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2600 BCE
Maya
The Maya civilization was an important settlement that contained the indigenous people of Mesoamerica located in modern day Belize, Guatemala, Yucatán, Chiapas, El Salvador, and Honduras.Human sacrifices were performed, and the hearts of the victims would be cut out in an attempt to appease the gods. The Mayans had a caste system consisting of high positions, middle caste, and the lower caste. Rather than disappearing other cities grew in their place. -
Period: 2600 BCE to
Begininngs to Exploration
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1000
The Dark Ages
The Dark Ages otherwise known as the Middle Ages, was a time of religious struggle due to it being a time of Catholic corruption. It was the fall of the Western Roman empire which caused a need of political system for defense and resulted in feudalism.. The way of the Catholic church being forced upon the people as a priority made learning not a priority which resulted in little to no technological advancements. -
1350
The Black Death
An illness that spread across Europe also known as the Bubonic Plague, and killed off ⅓ of the population at the time. Infected rats and fleas were believed to have caused the outbreak. An economic effect of the Black Death was that peasants began to get higher wages due to the shortage of people that died. Doctors used unsanitary and unsophisticated methods such as bloodletting in an attempt to cure the diseased. -
1440
Printing Press
Developed during the Renaissance,by Johannes Gutenberg.A printing press is a device for applying pressure to an inked surface resting upon a print medium, thereby transferring the ink.It also played a key role in the success of the Protestant Reformation,lead by Martin Luther,by having his message printed,it helped in spreading it to thousands of people across Europe,which popularized his ideas.This invention helped revolutionize Europe. -
1480
Leonardo DaVinci
A painter, inventor, architect, and student of all things scientific, known as the “Renaissance Man”. Although he was best known for his art pieces such as “Mona Lisa” and “The Last Supper” he had contributed very much to science as well. He studied the proportions of the human body, linking both art and science, which is seen in his famous drawing, the “Vitruvian Man”. He was a scientist and artist that was a important figure of the Renaissance. -
1492
Treaty of Tordesillas
An agreement between Spain and Portugal that neatly divided the New World into land and resources.It was used to clear up confusion of newly claimed land. To make trade more efficient Portugal made attempts to use a direct water route to India and China, but after the discovery of the New World it was clear that conflicts with Spain would arise over land The Treaty of Tordesillas gave no regard to the millions of people already living in established communities in the Americas. -
1519
Conquest of the Aztecs
Annexation of the Aztec Empire led by Hernan Cortes. After the Spanish arrival in Mexico, a battle erupted between the army of Cortes and the Aztec people under the rule of Montezuma. It was a huge landmark victory for the European settlers and was one of the most significant events in the Spanish colonization of Americas. -
1530
Martin Luther
A monk and scholar, Martin Luther was against the corrupt practice of selling “indulgences” to rid of sins. This led him to document the 95 Theses which he nailed to the door of the Wittenberg Castle Church and spark the Protestant reformation. He created his own church similar to Catholicism, called Lutheranism. -
Period: to
English Colonial Societies
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Tobacco
Tobacco was America's first cash crop in the English Colony of Jamestown. It became a profitable due to the popularity of tobacco products. Seeds were imported from the West Indies. The region had rich and fertile soil that was ideal for agriculture and trade. As a result of the demand of labor for the cash crops and plantations the amount of servants increased -
Headright System
Used to attract new settlers to Jamestown,Virginia due to the declining population and labor shortage. With new plantations and the emergence of tobacco as a cash crop, a large supply of workers were needed. Settlers were offered 50 acres of land if they paid their way to Virginia. The Headright System was able to successfully bring in new settlers and increase the population and workers. -
Middle Passage
Millions of Africans were were shipped to the New World, it was a stage of the triangular trade and was part of the Atlantic slave trade. It was between Africa, the New World, and Europe that this occurred. Slaves were carried like cargo and packed into ships from Africa to the Americas. A hundred out of five hundred slaves died of disease. The slaves were packed below the decks of ships. -
John Winthrop
John Winthrop was the first governor of of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, as well as a chief figure among Puritan founders of New England. John Winthrop joined the Massachusetts Bay company and pledged to sell his English estate and take his family to Massachusetts if the company government and charter were also transferred to America. To which they agreed with his terms, and was elected governor. -
Caribbean Colonies
