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Period: 25,000 BCE to
Beginnings To Exploration
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1300
Aztecs
The tribe was a Pre-Columbian Mesoamerican people of central Mexico. Their capital was the magnificent city of Tenochtitlan, and this is where they practice their religion and rituals. Rituals such as human sacrifice were part of their culture. They believed that human sacrifice is necessary to honor their gods and those gods will bring good fortune to them. Also, the Aztecs had a caste system composed of eight different social classes. The priest was known to b the higest of the social pyramid. -
1347
The Black Death
One of the most devastating pandemics in history. The total deaths are 75 to 200 million people in Eurasia. The cause of the plague is by a bacillus called Yersinia pestis that can travel from person to person or through the bite of fleas or rats. This result in a panic in society, people refusing to interact and due to that, the economy suffered heavily. Others people that this is a punishment from God for the sins they committed such as greed, blasphemy, and others. -
1419
Henry the Navigator
The son of Portuguese King John I, and he is known as the primary initiator of the Age of Discoveries. Henry was responsible for the development of Portuguese exploration and maritime trades with other continents and sponsored many voyages. The trips in the ocean were for research purposes such as understanding the wind pattern or the ocean currents. The man is also credited with furthering the knowledge of geography, mapmaking, and navigation. These techniques were implied in future voyages. -
Apr 15, 1452
Leonardo da Vinci
An Italian Renaissance polymath whose practiced in many fields such as science, literature, anatomy, and many more. He epitomised the Renaissance humanist ideal, created many inventions including parachute and tank, and also one of the greatest painters of all time. Many people regarded him as a prime example of a "Universal Genius" or "Renaissance Man." Da Vinci is considered one of the most talented individuals to ever have walked this earth. -
Jun 7, 1494
Treaty of Tordesillas
An agreement between Spain and Portuguese to settle conflicts over lands discovered by Christopher Columbus. The treaty created a line of demarcation from pole to pole at 370 leagues. Lands west of the line would belong to Spain and any lands east of the line would be given to Portuguese. Both countries respected the treaty and followed it, but other European powers ignored it and continued to travel to the New World and claim the lands for themselves. -
1500
Columbian Exchange
A widespread transfer of goods, resources, culture, ideas, diseases and also people between the New and Old World. It impacted the cultural and social makeup of both sides. The trade helped advance in agricultural production, evolution warfare, increased in mortality rates and education on both the Europeans and the Natives. More and more people started to settle in the America as the result of the exchange. This result in the beginning of the new era. -
Roanoke
Roanoke colony was founded by Sir Walter Raleigh under the command of Queen Elizabeth I. The purpose of the colony was to establish a permanent English settlement in North America. The colonists in the settlement were led by John White and they did not adjust well to their surrounding. Attacked by Natives and suffered from low food supplies, White went on a supply-trip to England. After he returned from the trip, he found no trace of the colonists he left behind and it became the Lost Colony. -
Period: to
English Colonial Societies
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Tobacco
Tobacco was introduced to Virginia by John Rolfe as a commercial crop. This plant would shape the future of Virginia and provide an economic incentive for further expansion and settlement in the New World. Tobacco formed the basic for colony's economy, meaning they use this to buy slaves or pay for indentured servants. Over the next 160 years, this cash crop dominated the Chesapeake's agriculture. -
Headright System
The system was originally created in Jamestown, Virginia. It gave 50 acres of land to whoever paid the price to come to Virginia. This method was used to attract new settlers to the region because the colonies were in need of workers due to the emergence of tobacco farming. This system would lead to the development of indentured servants. The people who could afford the land would pay for the peasants in England to travel to Virginia and work for them. -
Mayflower Compact
An agreement which would set up the government in the Plymouth colony. The Pilgrims leaders convinced 41 male adults that were on the Mayflower ship to sign the contract. This document was the first attempt at self-government in the New World, and it remained in effect until 1691. The original Mayflower Compact has disappeared, so William Bradford, second governor of Plymouth, kept record of the social contract, so it wouldn't be lost in history. -
Nathaniel Bacon
A wealthy planter that lived in Virginia, who also led the first rebellion in the American colonies. Bacon's rebellion was an uprising against governor Berkeley and the Natives. The rebels believed that the government was corrupted due to them implementing high taxes and low prices on tobacco. Also, they thought that the government did not provide enough protection from the Indians. However, this rebellion would come to an end after Bacon died on October 26 that same year. -
Pennsylvania
William Penn received a royal charter from King Charles II and founded the colony in 1681 as a refuge for the Quakers. He established this settlement based on the belief of religious tolerance. Also, the people did not believe in strict rules. The territory accepted all religions and believed in freedom and equality. These ideas soon attracted the Germans and Scottish to migrate over. -
Salem Witch Trials
