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2500 BCE
Bering Land Bridge
Starting in 2500 BCE, ancestors of Southwest Natives and Arctic Natives migrated to the New World using this strip of land that connected Siberia to the Americas. For thousands of years, they migrated southward, until the Ice Age ended and glaciers began melting and sea levels rose, resulting in the disappearance of the Bering Land Bridge. By that time though, plenty of them had successfully migrated into the Americas. -
Period: 2500 BCE to
Beginnings to Exploration
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1900 BCE
The Olmec and Chocolate
The Olmec were probably the first to enjoyed chocolate as an unsweet drink brewed from cacao beans. They had to ferment, roast, and grind the beans for drinks as early as 1500 B.C. They drunk from special jars called tecomates. Chocolate beans were commonly used as trade items between the Mesoamerican civilizations. In later discoveries, pots from the Olmec civilization show traces of a chemical found in cacao called theobromine. -
250 BCE
Mayan Written Language
This system of writing contains more than 800 characters, both hieroglyphic and phonetic. They were also logographic, meaning each sign represented an entire word. The Mayans wrote on stone slabs, sculptures, pottery, and books or codices. Up until the mid-20th century, the Mayan language was difficult to decipher. Only four Mayan codices are known to survive the destruction by Spanish priests in 1540. This system, though, was used by the Mayans up until the end of the 17th century. -
476
The Dark Ages - The Catholic Church
With the fall of Rome in 476, the only institution that was common among Europe was the Catholic Church. During the Dark Ages, the Church became organized into a hierarchy with the pope at the head. It became the most powerful institution during this time. The Church had much power over all people in Europe because they believed in the existence of God, Heaven, and Hell, and wanted to make sure they got into Heaven by working for the church. -
1300
Renaissance Art
The word renaissance means rebirth, and the Renaissance itself was a time period from the 14th to the 17th centuries when Europe reverted back to Greek and Roman styles of life. This translated into the art of this time. Europeans regarded art of high status, comparable to poets and writers. Artists saw canvases as "windows to the natural world", making sure to accurately capture and portray the realistic beauty of nature through their works. -
1345
Aztec Human Sacrifice
The act of human sacrifice was considered as one that gave the highest honor to the gods, thanking and repaying them for the sacrifices they made while creating the world and the sun. The Aztecs were not the first civilization to practice this, but they are one of the more notable ones to do so. The Aztecs saw the sacrifice as a necessity for the livelihood of mankind. Contrary to blood-letting and self-harm, examples of non-fatal acts were the burning tobacco and incense. -
Aug 13, 1521
Spanish Conquest of the Aztec Empire
Hernan Cortes, a Spanish conquistador, was fascinated by the tales of gold in the New World. In 1519, Cortes led an expedition to Mexico, bringing with him 600 conquistadors with horses and weapons. The ruler of the Aztecs welcomed Cortes, but he turned them away, as all he wanted was riches. Cortes and his army became allied with the enemies of the Aztecs, and with horses, weapons, and armor, they were better-equipped than the Aztecs. After a three-month siege, the city of Tenochtitlan fell. -
Period: to
Early Colonial Era
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Tobacco in Colonial Virgina
John Rolfe was the first colonist to bring tobacco to the Americas and grow it. Early on the colonists thought their economy would thrive off of gold but there was too little of it to be found there. The colonists then tried other ways to expand their profits, but only tobacco was really successful back in England. The Native Americans taught the Spanish to smoke it, and the Spanish in turn taught the Europeans. Farming tobacco was extremely harsh to the soil, creating a drive for new land. -
The Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact was the first written attempt at self-government in America. The Pilgrims that sailed to Massachusetts (originally intending to settle in Virginia), realized they weren't in Virginia. The laws were to settle any future disputes and successfully run the settlement with something tangible to refer back to. This document remained active until the Plymouth Colony became part of Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1691. -
The Navigation Act of 1651
The Navigation Act of 1651 limited the trade between the Dutch and the English colonies. It required all goods between the two regions to be transported solely on English or Colonial American ships. This promoted self-sufficiency of the Colonies as well as the British Empire by decreasing the need of foreign imported goods. Between 1651 and 1663, there was a total of three Acts passed, all designed to regulate trade to and from the Colonies so England could collect taxes from them. -
Bacon's Rebellion
Many Virginian colonists wished to claim the Native Americans' land for expansion as well as farmland. The Indians were angry with the Governor of Virginia for not protecting them enough. The Governor tried to keep peace with the Indians by building new forts, and, in addition, raised taxes and the price of tobacco. These policies were criticized by angry colonists, including Bacon, who rebelled against the government. Bacon was seen as a "man of the people" and gained support in the rebellion. -
Salem Witch Trials
Belief in the supernatural and witchcraft were widespread in New England. The first case was of a minister's daughter and niece having fits that included violent spasms and uncontrollable screaming. A village doctor diagnosed them with bewitchment and soon after, other girls in the community began to show the same symptoms. Between 1962 and 1963, over 200 people were accused of practicing witchcraft and 20 were executed. After some time, the colony concluded the trials were a mistake. -
Sugar in the Caribbean Colonies
