How did the United States change between 1776 and 1870? Review what you have learned during this unit to fill out a T-Chart comparing the United States of 1776 to the United States of 1870.

1. How had the size of the United States changed?

2. How had the population make-up of the United States changed?

3. What new innovations changed life in the United States?

4. What key events changed the United States?

5. How was citizenship defined during each time period? How was enfranchisement (the right to vote) defined?

It's a compare and contrast thing.

The most important event was obviously the American Civil War from 1861-1865. This led to the 14th Amendment which defined a citizen as "any person born or naturalized in the US." The 13th Amendment abolished slavery, and the 15th Amendment prohibits denying the right to vote to someone because of their race.

Other key events include the Louisiana Purchase, the Texas Revolution, The Spanish-American War, the War of 1812, the purchase of Alaska, the Mexican Cession, the Indian Wars, and the California Gold Rush.

Like I said, the right to vote was extended to all male citizens by the 15th Amendment. Women were not given the right to vote until the 19th Amendment was passed in 1920.