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Period: 30,000 BCE to
Beginnings to Exploration
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2000 BCE
Maya
The Mayans lived in Mesoamerica, which is modern-day Mexico and Central America. They did not have a central king ruling the empire. The Mayans were skilled farmers, weavers, and potters. The Ancient Mayan were very religious and did rituals and ceremonies. One of their rituals were human sacrifices. They did bloodletting, ballgame, and a calendar. They had a caste system-nobles and priest were at the top, warriors and traders were in the middle class, and farmers and slaves were at the bottom. -
1300 BCE
Aztecs
The Aztecs were nomads until they settled in the Valley of Mexico. Their city capital is called Tenochtitlan. During this time, Tenochtitlan was one of the greatest cities in the world. Their main diet was maize, similar to corn and cocoa bean. They had pyramids and temples built within their empire. They also had priests who would do human sacrifices as a part of a religious ritual. They believed in many gods and were very religious. They were conquered by the Spanish and wiped out by diseases. -
1300
The Renaissance
The renaissance started in Italy then spread across Europe during the 14th to 17th century. The word "renaissance" means "rebirth". During the renaissance there was a cultural movement for humanism, which is a philosophy where people should be educated. There were drawings that were inspired by the Greeks and Romans. The way people thought changed. Instead of religion, they had science and math to prove their thoughts and ideas. Religion was declining,however still very important to the culture. -
1347
The Black Death
The Black Death was one of the worst catastrophes and was a deadly epidemic that spread across Europe from 1347 to 1353. The disease was caused by a bacterium called Yersinia pestis. Rodents such as black rats transmitted it to human and the disease would be passed on from one person to another. The epidemic killed off more than twenty million people in Europe. Some people believed that it was God punishing them and if they live through the plague, it meant that God forgave them for their sins. -
1492
Columbian Exchange
The Columbian Exchange was a trade of ideas, culture, food, diseases, and goods from the Old World to the New World. It started when Columbus discovered the New World. The New World had goods the Old World did not have and the Old World did not have goods the New World had. Diseases and epidemics spread to the New World killing many natives who were not immune to the diseases. Commodities such as cacao bean, tobacco, and maize were exchanged along with domestic animals such as horses and cattle. -
Aug 3, 1492
Christopher Columbus's Expedition
On August 3, 1492, Columbus set sail hoping to find another route to the coast of East Asia. He took three ships named the Pinta, the Nina, and the Santa Maria. On October 12, 1492, he thought he arrived in Asia but he arrived in the West Indies he met natives. When he made his discovery, he went back and told the King of Spain. He made three more voyages to the New World. However, he did not really know he discovered the New World. When he died on he thought he found a shortcut to Asia. -
1517
Reformation
The Reformation is a time when people split from the Catholic church creating a new kind of Christianity called Protestantism. This occurred during the Renaissance time period. A reformer named Martin Luther broke away from the Catholic Church and created the 95 theses. People started to believe that the Catholic Church was corrupt and they broke away along with Martin Luther. Another reformer named John Calvin created Calvinism when he broke away from the church. They believed in predestination -
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English Colonial Societies
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Slaves
Pirate was the first to bring slaves. Slaves were used for sugar and tobacco plantations. They used slaves because it was cheaper than having indentured servants. Majority of the slaves were Native Americans until they died to the epidemics. The Europeans decided to get slaves from Africa to work on their plantations in the new world to harvest crops. Tobacco was the main cash crop which came from the Caribbean to Virginia. Sugar made the most money and the Europeans so they had a ton of slaves. -
Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact was created by Pilgrims who left Europe to the New World for religious freedom. When they arrived in New England they decided to make a compact to maintain order and not have future conflicts in the society because people could not agree. The Mayflower Compact gave them the right to settle. The Mayflower compact explained how the colony would be run. It was signed by 41 men that were on the Mayflower ship. It was the first document to be signed in the land of the Americas. -
Massachusetts
Massachusetts was founded by Puritans who left England to go to the New World. They left to the New World to have religious freedom because they disagreed with the beliefs in the Church of England. The Puritans wanted to purify the church in Massachusetts. They were led by John Winthrop. Plymouth was the first permanent colony in Massachusetts which was successful. The Puritans were well educated. They also decided to have John Winthrop become their governor; the colony was self-governing. -
Indentured Servitude
Indentured servitudes were people who wanted to go to the new world but were not financially stable. They had a contract to work on plantations for people who needed workers on their farm. Men and women signed contracts to work for four to seven years in exchange for food, shelter, and clothing. Indentured servants were mainly poor people. They would work on tobacco plantations. When they were done the employers would give them tools and clothes to help them out when the contract was over. -
Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution began in 1688 and was a bloodless revolution. It started when James II who was a Catholic monarch ruling a nation of Protestants. The colonies were independent but he wanted a Spanish styled government. He placed new taxes, made settlers reapply for new land, and laws that favored Catholics. Many people were angry and wanted to overthrow him. This resulted in parliament telling his daughter Mary II and her husband, William III kicking him out and ruling themselves. -
Salem Witch Trails
The Salem Witch Trials took place in Salem in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1692 and 1693 when people were being accused of being possessed by the devil. The Puritans believed that witchcraft was occurring in the town. Many were being accused and executed for being witches. Two young girls named Betty Parris and Abigail Williams started the witch trials. When the trial was over, 20 people were executed. Many people died from being hanged. The Salem Witch Trials ended in 1693. -
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Colonial America
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John Locke
John Locke was an English philosopher and the Father of Liberalism.during the Enlightenment. He was born on August 29,1632, and died on October 28, 1704. He gave the idea of the natural right of man. John Locke helped shape the government we live in today. He wanted people to know that all men were created equal. In the Constitution and Declaration of Independence, the founding father used Locke's idea. He said all people have basic rights. We had the right to life, own property, and liberty. -
Act of Union
The Act of Union in 1707 was a negotiation between the Parliament of England and Parliament of Scotland. They wanted to stop the competition between each other and become a single unified country. Parliament was the head of the empire, not the king. The colonies had local control. The federal system had different levels of government, which were the central authority and the local government. They created the United Kingdom of Great Britain. The act took effect on May 1, 1707. -
Triangular Trade
The Triangular Trade was an exchange of goods. Goods were being sent and from the colonies. It was voyages from England to Africa, Africa to the New World, and the New World to England. There were raw materials from the colonies such as sugar and cotton being exchanged, along with manufactured products from England. Lastly, from Africa, there were slaves being sent to the New World to work on plantations. They wanted slaves because it was an alternative for actual workers they would have to pay. -
Enlightenment
The Enlightenment is also known as the Age of Reason. This philosophical movement occurred during the last 17th century to the early 18th century. They had reasoning, logic, and science to prove their point rather than religion. The Catholic church was against the Enlightenment. Major enlightenment thinkers during this time were John Locke, Issac Newton, and Thomas Jefferson. The Enlightenment contributed to the French Revolution. Some countries took Enlightenment ideas to change their country. -
The Atlantic Slave Trade
The Atlantic Slave Trade was the trade of slaves from Africa to the New World. About 12 million people were enslaved and traded. The slaves were forced onto overcrowded ships and went to the New World. They became a source of free labor for the Americans. The slaves were separated from their families. Many died on their way to the New World. They died due to diseases aboard the ship. They did not have food or a bathroom. The slaves were used for plantations such as tobacco, sugar, and cotton. -
Middle Passage
The Middle Passage was a route that brought slaves from Africa to the New World for labor. It was also in the Triangular Trade. The slaves for forced ontop the ships being separated from their families. Slaves were traded for goods like cotton and food. Life on the ships was very tough. They were chained with very little space to move or have air to breathe. They did not have much to eat or drink. Many slaves did not make it to the new world due to the harsh conidtions on the middle passage. -
French and Indian War
The French and Indian war is also known as the Seven Years' War. It was fought against the French and Great Britain. The war began in 1754. George Washington was the leader for Great Britain. The French had allies from the Native Americans, however, Great Britain still won the war. The British gained most of the control of the land of the colonies in North America. The war ended on February 10, 1763 when they signed the Treaty of Paris. The French had to give up all of their territory. -
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The Revolutionary War
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Treaty of Paris - 1763
The Treaty of Paris of 1763 ended the French and Indian war, also known as the Seven Years' war. The war was between French and Great Britain. The French were forced to give up their land in North America to the British. Great Britain had gained territory from the east of the Mississippi River. Although this was a major win for the British, it furthered tension between the French and Great Britain. They had major war debt which created a problen in the future for the solonies. -
Stamp Act
The stamp act was the first internal tax directly on American colonists from the British government. The stamp act was also a tax to be imposed on all Americans colonists and were required to pay a tax on every piece of printed paper they consumed such as Ship's papers, legal documents, licenses, newspapers, other publications, and even playing cards because they taxed to help Great Britain pay for the damages caused from the French and Indian war from 1754. -