Sugar cane originally came from Spain and Portugal, but eventually made its way to South America and the Caribbean. Before, only the wealthy could afford it, but with the use of African slaves, the colonists were able to cultivate it more easily. The cost of sugar then dropped and production was quicker as well as cheaper, making it easier for more people (the middle class) to access it. The Europeans used sugar for many things, including cooking/baking, medicine, and most importantly, tea. -
The Acts of Union 1707
The countries of England and Scotland were joined by these two acts, which combined the countries into one kingdom under one Parliament. Before these Acts were passed, England and Scotland shared the same ruler but had separate legislatures. There had been three previous attempts to unite the two countries but suspicion and lack of trust had prevented this throughout the 17th century. This treaty strengthened England's border security as well as Scotland's economy. -
Period: to
Colonial America to 1763
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The American Enlightenment
The American Enlightenment was influenced by the European Enlightenment in the 18th century, which branched off philosophical ideas of John Locke. It was also called The Age of Reason, where people were doubting the church's views of the world and even the bible. They turned to science and logical reasoning for explanations of the world, resulting in higher education. These ideas came to the colonies, spreading around to those like Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and Sir Isaac Newton. -
The Middle Passage
The Middle Passage was the middle leg of a three-part voyage that went from Europe to Africa to the Americas and back to Europe. In exchange for materials like iron, cloth, and guns, Africans were fully loaded onto the ships. Densely packed, more than 600 enslaved Africans made the unknown voyage across the Atlantic. More than 10% of all slaves died during the voyages as a result from becoming sick from the horrific conditions -
Native American Revivals
Moved by the ministers like George Whitefield, many Native Americans converted to Christianity. They adopted Christian and European cultural and political elements. Many Natives, though, only converted as an exchange for promised education for their children and a way to integrate into the European/American standards of the surrounding communities. They also reverted back to pre-contact ways of life like cutting trade with whites and getting rid of alcohol. -
Jonathan Edwards during The Great Awakening
The Great Awakening was a religious revival in the colonies. It was a reaction to the secularism of the Enlightenment. People were starting to doubt the church so much that Jonathan Edwards, an American minister who refused to convert to the Church of England, spoke out against these ideals and convinced people to listen to him. One of his most notable sermons is his "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" sermon, calling humans sinners and telling them God was angry at them for it. -
Slavery in the Lower South
In the colony of Carolina, or the Lower South, slavery made up two-thirds of the region's population. They harvested rice, as most slaves coming from the Caribbeans had prior knowledge of how to farm it. Their work of harvesting rice was labor-intensive compared to the Upper South, so these slaves were better immune to their working conditions. Their heritage and culture was easier to preserve on larger plantations. -
Slavery in the Upper South
In areas such as the colony of Virginia and the Chesapeake area, or the Upper South, slaves replaced indentured servitude. The main crop they harvested and farmed was tobacco, and it required much less oversight and labor compared to rice in the lower parts of the region. Slaves were divided into smaller groups to work and they were actually the minority on smaller plantations. Though their heritage and culture was harder to preserve, they were treated better in the Upper than Lower South. -
The French and Indian War
Also called the Seven Years' War, this involved Britain and France going to war over the territory of the Ohio River Valley. Britain and the Colonies desired to expand their lands westward, but when France got in the way, following a series of battles, the official British declaration of war came about in 1756. Britain and the Colonies allied while the French and Native Americans allied. The war ended with the Treaty of Paris 1763, which also allowed expansion west of the Mississippi Valley. -
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The Revolutionary War
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Sugar/Revenue Act
The Sugar Act was the first tax to be passed by the British Parliament to the American Colonists in order to collect taxes. This specific act was highly resisted by the colonists who voiced their displeasure to Parliament. They challenged the government by petition, especially since it allowed the search of private property without warrants. The later-passed Revenue Act was a modified version of the Sugar Act. The colonists complained and started the term, "no taxation without representation". -
Boston Massacre
After the Townshend Acts were passed, an argument between a British official and some colonists escalated, others gathered to harass and throw sticks and snowballs. Armed British soldiers were sent out to maintain order, but that only angered the crowd further. One soldier was struck by an object thrown from the crowd and he fired, causing other soldiers to do the same. This event resulted in the uniting of the colonists against Britain, sparking the inspiration to secede from Britain. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was the first major act of civil disobedience in the Colonies. Led by Samuel Adams, a group of Patriots called the Sons of Liberty held a revolt because of "taxation without representation". They believed the British tax to help pay for unwanted expenses during the French and Indian War was unfair to them. The Sons of Liberty disguised themselves as Mohawk Indians and dumped over 90,000 pounds of British East India Company tea that came from England into the Boston Harbor. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was a meeting including 56 delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies, excluding Georgia. This meeting was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was intended to determine colonial rights and to talk about the future of an independent government. They voted to ban trade with Britain until the British repealed the Intolerable Acts were repealed, as well as called each colony to train their troops. Some Delegates included George Washington, Samuel Adams, and John Adams. -
