Sixteen Most Significant Events In US History Between 1789 To 1975 Ess

Sixteen Most Significant Events in US History between 1789 to 1975 After a review of United States' history from 1789 to 1975, I have identified what I believe are the sixteen most significant events of that time period. The attached sheet identifies the events and places them in brackets by time period. The following discussion provides my reasoning for selecting each of the events and my opinion as to their relative importance in contrast to each other. Finally, I have concluded that of the sixteen events, the Civil War had the most significant impact on the history of the time period in which it occurred and remains the most significant event in American history. The discussion begins with bracket I covering the period from 1789-1850, and pairs the number one seed in the bracket "Mexican-American War" against the fourth seed "Louisiana Purchase". The second seed in the bracket "Marbury v Madison" is paired against the third seed "Monroe Doctrine". The purchase of Louisiana from France in 1803 was the most popular and momentous event of the Jefferson presidency. It had several significant economic and political implications on this period in history. From an economic perspective it doubled the size of the United States at a price of only fifteen million dollars. It allowed settlement beyond the Mississippi River in a territory that was rich in minerals and natural resources. It eliminated the United States' long struggle for control of the Mississippi River and its outlet to the sea, and as Jefferson stated, it freed America from European influence at its borders. In addition to these economic implications, the purchase also had historic political implications. The acquisition took place at a time when the government was still exploring the powers that the Constitution had granted it. Jefferson, himself, carefully deliberated whether the Constitution granted him the right to acquire territory for the purpose of expandi the Union. He reflected on the possible need for an amendment to the Constitution to justify the action. Finally, under intense pressure, he allowed the purchase and set an important precedent. His action established the power of the president to expand the borders of the United States under the existing powers of the Constitution. Despite the economic and political implications of the Louisiana Purchase, the Mexican-American War (1846-1848) had more significant historical implications on this time period. While disagreements between the two countries had been accumulating for two decades, the war was primarily the result of American feelings of "manifest destiny" to expand their borders. The treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ended the war, granted the United States the regions of California, Nevada and Utah, and parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming. However, the significant result of the war on United States' history would be the controversy over whether the territories acquired should be slave or free. The country, at this time, was divided between proslave sentiment in the South and antislave sentiment in the North. Various attempts at compromise to settle the controversy, such as "The Compromise of 1850" and the "Kansas Nebraska Act" failed. Finally, when the issue could not be resol peacefully, the country was drawn into a civil war. It is evident that the outcome of the Mexican-American War became one of the most influential, indirect causes of the Civil War. Both the Louisiana Purchase and the Mexican-American War expanded United States borders and had beneficial economic impacts. However, the implications of expansion brought about by the Mexican-American War were more significant. While the Louisiana Purchase helped define the constitutional powers of the president, the Mexican-American War further exacerbated the slave issue which ultimately resulted in civil war. The Monroe Doctrine was the most important assertion to date of United States' foreign policy in history. The doctrine was delivered by President James Monroe as part of his annual message to Congress in 1823. This statement of position would dictate the policy of the United States in international affairs for years to come. The doctrine was in reaction to continual interference of European nations in the affairs of Latin America. It provided a framework for how the United States would deal with foreign intervention in the western hemisphere. It stated that Europe was to remain out of the affairs of countries in the western hemisphere and any attempt to intervene would be viewed as a threat to the United States. In return, the United States agreed to stay out of European affairs. Marbury v Madison is arguably one of the most important decisions by the Supreme Court in United States' history. The case, which