The Wilmot Proviso was a failed attempt to ban slavery in territories acquired from Mexico, intensifying the sectional conflict between the North and the South in the United States.
The Ostend Manifesto (1854) Explained
The Ostend Manifesto was a controversial document that advocated for the acquisition of Cuba by the United States in 1854.
The Era of Good Feelings (1815-1825) Explained
The Era of Good Feelings was a period of relative political harmony and economic growth in the United States following the War of 1812.
The Homestead Act (1862) Explained
The Homestead Act of 1862 granted free land to settlers in the United States, encouraging westward expansion and the development of agriculture.
The Indian Removal Act (1830) Explained
The Indian Removal Act of 1830 authorized the forced relocation of Native American tribes from their ancestral lands in the southeastern United States.
The Oregon Trail Explained
The Oregon Trail was a historic route used by pioneers in the 19th century to travel from Missouri to Oregon in search of new opportunities and a better life.
The Gadsden Purchase (1853) Explained
The Gadsden Purchase was a treaty between the United States and Mexico in 1853 that resulted in the acquisition of a strip of land in present-day Arizona and New Mexico.
James K. Polk’s presidency and expansion Explained
James K. Polk’s presidency and expansion: A transformative era marked by territorial acquisitions and manifest destiny under the leadership of the 11th U.S. President.
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848) Explained
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the Mexican-American War and ceded a large portion of Mexico’s territory to the United States.
Manifest Destiny Explained
Manifest Destiny was the belief that it was the destiny of the United States to expand its territory across North America.
Trail of Tears (1838-1839) Explained
The forced removal of Native American tribes from their ancestral lands to designated reservations, resulting in thousands of deaths and immense suffering.
Battle of Palo Alto Explained
The Battle of Palo Alto was the first major engagement of the Mexican-American War, resulting in a decisive victory for the United States.