Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the U.S. in 1803 & gave the U.S. control of New Orleans / Mississippi River

Manifest Destiny = U.S. was destined to expand from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. President James K. Polk encouraged this idea

Land Acquired: Florida (1819), purchased from Spain

Texas (1845), annexed to the U.S.

Mexican Cession (1848), acquired after the U.S.-Mexican War

Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo = Officially ended the U.S.-Mexican War...U.S. gained modern-day California, New Mexico, Arizona, etc.

The Gold Rush = in 1848 the discovery of gold lead to a rush of settlers entering California. This led to California's population to explode and apply for statehood.

Irish Immigrants = Fled Ireland during the Irish potato famine, most lived on the East Coast and worked in factories in Northern states

Chinese Immigrants = Immigrated to California to work in the gold mines, and eventually on the Transcontinental Railroad.

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