A series of prosecuting people that accused of practicing witchcraft in Massachusetts. This hysteria resulted from the residents' suspicions of their neighbors and their fear of outsiders. The people of Salem village believed that they must burn the "witches" alive to kill them. Dozens of people died from this supernatural beliefs, most were women and some were men. -
Act of Union 1707
The document was passed by the English and Scottish Parliaments in 1707 to unite both countries. This led to the creation of United Kingdom of Great Britain. Their parliaments joined together and is called the UK Parliaments. They were always under the same monarch but had different legislatures until now. -
Period: to
Colonial America
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The Great Awakening
The Great Awakening was a spiritual religious renewal in the colonies. It started with ministers preaching about salvation and gave the people a sense of personal revelation. Changed the approach to worshipping, emotional prayers. An individual known as George Whitfield converted many people to Christianity and he impacted the movement a lot. Many preachers started up their own schools and churches across the colonies due to this movement. -
Secularism
The principle of separation of government institutions. Also, it is the separation from religions and politics. The idea of not needing God is similar to Atheism, but these two are not the same. Secularists believe that life revolves around morals and that no one is entitled to determine right from wrong. The roots of this idea came from Roman philosophers such as Epicurus and Marcus Aurelius. Enlightenment thinkers would later develop this into a belief. -
Middle Passage
It is the route the slave ships took in the Atlantic Ocean to the New World. The journey was rough for the slaves, for which many suffered or died on the ships before reaching the destination. The mortality rates were higher on the sea than Africa itself. It is also a part of the triangular trade. There were many voyages between the New World and Africa since slaves were big back then. -
John Edwards
John Edwards was an American preacher, philosopher, and a Protestant theologian. He based his life work on the concept of beauty, harmony, and ethical fittingness, and the importance of the Enlightenment mindset. He played an important role in shaping the Great Awakening era. His preaching style was unimpressive but the things he spoke about were very persuasive. The goal for his preaching was to influence people under the thought of needing God in life. -
John Locke
One of the most influential of Enlightenment thinkers and commonly known as the "Father of Liberalism". His theory of mind is the origin of modern conceptions of identity and self. Locke was the first to define the self through a continuity of consciousness.He believed in empiricism. His ideas influenced the development of Epistemology and Political Philosophy. He was a man of many talents and he put his brain to create new ideas for a better society. -
French and Indian War
Even though the name is French and Indian War, but it was actually a conflict between the French and the British. It resulted in the northern frontier tension between these two countries. The British influenced the Indian to fight with them against the French. The Treaty of Paris 1763 would end this war and gave Great Britain gigantic amount of land in North America. The French would leave their territories and go back to France. -
Treaty of Paris
This treaty ended the Seven Years War between Great Britain and France. French was forced to give up all their territories in North America to Great Britain. This treaty ended any military threat to the British colonies, and they were now given a vast amount of lands. The reason for this treaty is because Great Britain had already won many battles and also it is very expensive to fight in wars. Both the governments were in debt so they decided to end it. -
Period: to
The Revolution War
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Stamp Act
Tax on all printed papers passed by the British Parliaments. This act was to raise money for the British government to pay their debts from the Seven Years War. Also, the British Parliaments implied that it is a way of paying them for their protection against the Natives. The colonists insisted that the Stamp Act was unconstitutional and protested against it. A year later, the parliament repealed the Stamp act. -
Townshend Acts
Named after the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Charles Townshend, Townshend Acts imposed taxes on glass, paint, lead, paper, and tea imported into the colonies. Many colonists viewed this as an abuse of power by the British government. This resulted in an agreements to limit imports from Britain. The main purpose of this act was to raise money in the colonies to pay the salaries of the governors and judges so that they would remain loyal to the Britain. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was the killing of five colonists by the British soldiers. The tension between the colonists and the British caused this event. A mob of people gathered at the Customs House place to protest against the British troops. British Captain Thomas Preston ordered the soldiers to point their guns at the protestors, and they responded by throwing snowballs containing rock inside. A soldier was hit and fired the rifle into the crowd and making other soldiers to shoot their guns. -
Common Sense
It is a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine to advocate independence from Great Britain. He challenged the authority of British government and the royal monarchy. The pamphlet was based on plain and simple common sense to persuade the colonists to fight for independence. Thomas Paine mainly focuses on the "evil" of the British government and how it is unfair. Common Sense will become the most influential pamphlet in our history. -
The Declaration of Independence
