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Period: 30,000 BCE to
Beginnings to exploration
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12,600 BCE
Bering Land Bridge
The Bering Land Bridge was formed by a narrow ocean channel called the Bering Strait. During the ice age, sea levels dropped and a land bridge emerged and connected North America and Asia. The first Americans who came to the Bering Land Bridge was around 27,000 years ago. It allowed people from Asia to come to North America. The Bering Land Bridge is over 1,000 miles wide and it is thought to have disappeared about 14,500 years ago. -
1300
The Renaissance - Technology
The Renaissance was a time of innovation and improvement. Technologies such as eyeglasses and clocks were created. Weapon improvements also happened such as guns, cannon, and other weapons were improved to shoot farther. The printing press was a major invention created during the renaissance period that helped mass produced literacy. Telescope were also created and would help revolutionize the science industry. -
1347
The Black Death
The Black Death was a disease that killed over 60 percent of Europe's entire population in the 14th century. Europeans were not prepared to face the disease which lead to poor medical treatments causing the survival rate to be extremely low. Some symptoms were fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and pain. The disease was spread by fleas who later passed it to rats. It had an enormous impact on Europe society that would later transform Europe from the medieval period to the Early Modern period. -
1492
Cristopher Columbus, 4 voyages
Christopher Columbus made four trips across the Atlantic Ocean from Spain. His first trip began in 1492 which followed with his second trip in 1493. His third trip began in 1498 and his final trip started in 1502. His mission behind these voyages was because he wanted to find a direct water route to Asia. His voyages were not successful and he never found a route to Asia, instead he accidentally landed on the Americas. -
1492
The Year 1492 - Jews
In the fourteenth century Jews were tolerated in Spain. On 1492, Spain expelled Jews from their lands. Spain was resentful towards Jews they believed that Jews had killed Jesus. They were also accused for starting the Black Death in Toledo, Spain. They required Jews to live in selected neighborhoods and they had to wear yellow badges so they could be identified. Spain also forbid Jews to practice certain professions. -
Period: 1492 to
Colonial America to 1763
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Jun 7, 1494
Treaty of Tordesillas
The Treaty of Tordesillas was an agreement between Spain and Portugal on 1494. This agreement tried to settled the conflicts over the newly discovered lands that were explored by Christoper Columbus and other voyagers. The treaty sai the following, everything west of the Cape Verde Islands in the Atlantic ocean was given to Spain and everything east was given to Portugal. The rest of Europe that wasn't included in this deal saw no reason to accept the decision, which resulted in constant warfare -
1502
Middle Passage
The Middle Passage were routes established in the early 1500s by the Spanish and Portuguese. This passage was used to import slaves from Africa to the New World to work on sugar plantations. This passage would take around three weeks to complete, it also had unfavorable weather conditions that could lengthen the trip even more. The Middle Passage involved many continents, which resulted in a lot of money, cargo and sugar. -
Oct 31, 1517
Martin Luther - 95 theses
Martin Luther wrote the ninety-five theses in 1517 as a protest against the selling of indulgences by the Roman Catholic Church. It included a list of questions and propositions for debate. Martin Luther nailed a copy of the 95 Theses on the door of the church so the pope and people could see. The 95 theses opened the eyes of people and the people started and the reformation of the Catholic Church started. -
Period: to
English Colonial Societies
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Chesapeake Colonists - Tobacco
Tobacco was first encountered in Virginia by English settlers. Tobacco was the most successful cash crop in Virginia, but it did come at a cost. It was a labor-intensive crop, the demand for workers increased. Most of the labor was compromised of indentured servants, it eventually got to the point where there wasn't anymore workers left. When there wasn't hardly any workers left they resorted to slaves. Many slaves were transported and put through work that wasn't paid. -
Headright System
The headright system was introduced in 1618 and was an attempt to solve the labor shortage. It stated the following, Colonist already living in Virginia were granted two headrights, New settlers who paid to come to the Colony of Virginia were granted one headright. Every person who entered the colony was given one headright this encouraged people to migrate together. The people who entered by someone paying their passage would become indentured servants and would have to work to pay of the debt. -
Navigation Act of 1651
The Navigation Act was introduced on 1651, it primarily pertained to the Dutch. This Act required all trade between England and the colonies to be carried on English boats. The Navigation Act restricted colonial trade to England and decreased foreign imported goods. Naturally people were upset which resulted to a war breaking out called the Anglo-Dutch War of 1652. These acts created serious reductions in trades for many planters and merchants. -
Nathaniel Bacon Rebellion
Nathaniel Bacon supported the removing of all Indians for the interest of territorial expansion. He also saw this as a revenge for attacks on the frontier settlements by Native Americans. In 1676 Nathaniel Bacon organized a rebellion against Virginia's Governor William Berkeley. This rebellion occurred because Nathaniel Bacon resented William Berkeley's friendly policies toward the Native Americans. -