Dunmore's Proclamation
The royal governor of Virginia, Lord John Murray, better known as Lord Dunmore, offered to free slaves and indentured servants if they left their masters to join the British forces. This was the "British Emancipation Proclamation", issued about a century before Abraham Lincoln's. Around 20,000 slaves fled to England in agreement to this proclamation, wanting their own freedom and to help the British. This was more of a military strategy than it was an abolitionist movement. -
Common Sense - Thomas Paine
Thomas Paine was a philosopher. He was the most influential author of all American history. In Common Sense, he openly and plainly argued for American independence from Britain. He favored a democratic representative government and attacked the monarchy. Common Sense was the first work to openly ask for independence from Great Britain. Thanks to the newly formed printing press, these works of his were widely popular and cheap, resulting in the American colonists' views of the monarchy to change. -
The Declaration of Independence
Colonists sought independence from Britain as it was their only chance of surviving; if they turned back they'd be prosecuted. They declared they wanted United and independent states. Thomas Jefferson, one of the Founding Fathers, was in charge of writing the draft for the Constitution. This document did three things for the colonies and colonists: declared independence from Britain, stated grievances against Britain, and helped look for European allies like France & Spain. -
Period: to
The Constitution
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Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was the 13 colonies' first written constitution. It was based on their urgency during wartime, and was ratified on March 1, 1781. It was weak though, as it had no central government authority, so the government couldn't make their own decisions. The Continental Congress was afraid of a strong government because they were rebelling against one themselves: the British monarchy, so they gave most of the governmental power to the states. -
American Virtue
After the Revolution, Americans had a sense of greater virtue throughout the country. They celebrated ideals of Republicanism and were inspired by the Greek. They aimed for everyday citizens to became more educated, including children as well. Republican ideals also spread to the furniture and architecture of this time as well. They got rid of the old British style of manors and other buildings and started following Greek style. They even considered making Greek the new national language. -
Shay's Rebellion
Shay's Rebellion was a series of protests in 1786 and 1787 by American farmers against the federal government. The post-war recession was bad for everyone, especially farmers since their lands were seized. Daniel Shay led Revolutionary War veterans to rebel against the government for taxing them too much. The rebellions created a sense of urgency among the officials, were the first major tests of the A.O.C, and were what led to the writing of the new and current U.S. Constitution. -
The Great Debate
The Great Debate was a series of protests and debates between the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists over policies in the constitution and how to execute them in the U.S. The Federalists believed in a strong interpretation of the Constitution and believed all power should go to the Central Government. Anti-Federalists supported the Bill of Rights and not so much the Constitution. They believed in States' Rights and that Republicanism depends on an informed population. The Federalists will win. -
Reformation Plans
Two plans for reformation of the U.S. were proposed at the Constitutional Convention. The Virginia Plan proposed a two-house legislation with a lower and upper house. Representation was population-based and was more beneficial for larger states. The New Jersey Plan was designated for smaller states. It had only one legislature, which was also the supreme law of the land. Modern-day congress uses the Connecticut Plan, or the Great Compromise, which was a compromise between the two plans. -
The Northwest Ordinance
Passed by the Second Continental or Confederation Congress in 1787, this document chartered a government for the Northwest Territory, providing a method for admitting new states Northwest of the River Ohio into the Union, as well as a list of bill of rights guaranteed in the territory. It followed the principles Thomas Jefferson included in the Ordinance of 1784. This was important to the ideal of Manifest Destiny, as it helped when expanding west just like that idea proclaims. -
Issues Under the Constitution
Some issues that occurred during reformation included slaves and the Executive. The southern states were pro-slavery and the northern slaves were anti-slavery. They eventually came to a compromise that we know as the Three-Fifths Compromise. It was decided that every 5 slaves would count as 3 people for taxation and representation issues. With the Executive, they agreed to have only 1 single man elected by the people and it would be a legislative pick. -
The Election of 1788
The Election of 1788 was the first election of the new United States of America. George Washington was unanimously elected for his first two terms as president. He was a god-like figure as everyone's choice. In the beginning, there were no running mates, so the Vice President came from the person who came in "second place" behind the person with the most votes, who would be President. John Adams became the first Vice President in 1789. -
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The New Republic
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The Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights is made up of the first 10 amendments in the Constitution. It was written by James Madison as a response to greater constitutional protection over individual liberties. The Bill of Rights was one of the main topics Federalists and Anti-Federalists argued over. Federalists believed the Constitution did not need a bill of rights, as what the federal government didn't get would go to the states. Anti-Federalists argued that a bill of rights was necessary for individual liberty. -
