A Nation Born - The Early Years 1783 to 1861

With independence secured and the new Constitution of the United States adopted, the early years of the nation brought new challenges and opportunities, as communities adapted to life in a rapidly changing country and Americans began to see themselves as a fully realized nation. Manufactured goods were plentiful, even for children. In 1844, there were 88 toy stores in New York alone. Trade ads included harmonicas as early as 1833.

In 1804, The Lewis & Clark Expedition traveled overland to the Pacific coast to explore the new Louisiana Territory. Territorial expansion led to wagon trains of emigrant families making their way along the trails on their long trek west to the Pacific. They carried only what they needed, and once again children made playthings from whatever was at hand, imitating what they had left at home or what they saw among the Native American children along the way. Music heard around the campfires gave an air of home to the journey.

 

We do not interpret Native American history in this time period. We respect that the histories and cultural traditions of Indigenous peoples are best shared by the Nations and communities to whom they belong, and we encourage visitors to seek out those voices and resources directly.

 

More to Explore
Lewis and Clark State Historic Site
National Parks - The War of 1812
National Museum of American History
National Archives: America's Founding Documents
National Museum of the American Indian (Smithsonian)
National Museum of African American History and Culture