The Enlightenment - SIr Isaac Newton
Sir Isaac Newton had a big impact on the Enlightenment. He created calculus, described gravity, and created the three laws of motion. Sir Isaac Newton was on of the most influential thinkers during the Enlightenment and still to this day. He has influenced modern society in many ways and his works have played an essential role in math, and our education. His ideas helped modernize society throughout the eighteenth century. -
The Enlightenment - John Locke
The Enlightenment was a intellectual movement that began on 1685 and later ended on 1815 which occurred in Europe. It is also know as the Age of Reason. John Locke was an English philosopher during this time period. He shared his ideas which had a great influence on the development of Epistemology and Political Philosophy. John Locke is highly regarded as on of the most influential Enlightenment thinkers of his time. -
English Bill of Rights
The Glorious Revolution occurred in England and began on 1688 and ended on 1689. The English Bill of Rights was passed by William III and Mary II who co-ruled. The bill gave civil rights and more power to the Parliament. The English Bill of Rights was also credited as being an inspiration to the U.S. Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights also included the following, a list of King James misdeeds, 13 articles that outlined freedoms, and that William III and Mary II were the rightful rulers. -
Salem Witch Trials
Salem Witch Trials Began on 1692, after a group of girls in Salem Village, Massachusetts, claimed to be possessed. The first witch to be convicted was Bridget Bishop and was hanged on June 1692. Eighteen more followed and many were accused over the next months. Many innocent people were accused and hanged, it reached a point where it got out of control. After the trial was dismissed on 1697, the court declared the trials unlawful and the leading justice publicly apologized for what happened. -
Act of Union 1707
The Act of Union was passed by the English and Scottish Parliament on 1707. The Acts joined England and Scotland into a single kingdom which lead to the creation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain. The acts came to affect on May 1, 1707, merging both kingdoms together. Before, these Acts were passed both kingdoms did not get along for centuries. Both kingdoms put that aside and agreed to a voluntary unification. -
The First Great Awakening - John Edwards
The First Great Awakening was between the 1730s and 1740s, it was a revival movement that tried to renew individual piety and religious devotion. The Great Awakening was started by John Edwards and his preaching. Many people believed his words which lead to the Great Awakening to start. John Edwards was a minister involved in the religious revival. He warned sinners that if they didn't repent they would go to Hell and that they should ask Jesus Christ for mercy. -
The First Great Awakening - George Whitefield
George Whitefield was a minister from Britain that toured the American colonies. He would tour the colonies to shout the word of God. Colonists were attracted by his words and thousands would go to hear him speak. Newspapers would announced his sermons and messengers rode to spread the news of his coming. In 15 months, a quarter of the country had heard his message, he also was a major contributor that help ignite the Great Awakening. -
Seven-Years War - Fort William Henry
The Siege of Fort William Henry was lead by French General Montcalm and took placed on August 3-9, 1757. French had 8,000 men and the British had 2,500 men. The British eventually agreed to surrendered and were allowed to keep their muskets and one cannon, but no ammunition. The French general housed the British general at the camp and explained the terms to the Native American allies. This proved to be difficult as days passed, Native Americans looted the fort and killed many of the British. -
Period: to
The American Industrial Revolution
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Period: to
The Revolutionary War
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Treaty of Paris - 1763
The Treaty of Paris, was signed on February 10, 1763. This Treaty ended the French and Indian War or also know as the Seven Years' War. This war was between Great Britain and France and their allies. The treaty included the following, France had to give up all its territories to Britain, this also ended foreign military threat to the British. This destroyed France as an American power. Britain restored to France the West Indian islands of Guadeloupe, Martinique, Marie-Galante, and Desirade. -
Sugar Act of 1764
On April 5, 1764, English Parliament passed the Sugar Act of 1764. This Act was a re modified version of the Sugar Act of 1733 that was about to end. The Sugar Act of 1764 tried to stop the smuggling trade in sugar and molasses from the French and Dutch. It was a tax on sugar and molasses on imported goods to the 13 colonies. This Act reduced the rate of tax compared to the previous Sugar Act, but American colonists were still angered that they were being taxed. -
Townshend Act of 1767
The Townshend Acts were a series of Acts that were passed by the British Parliament in 1767. The purpose of the Acts were to put a tax on imported goods to the American Colonies. American colonists were outraged by this and saw it as the British Parliament abusing there power. The protests eventually got out of control causing the British to sent troops to the colonies and would eventually ignite the start of the American Revolutionary War. -
Boston Massacre - Paul Revere
The Boston Massacre was a riot that turned deadly and occurred on March 5, 1770. It began when American colonist were having an argument and harassing British troops. Paul Revere produced a historic engraving three weeks after the Boston Massacre and named it "The Bloody Massacre In King-Street." It is regarded as one of the most effective pieces of war propaganda in American history. The piece wasn't an accurate depiction of what actually happened on that day. -
