Empire Builders - Episode 8: The United States - From Colony to World Power | History Documentary Watch 'Empire Builders - Episode 9' here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtTGSNgSYZQ From the Declaration of Independence at Independence Hall, through to tech solutions of Silicon Valley: America has shaped the world we live in, all the while shaping its own identity through the iconic buildings and structures that chart the nation’s history. Through bustling ports and strategic forts; cultural quirks and cathedrals of commerce, this episode of Empire Builders tells the the incredible story of the United States through twelve key historic sites. Our story starts in the humble surrounds of a meeting hall in Philadelphia, with the “Thirteen Colonies” declaring independence from the United Kingdom. And nearby, in Washington D.C., stands the Washington monument, a tribute to iconic father of the nation and city founder. It was completed almost a century after it was originally commissioned, the huge obelisk is testament to character of man it celebrates. No geographical entity was more important to the spread of America westwards than the Mississippi River. President Jefferson sought to ensure passage through the purchase of the historic Port of New Orleans at the river’s mouth: He could never have dreamed the outcome, with the eventual “Louisiana Purchase” being described as the greatest land deal in history, almost doubling the size of the United States over night. Andrew Jackson’s bold and controversial capture of the perfectly preserved Spanish Fort Barrancas at Pensacola culminated in the transfer of Spanish Florida to the US. Perhaps even more significantly, it resulted in the Spaniards ceding claims over “New Spain", emboldening American progress to the west and propelling Jackson toward the Presidency. In the story of America’s conquest of west, no chapter burns more brightly in the American conscious than the battle of the Alamo, with Davy Crockett's legendary last stand confirming the small Spanish Mission’s place in history. It led ultimately to Texas joining the Unitrd States and after victory in the Spanish American War in 1848 the size of the country almost doubling as Mexico have up much of what is now the western United States. ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Subscribe Free Documentary - History Channel for free: https://bit.ly/2FjRPgV Facebook: https://bit.ly/2QfRxbG Twitter: https://bit.ly/2QlwRiI ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ #FreeDocumentary #Documentary #EmpireBuilders ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Free Documentary - History is dedicated to bringing high-class documentaries to you on YouTube for free. You will see fascinating animations showing the past from a new perspective and explanations by renowned historians that make history come alive. Enjoy stories about people and events that formed the world we live in.