North America 1852: Opening up the West
14 October 1852
14 Oct 1852
Opening up the West
2 Oct 1843 Oregon Dispute
29 Dec 1845 Annexation of Texas
13 May 1846 Outbreak of the Mexican–American War
15 Jun 1846 Oregon Treaty
18 Aug 1846 Conquest of California & New Mexico
19 Nov 1846 Northern Mexican Theater
9 Mar 1847 Siege of Veracruz
14 Sep 1847 Battle for Mexico City
2 Feb 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
11 Feb 1849 California Gold Rush
9 Sep 1850 Compromise of 1850
14 Oct 1852 Opening up the West
30 Dec 1853 Gadsden Purchase
6 Dec 1855 Bleeding Kansas
2 Apr 1857 Filibuster War
29 Sep 1858 Mexican Reform War
18 Oct 1859 Raid on Harpers Ferry
The surge in migrants heading west put increasing pressure on the Oregon Trail. To secure the Trail, the US government signed the Treaty of Fort Laramie with the tribes of the Great Plains, who agreed to guarantee the safe passage of travelers and allow for the construction of forts in return for an annuity. Promised for fifty years, the Treaty barely lasted five before settlers and prospectors were spilling off the Trail in search of land and gold.