Plantations on the Caribbean produced the largest amount of sugar that was consumed in Western Europe. The fertile and tropical climate of the Caribbean made it an ideal place to grow crops such as sugar. African slaves were used as labor. The Caribbean would trade cash crops such as rum, wood, sugar, and molasses in order to revive and trade for slaves. The slaves would be shipped to the Caribbean through the Middle passage. -
Navigation Acts
The Navigation Acts were repealed in 1849 because of the the influence of the free trade philosophy. And were passed under the economic theory of mercantilism. Wealth was increased by restricting trade. It forbade colonists from trading specific items such as cotton and sugar with any country that was not England. It gave the government more control over trade. es represented a lucrative source of wealth and trade. The Navigation Acts were designed to regulate colonial trade. -
William Penn
William Penn was a philosopher, English real estate entrepreneur, Quaker, and founder of the state of Pennsylvania. He was persecuted in England for his religious faith and came to America. He founded the state of Pennsylvanian as a place of religious freedom. Penn was also and early advocate of democracy and set forth democratic principles which served as inspiration for the U.S. constitution. -
John Locke
John Locke was a philosopher and political theorist in the 17th century. He has made large contributions to modern theories of limited, liberal government. Also known as being the founder of a school of thought known as British Empiricism. He was one of the most influential people of England and earned the title as the father of liberal philosophy. Locke believed that human nature allowed people to be selfish. -
Salutary Neglect
A British policy in the thirteen colonies which allowed the colonists to flout or violate the laws associated with trade. The British reversed this policy in order to raise taxes. The policy was meant to relax the enforcement of strict regulations, particularly trade laws, that were imposed on American colonists in the seventeenth and early in the eighteenth century. The Navigation acts were an attempt to end the period of Salutary Neglect. -
Triangular Trade
It was a system of transatlantic trade between Europe,Africa,and Americas.It carried slaves,cash crops,and manufactured goods.The first trade involved taking manufactured goods from Europe to Africa ,goods would be exchanged for African slaves and were transported to the Americas to be sold by the Middle Passages.The third stage includes Europe having the results of the labor from plantations. When slavery ended the triangular trade ended as well. -
Period: to
Colonial America to 1763
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Division of Carolinas
After two years of being ungoverned, the Proprietors appointed Edward Hyde as the governor of North Carolina. They were officially recognized as separate royal colonies. The province as named Carolina in order to honor King James I of England. King Charles II of England gave land south of Virginia to eight Proprietors and these men founded the Carolina colony. Carolina was officially divided into two colonies in 1729. -
The Enlightenment
The Enlightenment was a philosophical movement that took place primarily in Europe, and later in North America in the late 17th to 18th century. There was an increase in concepts such as liberty, reason, and the scientific method. It was a rise of intellect after the Dark Ages. Major figures of the Enlightenment were John Locke, Benjamin Franklin, Sir Issac Newton, Voltaire, Adam Smith, and Rousseau. -
Samuel Davies
Samuel Davies was an evangelical pastor and educator who worked and lived in Hanover County. He was an important part of the early years of the Great Awakening. There was a disestablishment of the Church of England as America;s official church due to the series of religious revival. Samuel Davies was a very skilled orator and did sermons with vivid language with passionate calls of conversion. He influenced Patrick Henry with his rhetorical style. -
Fort Dequesne
A fort established by the French in 1754, and was built in the heart of the Ohio River Valley. Originally a British fort that the French seized before it was finished. The French could trade with Native Americans. This is where the battle of Fort Desquesne occurred , which was a British assault and occupation. And a heavy loss during the French and Indian War. It was later taken over by the English, and later Americans. -
Treaty of Paris 1763
The Treaty of Paris 1763 ended the French and Indian War and the Seven Years war between Britain and France. Signed by France, Spain, and Great Britain, with Portugal in agreement. The Treaty of Paris was signed after Britain's victory of the Seven Years War. It effectively ended any foreign military threats against the British colonies. France gave up all territories in mainland North America. This officially ended the war with all parties in agreement. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a protest done by American colonists after thirteen years of British oppression. Merchant ships were attacked in Boston Harbor. It was a political protest led by the Sons of Liberty. 342 chests of tea were thrown into Boston Harbor by American patriots disguised as Mohawk Indians.Three British ships were raided. In retaliation the British closed the ports."No taxation without representation". -
Period: to
The Revolutionary War
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Stamp Act