Boston Tea Party
Boston tea party was a raid on three ships that belong to Great Britain in Boston Harbor waters , in which Boston colonists, disguised as Indians, threw the contents of several hundred boxes filled of tea into the Boston harbor as a protest against Great Britain taxes on tea and against the monopoly granted the East India Company because they thought it was unfair that Great Britain was taxing them for expenses while the French and Indian war. -
Paul Revere's Midnight Ride
On April 18, 1775, Paul Revere got on his horse to warn the colonial militias and the Sons of Liberty about the arrival of the British soldiers. The Sons of Liberty were American Patriots who wanted liberty for the colonist. In April, the Britsh soldiers were in Boston. There was a rumor that they were gonna make a move on the colonist. There are many stories that say that Paul Revere yelled: "the British are coming!", but he did not. He tried to be quiet so he would not get caught. -
Olive Branch Petition
The Olive Branch Petition is a letter sent to the King from the Second Continental Congress to avoid the war. In May, the Second Continental Congress met to talk about the issues between Great Britain and the colonies. To avoid warfare, they created a resolution called the Olive Branch Petition. An olive branch is a symbol for peace. The petition was sent to King George III. However, King George III did not read the petition and said that the colonist was rebelling against Great Britain. -
The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence is a document created by the Second Continental Congress meeting Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Declaration of Independence meant that the thirteen American colonies were free and independent from Great Britain. It was written by Thomas Jefferson and revised by the Committee of Five. It was made up of Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston. It was signed by 56 members and was officially adopted on July 4, 1776. -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga was a series of battles. It was a major victory for the Americans and the turning point during the Revolutionary War. They won because of the British General John Burgoyne surrendered. The first battle took place on September 17, 1777, on John Freeman's farmland. The second battle was on October 7, 1777, at Bemis Heights. The British had attacked first but still lost. The British had more than 600 casualties which forced General Burgoyne to retreat and surrender. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was the first constitution of the United States. It established the government of the union. The colonies needed a form to unite the country so they created the Article of Confederation. It consisted of the rules all the states agreed on. The first drafted was created by John Dickinson. The Articles of Confederation was ratified by all the states. It had to be ratified in order for the document to be official. However, the Articles of Confederation was weak. -
Treaty of Paris - 1783
The Treaty of Paris was signed on September 3, 1783. This treaty was signed to officially ended the Revolutionary War. The Revolutionary War was fought between the United States and Great Britain. The treaty was negotiated in Paris, France. John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay represented the united states. David Hartley who was a member of the British parliament represented the king and Great Britain. It took King George a year and a half to ratify the treaty which was on April 9. 1784. -
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The Constitution
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Enlightenment Ideals on America
The Enlightenment Ideals started many ideas during the American Revolution. Many of the colonists started to believe in the freedom of speech, equality, freedom of religion and freedom of the press. They were influenced by philosophers. An example of a philosopher would be Thomas Jefferson. Thomas Jefferson wrote about unalienable rights also known as natural rights in the Declaration of Independence. Another idea would be the three branches in the government that balance each other out. -
Executive Branch
The Executive Branch is the President of the United States along with the Vice President, the Executive Office, and the Cabinet. The President is the Commander-in-Chief and the head of states. It is apart of the check and balances. The branch's main responsibility is enforcing laws passed by Congress. The President can veto or sign legislation created by Congress. The Vice President supports the President. The Cabinet serves as advisors. The President cannot make laws, he only checks it. -
Legislative Branch
The Legislative Branch is also known as Congress. The Congress is made up of two parts. They are the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Legislative Branch writes laws also known as legislation. They can also declare war, confirm Presidential appointments and investigate power. There are 435 Representatives total in the house. Each state has their own number depending on the population. The Senate has 100 members and each state has two senators. They also create an annual budget. -
Judicial Branch
The Judicial Branch is made up of judges and courts. The Judicial Branch is not elected by the people. They are appointed by the President and confirm by Senate. Federal judges serve for life until they die or impeached from Congress. The lowest level of the court then the District Courts, then there are the Courts of Appeal. The top of the Judicial Branch is the Supreme Court. Their job is to interpret laws made by Congress. They also make decisions on cases where someone breaks the laws. -
