Louisana Purchase
- France' offer to sell the vast Louisiana Purchase to the United States in 1803 sparked a constitutional dilemma. President Thomas Jefferson wanted to purchase the territory, which would double the size of the United States.
- Jefferson favored a narrow interpretation of the Constitution—and nowhere did it provide for acquiring additional territory.
- there was no time to amend the Constitution. Instead, the Jeffersonian Democratic-Republicans in Congress passed legislation that gave the President permission to sign a treaty to receive the territory, and Congress appropriated the money to pay for it.
The purchase would double the United States and the resources from its land. The United States would own both sides of the Mississippi River. States could now trade freely without worrying about paying Spain.
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War of 1812
- The British restricted the American trade since they feared it was harmful for their war with France
- The Americans objected to the British Empire restricting their trade and snatching their sailors to serve on British ships. They were also eager to prove their independence from the British Empire once and for all.
- Jame's Madison declared war on Britain
- After the British were done with France, they focused on the United States. During the War of 1812, they would burn the United States White House
- The American and the British would have many battles such as the battle of Baltimore and the battle of new Orleans.(the battle of new Orleans started because of the issue of communication in 1815).
- The Treaty of Ghent was finally signed on December 24, 1814. The war officially ended on February 17, 1815 when US Congress ratified the treaty.
The United States gained a measure of international respect for managing to withstand the British Empire. The morale of the citizens was high because they had fought one of the great military powers of the world and managed to survive, which increased feelings of nationalism; the war has often been called the "Second War of Independence."