A tax passed after the French and Indian War by the British Parliament. Lawyers and printer were most affected by this tax because they relied on using paper the most.All American colonists were required to pay a tax on every printed piece of paper they used. There were many angry colonists due to the tax on stamps which led to the making of the Stamp Act Progress. Their slogan was "no taxation without representation". -
Townshend Act
Charles Townsend created a tax that imposed on British goods such as glass, paint, paper, tea that were being imported into the colonies. These revenues were used to to pay salaries of some Royal officials that were appointed to work in British colonies. These laws were not a direst tax but a tax on imports.Many colonists were angry and protests erupted which lead the British to eventually repeal the acts. -
Boston Massacre
British soldiers opened fire on a group of American colonists which resulted in the killing of five men. The Americans taunted the soldiers violently by throwing rocks at them. British troops were trying to stop demonstrations against the Townsend acts. Two British soldiers were found guilty of manslaughter. Paul Revere created images of the horrific event as propaganda. -
Coercive Acts
The Coercive Acts were also known as the Intolerable Acts, and were harsh laws passed by British Parliament. It was mean to be a way to punish the American colonists and for protests such as the Boston Tea Party and Stamp Act Congress. Three major acts were passed that angered the colonists. First was that the Boston Port Act, the Massachusetts Government Act, Administration of Justice Act, and the Quartering Act. -
Paul Revere
Paul Revere is most well known for warning the American colonists of the news of the impending British invasion to the town of Lexington, Massachusetts. He was a silversmith, early industrialist, engraver, and Patriot in the American revolution. He was an early revolutionary from Boston who made a number of key connections with leaders of the Loyal Nine and Sons of Liberty. -
Patrick Henry
Patrick Henry was a politician and lawyer, as well as leading figure in the revolutionary war. He spoke out during the Stamp Act and Townshend Act in disagreement. Henry was best known for his persuasive and passionate speeches and most famous declaration to the Second Virginia Convention, "Give me liberty or give me death!" Which sparked the Americans to go against the British. -
Period: to
The Constitution
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Shay's Rebellion
Shay's Rebellion was an armed farmers uprising led by Daniel Shay. Taxation was implemented in order to pay for the effects of the Revolutionary War. Many farmers had their farms taken from them, which led them to protest. This rebellion was important because it showed how weak the Articles of Confederation were, the central government couldn't put down the rebellion. -
Northwest Ordinance
The Northwest Ordinance provided a method for admitting new stated to the Union and listed a bill of rights guaranteed in the territory. It is considered one of the most important legislative acts passed. This act protected civil liberties and outlawed slavery in new territories. It outlined the process for admitting new states and that they would be equal to the original thirteen states. -
Two Plans
The Virginia plan was drafted by James Madison, and presented to the constitutional convention. This plan proposed a strong central government composed of three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The House of representatives apportioned by population for the Virginia Plan. For the Connecticut Plan a bicameral legislature was created. and the senate granted equal votes per state for the New Jersey Plan. -
The Great Debate
The Federalists were lead by Alexander Hamilton and supported the Constitution, and wanted the States to ratify the document. Hamilton, along with John Jay and James Madison published essays known as the Federalists Papers. They argued that the Constitution wouldn't need a Bill or Rights. The Anti-Federalists opposed the Constitution, and that it failed to protect individual rights or that it threatened the sovereignty of other states. -
Anti-Federalist Papers
Madison, Hamilton, and Jay were members of the Federalist party, and anonymously wrote the Federalists papers. The Anti-Federalists papers was the name given to the collective works written by the Founding Fathers who were opposed of the constitution and were part of the Anti-Federalist Party. The Anti-Federalists did not agree with the Constitution and felt like it took away their rights as well as states rights. -
U.S. Constitution Model
The 1780 Constitution of Commonwealth of Massachusetts, drafted by John Adams, is the world's oldest functioning written constitution, which was written in 1797 and became effective in 1789. It served as a model for the Constitution of United States of America, which was drafted seven years later with a similar structure. The Massachusetts Constitution has four parts; a preamble, declaration of rights, a description of framework of government, and articles of amendment. -
The Three Branches
There are three branches of government established by the Constitution that all check and balance each other out. The Legislative Branch is made up of two houses of Congress, which is the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Executive Branch is what the President is head of. And the Judicial Branch which oversees the court system of the U.S. through court cases. Each has its own responsibilities and powers. A system of checks and balances prevents one branch from gaining too much power. -
Period: to
New Republic