Bank of the United States
After the Revolutionary War, the American government needed a way to pay off the debt, so Alexander Hamilton came up with the idea of a National Bank. This bank would create a standard form of currency across the country and stabilize the economy. George Washington agreed and sided with Hamilton, and the bank was chartered. The problem with it, though, was that many argued over whether it was constitutional or not. Some thought the government had too much power this way. -
The Whiskey Rebellion
The Whiskey Rebellion was a series of protests by Pennsylvanian farmers and distillers against the whiskey tax that was suggested by Alexander Hamilton when thinking of ways to pay the debt from the American Revolution. The farmers and distillers thought this tax was unfair to small producers, so they revolted. A group of 6,000 of them threatened to attack Pittsburgh, but were put down by George Washington and his army. This rebellion was the first major domestic test of the new Constitution. -
Jay's Treaty
Jay's Treaty was a treaty written by John Jay to settle unresolved issues between the two countries of Britain and the United States that came about during the Revolution. British exports taking over U.S. markets, American exports blocked by British trade restrictions and tariffs, as well as the British not vacating their forts in the North like the Treaty of Paris 1783 said they would, and the British impressment of American sailors were all issues that were resolved with this treaty. -
Pinckney's Treaty
Pinckney's Treaty was a treaty between the United States and Spain. It solved territorial disputes by allowing American ships to have access to the Mississippi River as well as the port of New Orleans in Louisiana. Both Spain and the U.S. claimed parts of present-day Alabama and Mississippi, this treaty helped settle this. By establishing relations with foreign nations, the U.S. was able to keep out of the wars and conflicts in Europe. The U.S. wanted to stay as neutral as possible. -
XYZ Affair
The French were upset about Jay's Treaty, so they began violating the terms of the Franco-American Treaty of 1778. President John Adams then sent three delegates to meet with the French foreign minister Talleyrand. Talleyrand, however, had three agents that bribed the American delegates by paying them $250,000 each in order to see Talleyrand. Adams made the incident public and named the three agents "X, Y and Z". This affair caused an undeclared naval war between the two countries. -
Period: to
The Age of Jefferson
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Louisiana Purchase
By the mid-eighteenth century, France occupied more of the present-day U.S. than any other European power. In 1801 Spain signed a treaty to cede Louisiana back to France, and Napoleon threatened to close the port of New Orleans. President Jefferson believed in government with very limited power, but the decision he would make seemed hypocritical: he ends up buying Louisiana, afraid Napoleon would back out of the offer. This purchase will double the size of the nation. -
Burr vs. Hamilton
Duels were illegal in every state. It was against the law but something everyone accepted. In 1804 Burr ran for governor of New York and Hamilton opposed Burr's bid for office. Burr lost and blamed Hamilton. They were now planning a duel, in which Hamilton didn't think Burr would shoot to kill, for if he did he would become known as a murderer and would ruin his career. Burr, however, did shoot at Hamilton and pierced his liver. Now the Federalist leader was dead and Burr would become an outlaw. -
The Embargo Act
The Embargo Act was a law passed by congress that forbade exports from the U.S. to go to Britain and France. The two countries had been continuously harassing and seizing U.S. ships and sailors. This act was, in a way, a boycott against British and French relations by depriving them of American goods. It helped revive the Federalists but ultimately backfired, hurting the American economy more than it did theirs. New England's industry grew because of this. The act was repealed in 1809. -
Star Spangled Banner
At the Battle of Baltimore at Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor, Francis Scott Key, an American lawyer had boarded a British ship on the Chesapeake Bay in hopes to free a British friend. The British did not let them go, but continued to guard them. Key recorded his experience and observations and on September 14 at dawn, he saw an American flag flying over the fort, symbolizing an American victory. He put his words to the tune of an English song and the Star Spangled Banner was made. -
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The American Industrial Revolution
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Era of Good Feelings
In the years following the War of 1812, 8 of them were considered the Era of Good Feelings (1817-1825) by many in the U.S. The Democratic-Republican party split, with Republicans in the North and Democrats in the South, which led to a more stable government with minimal political fighting and no bitter personal politics. The country was finally at peace with Britain and was focused on Westward expansion thanks to the Louisiana Purchase as well as catching up to Britain's industrial lifestyle. -
The Temperance Movement
The Temperance Movement was an effort to encourage moderation in the consumption of alcohol and even abstinence. The movement was mainly created and run by women who, with their children, were affected by the excessive consumption of alcohol. Alcohol was also to blame for many of society's other issues like health problems , poverty, and crime. The 18th Amendment was even passed in favor of this movement, announcing the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcoholic beverages was illegal. -
The Second Great Awakening
This is one of the most significant movements in American religious history. Millions of people were converted and many churches were changed and revived and many denominations were created during this time. Alongside religion, other aspects such as prison reform, women's rights, abolishment of slavery, advancements in literature, and reform in education were also influenced. Women's roles in the church were greatly affected as they encouraged revival. -
