Expansion & Pre-Civil War (1815-1860)

Important Battle of San Jacinto

Why Was the 1836 Battle of San Jacinto Important?

Few battles in the Texas Revolution were as important as the Battle of San Jacinto in April 1836. At the battle the Texans were able to score a stunning victory that effectively ended the Mexican threat, a massive achievement leading directly to Texan independence. When looking at the timeline of the Texas Revolution the victory …

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Timeline Texas Revolution

Timeline of the 1836 Texas Revolution

One of the most significant events of the early- to mid-nineteenth century was the Texas Revolution from Mexico. The timeline and dates of the Texas Revolution show that the fighting itself was over a very short period, though the causes were decades in the making. When Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1821 its …

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Timeline Jacksonian Era

Timeline of the Jacksonian Era

In the second quarter of the nineteenth century a new movement swept through the United States: Jacksonian Democracy. The timeline of the Jacksonian Era lasted nearly two decades and coincided with a period of great change throughout the nation. Andrew Jackson emerged on the political scene following the end of the War of 1812. Jackson …

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Impact Gibbons v Ogden

What Was the Impact of Gibbons v. Ogden?

Several early Supreme Court cases helped to define federalism in the early years of the United States. One of the most influential cases was Gibbons v. Ogden, the impact of which can still be felt in the present day. When John Marshall became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in 1801, little did the nation …

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Significance Mcculloch v Maryland

Why is McCulloch v. Maryland Important?

One of the most influential Supreme Court cases in the early United States involved the controversial Second Bank of the United States in 1819. The profound impact from the ruling spells out exactly why McCulloch v. Maryland is so important. When the state of Maryland attempted to lay down a revenue-generating tax on the Baltimore …

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Significance of Tariff of 1816

Who Supported and Opposed the Tariff of 1816?

Tariff policy and its effect on sectionalism in the early United States has drawn considerable interest throughout American history. Based on traditional narratives it is surprising to learn just who supported and who opposed one of the first major tariffs in American history: the Tariff of 1816. A tariff is tax on specific imported goods …

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Purpose American System

Was Henry Clay’s American System Successful?

In the early 1800s the politician Henry Clay championed a new economic plan to help spur self-sufficiency in the United States. The question of whether the so-called “American System” was successful is varied, though the plan dominated economic discussion throughout most of the early 19th century. The American System was composed of three primary policies: …

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Important Rush Bagot Treaty 1817

What is the Rush-Bagot Treaty of 1817?

In the aftermath of the War of 1812 considerable tensions still existed between the United States and Great Britain. Just what is the Rush-Bagot Treaty of 1817 and how did it help lead to peaceful relations between the two nations? The United States and Great Britain had a tumultuous relationship following the American Revolution, eventually …

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Result Adams-Onis Treaty 1819

The Primary Result of the 1819 Adams-Onis Treaty

Following the War of 1812 there remained but one territory along the eastern seaboard that did not belong to the United States: Florida. Just what is Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819 and how did it relate to Florida and the American west? For years following the American Revolution the United States attempted to purchase the Spanish …

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Important Missouri Compromise 1820

Why is the Missouri Compromise Important?

As the United States expanded westward in the early nineteenth century, the issue of slavery was once again brought to the forefront. To address this issue, northern and southern members of Congress were forced to come to a compromise to save the Union. When it came to slavery, just why is the Missouri Compromise of …

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Causes Panic of 1819

The Causes and Effects of the Panic of 1819

The United States experienced a post-war economic boom followed immediately by a nation-wide financial crisis in the aftermath of the War of 1812. The causes of the Panic of 1819 were multifaceted and complex, and the effects of the depression could be felt for decades afterwards. Post-War of 1812, the United States entered a period …

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Significance Era of Good Feelings

Timeline of the Era of Good Feelings

In the aftermath of the War of 1812 the United States entered what’s been coined as the “Era of Good Feelings.” The timeline of the Era of Good Feelings lasted from roughly 1815 to 1824, though some would argue it was much shorter than that. With the signing of the Treaty of Ghent in 1815 …

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