1. © North Carolina Community College System
The 1800s
Growing Pains
© North Carolina Community College System
Clip art from
unless otherwise noted.

2. In the 1800s, the United States grows from Atlantic to Pacific.
Pacific Ocean
Atlantic Ocean

3. The 1800s are hard years.
If you have an internet connection, you can watch the country grow at
Click on Formation of the Contiguous United States.

4. In 1803, America buys the Louisiana Purchase from France.
Louisiana Territory

5. In 1812, the United States declares war on Britain again because
the British seized American ships that traded with France, and
the British supplied Native Americans with guns to use against American settlers moving west.

6. The British burn the U. S. Capitol in Washington, D. C
The British burn the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., but the Americans still win the War of 1812.
During this war Francis Scott Key writes the words that become our National Anthem.

7. In 1846, the Mexican-American War begins. It is a war over land.
Texas gains independence from Mexico.
Texas asks to join with the United States.
The U.S. Congress approves.
Texas claims land down to the Rio Grande, but Mexico claims land up to the Nueces River.

8. The Mexican-American War ends with the Treaty of Guadeloupe Hidalgo
The Mexican-American War ends with the Treaty of Guadeloupe Hidalgo. It sets the Texas boundary at the Rio Grande.
It also gives the United States the land that becomes California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico.

9. The next war tears apart the United States of America
The next war tears apart the United States of America! The people of the United States fight each other in the American Civil War.

10. The American Civil War lasts from 1861-1865.
The northern states fight the southern states.
34 star flag from Rick Wyatt Posted 5, April, 1998 on FOTW Flags of the World website at
Confederate Flag from

11. Problems leading to the Civil War are
Slavery America has to decide if new states admitted to the union will be slave or free. Northerners are against slavery and slave owners. Southerners are for slavery. The people in the North and the South are far apart in their thinking.

12. Economic reasons The Southern economy is based on cotton and tobacco
Economic reasons The Southern economy is based on cotton and tobacco. Growing these crops depends on a lot of cheap labor (slaves). The economy in the North is based on industry and city life. People in the North do not need slaves.

13. States’ Rights The Tenth Amendment gives the states all powers that the Constitution does not give to the United States or forbid to the states. Many people think that means the states have the right to say if they will accept federal acts. The federal government, however, says the states do not have this right, so the Southern States decide to secede from the Union.

14. Abraham Lincoln is President of the United States from 1861-1865.
He leads the nation during the Civil War.

15. He frees the slaves. In 1863 Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation. It says that slaves living in Confederate states are free forever!

16. He saves the Union. Lincoln writes to the New York Tribune :
He saves the Union. Lincoln writes to the New York Tribune : My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union . . .

17. The United States fights one more war in the 1800s--The Spanish American War.
The American people support the Cuban people in their fight to be free from Spain.
When an American ship is sunk in Havana harbor in 1898, Congress declares war against Spain.
America wins. Cuba is free, and Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines become American territories.

18. Roosevelt later becomes the 26th President of the United States.
Colonel Theodore Roosevelt leads American troops in the Spanish-American War.
Roosevelt later becomes the 26th President of the United States.
The teddy bear is named for Teddy Roosevelt.

19. Another fight during the 1800s is not a war: It is a fight for women’s rights!
Susan B. Anthony campaigns for the right of women to vote.
She also speaks against slavery and for equal treatment of women in the workplace.

20. The nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution gives women the right to vote.
Susan B. Anthony dies 14 years before this amendment is adopted.

21. America ends the 1800s at peace--but not for long
America ends the 1800s at peace--but not for long! World events will soon draw America into a global war.

22. Before going to war again, let’s look at the geography of the U. S. A
Before going to war again, let’s look at the geography of the U.S.A.—from sea to shining sea!