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Cultural Changes
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The Missouri Compromise
Tensions were beginning to rise between pro and anti-slavery parties in the U.S. Congress as well as across the country. Missouri's request for admission to the Union as a slave state in 1819 was a threat to the balance between slave and free states. The Missouri Compromise was passed by Congress as an effort to defuse the tensions, and drew a imaginary line at the 36*30* latitude, indicating states above the line would be free and states below it were slave. It was only a temporary solution. -
The Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine opposed further European colonization and interference with nations in the Western Hemisphere. This doctrine was John Quincy Adams' idea and President James Monroe presented it to Congress on December 2, 1823. The doctrine also stated the U.S. would not interfere with existing colonies. It was also written in fear that Spain would attempt to reclaim their territories even after they had gained independence. The British helped back up the U.S. by enforcing it with their navy. -
Texas
Texas was founded by Stephen F. Austin, also known as the "Father of Texas". He led the second successful colonization of the region by bringing 300 families from the U.S. to the region. For more people to settle in Texas in 1824, land grants were given to those who chose to settle under a few conditions: they had to covert to Catholicism, learn Spanish, and get rid of their slaves. In the early years, whites actually outnumbered Hispanics, and by 1830, there were 30,000 settlers. -
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The Age of Jackson
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The Election of 1824
In the Election of 1824, four candidates were running for the spot of President: John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, William Crawford, and Henry Clay. Jackson wins the popular vote but not the vote of the electoral college. Instead, it was Adams who won the electoral college vote and Jackson was upset about it. Jackson's supporters denounced the results as "corrupt bargain", thinking it was planned and that Clay, the Speaker of the House, convinced Congress to elect Adams. -
Presidency of John Quincy Adams
As the sixth President of the United States, John Quincy Adams had many ideas for improving the country, from proposing the Federal Government to being the sections of the country together with a network of highways and canals, to urging the U.S. to take interest in the development of the arts and sciences through the establishment of a national university. Critics of his, though, thought his ideals were too transcendental and weren't realistic. -
Changes in Transportation
Robert Fulton invented the first steamboat and established the first steamboat service in New York in 1807. Steamboats were important for the economy, because they could deliver raw materials and finished goods back and forth both up and down stream, and transportation by water was much cheaper than by land. Man-made canals also flourished during this time, as they were also important for the delivery of materials and goods. These inventions cooperate to improve transportation. -
Lowell Mills System
The Lowell Mills System was a labor production process invented by Francis Lowell in Massachusetts in the 19th century. The work done in these factories was done by young women instead of men. The Waltham mill was the first mill in the U.S. that processed raw cotton into cloth under one roof. The mills were the first real opportunity for women to get out of the house and work in the industry, though they had to bear long hours and horrible and dangerous conditions. -
The Election of 1828
The Election of 1828 could have been called a rematch between Andrew Jackson and John Quincy Adams. Since Jackson had lost the previous election, his strategy for this next one was to attack Adams, personally. Jackson was a humble man with a military history and was even nicknamed "Old Hickory" among his troops. When he wanted something he wanted it bad and would do what he could to win. They began attacking each other as womanizers and Adams retaliated by attacking Jackson's wife as well. -
Mormonism
Mormons are a cultural and religious group, followers of Mormonism, that follow the visions of founder Joseph Smith in upstate New York. Joseph Smith organized the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He claimed he had a vision of God declaring certain practices of Christianity were abominations. He appealed to people like farmers and traders, people who were at the bottom of the economic latter. These and the practice of polygamy caused Mormons to be persecuted and forced to move out. -
The Indian Removal Act/The Trail of Tears
The Trail of Tears was the name of a series of forced removals of Native American tribes and nations from their homelands into the Southeastern United States. As more and more white settlers immigrated into the lands of the Natives, more and more would do anything they could to get the land for themselves. On May 28, 1830, Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act, which authorized the relocation of Indian tribes west of the Mississippi into designated "Indian territory" for their lands. -
Nat Turner's Slave Rebellion
On August 21, 1831, after "being called by God", Nat Turner and supporters turned against white slave owners and began by killing the family he belonged to, the Travises. Turner’s rebellion resulted in the death of about 55 white men, women, and children. Nat then went into hiding for nearly a month before being found by a white hunter. By then, white mobs had taken their revenge on the blacks, killing 100 to 200 African Americans. Turner was sentenced to death by hanging on November 11, 1831. -
Bank Wars
Andrew Jackson hated the Bank of the United States. Henry Clay thought the bank is an issue that would affect Jackson's votes in the election. Nicholas Biddle, the third President of the 2nd Bank, and his idea of an early renewal of the charter was petitioned by Congress, who hoped for Jackson's veto. Congress reviews and Jackson still vetoes. This was an issue that forced its way into the election. Jackson made the Bank Veto Speech explaining why he vetoed it: it only catered to the rich. -