Boston Tea Party - Drunk "Indians"
The Boston Tea Party was a political protest against the taxes that the British Parliament passed. This protest occurred on December 16, 1773. A few American colonists that were drunk decided to dress up as Indians and dumped chests of British tea into the Boston Harbor. In total 342 chest of British tea were dumped and it acted as a major act of defiance against Britain. This protest showed that American colonists weren't going to openingly accept taxes forced on them. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
On April 19, 1775 about 700 British soldiers received orders to take colonial military supplies. The patriots were aware that their supplies were at risk, and were able to move the supplies before the British arrived. The reason is called the "shot heard 'round the world" is because the first shots were fired there in Lexington, Massachusetts. About 500 colonial militia try to defend the place but were outnumbered and forced to retreat. The British reached concord but didn't find any supplies. -
The Declaration of Independence - Thomas Jefferson
The Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson that declared the thirteen American colonies free from Great Britain. Great Britain wasn't going to let the colonists leave easily. Thomas Jefferson wrote at least three drafts and the ideas he expressed were the following, All men are created equal, All men have god given rights, and Government must be by the consent of the governed. It know as "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was the first constitution of the United States, and was adopted on November 15,1777. The Articles of Confederation was filled errors most notably the government had no power to impose, only sate governments could impose taxes. The states had the most power which created a weak central government. They also lacked centralized military power which made it difficult to stop rebellions like the Shays's Rebellion. -
Period: to
Cultural Changes
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Treaty of Paris - 1783
The Treaty of Paris of 1783 was signed in Paris by Great Britain and United States representatives on September 3,1783. This treaty marked the end of the American Revolutionary War. The treaty also formally acknowledged the independence of the United States, U.S boundaries were also established, and marked the end of Great Britain in North America. Great Britain also ceded a vast are called the Northwest Territory to the United States. -
Steam Power Engines
The steam engine was originally created by Newcomen and was improved by James Watt in 1785. James Watt made the steam engine more efficient and required less fuel. During the industrial revolution the steam engine was used in factories for power and replaced water power. This made it to where factories could relocate anywhere because they didn't need to rely on the rivers anymore. The steam engine also revolutionized transportation in the U.S. -
Shay's Rebellion
Shays' Rebellion were attacks on courthouses and other government properties that took place in Massachusetts. The attacks took place between August 31, 1786 through June 1787. Shays' Rebellion outlined the problems that the Articles of Confederation had and that made people call for a new constitution to be made. It began because farmers who fought in the Revolutionary War had received little compensation and where struggling. Many farmers were losing there land and that ignited the rebellion. -
Constitutional Convention - Virginia Plan
The Virginia Plan was proposed in the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and was drafted by James Madison. The biggest question from the convention was, should we keep the Articles of Confederation and fix them or get rid of them. That's when the Virginia Plan came in the plan was for amending the Articles of Confederation and proposed to creating an entirely new form of government, it wanted a strong central government, and proposed three branches that are legislative, executive, and judicial. -
Constitutional Convention - New Jersey Plan
The New Jersey Plan was also created at the Constitutional Convention, but was proposed by someone else named William Paterson. The New Jersey Plan is also refereed as the Small State Plan and proposed keeping the Articles of Confederation. It had 11 resolutions and some main ideas were to restore the legislative structure of the Articles, each state was equal regardless of population size, power to tax, and regulate interstate commerce. -
Judicial Branch
The judicial branch was created in a Philadelphia convention on 1787. The branch stated that the judicial power of the United States should be assigned to one supreme court. In simple terms the judicial branch established the supreme court. The supreme court would be the top court in the United States and it's main job would be to interpret the Constitution. The supreme court would decide who is correct. -
The Great Debate - Federalists
The Great Debate occurred at the Constitutional Convention of 1787, it was Federalist V.S. Anti-Federalists. Federalists were led by Alexander Hamilton and supported the Constitution. The Federalists were the first political party of the United States and attempted to convince the States to ratify the constitution. In there attempt they published a series of essays called the Federalist Papers that tried to promote the ratification of the constitution. -
Steamboats
The steamboat was invention that became widely popular and was first introduced in 1787, by John Fitch. The steamboat had twelve paddles and was propelled by a steam engine this invention profoundly affected the Industrial Revolution. The steamboat made it more efficient to transport goods and products that weren't previously accessible by land. The invention of the steamboat is regarded for igniting the start of the Industrial Revolution. -