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Whiskey Rebellion
The Whiskey Rebellion was an uprising of people that protested against the tax on whiskey. Which was mostly farmers and distillers in western Pennsylvania. It was the first tax on a domestic product by the newly formed government. When Washington called out the militia, the rebellion collapsed. Showing that the government was strong enough and establish federal authority since officials were able to stop it. -
Jay's Treaty
Jay's Treaty, written by John Jay sought to to settle understanding issues between the two countries that had been left unresolved since American Independence. This treaty was unpopular with the American public because it didn't really settle anything between America and Britain and stop the British impressment of American sailors. As a result the British agreed to remove royal troops of western frontier. -
Washington's Farewell Address
When Washington's term as president ended, he used his departure to speak about a major final statement of his political philosophy. He decided to resign after two terms of presidency. Which future presidents followed as well. Washington condemned political parties, as well as getting involved in foreign affairs. He also talked about the dangers of permanent alliances between foreign countries and the Unites States. -
XYZ Affair
A diplomatic incident between France and America in the 18th century that led to undeclared war at sea. France went to war with Britain while America remained neutral. The following year, the United States and Britain signed the Jay's Treaty. The French believed the treaty violated a treaty that America and France had and decided to seize American merchant ships. John Adams sent three diplomats to Paris, when the French found out they were outraged.The French agents named X, Y and Z sent repo -
Alien and Sedition Acts
The Alien and Sedition Acts were passed by president John Adams. They consisted of four laws passed by the Federalists in congress. America prepared for a war with a France.These laws included new powers to deport foreigners as well as making harder for new immigrants to vote. These acts were designed to by Federalists to to limit the power of the opposition Republican Party. -
12th Amendment
After the 1800 Presidential Election, the 12th Amendment was adopted to fix a flaw in the Constitution that had allowed Thomas Jefferson to tie in the Electoral College with his vice presidential candidate Aaron Burr. The 12th Amendment specifies that electors shall cast distinct votes for the president and vice president, rather than electoral votes for two men -
Period: to
The Age ofJefferson
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Midnight Judges
An official act to provide for the convenience of the organization of the courts. The Midnight Judges were were judicial appointments made by John Adams. He saw it as a way to to preserve Federalist influence in the government. Fourteen of the sixteen circuit judges appointed to by Adams were to positions created to at the end of his tenure in office. -
Cotton Gin
Eli Whitney created a cotton gin, which could separate the cotton and seeds. Before the cotton gin, the seeds had to be removed by hand which was a long a grueling process that was done by slaves. After the invention the cotton gin, slavery increased because more people were needed to use the machine.Clothing was now made easier, making clothing prices decrease. It was a advancement of technology of the War of 1812. -
Steam Boat
Robert Fulton improved the steamboat and was known as the "father of steamboat navigation". He was the first man to be successful in building and maintain the steamboat. The growth of the Industrial Revolution depended on the ability to transport raw materials and finished goods over long distances. Waterways increased transportation with the help of steamboats. -
Embargo Act of 1807
The Embargo Act of 1807 was a law passed by the United States Congress signed by Thomas Jefferson. This act prohibited American ships from trading in all foreign ports. America wanted to stay neutral in the conflict between Britain and France. The French were angered by this and seized American merchant ships. Britain retaliated and prohibited trade between neutral parties and France. -
Impressment
The impressment of American sailors in the Royal Navy was the most important for Americans of all causes of the War of 1812. This was the British act of manning naval ships who were forcibly placed into service. Impressment refers to the act of taking men into military or naval force without notice. IT caused serous tension between Britain and America between the years leading up to the war. -
Tecumseh
Tecumseh was a Native American Shawnee warrior and chief, who became a the primary leader of of a large multi-tribal confederacy. He was important to the War of 1812 because he led a remnant of the confederation into an alliance with Britain. The British and Native Americans were defeated by the Americans at the Battle of Thames in 1813, Tecumseh was killed. -
Labor Changes
The labor movement in the United States grew out of the need to protect the common interest of workers. For those in the industrial sector, organized labor unions fought for better wages, reasonable hours and safer working conditions. The labor movement led efforts to stop child labor, give health benefits and provide aid to workers who were injured or retired.The labor change badly affected artisans because there skill was as values anymore. -
Lowell Mills