The document signed by the founding fathers to declare independence from Great Britain. The procedure took place at the Second Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia. The Declaration of Independence was passed on July 2nd, but it was actually approved on July 4th. John Adams was a leader to push for freedom. This document declared war and also a call for help against Great Britain. After this, the 13 colonies would be known as the United States of America. -
Battle of Saratoga
This battle is the turning point of the American Revolution. There were two battles of Saratoga, being eighteen days apart. The British troop, led by John Burgoyne, marched southward to meet with other British troops but got trapped by the American soldiers instead. John Burgoyne then surrendered on the 17th of October. This victory for America persuaded the France to join the war as their ally. Everything is uphill for the patriots after this battle. -
Period: to
The Constitution
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Massachusetts Constitution
This constitution is the fundamental governing of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This is the first constitution created by a convention and also it is the oldest functioning written constitution in the world. John Adams is the author of the document and him and other voters approved it at the convention, and the constitution became effective on October 25, 1780. The real Consitution modeled after this document and was written in similar structures. -
Articles of Confederation
AOC is the first Constitution of the United States. The Articles created a loose confederation of sovereign states and a weak federal government. It put limitations upon the central government and Shay's Rebellion exposed that weakness. Also, the federal lacked the power to tax and regulate commerce. All these issues became apparent, so the people started asking for changes. This led to the Constitutional Convention held in Philadelphia and that is where the AOC will be replaced. -
Battle of Yorktown
The battle was a decisive victory by the American and French army against the British. The battle lasted three weeks starting on September 28th. The American and French troops had a combination of 17,000 soldiers whereas the British only had 9,000. The British would surrender on October 19th and gave America its first victory. This is the most important battle in the US history since it declared the national independence. -
Education
After the Revolutionary War, a major shift in the US education happened. There was an increasing realization that the nation needed a system of education. Thomas Jefferson believed normal civilians should be able to receive education, not just elites. He wanted them to participate in governmental affairs and encouraged church and state to educate the people. Sentiment grew that all groups in America should have access to education, and Anthony Benezet fought for the education of freed slaves. -
Shay's Rebellion
The uprising started in Massachusetts by thousands of farmer and was led by Daniel Shays. The farmers rebelled against civil rights injustices and perceived economics. Eventually, George Washington marched an army to stop this. The insurrection exposed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. Even though it didn't seriously threaten the nation, but it alarmed the politicians that they needed a change in the constitution. In a way, Shay's Rebellion shaped the newly government. -
The Great Debate
Fifty delegates, both Federalists and Anti-Federalists, met at the Constitutional Convention to discuss the problems of the Articles of Confederation. The Federalists wanted a new government, the Constitution, but the Anti-Federalists opposed it because they thought it threaten liberties, and failed to protect individuals rights. Both parties also argued over the Bill of Rights whether it was necessary or not. The only thing they agreed on was that something had to be changed. -
Virginia Plan
A proposal by the Virginia delegates that would trace the broad outlines of what would become the US Constitution. It proposed a legislative branch consisting of two houses (bicameral legislature). The houses are the Senate and the House of Representatives, and the number of representatives would be based on the population of the state and their wealth. Large states supported this plan, but the smaller states opposed it. -
Northwest Ordinance
An act, written by Thomas Jefferson, adopted by the Second Continental Congress provided a method for Northwest Territories to be admitted as new states to the Union. It also listed a bill of rights guaranteed in the territory. There were requirements a territory must meet to be accepted into the Union. The territory must have a population of 60,000 or more and at least 5,000 of them are free males inhabitants of full age. The ordinance encouraged education and forbade slavery. -
Period: to
New Republic
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First Cabinet
George Washington's cabinet only consisted of four members.He sent his first cabinet nomination to the Senate, and they approved Alexander Hamilton as Secretary of Treasury in just a few minutes. Later Thomas Jefferson, Henry Knox, and Edmund Randolph joined Washington's cabinet. The purpose of the cabinet system is for the president to have people that he can ask for advice and consent. Now the current of cabinet system includes sixteen members unlike the original group. -
Bank of the United States
This is also known as the First Bank of the United States. Proposed by Alexander Hamilton to serve as a building for federal funds. He also believed that the creation of the bank will stabilize and improve the nation's wealth. The bank was chartered for twenty years after the Revolutionary war. The bank was well managed and profitable, but many people thought that it was constraining economic development. -
Bill of Rights
This document was written by James Madison, and it makes up the first ten amendments to the Constitution. It guarantees the individual rights and freedoms, limits the government's power in judicial and other proceedings, and gives power to the states and people. The concepts are based on the English Bill of Rights 1689 and other past documents. The delegates argued over this bill, but later it was later ratify in 1791. -
