2 Mar 1836: Texas declares independence Texas declared its independence from Mexico, leading to the Texas Revolution.
6 Mar 1836: Battle of the Alamo Texan defenders of the Alamo were defeated by Mexican forces after a 13-day siege.
28 Dec 1836: Battle of San Jacinto Texan forces led by Sam Houston defeated the Mexican army, securing Texas independence.
2
1838
28 May 1838: Trail of Tears begins The forced relocation of the Cherokee Nation from their homeland began, resulting in thousands of deaths.
3
1845
29 Dec 1845: Texas annexed by U.S. The Republic of Texas was annexed by the United States, becoming the 28th state.
4
1846
13 May 1846: Mexican-American War begins The United States declared war on Mexico over a border dispute in Texas.
5
1848
24 Jan 1848: California Gold Rush begins Gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill, California, triggering a massive migration of "forty-niners."
24 Jan 1848: Gold discovered in California James W. Marshall discovered gold at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California, beginning the California Gold Rush.
2 Feb 1848: Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo The treaty was signed, ending the Mexican-American War and ceding significant territory to the United States.
6
1850
9 Sep 1850: Compromise of 1850 A series of five bills passed to address the issue of slavery, including admitting California as a free state and enacting the Fugitive Slave Act.
7
1852
20 Mar 1852: Uncle Tom's Cabin published Harriet Beecher Stowe's anti-slavery novel was published, becoming a bestseller and fueling the abolitionist movement.
1836 - 1853 (16 years)