The Lowell System was a labor production model invented by Francis Cabot Lowell in Massachusetts in the 19th century. The system was designed so that every step of the manufacturing process was done under one roof and the work was performed by young adult women instead of children or young men. Lowell wanted to create a manufacturing process that was more efficient and one that benefited from the morals, education and strong work ethic. -
Battle of New Orleans
The Battle of New Orleans was the last major war of 1812. Great Britain and America had signed the Treaty of Ghent which had effectively ended the War of 1812. However news had moved slow, and the Battle of New Orleans continued. A militia led by Andrew Jackson against the British. They inflicted damage on the British force and defeated them. The British invasion of the American frontier was foiled. -
Period: to
The American Industrial Revolution
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Adams-Onis Treaty (1819)
The Adams-Onis Treaty also known as the Transcontinental Treaty, was an agreement between the United States and Spain. It negotiated by secretary of state John Quincy Adams and Spanish minister Luis de Onis. Spain gave up its land of the Mississippi River and claims to the Oregon Territory. It settles border disputes between the United States and Spain. -
Panic of 1819
This panic was worse than the Great Depression, it was horrifying. After the war of 1812, there was an economic boom, but due to the bank system failing it lead to the the panic of 1819. Many people were forced out of their homes and farms. Many regions were impacted, due to the falling prices which affected agriculture and unemployment. This panic was caused by state loans given to those who were unable to repay, this also made the banks fail and in addition it lead to tailspin of the economy. -
Missouri Compromise
Tensions between anti and pro slavery within U.S. congress and across the country. The Missouri Compromise was an effort by Congress to diffuse tensions. Twenty states were evenly divided between free and slave states. Admission of Missouri as a slave state would upset the balance,excluding slavery from all remaining lands of the Louisiana Purchase north of the 36° 30' parallel. -
Revivalism
With the 2nd Great Awakening Came Revivalism, which was the belief in the free will of religion. Charles Finny was a leading evangelical of this cause and said that religion was the work of man. Emotional preaching would occur a the mass preaching. Salvation was was purely in God's hands. They focused on sin as human action. -
Period: to
Cultural Changes
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Corrupt Bargain
To the surprise of many, the House elected John Quincy Adams over rival Andrew Jackson. It was widely believed that Clay, the Speaker of the House at the time, convinced Congress to elect Adams, who then made Clay his Secretary of State. Jackson's supporters denounced this as a "corrupt bargain." It was called this because Jackson won the popular vote of the people. but the house of representatives didn't choose him. -
Period: to
Age Of Jackson
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Charles Grandison Finney
Charles Grandison Finneywas an American Presbyterian minister and leader in the Second Great Awakening in the United States. He has been called The Father of Modern Revivalism. Finney's significance was in innovative preaching and service procedure. Together with several other evangelical leaders, his religious views led him to promote social reforms, such as abolition of slavery and equal education for women and African Americans. -
Edgar Allen Poe
Transcendentalism affected Edgar Allan Poe's literature because he hated it. Poe's writing, considered part of the American Romantic period, was Dark Romantic. One of Poe's beliefs for writing was that a piece of literature is meant to be read in one sitting; therefore he wrote mostly poetry, prose, and essays. Transcendentalism is a philosophical movement that developed in the eastern United States. -
Election of 1828
The United States presidential election of 1828 featured a rematch between John Quincy Adams, and President Andrew Jackson. As Vice President John C. Calhoun had sided with the Jacksonian, the National Republicans led by Adams, chose Richard Rush as Adams' running mate.John Quincy Adams of engaging in disgraceful politics in order to ensure his victory in the election of 1824. President Adams responded with a campaign that focused on Andrew Jackson's military career and personal life. -
Trappers
As the frontier moved westward, trappers and hunters moved ahead of settlers, searching out new supplies of beaver and other skins for shipment to Europe. The hunters were the first Europeans in much of the Old West and they formed the first working relationships with the Native Americans in the West. The fashion for wearing fur hats in the early nineteenth century meant that there was a great demand for animal fur. -
Free Black Communities
Many African-Americans were able to secure their freedom and live in a state of semi-freedom even before slavery was abolished by war. Free blacks lived in all parts of the United States, but the majority lived amid slavery in the American South. It is estimated that by 1860 there were about 1.5 million free blacks in the southern states. Free blacks were not offered the same rights as free whites. -
Andrew Jackson