The Nullification Crisis
The Nullification Crisis dealt with sectionalism during Andrew Jackson's presidency. In 1828 congress raised import taxes with an Act on textiles and agriculture. Southerners started to question whether Jackson and other democrats really represented and cared about southern interests. South Carolina was especially affected and declared the tariffs unconstitutional. Vice President John Calhoun proposed to nullify the law with the Compromise Tariff of 1833. -
The American Anti-Slavery Society (AASS)
The AASS was founded in 1833 by William Lloyd Garrison and other abolitionists. They hoped to convince white Southerners and Northerners of slavery's inhumanity. They sent lecturers across the North to convince and preach to people about the brutality of slavery. They also bombarded Congress with petitions that called for the end of slavery. Congress, instead of addressing these issues, imposed "the gag rule", which stated that Congress would not accept any petitions that pertained to slavery. -
Battle of Gonzales
This battle is the first battle of the Texas Revolution. The Mexican army wanted to take a brass cannon from the Texans that they used to defend themselves from the Native Americans, but the Texans refused and buried the canon. The Texans then made a flag with the cannon on it that said "Come and Take it", angering the Mexicans and starting the first battle of the revolution. The Texans wanted to prove to the Mexicans that they were willing to fight for their independence. -
Transcendentalism
Transcendentalism was a philosophical and literary movement of the 19th century that emphasized a simple life and celebrated nature and personal imagination. Ralph Waldo Emerson was a lecturer and poet who believed in self-reliance, improvement, and confidence. He celebrated the individual and helped further the movement. Henry David Thoreau, the author of "Walden", wrote about a part of his live living on the edge of Walden Pond, where he lived a simple life and found truth and nature. -
The Panic of 1837
The Panic of 1837 was an economic and financial crisis under the Presidency of Andrew Jackson. Jackson thought the Bank of the United States was ruining citizens' credit and economic opportunity, so he shut it down, but the Bank's credit policies caused speculation in the West. Banks were in trouble as some began to collapse, businesses as well as the Bank of the U.S. began to fail, and thousands of people lost their land. There was widespread unemployment and distress across the country. -
Changes in Agriculture
Under the economic revolution, many machines were created to help lessen the work that was done on plantations and farms. Some inventions that came about or flourished during this time period are the iron plow and the crank or butter churn. The iron plow, created by John Deere, allowed farmers to cultivate crops more efficiently. The crank churn, attached to a chair, created by Alfred Clark, allowed butter to be made easily. The agricultural world flourished with the help of these inventions. -
Changes in Communication
With the invention of the telegraph in 1838 by Samuel Morse, long-distance communication changed forever. The telegraph worked by transmitting electrical signals over a wire that lay between two stations. Samuel Morse also created the Morse Code, a series of dots and dashes that were assigned to each letter of the English alphabet, to format a way to send these messages. Morse sent his first message from Washington, D.C. to Baltimore, Maryland, in 1844, which read "What hath God wrought!". -
The First Police Forces
With the growth of cities in the newly industrialized United States, there was a growing need for order control. Mob violence directed at immigrants and African Americans by the white youth occurred frequently. Public disorder was also prominent, like public drunkenness and even prostitution. There wasn't "real crime" but more disorder than anything. The new cities really just needed a system put in place to create a stable and orderly work force, to maintain good conduct collectively. -
European Immigration into Urban Cities
With the population boom of urban cities during this era, Europeans were also immigrating from their homes to the newly industrialized country. The Irish were coming here to flee the potato famine. About a million Irish in total were forced to leave their homeland to avoid starvation and disease. The Germans were looking for better agricultural and avoiding a revolution. The Scandinavian were given land to farm in the U.S. giving them a good economic opportunity. -
Manifest Destiny and Migration
Manifest Destiny is the belief that the expansion of the U.S. was God-given, therefore inevitable. It began with Andrew Jackson, as he believed in the removal and/or extinction of Native Americans in order to have a white future in the West. Mormons were one of the more prominent groups of people that moved west as well. They were disliked within the general community and were victims of violence, so they decided to move west to Salt Lake Valley, Utah to get away from the federal government. -
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Westward Expansion
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Annexation of Texas
Texas seceded from Mexico and declared its independence as a response to Mexico abolishing slavery. It was originally refused by the United States in 1837, as the U.S. government thought annexation would lead to war with Mexico. Under the Presidency of James K. Polk, he U.S. ends up annexing Texas since the Southern states support slavery. The North feared this decision since it would expand slavery. Some Texans opposed this idea since they wanted to remain as an independent republic -
Wilmot Proviso
The Wilmot Proviso was a proposal to eliminate slavery within the land acquired from the Mexican-American war and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. It was the idea of Pennsylvania Congressman David Wilmot, who feared the addition of a pro-slave state. The proposal was rejected though, but it helped the growth of the controversy over slavery and helped form the Republican Party in 1854. It also, ultimately, helped widen the sectionalism that had been long occurring in the U.S. -
Nature - Creation of Parks and Cemetaries