Jay's Treaty
The treaty between the United States and Britain that resolved the remaining issues after the Revolutionary War. Alexander Hamilton designed this treaty and George Washington supported it. Throughout the nation, this treaty was looked down upon, but it accomplished the goal of maintaining peace between the two nations. John Jay negotiated this treaty with the British and he finally able to convince the British to retreat their troops away from the Northwest Territory. -
Washington's Farewell Address
This is a letter written by George Washington to his friends and the people of US near the end of his second presidential term. He stated here that Americans should avoid forming political parties and geographical distinctions. He warned against making permanent alliances, only temporary ones. Washington also addressed the importance of religion and morality in his letter. At the end of the letter, he asked for forgiveness for any failures that occurred during his time as the President. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
Under John Adams, these acts were passed for preparation for an anticipated war with France. The Naturalization Act was the first part of this, and it required foreign people to declare their intent to acquire citizenship five years before it could be granted. The purpose of this was to make it harder for people to come in the states and easier to deport them. The Sedition Act banned the publishing of scandalous or bad writings against the government. -
Kentucky Resolutions
A political statement in which the Kentucky legislature took the position that the Alien and Sedition Acts were unconstitutional. This statement argued that the states had the right to declare unconstitutional acts of Congress that were not authorized by the Constitution. Thomas Jefferson wrote the resolution in secret and he argued for states' rights and strict a Constitution. The document disputed that the states can judge the constitutionally of federal government laws. -
Period: to
The Age of Jefferson
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Lewis and Clark
These two led an expedition toward the west of the United States. The purpose was to map out the interior area of America. They started near St. Louis and worked westward across the continental divide to reach the Pacific Ocean. They came across many Natives and received assistance from Sacagawea and Touissant Charbonneau. The two natives joined the journey and acted as interpreters for Lewis and Clark. This expedition lasted three years covering 13,000 km. -
Embargo Act of 1807
A law passed by the Congress and signed by Thomas Jefferson to prohibit the American ships from trading in all foreign ports. The act was imposed in response to violations of the US neutrality in the war between France and Great Britain. The impressment of American seamen by the British Navy forced the Jefferson to sign the embargo act. The act caused hardship for the US economy and other countries as well. This is one of the causes of the war of 1812. -
Fort McHenry
Fort McHenry is known for its historical defend against the British Navy. The British Navy launched an attack from the Chesapeake Bay, but the US successfully defended the Baltimore Harbor. After the battle was over, the US flag was seen flying above Fort McHenry signaled the victory against the British Navy. From afar in the British ship, Francis Scott Key, a US prisoner, saw the flag and it inspired him to write the Star Spangled Banner. It later became our national anthem. -
Hartford Convention
This is a series of secret meetings by the New England Federalists to discuss their concern with the war of 1812. They discussed the removal of the three-fifths compromise, two-thirds vote in Congress, and their grievances toward the Louisiana Purchase and the Embargo Act. The Federalists Party favored peace and alliance with the British, so they were against the war of 1812. In order to achieve their goals, they threaten to recess New England from the United States. -
Period: to
The American Industrial Revolution
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Iron Plow
The invention of the iron plow allowed for a more efficient farming method. This would accelerate the development of agriculture during this period. The use of the iron plow is to easily break up the soil by letting a cattle drag it around the field. This reduces the energy a farmer have to spend digging to plant crops. The inventor of this is Jethro Wood, but later John Deere would improve the design of the iron plow. -
Adam-Onis Treaty
This treaty, also known as the Transcontinental Treaty, is between the United States and Spain that gave Florida to over to the US. It settled a border dispute between the two countries that range. The treaty also established the US territory and claims through the Rocky Mountains and west to the Pacific Ocean. The Spanish pushed the border to the Sabine River in exchange for giving the US Florida. The treaty only remained effect for 183 days, where it ended when Mexico became independence. -
Irish
A vast majority Irish migrated to the US around the 19th century due to the potato famine that was happening in Ireland. About one million Irish died because of the bad harvest in their country. In the United States, they would live in urban areas where there were a lot of factories and labor work for them to do. The areas they lived in are slums in inner cities of the North. A few lived in the south where they would have their own farms and lands. -
Period: to
Cultural Changes
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Missouri Compromise
A legislature passed by the US Congress to provide a temporary solution for slavery. This maintained the balance of power between the North and South states because there are an equal amount of slave states to free states. The compromise drew an imaginary latitude line at 36 30 degrees, any states above it are free and any states below it are slave states. The main purpose of this was to defuse the political rivalries between North and South, but it didn't last long. -
Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine was a policy of opposing European colonialism in the Western Hemisphere. It warned Europeans power to stay away or do not interfere in the affairs of the Americas. President Monroe delivered this message during the annual Congress routine. The United States would not tolerate further colonization from the European countries. John Quincy Adams played an important role in developing this doctrine as the Secretary of State. -
Corrupt Bargain
This term refers to the incident that happened during the election of 1824. The outcome of this election was surprising due to Andrew Jackson winning the popular vote against John Q. Adams, but no one had won the electoral college vote. The decision would be handing down to the House of Representative. The Speaker of the House at the time convinced the Congress to elect Adams as President and put Henry Clay as the Secretary of State. Many viewed this as the "corrupt bargain". -
Period: to
Age of Jackson
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Presidency of John Q. Adams
John Quincy Adams planned to strengthen and unite the nation when he was in office. He preserved the Bank of the United States to stabilize the currency of risky states and banks across the nation. Adams supported high tariff to protect the industries and generate revenue for the federal government. Under Adams, a system of roads and canals was developed to connect the nation together. Also, he believed that the people should be educated so many universities was created during his prsidency. -
Charles Grandison Finney
He is the Father of Modern Revivalism and best known as an innovative revivalist during the Second Great Awakening. His religious views led him to promote social reforms, such as the abolition of slavery and equal rights for women. He taught at Oberlin College of Ohio which is for all races and both genders. He would later become the president of the school and most teachers and students were activists in the abolition movement. -
Transcendentalism
A philosophical movement that protests against the general state of intellectualism and spiritualism. A core belief of transcendentalism is in the inherent goodness of people and nature. The philosophy suggests that people are at their best when they are truly "self-reliant" and independent. It focuses primarily on personal freedom and the power of the individual. The leaders of this movement were Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. They would expend the movement later down the line. -
Temperance Movement
The movement began during the American Revolution in Connecticut, Virginia, and New York, with farmers forming groups to ban whiskey distilling. The campaign continued to spread to five other states, and the people established the American Temperance Society during this time. The movement became more radical, advocating the legal prohibition of all alcohol. More than one million people joined the movement within twelve years. It was believed to tied with religious renewal and women suffrage. -
Railroads
The construction of the railroads flourished during the Industrial Revolution; the track would eventually run across the nation. The job of building the railroads is mostly for immigrants because it is dangerous. The train allowed for a cheaper transportation of goods and also it can hold more stuff than any other moving machines. This type of transport improved the economy in the United States and developed the nation as a whole. -
Second Party System
A term of periodization to designate the political party system during this time. The rapid rise in voter interest and people attending the rallies characterized the system. There were two main parties at the time: the Democratic party and the Whig Party. There were also minor parties like the Anti-Masonic, Liberty, and Free Soil Party. This system was an important part of politics, economics, society, and culture during the Age of Jackson. -
Joseph Smith
The leader of the Mormons and created the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He supposedly founded a golden plate in his front yard and only him can see and read the writing on the plate. He translated the writing into English in the Book of Mormon. He gained many followers after the release of this book and planned on to create a community for them. In later years, he published many revelations and texts and his followers regard these as scriptures. The Mormons teachings are unique. -
Second Great Awakening
A Protestant religious revival during the 19th century in the United States. The Second Great Awakening reflected Romanticism characterized enthusiasm, emotion, and an appeal to the supernatural. It rejected the rationalism and deism ideas of the Enlightenment. This revival is the roots of both the feminist and abolitionist movements. These movements were inspired by all the religious revivals and how they teach about good moral. -
Period: to
Westward Expansion
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Indian Removal Act of 1830
The Indian Removal Act was signed into law by President Andrew Jackson. This act authorizes the president to give lands west of the Mississippi in exchange for Indian lands inside the border of the states. Many tribes protested against this act or resisted the policy, so the US government forced them to move. They marched toward the west and an estimated amount of 4,000 Indians died on this trip and this forced march became known as the "Trail of Tears." -
Nat Turner's Rebellion
An insurrection by slaves led by Nat Turner that killed an estimated amount of fifty to sixty white people. The rebellion took place in Southhampton, Virginia consisted about seven-five slaves or more. It would last only for three days, where on the third day the militias ended it. This is the largest and deadliest slave uprising in the history of the United States. The northern saw these slaves as heroes, but the south executed all the slaves that were involved in it. -