Shay's Rebellion
Shay's Rebellion was a test for the Articles of Confederation. The rebellion was led by Daniel Shays in Massachusetts. It was an uprising by the poor colonist in the rural areas who did not agree with the government. The economic crisis was caused by American Revolutionary war which caused debt. Poor farmers were furious about the taxes that were forced on them because they could not pay it which led to them protesting. The rebellion began on August 29, 1786, and ended on February 27, 1787. -
Virginia Plan
The Virginia Plan is also known as the Large State Plan. The plan had fifteen resolutions that talked about why the Articles of Confederations needed to be changed. The Virginia Plan was proposed by Edmund J. Randolph at the Constitutional Convention. James Madison drafted the Virginia Plan. The plan suggested the separation of powers amongst the three branches. This plan helped the larger states because they could have more representative in the legislature. However, the smaller states opposed. -
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New Republic
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Election of 1788
The Election of 1788 is the first presidential election for the United States. Everyone wanted George Washington to become president. he received all 69 electoral votes. George Washington ran against federalist John Adams. In 1788, vice president would be the second runner-up. In this case, it was John Adams. Only 10 of 13 colonies participated in the election because North Carolina and Rhode Island were not able to participate. George Washington was considered as "Father of the Country". -
Whiskey Rebellion
The Whiskey Rebellion was an uprising of farmers in Pennsylvania. It challenged the Constitution under the presidency of George Washington. Colonist was mad about the taxation on distilled whiskey because of the high demand for whiskey. The Excise Tax was led by Alexander Hamilton. The rebellion became too powerful, so George Washington got 15,000 militiamen to go to Pennsylvania under the command of Henry Lee. The Whiskey Rebellion showed the strength and stability of the new government. -
Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights is the first 10 amendments to the United States Constitution. It gave rights to the citizens and the government can't take it away from them. There is freedom of speech, the right to bear arms, no troops placed in private homes, no unreasonable search and seizures, the right to plead the fifth, right to a speedy trial, tried to a jury, no excessive bail or cruel punishments, rights to the people, and rights to the state. All of these rights can't be taken away from the people. -
Federalist
Federalist believed in a strong central government. Alexander Hamilton, John Adams, Thomas Pinckney, are examples of Federalist. They believed that the central national government should have more power than the state. Federalist supported the Constitution and opposed the Bill of Rights. They believed that the checks and balances preserved the government. A Federalist named John Jay defended the Constitution. John Jay also wrote, "The Federalist" which is used in modern day supreme court. -
Election of 1796
The Election of 1796 is the third presidential election in the United States. They needed a new president because George Washington refused to do a third term. Federalist John Adams won the election defeating Thomas Jefferson who was a Democratic-Republican. John Adams had 71 electoral votes and Thomas Jefferson had 68. John Adams became president and Thomas Jefferson became the Vice President beating Thomas Pinckney. Federalist supported Adams, whereas Republican supported Jefferson. -
XYZ Affair
When Britain and France went to war, the French hoped that American would help out but instead the Americans stayed neutral. So in 1797, the French seized American supply ships bound for Britain. The President, John Adams wanted to avoid war with the French so he sent three men to France to be diplomats to keep the peace. When the men arrived they were approached by three agents called the X, Y, and Z. They wanted the Americans to pay them alot of money so the Americans turns down the bribe. -
Election of 1800
The Election of 1800 was the fourth presidential election in America. It began on October 31, 1800, to December 3, 1800. Some people called it the "Revolution of 1800". It was an election against John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. It was a nasty campaign because they did not like each other. Federalist called Jefferson a bad Christian. This election had vice presidents unlike the elections before. In the end, Democratic-Republicans chose Thomas Jefferson as president Aaron Burr as Vice President. -
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The Age of Jefferson
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Louisiana Purchase
The Lousiana Purchase was land given to the United States from French. The United States were expanding their territory to find new land for crops and livestock. So Thomas Jefferson wanted to buy the land of New Orleans from the French. Jefferson wanted the land because it was a major seaport. This would help them with business. He reached out to the French Emperor Napoleon to buy the land. Napoleon refused because he wanted more land than the Americas. In 1803, he sold the land for $15 million. -
Lewis and Clark
When the French Emperor Napoleon sold the Louisiana Territory to the United States. Thomas Jefferson sent Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to explore the new land. They started by going up the Missouri River. On the way, they met many Native American tribes. In the winter they stayed with the Mandan nation. While they were there, they met a woman named Sacagawea. She joined their expedition to be a translator. She helped them find the right foods and maintain peace with other tribes. -