Along with the ideals of Transcendentalism and the appreciation of nature, the creation of public parks came about. With the new ideas of Transcendentalism flourishing, people thought of ways they could become more in touch with nature, and they sought parks as a gateway from their fast-paced lives, with industrialization and all the work that had to be done. Cemeteries will also follow these ideals, as they began to have designated areas rather than belong to the church. -
Popular Sovereignty
Popular Sovereignty is the notion that the people of a territory should decide their path when joining the Union: to be a slave state or a free state. This concept was first put forward by Senator Lewis Cass of Michigan when opposing the Wilmot Proviso. It was widely popularized by Stephan A. Douglas who thought settlers should vote on their status early on in development. Others argued that the status should be voted on when the territory was fully a state. -
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Sectionalism
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The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was the treaty that ended the Mexican-American War. The war spurred over a territorial dispute involving Texas. The War ended with the defeat of the Mexican army and the fall of Mexico City. The Mexican government surrendered and signed the treaty, which added 525,000 square miles to the U.S. territory that includes present-day Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, and admitted the Rio Grande as the Southern boundary. -
The Seneca Falls Convention
Women's suffrage, or lack thereof, was a major issue in the 20th century. Women never had the same rights as men, so the Women's Movement was created as an organized effort for equal rights for women. At the Seneca Falls Convention on July 19 and 20, 1848, 300 women and 40 men attended to discuss the rights of women. They wrote the Declaration of Sentiments addressed women's concerns, mainly their right to vote. The convention was created by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott. -
California Gold Rush
Gold was bountiful in California, and was first discovered by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill. News of these findings spread and 300,000 men, women, and children migrated to California from the rest of the U.S. and even overseas. These people were called the "forty-niners", and San Francisco became a boomtown, where roads, churches, schools, and other establishments came about. California became a state in 1850. -
The Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was a network of people that offered shelter and aid to escaping slaves. It was created to protect escaped slaves from bounty hunters but soon grew to guide slaves. Most slaves following the Underground Railroad escaped border states like Virginia and Maryland. People that helped guide the slaves, ordinary people, farmers, and business owners, were known as "conductors" and hiding places were called "stations", including private homes, churches, and schoolhouses. -
Compromise of 1850
Henry Clay introduced the Compromise of 1850 as resolutions in an attempt to avoid a crisis between the North and the South. The Compromise was as set of 5 separate bills: California would enter the Union as a free state, New Mexico & Utah were to decide on slavery, Texas will relinquish disputed western lands, the federal government would take over Texas' debt, the slave trade would be banned in Washington D.C., and the passing of the Fugitive Slave Act. -
Fugitive Slave Acts
The Fugitive Slave Acts were two federal laws that allowed for the capture and return of runaway slaves in the United States. The first Fugitive Slave Act in 1793 authorized local governments to capture and return escaped slaves to their owners. Anyone, including whites, could be fined and jailed for refusing to follow the Act and helping the slaves. The second act in 1850 enforced the first one. These acts were some of the most controversial of the 19th century. They were repealed in 1864. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin was a novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe in 1852 that was about the deep south and slavery. It showed Northerners the horrors of slavery, while Southerners attacked it as an exaggeration. It was a novel promoting abolitionism and intensified sectionalism in the United States. It greatly contributed to the Civil War. It sold millions of copies in the first year it was published and was translated into many languages. Though, it was banned in the South for humanizing slaves. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 would allow the people in the territories of Kansas and Nebraska to choose whether or not they wanted to allow slavery in their borders. It also served to repeal the Missouri Compromise of 1820 which prohibited slavery north of the 36*30* latitude. The Act will pass and Kansas will enter the Union as a slave state while Nebraska would be a free state. Northerners strongly disagreed with the Act while Southerners strongly supported it. -
Bleeding Kansas
After the Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed, abolitionists financed settlement of Kansas and established an anti-slavery government. Pro-slavery supporters recruited illegal voters in Kansas elections and established a pro-slave government, so there were two separate governments in Kansas. Pro-slavery supporters attack Lawrence, Kansas while abolitionists attack Pottawatomie Creek, Kansas, led by John Brown, and will murder 5 men. These violent events will last for 2 years, killing 200 people. -
The North
The North had a greater population than the South, 22 million to be exact, mostly because of Industrialization. With Industrialization, they had 110,000 factories and a $1.5 billion industry. They manufactured 97% of the weapons, 94% of the clothing, and 90% of the shoes and boots in the country. They also had a superior railroad system with 22,000 miles of track. Their reason for fighting in the Civil War was to uphold the Constitution and the Union as a whole. -
The South
Compared to the North, the only thing the South had an advantage over was their military, as they had a great history of competent military leaders. They had a population of 5.5 million people, and 3.3 million of them were slaves. They had a $155 million industry with 18,000 factories and manufactured 3% of the weapons in the country. Their railroads only had a mere 9,000 miles of track compared to the North. -