Nullification Crisis
A political crisis during the presidency of Andrew Jackson. It involved the confrontation between the federal government and South Carolina. The state of South Carolina declared that the Tariff Act of 1828 and 1832 were unconstitutional so therefore they will not be paying the tax within the border of the state. To end the nullification crisis, the Congress passed the Compromise Tariff of 1833 to satisfy South Carolina and also that Andrew Jackson threantened the state. -
Bank Veto Speech
This speech is one of the reasons why Andrew Jackson was elected as the president. In the speech, he argued that the bank was unfair and injustice. He said that the bank wasn't for the common men and it was only for the wealthy people. Jackson believed that the bank had all the market power and it is an illegitimate corporation that violated the state sovereignty. Due to all those reason, in his eyes, the bank was unconstitutional and it should not exist in the US system. -
Lowell Mills
A factory system invented by Francis Cabot Lowell where both people and machines work under one roof. The people that would work in these factories are young unmarried women. Over time, the owners of the factories were more interested in money than the welfare of their employees, so they cut the wages without reducing the hours. This would upset the women and they went on strikes and started a petition against the harsh rules. -
Stephen F. Austin
The man is known as the "Father of Texas" due to the fact that he led a successful colonization of the region by bringing three-hundred families to the Texas area. He was able to due because he had won the recognition of the empresario grant from Mexico. After the settlement in Texas by American settlers, Austin sought to maintain good relations with the Mexican government. He helped to ensure the introduction of slavery in Texas despite the Mexican government was against it. -
Battle of San Jancinto
This was the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution between the Texian Army and the Mexican Army. The fight lasted about fifteen minutes, where Sam Houston led a surprise attack on the sleeping Mexican Army. The president of Mexico, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, was captured after the battle ended. This led to him signing a peace treaty that he would leave Texas and paved the way for the Republic of Texas to become an independent country. This is a major battle in Texas history. -
Panic of 1837
A financial crisis in the United States during the time of president Martin Van Buren. Many people blamed him for the panic. Profits, prices, and wages decreased significantly whereas the unemployment rate went up. Even during this recession, Van Buren stuck to the idea that federal government should only have limited power and refused to try to stabilize the economy through the Second National Bank. The panic would last till the mid 1840s and this crisis is more worse than the Great Depression. -
First Police Forces
The first police force was established in Boston then New York. They were created to deal with the tensions in the big cities due to a large number of people with different backgrounds. The states needed a unit that can control the local areas because many immigrants just came to America. The police force would reduce the crime rate and create a safe atmosphere for the people. Also, the police force was created to keep the people in line. -
Oregon Trail
A wagon route that spans 2,170-miles from east to west, that connected the Missouri River to the valleys in Oregon. The rail was laid by fur traders and was only passable my foot or by horseback. Many people used this route to trade or to move to other states. The biggest migration was the Mormons. Brigham Young led his people on this trail to Salt Lake City. Before that, the fur trade was active on this road and it was one of the biggest industries. -
Telegraph
The machine developed around the 1830s and 1840s by Samuel Morse. The purpose is to communicate over a long distance at a faster rate. It worked by transmitting electrical signals over wire laid between stations. Morse developed a code after his name that assigned a set of dots and dashes to each letter and allowed complex messages across the telegraph lines. This invention of the telegraph created a new method of transferring information worldwide in a matter of time. -
Frederick Douglas
A former slave that later became an author and a national leader of the abolitionist movement in Massachusetts and New York. He wrote several autobiographies to describe his experience as a slave. Those books were influential in promoting the cause of abolition. During his time as a speaker, he inspired many people to stand up against slavery in the North. Douglas was considered a world-renowned anti-slavery activist and his works became American classics. -
Mexican American War
The caused of the war was the American annexation of Texas because Mexico still considered that land to be their territory. It is also the first US armed conflict chiefly fought on foreign land. President James K. Polk at the time believed in "manifest destiny", so he was determined to conquer all lands from east to west. The war started along the Rio Grande and slowly it approached Mexican's soil. After many victories by the US, the war ended and the US gained one-third of the Mexico territory. -
Battle of Palo Alto
The first major battle in the Mexican-American War and it was fought north of the Rio Grande River. General Zachary Taylor led the American army, and on the other side, General Mariano Arista led the Mexican army. Even though Taylor's troop was outnumbered, he still managed to secure the victory over the Mexican army. The battle was technically fought before the US declared war against Mexico. Taylor would follow this battle with many more victories and he'd become the war hero. -
Period: to
Sectionalism
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Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