Hamilton vs. Burr
Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr have never liked each other. There has been a long rivalry among one another. It was a political rivalry. Hamilton vs Burr took place on Jully 11, 1804 in Weehawken, New Jersey. Alexander Hamilton was shot by Aaron and died. A duel is when two people fight with weapons like pistols to settle a disagreement. The duel was caused by Alexander Hamilton. He talked down on Burr in a newspaper and Burr wanted an apology but Hamilton refused. Hamilton died the next day. -
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a war between the United States and the British. The United Kingdom was in a war with the French at the time. America declared war on June 18,1812. The British had the most powerful navy at the time. In 1813, the British beats the United States from Canada. They blockaded American ports. The British also burnt down the White House. American Navy defeated Britain at the Great Lakes. The war ended with a treaty called the Treaty of Ghent on December 24, 1814. The war was a draw -
Star Spangled Banner
The Star Spangled Banner was written during the War of 1812. It was written by Francis Scott Key. He wrote it during Fort Mchenry. Fort Mchenry is located in Baltimore. He boarded a ship to negotiate with the British to release an elderly doctor. They kept him aboard when they fought the Americans. The American flag was still in the air and that's what inspired him to write the poem. The Star Spangled Banner was originally a poem but then changed into a song. It is now our national anthem. -
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The American Industrial Revolution
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Second Great Awakening
The Second Great Awakening was a religious awakening. The Awakening occurred after the Revolutionary War. It started in the 1800s which is the 19th century. It traded the old beliefs from the British with new American values. It was led by powerful preachers. It sparked suffrage, anti-slavery, and temperance. A leader named Thomas Paine wrote the Age of Reason. Suffrage and Seneca Falls Convention was about the voting rights for women. Temperance was about the alcoholism in the United States. -
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Cultural Changes
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Missouri Crisis
The Missouri Crisis was resolved with the Missouri Compromise. It allowed Missouri to become the 24th state in America. It was a conflict because there were 11 free states and 11 slave states, Congress had to decide whether Missouri would become a slave state or a free state. James Monroe was the president during this time. The Missouri Crisis sparked the idea of popular sovereignty. It was another conflict that contributed to the American Civil War. It allowed Missouri to became a slave state. -
Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine was a speech delivered to Congress from James Monroe. He delivered in on December 2, 1823. It was an ideology by the political party. He wanted to define the United States foreign policies. It would not allow Europeans to establish new colonies in the independent countries in North America. He also talked about how America cannot interfere with European colonies or get into conflicts with them. He established this to let the Europeans know that they cannot regain power. -
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Age of Jackson
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Election of 1824
This was the tenth presidential election. It took began on October 26, 1824, to December 2, 1824. It was the first election where all white men could vote rather than rich white men. Andrew Jackson had 99 electoral votes, John Quincy Adams had 84, and Crawford with 41. They needed 131 needed to win the election. So according to the 12th amendment, the House of Representative had to decide because it was not a majority vote. In the end, John Quincy Adams became president after a deal with Clay. -
Cotton Gin
Cotton gin was invented by Eli Whitney to reduce human labor and take the seeds out of the cotton. The mechanization of this idea made cotton plantations much more convenient and profitable by putting cotton out on markets faster than before with less workers and time but it also increased production of cotton causing it to be cheaper and easier to be distributed around the world at a reasonable price. It also made the slave owners want more slaves because it meant more money and production. -
Railroads
Railroads impacted American transportation significantly. There were also steamboats but trains were more efficient and quicker than steamboats. Railroads got ever popular during the 1830s. The first railroad was built in Boston in 1807. Railroads were usually used for privately for companies and the state. By 1860 there were more than 30,000 miles from New York City to the Mississippi River. The railroad cars were uncomfortable. The way locomotives were designed were changes for the better. -
Changes in Transportation
In the 19th century, railroads were very effective. It was the faster way of transportation at the time. They needed a way to trade goods and carry goods from one place to another efficiently. In 1807, Robert Fulton created a steamboat that traveled faster than the original steamboat with paddles. There were also steamboats that allowed goods to travel through rivers. Canals made it possible for boats to travel from land to the ocean or lakes. It helped move trade goods and move people around. -
Changes in Communication