Period: to
The Constitution
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Northwest Ordinance
The Northwest Ordinance was passed on July 13, 1787 by congress. It provided Northwest territories a method for admitting themselves as a new state for the Union and granted a bill of rights for the territory. The Northwest Ordinance also stated the following, that slavery was forbidden in any Northwest Territory that was acquired from Mexico and also made the Ohio River a natural border line that showed between free and slave states. -
Election of 1788
The Election of 1788 was the first presidential election who saw George Washington get unanimously elected. After George Washington became president he held his first cabinet meeting on February 25, 1793. His cabinet consisted of only four departments that were, State, Treasury, War, and Attorney General. The cabinet had no distinct separation of powers between the executive and the legislature. Jefferson was sectary of state, Hamilton of treasury, Knox of war, and Randolph attorney general. -
Period: to
New Republic
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The Second Great Awakening
The Second Great Awakening was a religious revival in the United States that began on 1790. The Second Great Awakening lead to the establishments of reform movements that were created to address injustices and relief suffering. Some movements that were created were, the Temperance Movement, Women's suffrage Movement, and the Abolitionist Movement. The awakening was a period of social reform and an emphasis on salvation. -
Whiskey Rebellion - First test
The Whiskey Rebellion was a protest during the presidency of George Washington that put the U.S. constitution through its first test. It began in 1791 and ended in 1794 over a tax on liquor that angered colonists. Before the rebellion got out of hand George Washington and his troops went to Pennsylvania to stop it and it was a successful Armed resistance with no blood shed. The rebellion put the constitution through it's first test and successful passed and proved that the government had power. -
Bank of the United States
The Bank of the United States was established in 1791 that was created to help pay of the debt of the Revolutionary War. It was signed by George Washington and built in Philadelphia. Now with a newly established bank the government now had federal funds to pay off the debt. The Bank of the United States was controversial and only lasted until 1836. Andrew Jackson destroyed the bank and removed all federal funds from the bank after he was reelected in 1832. -
Bill of Rights
The U.S. Constitution had a Bill of Rights and was ratified in 1791. The Bill of Rights was to provide rights to the citizens and limit the power of the government. It had ten amendments to begin with and they were, Freedom of Speech, right to Bear Arms, no quartering soldiers, no unreasonable search and seizures, protection of rights, the right of speedy and public trial, the right of trial, no excessive fines and punishments, right of people, right to state. -
Cotton Gin
In 1794, Eli Whitney patented the cotton gin that revolutionized the production of cotton. The invention greatly sped up the process of separating the cotton seeds from the cotton fiber cotton which attributed to faster production and it also required less labor. The growing of Cotton became immensely profitable, this greatly increased the demand for land and although it required less labor it also increased the demand for slave labor. -
Jay's Treaty
United States and Great Britain representatives signed Jay's Treaty on November 19, 1794. This treaty tried to settle the issues between the two countries that were left unresolved before the Revolutionary war ended. The treaty's main point was that the U.S. would evacuate the Northwest Territory by June 1, 1796. Jay's treaty was largely unpopular and barely passed through but it gave them peace with Great Britain. -
XYZ Affair
The XYZ Affair was a diplomatic incident with French diplomats that resulted in a undeclared war know as the Quasi-War. The war was mostly fought at sea from 1798 to 1800 and resulted in the Convention of 1800. French and U.S. negotiators restored peace at the convention and created the Treaty of Mortefontaine. The XYZ Affair mostly started because the U.S. attempted to prevent war with Great Britain, but negotiations did not go smoothly. -
Kentucky Resolutions
The Kentucky Resolutions was a political statement drafted from 1798 to 1799. It stated that the federal Alien and Sedition Acts were unconstitutional. The Kentucky Resolution was written by Thomas Jefferson and declared that states had the power to nullify unconstitutional federal laws. The resolutions were passed by the state legislature on November 16, 1798 and argued that the national government was a compact between the states. -
Yeoman Farmers
Yeoman Farmers was a society that was around the 19th century. In terms of there place in the society it varied between each farmer. Yeomen Farmers owned modest farms and worked primarily with their family. Some of them owned small lands and their wealth and size varied. Since they focused on agricultural they benefited from the inventions of the industrial revolution like the cotton gin and steel plow. They could also transport and sell goods more efficiently than before. -
Period: to
The Age of Jefferson
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Period: to
Westward Expansion
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Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was a deal between the United States and France that gave approximately 827,000 square miles of land west of the Mississippi River to the U.S. The Louisiana Purchase was bought for $15 million and gave U.S. control of the Mississippi River and New Orleans. New Orleans benefited the U.S. greatly and was used as a port city that farmers used to ship their crops. This purchased was a little controversial to Jefferson and people questioned if the purchase was constitutional. -