This treaty ended the Mexican-American war after two years of fighting. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo granted an estimated amount of 525,00 square miles to the United States. Those lands are now Arizona, California, and other states west of Texas. Also, Mexico gave up all claims to Texas and recognized the Rio Grande as the border between them and America. This treaty tampered the balance of free and slaves states, so the whigs party was against it. Other issues rose up due to this. -
Seneca Falls Convention
The convention was the first women's rights convention organized by Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. It was held to discuss the social, civil, and religious condition and rights of woman. This convention would launch the woman's suffrage movement in the United States. The event inspired many women and soon followed by other women's rights conventions throughout the country. The Declaration of Sentiments was an important treatise that spread the news for women's rights. -
Free-Soil Party
A short-lived political party that was organized in New York. The main purpose of the Free-Soil Party was to oppose the expansion of slavery into western territories. It was a minor party during the Election of 1848 and it sometimes worked to eradicate existing laws that violate the freedom of African Americans in the states. The main leader of this party was Marin Van Buren. They believed that slavery is an inferior system to the rights for freedom of men. -
California Gold Rush
When gold was first discovered in California by James W. Marshall, many people heard of this news, and about 300,000 people traveled to this territory. Also, a sudden influx of immigration and gold boosted the American economy. The effects of the Gold Rush were that natives living in California were attacked and pushed off by American once again, but now the idea of "Manifest Destiny" was achieved. Mining became a huge industry in that state and the Chinese was the one who built those tunnels. -
Underground Railroad
It is a network of secret routes and safe houses established by the people of the north, abolitionists, to help slaves escape into free states and Canada. The system is only in the north, so slaves must escape from the south by their own until they reach a free state. A famous abolitionist, Harriet Tubman, went on many trips to rescue the slaves and help them to run away. The start date of this network is unknown, but it was at it greatest during mid 19th century. -
Fugitive Slave Act
The act was apart of the Compromise of 1850 between the South and the North. It was considered one of the most controversial laws of the 19th century. The act allowed for the capture and return of runaway slaves and imposed penalties to those who tried to help the slaves. The act laid out harsher punishments to those to interfere with the capture of runaway slaves. The North was against this and many of the states tried to get rid of it, but failed to do so until the act was repealed later. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
An-anti slavery novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe, an active abolitionist. The book became the best-selling novel of the 19th century. The novel describes the harsh reality of a slave life. Uncle Tom's Cabon influenced many people to side with the anti-slavery movement and increased the tension between the North and the South to a greater length. Furthermore, the book shows how a work of literature can persuade society to change their views on a topic. -
Bleeding Kansas
The term Bleeding Kansas describes the period of violence during the settling of Kansas state. Due to the new act that uses the principle of popular sovereignty, the residents of the state can decide whether Kansas is a free state or not. Pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers rushed into Kansas trying to influence the decision. Soon, people started to fight among each other over the issue of slavery and this event will lead up the Civil War. -
Crittenden Compromise
The proposal is an unsuccessful solution to the secession of the South. The reason for this compromise was to avoid civil war, but it failed to do so. The compromise would guarantee the permanent existence of slavery in slave states and reestablish the imaginary line from the Missouri Compromise. Southern leaders supported the proposal, but many Northern figureheads opposed this, including the President Abraham Lincon. Both the House of Representative and the Senate rejected the compromise. -
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The Civil War
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Fort Sumter
The battle that started the Civil War in the United States. General P.G.T Beauregard of the Confederate army led the siege to the fort. The Union Major Robert Anderson has occupied the fort at the time and he had to face a standoff against the South. Beauregard bombarded the fort and exchange a thirty-four-hour artillery fire. Anderson would surrender Fort Sumter after the shootout, and it was seen as a victory for the South. The Confederate controled the fort for the next four years. -
Trent Affair
A diplomatic incident during the Civil War that threatened a war between the United States and the United Kingdom. The US Navy illegally captured two Confederate diplomats from the British ship. The British were outraged and claimed the seizure of a neutral ship was a violation of international law. President Abraham Lincoln and his advisors did not want to risk war with Britain over this issue, so he released the two diplomats which ended the problem. -
Robert E. Lee
The commander of the Confederate Army during the Civil War. Despite his desire for the country to remain intact, he chose to fight for his home state. His leadership skill is tremendous and he was the top graduate of his military academy. Lee won many battles against the Union army due to his aggressive tactics, but it resulted in high casualties when the South had a shortage of manpower. After three years of fighting, he surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at the Appomattox Court House. -