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The Civil War
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The Trent Affair
The Trent Affair was a political crisis that was between the United States and Great Britain. The Confederates sent two diplomats to Europe aboard a British ship, the Trent. The British, who were neutral, were angry and claimed the seizure of a neutral ship was against the law. In the end, Lincoln’s administration released the diplomats and avoided a war with Britain. After the diplomats were freed, they traveled to Europe but could not convince European leaders to support the Confederates. -
Emancipation Proclamation
Abraham Lincoln delivered the Emancipation Proclamation speech after the Union victory at Antietam. Lincoln wasn't the great abolitionist many make him out to be. In fact, his focus was to preserve the Union than anything, but when he saw thousands of slaves joining the Northern armies, he was convinced abolition would be a good military strategy while also being a morally correct decision. The Emancipation Proclamation helped raise the morale of the North, turning it into a war for freedom. -
Conscription Act
During the Civil War, Congress passed a Conscription Act that acted as the first wartime draft of American citizens in U.S. history. It was hard to get recruits and re-enlistments in the North. All males between the ages of 20 and 45, including non-citizens with the intention to become citizens by April 1. Citizens could exempt from this draft by paying a fee of $300 or finding a substitute. Many Northerners were upset over the Conscription Act as well as income tax. -
Lincoln's 10% Plan
President Abraham Lincoln offered his reconciling and reunifying of the U.S. with his Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction. The proclamation would do 3 things. First, it would pardon all Southerners except for military leaders and Confederate officials. Second, it allowed a new state government to be formed if 10% of voters took at oath of allegiance to the United States. And third, it would admit Southern states if their voters also permanently freed all their slaves. -
The Freedom Amendments
The 13th Amendment abolished slavery: Slavery is not allowed in any state or territory under the government of the U.S.A.
The 14th Amendment addressed Civil Rights in the States: All persons born or naturalized in the United States are subject to its laws and cannot be denied any of the rights and privileges contained in the Constitution.
The 15th Amendment addressed Black suffrage: Citizens cannot be denied their right to vote because of their race or color or because they were once slaves. -
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Reconstruction
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40 Acres and a Mule
This phrase was created in 1864 and 1865 when the federal government moved 10,000 black families to abandoned farmlands. Many of the previous planters abandon their land, as it was taken by Union forces. Former slaves were allowed to own or rent the land to farm and were entitled to owning a mule. Former slaves saw the opportunity of owning the land as independence and freedom, but this land was eventually given back to the previous white owners. It was an attempt to give blacks a new start. -
Lincoln's Assassination
On April 14, 1865, John Wilkes Booth assassinated President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. Booth was a famous actor and was on the Confederate or South's side during the war. The attack happened only five days after General Lee surrendered his army at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia. Booth shot Lincoln in the back of his head and leapt onto the stage yelling "Sic semper tyrannis!" ("Thus ever to the tyrants!", the Virginia state motto). President Lincoln died the next day. -
White Resistence
After the passing of the 15th amendment, which protected the Black vote, many whites were outraged and resisted and resented the new Black rights. With the creation of groups like the White Brotherhood and the Ku Klux Klan, they made all whites, rich and poor, feel like they were superior to blacks and other races. They were violent and attacked blacks and supportive whites for challenging the social order they believed in. President Grant tries to stop the suppression with the Enforcement Acts. -
Black Codes
The Union victory of the Civil War gave 4 million slaves their freedom, but African Americans were facing new obstacles. Even though the 13th Amendment abolished slavery, white southerners, under the lenient Reconstruction policies of President Andrew Johnson enacted a series of restrictive laws known as "black codes", designed to restrict freed blacks' rights and keep them in the labor force. They were forced to work on plantations to pay for fines of being arrested as a vagrants. -
Sharecropping
After the Civil War and the abolition of slavery, whites were looking to reestablish a labor force while free blacks were seeking economic independence. Most former slaves thought the government would give them land as compensation for what they had done as slaves, and the Union General Sherman did so, giving some freed men 40 acres of land each. During Reconstruction, the conflict resulted in a system where black families had pay rent by giving a portion of their harvest to the owners. -
Election of 1876
The Election of 1876 between Rutherford B. Hayes (Republican) and Samuel J. Tilden (Democrat) was one of the most disputed presidential elections in American history. The issues at hand during this time were corruption, reconstruction, and an unstable economy. Tilden won the popular vote but Hayes won the Electoral votes. The Compromise of 1877 was an informal deal to resolve the dispute. Hayes agreed to end Reconstruction and to remove federal troops from the South. -
Clara Barton and The American Red Cross
During the Civil War, Clara Barton, like many women, helped collect bandages and other supplies, but could not care for troops on the battlefield. She nursed, comforted, and cooked for the wounded and earned the nickname the "Angel of the Battlefield". When she finished caring for Union solders, she went to Europe and learned about the Geneva or the Switzerland-based Red Cross and wanted the United States to participate in it as well. She founded the American Red Cross in 1881.