Embargo Act of 1807
The Embargo Act of 1807 was passed by congress and signed by Thomas Jefferson on December 22, 1807. This act prohibited American ships from trading in foreign ports. The Embargo Act was unpopular and was a costly failure that hurt the American economy and resulted in people smuggling. Just 3 days before Jefferson left office in 1809, Congress repealed the Embargo Act of 1807 and replaced it with the Non-Intercourse Act that reopened trade, but except with Britain and France. -
Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail was laid by traders and occurred between 1811 to 1840. The cross the trail you either needed to be on foot or by horse. The Oregon Trail was about a 2,000 mile route from Missouri to Oregon City that was used by thousands of American pioneers. The trip took roughly about five to six months to complete and was no easy task. American pioneers took wagons with them to carry supplies and usually began the trip between April through May to reach before winter began. -
Battle of New Orleans
The Battle of New Orleans took place after the war ended on December 24, 1814. The news of the war ending and the signing of the Treaty of Ghent was too slow to reach them before the battle took place. Even though, the Battle of New Orleans took place after the war it is still regarded as one of the greatest American victory of the war. The one that commanded the U.S. side in the Battle of New Orleans was General Andrew Jackson. -
The Second Bank of the United States
The Second Bank of the United States was created after the War of 1812 that had left a significant debt on the U.S., President Madison signed the bill that authorized the bank. The charter lasted 20 years and was given the same responsibilities and powers as the First Bank. The bank was not successful and Andrew Jackson strongly opposed it. The bank did not survive like the first one and was removed by Andrew Jackson, the removal was referred as the Bank War. -
Panic of 1819
The Panic of 1819 occurred after the War of 1812 and was the first major financial crisis that the United States had faces. During this period it featured many foreclosures, bank failures, unemployment's, and a decline in agriculture and manufacturing. People were forced out of their homes and their farms due to the falling prices. The Second Bank of America policies were blamed for starting the Panic of 1819. -
Adams-Onis Treaty (1819)
The Adams-Onis Treaty of also referred as the Transcontinental Treaty was passed in 1819. This treaty was between Spain and the United States that gave Florida to the U.S. and determined the boundary between the U.S. and Spain. Spain received no compensation for Florida, but the United States agreed to pay $5 million in damage done by American citizens. The United States also agreed to recognized Spanish sovereignty over Texas. -
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was an effort to preserve the power in Congress between slave and free states. The Missouri Compromised was passed in 1820 and admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state. Before the Missouri Compromise was passed the United States was evenly divided between slave and free and by admitting Missouri it would have broke the balance. Passing the Missouri Compromise allowed the U.S. to maintain the balance between free and slave states. -
Thomas Dew
Thomas Dew was born on 1802 and died 1846, he supported slavery. His pro-slavery arguments offered his evidence on why slavery was not bad. He believed slavery was not a sin and that Jesus was not against slavery. In Dew's views he believed masters treated slaves with kindness and fairness and that slaves should respond with gratefully obey their orders. Thomas Dew also believed that the relationship between master and slave was like that of a parent and a child. -
Greek Revival
The Greek Revival was an architectural movement that began in the late 18th century, it occurred mainly in Northern Europe and the United States. They took elements of classical Greek architecture and used them in a variety of buildings such as houses, schools, churches, banks, commercial buildings, and government buildings. Classical Greek architecture elements where also used for furniture and interior designs. The revival lasted until the 1860s. -
Period: to
Age of Jackson
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Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine stated the U.S. policy towards the Western Hemisphere. It was created by President James Monroe in December 1823 and said the following, It warned European nations that the United States would not tolerate further colonization of the Western Hemisphere and any attempt of colonization would be seen as a hostile act towards the U.S. It also said that the U.S. would not interfere with internal affairs of European powers. -
Corrupt Bargain
The Corrupt Bargain took place during the period of the election of 1824. The people running at the election of 1824 were John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson. During this time the speaker of the house was Henry Clay and is believed that he convinced congress to elect Adams over Jackson. Clay was also named Secretary of State with the deal and Andrew Jackson became furious. Jackson and his supporters denounced the deal as a "corrupt bargain" -
Lowell Mills
The Lowell mills began in the 1826, it was a factory for girls that approximately employed over 8,000 workers. The Lowell mills became the center of the Industrial Revolution. The Mill Girls were between the ages of 15 and 35 and usually single. They were tasked to operate the looms and other machinery and weren't paid that much for there work. This system was employed by the United States and got inspiration particularly for New England. -
Spoils Systems