Era of the Common Man. Andrew Jackson's term as president began a new era in American politics. The period from Jackson's inauguration as president up to the Civil War is known as the Jacksonian Era or the Era of the Rise of the Common Man. Jacksonian democracy was a 19th-century political philosophy in the United States that espoused greater democracy for the common man, as that term was then defined. Originating with President Andrew Jackson and his supporters -
Second Party System
The Second Party System is a name for the political party system in the United States. One was the Democratic Party, led by Andrew Jackson. The other was the Whig Party, started by Henry Clay. The Whig party was made up of members of the National Republican Party and other people who opposed Jackson. It's used wherever a contract exists between two parties to mean anyone not bound by the contract. -
Temperance Movement
The temperance movement of the 19th and early 20th centuries was an organized effort to encourage moderation in the consumption of intoxicating liquors or press for complete abstinence. The movement's ranks were mostly filled by women who, with their children, had endured the effects of drinking by many of their men. In fact, alcohol was blamed for many of society's demerits, among them severe health problems, destitution and crime -
Mormons
Mormon faith began during the Second Great Awakening. Early Mormonism effected the social and religious environment of western New York. Joseph Smith, the founder or Mormonism brought together many ideas that appealed to converts everywhere. The movement began with the visions of Joseph Smith, Jr., in the “Burned-Over District” of upstate New York, which was so called for the intense flames of religious revival that swept across the region. -
Native Americans
The Jacksonian Era had a very negative impact on Native Americans. Andrew Jackson did not see Native Americans as equals and did not like them They finally succumbed in 1838, when they were marched 800 miles into an extremely bitter winter. The survivors of the journey to what is now Oklahoma would call it the Trail of Tears. In the case of the Cherokees, their resistance and defeat were reflected as well in the rise and collapse of the extraordinary partnership between Ross and Ridge. -
Fur Traders
The published reports of the Lewis and Clark expedition sparked interest in the fur trade along the Upper Missouri and led to the building of many trading forts and posts in the region. Trading posts began Euro-American penetration of the western frontier. The American Fur Company, a trade giant in the east, quickly spread its operations west.The company was soon the dominant force in the fur trade and set the standards as to how the trade would operate. -
New York Female Reform Society
The New York Female Moral Reform Society was founded in 1834 by Lidya A. Finney.Tthe most important goal of the Society dealt with prostitution. The Society initially aimed at prevention. They believed that prostitution created a very negative path that women fell into because of poverty and desperation. Because the area was in such poverty, many women turned to prostitution. The Society also aimed at fighting their male counterparts that encouraged prostitution and frequented brothels. -
Steel Plow
The steel plow was created by John Deere, he thought this would be better able to handle the soil. He made his first steel plow in 1838 he sold his first one. He revolutionized his American agriculture by developing and marketing the world's first steel plow. It solved the problem of wooden plows constantly breaking. Wood plows couldn't plow the rich soil. -
Trail of Tears
In 1836, the federal government and as part of Andrew Jackson's Indian removal policy, they forcibly removed the Cherokee and other Indians from their land and place them in Indian Territory in Oklahoma. Thousands of Indians will die while traveling and by being forced of their land east of the Mississippi River and were moved to the Indian Territory. The horrible affects lead it to be calling the "Trail of Tears" -
Martin Van Buran
Martin Van Buren was an American statesman who served as the eighth President of the United States from 1837 to 1841. Van Buren became known for being a shrewd politician. He earned the nicknames "Little Magician" and the "Red Fox" for his cunning politics. He was unable to get elected to a second term as president, however, when a the Panic of 1837 hit the country and the stock market crashed. He was blamed for the depression and called "Martin Van Ruin." -
Election of 1840
William Henry Harrison became the ninth president of the United States in 1841. Elected at age 67, he was then the oldest man to take the office, and became the first U.S. president to die in office. His one-month tenure was the shortest. President Martin Van Buren fight for re-election against an economic depression and a Whig Party unified for the first time behind war hero William Henry Harrison. Rallying under the slogan “Tippecanoe and Tyler, too,” the Whigs easily defeated Van Buren. -
The Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad, a vast network of people who helped fugitive slaves escape to the North and to Canada, was not run by any single organization or person. Rather, it consisted of many individuals,many whites but mostly black. Harriet Tubman began her work with the Underground Railroad. This was a network of antislavery activists who helped slaves escape from the South. -
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Westward Expansion
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Telegraph
