South, who were afraid of the other gaining too much power or another slave/free state.

  • Mexican-American War

    This was a war between the US and Mexico over territories the US wanted that Mexico believed was theirs. This caused conflict between the US and Mexico in the form of many battles and casualties.

  • Wilmot Proviso

    This proposed a law that would ban slavery in any new territories gained from Mexico during the Mexican-American War. Many people were in agreement with the Wilmot Proviso, but many weren't as well, causing conflicts that eventually led to the Civil War.

  • Gold Rush

    This began when James Marshall found gold at Sutter's Mill in California. News of the Gold Rush spread, bringing 300,000 people to California from the US, which greatly contributed to expansion.

  • Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

    This was a peace treaty between America and Mexico after the war, which gave America more land and Mexico was paid 15 million. In giving America more land, this contributed to expansion.

  • Mexican Cession

    (specific day and month unknown) This refers to the lands received from Mexico in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. It resulted in the US expanding into the territories of California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona.

  • Seneca Falls Convention

    This was the first convention on women's rights to ever meet, and resulted in the Declaration of Sentiments, which stated that all men and women are created equal. This helped women rally together to reform treatment of them in social and political aspects of life.

  • Gadsden Purchase

    Signed by James Gadsden, ambassador to Mexico at the time, this gave the US territory in New Mexico and Arizona. It contributed to expansion by giving the US more territory out west.

  • John Gast's American Progress

    (Specific date and month unknown) John Gast created this painting, exemplifying Manifest Destiny and advancements in technology and transportation. This shows the American Dream by showing the progress of America and how impossible things seem within reach in America.