After Andrew Jackson won the Election of 1828, he introduced the spoils system. The spoils system was when the president appointed people to government jobs that were specifically loyal to him or that were relatives to him. He prioritized loyalty over education and experience for the jobs. The reason for introducing the system was because Jackson believed the government was full of people that opposed him and he wanted to get rid of them. -
Age of the Common Man - Voting
During the Jacksonian Era, white men who didn't own land was giving the right to vote. Before this era, you needed to own land to vote. During the Jacksonian Era, the United States transformed into a mass democracy, in which it gave white men of all classes the right to vote. The reason for this change was because Andrew Jackson's presidency was catered to the "common man" that allowed Americas democracy to flourished. -
Indian Removal Act of 1830
The Indian Removal Act was passed and signed by President Andrew Jackson on May 28, 1830. This act gave the president power to relocate Native Americans in the east to lands west of the Mississippi River. Some Natives Americans left peacefully and others resisted on the relocation. Since some Native tribes resisted the President passed the Treaty of New Echota that forcibly removed Native Americans from their lands. -
Nat Turner's Rebellion
Nat Turner's Rebellion was a slave rebellion that took place in Southampton County, Virginia. It began on August 1831, and was led by Nat Turner, he recruited other slaves to help his cause. Between 55 and 65 people were killed and at lest 51 were white, it ranged from women, men, and even children no one was safe. Nat Turner's Rebellion raised southern fears of slave uprisings occurring again therefore causing the creation of the slave codes that would put harsh restrictions on slaves. -
American Anti-Slavery Society
The American Anti-Slavery Society was an abolitionist society created by William Llyod Garrison. A key leader of the society was Frederick Douglas who was an escaped slave. The main goal of this society was to end slavery in the United States. They called for the creation of a new government that prohibits slavery and also claimed that the constitution was illegal because it denied African Americans their freedom. -
New York Female Reform Society
The New York Female Reform Society was established on 1834 and was lead by Lydia A. Finney. This society was created with just one main purpose that was, the prevention of prostitution in New York. The society fought against males that encouraged prostitution and as they progressed they realized more could be done. They began to help women who were already in the profession of prostitution by providing other means of work and gave them support when it was needed. -
Telegraph
The telegraph was developed between the 1830s and 1840s by Samuel Morse. The telegraph revolutionized long-distance communication meaning that it wouldn't take weeks or even years to deliver a message. The messages were electrically transmitted and messages were by Morse code. The telegraphed improved American life and made it easier to spread the news to countries and even foreign countries making people more aware of what's going around the world. -
Temperance Movement
The Temperance Movement was the first serious anti-alcohol movement that took place in the United States. The movement stated between the 1830s and 1840s. People began asking people to sign pledges that stated that they would restrain from drinking intoxicating beverages. As the movement grew and went on the goal was changed from a voluntary to a complete prohibition of the selling of alcohol and drinking. -
The siege of Bexar (San Antonio)
The siege of Bexar was the first major campaign of the Texas Revolution and took place from October until early December 1835. The army that laid the siege consisted of Texan volunteers, and planed to carry out in San Antonio de Bexar. Mexicans had superior numbers therefore they did not anticipate the attack. Until early December, the forces continued fighting with no significant gains. On the ninth of December the Mexican army was forced to retreat to the Alamo. -
The Battle of Gonzales
The Battle of Gonzales was the first military engagement of the Texas Revolution. It took place on the small town of Gonzales in October 2, 1835. The battle was a small skirmish between Texan settlers and Mexican soldiers, and only resulted in one dead Mexican soldier. The battle started because colonists refused to surrender the small cannon that was given to them. Although, the battle only resulted in one casualty, this battle would mark the start of the war for Texas Independence. -
The Battle of Goliad
The Battle of Goliad was the second battle of the Texas Revolution and took place on October 9, 1835. It was a small skirmish that resulted in Texan victory. This victory would rally the people of Texas into believing they had a chance to win independence from Mexico. Both the first and second skirmishes were Texan victory, this would show Mexico that Texans were serious of wining their independence and that it was time to get serious too. -
Panic of 1837
The Panic of 1837 was another financial crises in the United States. The Panic of 1837 was influenced by the economic policies of President Andrew Jackson. The removal of the Second Bank of the United States was a cause for the Panic of 1837. During this period prices, profits, and wages significantly decreased while unemployment's rised. The Panic of 1837 was a mojor recession for the United States that ended until the mid-1840s. -
Trail of Tears
As part of Andrew Jackson's Indian removal policy, he forcibly removed the Cherokee nation and made them migrate to present-day Oklahoma. This journey occurred between 1838 and 1839, it was called the Trail of Tears due to the devastating effects it had. Around 16,000 Native Americans marched over 1,200 miles of land to reach Oklahoma and over 4,000 died during this journey, Disease, famine, and warfare attributed to their deaths. -
