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Manifest Destiny
The phrase "Manifest Destiny" was coined by the journalist John O'Sullivan in 1845. The phrase "Manifest Destiny" is most frequently associated with the massive territorial expansion of the United States over just fifty years from 1803 to 1853 and its westward expansion to the Pacific Ocean. -
Mexican-American War
The Mexican American War grew out of unresolved border disputes between the Republic of Texas and Mexico after the Texas Annexation by the United States. The Mexican American War was fought in Texas, New Mexico, California and Central, Northern and Eastern Mexico including Mexico City. -
Bear flag revolt
The short period in history that encompasses the California Republic is also known as the Bear Flag Revolt which was launched by American settlers (the Bear Flaggers) against Mexico in the Mexican territory of Alta California. The Bear Flag Revolt began on June 14, 1846 when California was declared a Republic. -
oregon treaty
The Oregon Treaty of 1846, also known as the Washington Treaty, was signed between Great Britain and the United States on June 15, 1846, in Washington, D.C. The Oregon Treaty of 1846 finally settled the land dispute between the two nations who had agreed at the Convention of 1818 to a "joint occupation" of Oregon territory. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed on February 2, 1848 by the United States and Mexico at the at Villa de Guadalupe Hidalgo and ended the American Mexican War (1846-1848). In the terms and provisions of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo Mexico ceded Upper California and New Mexico to the United States that covered 525,000 square miles (1,360,000 square km) for a payment of $15,000,000. -
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush (1848–1855) started on January 24, 1848 and attracted 300,000 prospectors when gold was discovered by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Lumber Mill in Coloma, California. The prospectors and gold seekers were called "forty-niners" or the "49ers" as the majority of them reached the location of the goldfields in 1849 in search of instant wealth and riches beyond their wildest dreams. -
Gadsden Purchase
The Gadsden Purchase refers to the acquisition of about 30,000 square miles (77,700 sq km) of land in present-day Arizona and New Mexico which was bought by the United States from Mexico for $10 million dollars. The Gadsden Purchase followed the land purchases agreed in the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. -
Treaty of Kanagawa
The Treaty of Kanagawa was the first treaty between Japan and the United States that was signed by Commodore Matthew Perry and Shogunate representatives of the Japanese government on March 31, 1854. The Treaty of Kanagwa was agreed at the Convention of Kanagawa and was the basis of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce, aka the Harris Treaty, that was signed on on July 29, 1858 by Townsend Harris, the first Consul General to the Empire of Japan. -
Ostend Manifesto
The Ostend Manifesto was a document drawn up in October 1854, at Ostend, Belgium, by proslavery American ministers James Buchanan, John Mason and Pierre Soulé. The Ostend Manifesto planned for the annexation of Cuba from Spain but the "Gunboat Diplomacy" of Pierre Soulé against Spain led to great controversy between the northern and southern states. -
Pony Express
What was the Pony Express? The Pony Express was a mail service operating from St. Joseph in Missouri all the way west to Sacramento. Riders rode in relay delivering mail across 2000 miles in 10 days.