Twenty Negro Law
A piece of legislation enacted by the Confederate Congress during the Civil War. The law allowed a white man to be exempted from military service if he owns twenty or more slaves. This was a reaction to President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. The law addressed Confederate fears of slave rebellion due to so many white men being absent from home, as they were fighting in the Confederate army. Many poor southern white men opposed the law since they did not own any slaves at all. -
Battle of Antietam
The battle matchup was between Confederate General Robert E. Lee's army against Union General George McClellan's army. This fight was Lee's attempt to invade the North and it is the deadliest one-day battle in the history of America. McClellan failed to destroy Lee's army but successfully stopped the invasion. Technically, the battle was inconclusive, but since the Union army made the Confederate troops withdrawn, the victory was granted to the North. -
Suspension of Habeas Corpus
An act that authorized the president of the United States to suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus and provided for the release of political prisoners. It began in the House of Representative as an indemnity bill, then the Senate amended the bill and finally was signed into law by the president. People believed that Lincoln didn't have the authority to suspend habeas corpus, but he insisted that the act was necessary to put an end to the South in his speech on July 4th. -
Gettysburg Address
A famous speech by President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War. He delivered the address at the official ceremony for the National Cemetery of Gettysburg, on the site of one of the bloodiest and most decisive battles of the Civil War. Lincoln evoked the principles of human equality and connected the sacrifices of the soldiers for "a new birth of freedom" in the speech. His address consisted of 273-word and lasted for no more than five minutes. -
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Reconstruction
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Wade-Davis Bill
A bill proposed for the reconstruction of the South written by Senator Benjamin Wade of Ohio and Representative Henry Winter Davis. The bill firmly asserted congressional control over the rehabilitation of the defeated Confederacy. It formally abolished slavery and prohibited Confederate officials and veterans from voting. The bill passed both houses of Congress but was vetoed by Lincoln because he wanted to carry out the Ten percent plan instead. -
Lincoln Assassination
At Ford's Theatre where Abraham Lincoln was watching a play from the side balcony, John Wilkes Booth snuck upstairs and shot Lincoln in the head point-blank. Lincoln was rushed to the Peterson house across from the theater where he would die the following day. The assassination was part of the conspiracy theory intended by Booth to revive the Confederate by eliminating the three most important figureheads: the president, vice president, and secretary of state. -
13th Amendment
This amendment was added to the Constitution, which abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for a crime. It was the first of the three Reconstruction Amendments adopted after the Civil War. This was the continuity of the Emancipation Proclamation, to ensure the freedom of African Americans for good in the states. The Thirteenth Amendment took more than a year to be ratified by number of states. -
Scalawags
Scalawags were southern white people who supported the Reconstruction and the Republican Party after the Civil War ended. The word has a long history of use as a slur in Southern partisan debates. Enemies of scalawags claimed that they were disloyal to traditional values of white supremacy. This group of people was the minority but gained power by taking advantage of the Reconstruction laws, which disenfranchised the majority of Southern white voters as they could not take the Ironclad oath. -
Enforcement Acts
These were three bills passed by the United State Congress. They were criminal codes which protected African Americans' rights to vote, to hold office, to serve on juries, and receive equal protection of laws. The laws allowed the federal government to intervene when states did not act to protect these rights. The target of the acts was the Ku Klux Klan, whose members were murdering many blacks. These acts were passed under the presidency of Ulysses S. Grant. -
Whiskey Ring Scandal
A scandal involving diversion of tax revenues in a conspiracy among government agents, politicians, whiskey distillers, and distributors. The scheme involved an extensive network of bribes between distillers, storekeepers, and internal revenue agents. The distillers would bribe the government officials to evade federal taxes on whiskey they produced and sold. They only paid 35 cents per gallon to the officials when Whiskey was supposed to be taxed at 70 cents per gallon. -
Compromise of 1877
The compromise was a purported informal, unwritten deal that settled the intensely disputed election of 1876. In the agreement, the Democrats agreed not to block Hayes' victory on the condition that Republicans withdraw all federal troops from the South, thus consolidating Democratic control over the region. It resulted in the federal government pulling the last troops out of the South, and formally ended the Reconstruction Era. Black Republicans felt betrayed as they lost power. -
Literacy Tests
A literacy assesses a person's literacy's skill. Many southern states administered literacy tests to prospective voters purportedly to test their literacy in order to vote. These tests were intended to disenfranchise racial minorities. The southern state's government employed this as part of the voter registration process. Literacy tests, along with poll taxes, and extra-legal intimidation, were used to deny suffrage to African Americans.