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Sectionalism
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Wilmot Proviso
The Wilmot Proviso was proposed by David Wilmot and prohibited the expansion of slavery into any territory acquired by the U.S. from Mexico. The Wilmot Proviso wasn't largely approved by people therefore barely passing through the House of Representatives, but was later defeated in the Senate. The conflict caused by the Wilmot proviso was one of the major events leading to the Civil War and disputes over slavery would continue until the Compromise of 1850. -
Mormon Migration
The Mormon migration began on 18467 to escape religious discrimination. The first group of Mormon settlers left and headed west along the California Trail. The group consisted of 148 people, they traveled on horseback and pulled wagons for three months. They finally arrived on July 22 at Salt Lake Valley. The first major wave of Mormon migration was about 3,000 people. They started their journey on Nauvoo in early February and crossed the frozen Mississippi River, their suffering was intense. -
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24,1848 when gold was discovered in California. The news of gold triggered the largest mass migration in American history, it brought over about 300,000 people to California. The increase of population led to California admitting as a free state. Only a minority of miners became rich from the Californian Gold Rush. The Gold Rush also brought over people who took advantage of the situation and started selling over-priced food, supplies and services. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed between the United States and Mexico on February 2, 1848. This treaty officially marked the end of the Mexican-American War. The Westerd Expansion officialy came to an end after the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, because Mexico ceded incredible amounts of land to the United States. Mexico agreed to give the U.S. Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Colorado and Wyoming. The U.S. agreed to pay $15 million for the lands. -
Seneca Falls Convetion
Seneca Falls Convention was the first women's rights convention that took place in the United States. It was held on July 1848 in Seneca Falls, New York. The convention presented 11 resolutions for women's rights and all were passed except the ninth resolution. The ninth resolution demanded the right to vote for women. It was a convention that described women's grievances and demands and was lead by five women that were also involved in the abolitionist movement. -
Fugitive Slave Act of 1850
The Fugitive Slave Act was passed by congress on September 18, 1850.The Fugitive Slave Act was part of the Compromise of 1850 that provided the return of runaway slaves. The new law forced citizens to assist in the capture of runaway saves, and could face consequences if they didn't obey. It also denied slaves the right to trial and increased penalties for slaves. The act was met with criticism and resistance and would become a major event that ignited the Civil War. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
The Uncle Tom's Cabin was published on 1852, and was the best-selling novel of the 19th century. The author was Harriet Beecher Stowe and wrote it due to the reaction of the recently tightened fugitive slave laws. It was an anti-slavery novel that caused people in the North to become even more opposed over slavery. The growing attitude against slavery in the North caused by the novel is regarded as a major contributor that help start the Civil War. -
Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas was a series of violent confrontations that occurred in the United States between 1854 and 1861. It was started over a debate that discussed the legality of slavery in Kansas. Some people believe Bleeding Kansas was one of the first battles of the Civil War, because it was a battle between forces of anti-slavery and the forces of pro-slavery. This event would later be one of the causes that lead to the disintegration of the Union. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed by congress on May 30, 1854. It gave the freedom to the people to decide for themselves whether Kansas and Nebraska was a slave or free state. It also repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820 that prohibited slavery north of the latitude 36 30. The Kansas-Nebraska Act wanted to end the conflict over slavery, instead it became a battleground over slavery. The new republican party was also born due to the hostility over slavery caused by the act. -
Harper's Ferry Raid
The Harper's Ferry Raid was an armed assault that was started by a group of abolitionists led by John Brown. The raid on Harper's Ferry was a plan devised by John Brown that involved attacking the Untied States arsenal at Harper's Ferry, Virginia. He hoped that by capturing the arsenal the news would spread and reach slaves. Then, by hearing the new slaves would start a massive rebellion and join up with John Brown at Harper's Ferry. The raid was not successful and the slaves never showed up. -
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was form when southern states started leaving the union. By February 1861, seven states had seceded from the union. In total 11 southern states seceded from the union and formed a separate government. Abraham Lincoln tried to bring the states back to the union, but nothing worked. Lincoln was not going to allowed it, so finally the Civil War starts. The Confederate States of America only lasted until the end of the Civil War, with a confederate loss. -
The Trent Affair
The Trent Affair was a diplomatic incident that took place during the American Civil War in 1861. This affair threatened the possibility of a war between the United States and the United Kingdom. This diplomatic incident was started because the U.S. Navy illegally captured two Confederate diplomats from a British Ship. The United Kingdom protested fiercely and accused the United States of violating the British Neutrality. -