Developed by Samuel Morse and other inventors, the telegraph revolutionized long-distance communication.It transmitted electrical signals over a wire laid between stations. In addition to helping invent the telegraph, Samuel Morse developed a code called Morse code that was made up of simple lines an dashes for simple transmission of complex messages across telegraph lines. -
Manifest Destiny
The spirit of nationalism that swept the nation in the next two decades demanded more territory. The "every man is equal" mentality of the Jacksonian Era fueled this optimism. Now, with territory up to the Mississippi River claimed and settled and the Louisiana Purchase explored, Americans headed west.The religious fervor by the Second Great Awakening created another reason for the drive west. Many settlers believed that God himself blessed the growth of the American nation. -
Wilmot Proviso
The Wilmot Proviso was designed to eliminate slavery within the land acquired as a result of the Mexican War Soon after the war began, President James K. Polk sought the appropriation of $2 million as part of a bill to negotiate the terms of a treaty. The Proviso also prohibited the expansion of slavery into any territory acquired by the United States from Mexico as a result of a settlement in the Mexican-American War. -
Mexican American War
The Mexican-American War was the first major conflict driven by the idea of "Manifest Destiny". This belief would eventually cause a great deal of suffering for many Mexicans, Native Americans and United States citizens. Tensions between the two largest independent nations on the North American continent grew as Texas eventually became a U.S. state. Disputes over the border lines sparked military confrontation, a war in order to seize large tracts of land from Mexico. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, officially entitled the Treaty of Peace, Friendship, Limits and Settlement between the United States of America and the Mexican Republic. Treaty between the United States and Mexico that ended the Mexican War. The treaty added an additional 525,000 square miles to United States territory, including the land that makes up all or parts of present-day Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. -
Election of 1848
Both of the major parties hoped to avoid the slavery issue's divisiveness. Since President Polk refused to consider a second term, the Democrats turned to Lewis Cass of Michigan. Cass supported "popular sovereignty" on the slavery issue. The Whigs nominated Zachary Taylor, hero of the Battle of Buena Vista, whose earlier military mistakes had been forgotten. Taylor had no political experience and had never voted. -
Seneca Falls Convention
At the Wesleyan Chapel in Seneca Falls, N.Y., a woman's rights convention–the first ever held in the United States–convenes with almost 200 women in attendance. The convention was organized by Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, two abolitionists who met at the 1840 World Anti-Slavery Convention in London. Out of that first convention came a historic document, the 'Declaration of Sentiments,' which demanded equal social status and legal rights for women, including the right to vote. -
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Sectionalism
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California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush was the largest mass migration in American history since it brought about 300,000 people to California. James W. Marshall found gold on his piece of land at Sutter’s Mill in Coloma, the news of gold quickly spread around. The gold rush resulted in the fast development of California. Many roads, churches, schools and towns were built to accommodate the gold-diggers. Once the Chinese heard the news of the gold rush, an immense amount of them traveled to California. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin, is an anti-slavery novel by American author Harriet Beecher Stowe and shows how horrible slavery in the South is. It talks about the plantation owners and how they treat their slaves horrible with bad conditions. The south saw Uncle Tom's Cabin as abolitionist propaganda and banned it. This book helped lay the groundwork for the Civil war and helped to fuel the abolitionist cause in the 1850s. -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 called for the admission of California as a free state,the strengthening of the Fugitive Slave Law, popular sovereignty in Utah and New Mexico concerning the question of slavery; the abolition of the slave trade in D.C., and the federal assumption of Texas's debt.The south gained by the strengthening of the fugitive slave law, the north gained a new free state. -
Kansas Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act allowed for new territories to decide if they were a free or slave state by popular sovereignty. The Kansas-Nebraska Act undid the compromise that was made in the Missouri Compromise, which designated a line of latitude to be the separation of free and slave states. The Act served to repeal the Missouri Compromise of 1820 which prohibited slavery north of latitude 36 30 line. -
Bleeding Kansas
The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 allowed the territory of Kansas to decide whether it would be free territory or slave territory, a practice known as popular sovereignty.Bleeding Kansas, Bloody Kansas or the Border War was a series of violent political confrontations in the United States between anti-slavery and pro-slavery in Kansas.In all, approximately 55 people died in Bleeding Kansas. -
