![Picture](/uploads/3/8/8/3/38838007/2449429.jpg?402)
This is the painting The Buffalo Trail which was painted by Albert Bierstadt in 1867. This painting depicts the American Buffalo that were found in the western part of the United States and takes place in the 1800s during the time period that people sought to move westward across the country. The movement of people westward helped to expand the United States' power and influence. This expansion of the United States's power is shown through the depiction of Buffalo in the image. Due to the massive influx of people out west, the American Buffalo soon became hunted to the point where only a few thousand remained in 1880. The painting shows the American Buffalo moving from a bright colored area into a dark an ominous one to foreshadow the terrible fate that would become of them through the influx of people into the western part of the United States.
![Picture](/uploads/3/8/8/3/38838007/782463293.jpg?403)
This painting is Boston Harbor by Fitz Henry Lane in 1850-1855. This painting depicts a peaceful day in the Boston harbor and the large ships depicts Americas growing wealth and power. The still water and the massive sailing ships are used to romanticize the success that America has had so far as a country. The arrival of a steamship in the back right and the setting sun are used to illustrate the end of the era of sailing ships in America as in the years to come, America will rely on advancing technology such as the steamship in order to maintain their position as a top power in the world.
![Picture](/uploads/3/8/8/3/38838007/4637737.jpg?403)
This object is the Sons of Liberty Bowl which was created by Paul Revere in 1768. This bowl was created to show the defiance that the members of the Sons of Liberty had toward the Townshend Acts of 1767. The names of the 15 Sons of Liberty members that commissioned the bowl to be made decorate the outer rim of the bowl which shows concrete proof of their defiance towards the British. The creation of the Sons of Liberty was a major step towards revolution in America as their defiance of the British showed that America was tired of being under British rule and desired its own independence.
![Picture](/uploads/3/8/8/3/38838007/9883490.jpg?250)
This painting is Washington at Dorchester Heights which was painted by Gilbert Stuart in 1806. Stuart painted this thirty years after Washington and his troops fortified Dorchester Heights and were able to remove the British from Boston. Here Washington is portrayed as the heroic leader who led the country against the British as seen through his tall statue and confident look. Perhaps the fact that this was painted thirty years after Dorchester Heights shows that Stuart was portraying Washington as the president that he would become rather than the general at Dorchester Heights.
![Picture](/uploads/3/8/8/3/38838007/965866941.jpg?250)
This painting is The Squatters which was painted by George Caleb Bingham in 1850. This painting depicts a group of squatters which were people who sought westward expansion across the United States. Squatters were not farmers as they would only occupy a piece of land for a year or two before moving on and allowing for some other person to cultivate the land and establish a settlement. The squatters are important because they helped the expansion of the American West and as a result they helped to expand the influence of the United States. The painting itself depicts the squatters living in uncultivated land as it appears that they will soon abandon their current settlement to move further westward.
![Picture](/uploads/3/8/8/3/38838007/273324957.jpeg?250)
This portrait is General Henry Knox which Gilbert Stuart painted in 1805. Here general Henry Knox is portrayed as a heroic figure through the cannon in the background that serves as a reminder of Knox's most famous military contribution. In 1775, Knox and some men traveled to Fort Ticonderoga to retrieve cannons to bring back to Boston to be used against the British. The arrival of Knox and the cannon's in Boston helped expel the British from Boston which helped to contribute to America's victory over the British. Here in the painting, Knox is remembered as the general who helped defeat the British through his heroic effort of retrieving the cannons from Fort Ticonderoga.
![Picture](/uploads/3/8/8/3/38838007/618046520.jpg?250)
This painting is The Engagement Between the Constitution and the Guerriere which was painted by Thomas Birch in 1813. This painting depicts a battle between the American ship, the Constitution, and the British ship, the Guerriere, during the War of 1812. This painting is used to show America as a strong nation that is capable of competing with the British "Sea Dogs" when it comes to naval battles. The Constitution is shown to be in perfect condition with the American Flag waving behind it while the the Guerriere appears to be in a much worse condition with its sails appearing ripped. Through this image it can be concluded that America was perfectly able to hold its own against Britain in the war of 1812 especially when it came to naval battles.
![Picture](/uploads/3/8/8/3/38838007/793324683.jpg?250)
This painting is the Passage of the Delaware which was painted by Thomas Sully in 1819. This painting depicts when Washington and his men crossed the Delaware river on Christmas night in 1776. This surprise attack by Washington not only solidified Washington as a great leader for the United States but it was also a crucial victory for the country. In the painting Washington is on top of a white horse as he moves away from an ominous dark sky. This symbolizes the United States as it moves away from being controlled by the British to being its own independent nation under the leadership of George Washington.
![Picture](/uploads/3/8/8/3/38838007/110388892.jpg?250)
This portrait is Samuel Adams which was painted by John Singleton Copley in 1772. This image depicts Samuel Adams as he confronts Governor Thomas Hutchinson after the Boston Massacre on March 5, 1775. Here Adams demands that the British troops be removed from Boston. Copley paints a realistic portrait of Samuel Adams here rather than a romanticized one in order to symbolize how Adams desired for America to be an independent nation rather than a romanticized one under the rule of the British. This image is further used to represent the America's defiance towards British rule.
![Picture](/uploads/3/8/8/3/38838007/834117174.jpg?250)
This portrait is John Adams which was painted by Gilbert Stuart in 1823. John Quincy Adams who was the son of John Adams asked Gilbert Stuart to paint a portrait of his father in order to capture him in his old age. John Adams was ninety at the time that this portrait was taken. The age of Adams is used to reflect that even though his body is old and weak, he still possesses the same spirit and ideals that he has always believed in. This portrait of Adams when he is old is used to symbolize America as a country for although it will keep ageing, the beliefs and ideals of its people will remain constant.