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The Civil War
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Siege of Vicksburg
The Siege of Vicksburg was one of the Union's most successful victories during the Civil War. It was a long naval campaign by Union soldiers and the primary objective was to capture Vicksburg, Mississippi, so they could use it as a key strategic position during the Civil War. About 4,800 Union soldiers died and around 3,000 for the confederates, but nearly 30,000 confederate soldiers were captured. Lastly, the battle split the Confederacy in two. -
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863. This document declared that any individual that owns slaves within the rebellious states are to be set free. The Emancipation Proclamation did not free all slaves and was only issued as a military measure. Union states that remained loyal to the Union were allowed to keep their slaves. This document also tied the issue of slavery directly to the Civil War. -
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Reconstruction
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Conscription Act
During the Civil War the U.S. congress passed the Conscription Act that produced the first wartime draft. It forced registration on all males between the ages of 20 and 45 to enroll in the Union Army. If you wanted to avoid the draft you could pay $300 to become exempted. The Conscription Act was not well received and lead to bloody riots. The people were outraged because effectively only the wealthiest citizens could be exempted from the draft. -
The Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg began on July 1 and ended on July 3, 1863. The battle was fought at the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and is considered the turning point of the Civil War. Confederate forces were force to retreat and never recovered. This was a much needed win for Abraham Lincoln and the union, now with the tide of the Civil War turning to their favor Lincoln could have some relief. Approximately 51,00 soldiers were killed and wounded. -
The Gettysburg Address
The Gettysburg Address was a speech delivered by the President Abraham Lincoln on November 19, 1863. He commemorated the soldiers who had fought and died for the Civil War. A cemetery was also created for Union soldiers who where killed at the Battle of Gettysburg. President Abraham Lincoln speech only took 2 minutes and was 272 words long, but is was highly praised and now it's regarded as one of the best speeches ever written. -
Wade-Davis Bill
The Wade-Davis Bill required that 50 percent of a state's white males to take a loyalty oath to be readmitted to the Union. States were also required to give African Americans the right to vote. This bill was passed in 1864 by Radical Republicans. Radical Republicans believed that the people who ceded from the union needed to be punished for it. The bill also called for a complete abolition of slavery so it wouldn't continue after the war. -
Black Codes
The Black Codes were passed by the Southern states beginning from 1865 and ending on 1866. The laws were passed with the intent of restricting African Americans freedom. The Black Codes in a way reinstated slavery in the United States. The Black Codes angered many Northerners, who argued that the codes violated the principles of free labor. Lastly, with the Black Codes in place whites were able to continue their supremacy over African Americans. -
13th Amendment
The 13th Amendment was added to the U.S. constitution and was ratified on December 6, 1865. Lincoln believed that a constitutional amendment was needed to completely destroy slavery. The 13th Amendment abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States. It would only be allowed as a punishment for a crime. There was little opposition, but it was able to be enforced. Slavery was essentially destroyed by the end of the Civil War. -
14th Amendment
The 14th Amendment was ratified by the United States on July 28, 1868. This newly passed amendment granted citizenship to all people born in the United States. This included former slaves who recently gained their freedom after the Civil War. The 14th Amendment also forbid states from restricting the basic rights of citizens. It may have granted people equal protection of the laws, but in the early Supreme Court cases that involved the 14th amendment it was often limited. -
Panic of 1873
The Panic of 1873 was a financial crises during the Reconstruction Era and lasted from 1873 until 1879. During this period people started focusing on themselves rather than on the Reconstruction. This occurred around the country, but especially in the South, business failures started occurring, unemployment's, and increased racial tensions in the south. The Panic of 1873 was a major contributor that helped bring the Reconstruction to an end. -
Mississippi Plan
The Mississippi Plan was a plan devised by the Democratic Party in Mississippi to overthrow the Republican Party and began in 1875. The plan would be carried out by means of violent threats, suppression, and preventing black votes. The Democratic Party devised this plan because they wanted to regain political control of the legislature. The Democrats wanted to prevent Black political participation, so the plan went in to effect. -
Compromise of 1877
The Compromise of 1877 settled the disputed 1876 U.S. presidential election. It was a secret deal that ensured Rutherford Hayes would become the next president and that the Democrats would regain their political power. In this deal it was also agreed upon that the Republicans would remove the last remaining troops from the south. The Compromise of 1877 resolved the presidential election of 1876 and formally brought an end to the Reconstruction Era.