John Brown's Raid
Abolitionist John Brown leads a small group on a raid against a federal armory in Harpers Ferry, Virginia, in an attempt to start an armed slave revolt and destroy the institution of slavery. Brown was hanged December 2 for murder and treason against the Commonwealth of Virginia. This is considered one of the major events that ultimately led to the American Civil War. -
Election of 1860
Even though Lincoln did not win the popular vote, he won the election with a total of 180 electoral votes. Lincoln's victory prompted South Carolina to secede from the United States. They had been on the verge to secede and the outcome of the election was the last straw. The Republican Party, was opposed to the expansion of slavery. Abraham Lincoln, the party's nominee in 1860, was seen as a moderate on slavery, but Southerners vowed to leave the Union if he was elected. -
Population (North)
One advantage that the North had over the South was population. At the beginning of the war the Northern states had a combined population of 22 million people. The Southern states had a combined population of about 9 million. This difference was reflected in the size of the armies in the field. The Union forces outnumbered the Confederates roughly two to one. Although the South had an advantage in military leadership. -
Lincoln's 10% Plan
The Ten-Percent Plan was Lincoln's blueprint for Reconstruction. This included the Ten-Percent Plan, which specified that a southern state could be readmitted into the Union once 10 percent of its voters swore an oath of allegiance to the Union. The ten percent plan, was formally the Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction -
Trent Affair
The Trent Affair was a diplomatic incident in 1861 during the American Civil War that threatened a war between the United States and the United Kingdom. Captain Charles Wilkes, commanding the Union, seized from the neutral British ship Trent two Confederate commissioners, James Murray Mason and John Slidell, who were seeking the support of England and France for the cause of the Confederacy. -
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The Civil War
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Military Leadership (South)
One of the South's advantage for the Confederates was that they had great civil war generals. The army did not have a formal overall military commander, or general-in-chief, until late in the war. The Confederate President, Jefferson Davis, himself a former U.S. Army officer and U.S. Secretary of War, served as commander-in-chief and provided the strategic direction for Confederate land and naval forces. Among great skilled civil war generals were Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, etc. -
Freedman's Bureau
Freedmen’s Bureau, was established by Congress to help former black slaves and poor whites in the South after the U.S. Civil War. About 4 million slaves gained their freedom as a result of the Union victory in the war, which left many communities in ruins and destroyed the South’s plantation-based economy. The Freedmen’s Bureau provided food, housing and medical aid, established schools and offered legal assistance. -
White Resistance
After the Civil War, Republicans believed former slaves would need support from the federal government to protect their new rights. Many white Southerners disagreed, often taking violent action to intimidate African Americans. White resistance groups such as the Ku Klux Klan formed.. The democrats wanted to overthrow the Republican Party in Mississippi by means of organized threats of violence and suppression or purchase of the black vote. Enforcement acts protected their voting rights. -
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Reconstruction
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Election of 1868
Democrats nominated former New York Governor Horatio Seymour to take on the Republican candidate, Civil War general Ulysses S. Grant. Republican Ulysses S. Grant defeated Democrat Horatio Seymour. As three of the former Confederate states (Texas, Mississippi, and Virginia) were not yet restored to the Union, their electors could not vote in the election. It was the first election in which African Americans could vote in every Northern or Reconstructed Southern state -
Panic of 1873
The Panic of 1873 was a financial crisis that triggered a depression in Europe and North America that lasted even longer in some countries.There was the railroad boom that could not be sustained and built on borrowed money. Huge amounts of money were required to build railroad. During the war the US government had issued millions of dollars.In the US there was an effort to redeem the greenbacks with money backed by silver or gold. Doing this created a currency shortage. -
Mississippi Plan
The State government was trying to prevent Black political participation using this strategy. This plan was used by the Democratic Party to violently overthrow the Republican party. By using organized violence to redeem the state of Mississippi. This plan was also adopted by democrats in South Carolina and Louisiana. -
Jim Crow
Jim Crow law, in U.S. history, any of the laws that enforced racial segregation in the South between the end of Reconstruction in 1877 and the beginning of the civil rights movement in the 1950s. The laws affected almost every aspect of daily life, mandating segregation of schools, parks, libraries, drinking fountains, restrooms, buses, trains, and restaurants.