In the past communicated was difficult and would take months for news to travel around the nation. A man named Samuel F. B. Morse invented the telegraph. The telegraph allowed people to communicate with a message faster over a long distance through a wire. He also developed Morse code. Morse code help send messages by using rhythm. It used dots and dashes to represent the alphabet and numbers. There were also the newspapers that were created to share the current events that were happening. -
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was born on March 15, 1767. Andrew Jackson's nickname was the Old Hickory. He was the 7th president of the United States. Jackson was apart of the Democrat party. He ran for president in 1824 and lost. In 1828 he won and got reelected. His supporters were called the Jacksonians. Andrew Jackson forced thousands of Native Americans to migrate to Oklahoma known as the Trail of Tears. He was against the national bank. He died at the age 78 on June 8, 1845, on his plantation. -
Election of 1828
The Election of 1828 was between Andrew Jackson and John Quincy Adams. This election was very messy. There were personal attacks. They attacked each other by calling each other as womanizers. John Quincy Adam's supported attacked Jackson's wife. In the end, Andrew Jackson won the election with 56% percent of the popular vote and 178 electoral votes. He was the 7th president of the United States. John Calhoun was vice president. Jackson was the voice of the common man. The Democratic party grew. -
Abolitionist
Abolitionist are people who opposed slavery. They wanted to abolish the practice of slavery. A very known abolitionist is William Lloyah Garrison. He wrote an anti-slavery newspaper called "The Liberator". During the time of the Underground Railroad, many abolitionists helped the slaves by providing them food, homes, necessities and guiding them through the south to reach the north. The Republican parties who were abolitionist opposed slavery greatly. The 13th amendment abolished slavery. -
Mormons
The Mormons are a religious group of people. They also called themselves Latter-day Saints. They appealed farmers and traders. Most Mormons live in Utah because they migrated to find religious freedom. They do not drink alcohol, tea, nor coffee. A man named Joseph Smith founded the golden tablets in 1823. He also said had had visits from God. They call it The First Vision. The golden tablets were written in an ancient language. They were a part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. -
Anti-Abolitionist
Anti-Abolitionist were pro-slaves. They hated the abolitionist movement. They held rallies to denounce abolitionism. Anti-Abolitionist also had bonfires to burn abolitionist books. Most Anti-Abolitionist were the white people in the south. They wanted to keep their slaves so they can work on plantations for them. They treated the slaves poorly. In the House of Representatives, they came up with the "gag rule". The gag rule did not allow people to speak upon the issue of abolitionism. -
Indian Removal Act of 1830
The Indian removal act of 1830 was a law passed by the United States Congress that was signed by Andrew Jackson to make easy the removal of the American Indian tribes living up east of the Mississippi. River for The act was carried out even though the five southeastern tribes which included Chickasaw, Choctaw, seminoles, Cherokee, and the creeks tried to assimilate to what they called the white man’s life, because Andrew Jackson viewed Indians as savages who were incapable of self governing -
Trail of Tears
The trail of tears was when president Andrew Jackson passed a law that made America Indians to move to Oklahoma. The reason for this was because President Andrew Jackson diss liked like Indians so he forced Indians to move out of their homelands between Georgia and Oklahoma to march for 800 miles west of Mississippi to be settled far from their home and during that march 4,000 cherokee indain from the 16,000 died and that’s how they came up with the name trail of tears. -
Cherokee Nation vs. Georgia
The Cherokee Nation vs. Georgia case showed the legal status of the Native Americans. The Cherokee Nation was fighting to keep their land in Georgia. There were acts and treaties that gave Georgia land where Native Americans were living in. Because of that, those Natives had to follow state laws rather than their own laws. The Supreme Court said because the Cherokee Nation was not qualified as a state which meant they are not apart of America so, the Cherokees cannot bring suit against Georgia. -
Whig Party
A Whig Party is one of the political parties in America. They believed in a strong federal government and a strong national bank. The Whigs did not agree with President Andrew Jackson and the Democratic Party. They believed that Congress is more important than the executive branch. It was formed in 1832 by people who opposed Jackson. They were originally called themselves the National Republicans. They were decreasing in the 1850s due to the conflict of slavery. Many joined the Republican party -
Prisons
In the 1800s, they came up with the ideas of prisons and penitentiaries. A penitentiary is a prison where people go when they are convicted of serious crimes. Prisoners were isolated from the real world. A prison named Sing Sing is located in New York. The prisoners were housed at night and worked during the day. Another prison was called the Eastern State Penitentiary in Pennslyvania. This prison was haunted due to the high rate of suicide. The prisoners were constantly watched by guards. -
Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna
Santa Anna's whole name is Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna Perez de Lebron. He was born on February 21, 1794, and died on June 21, 1876. He was elected president then became the dictator in Mexico. When he was young he joined the Mexican army. He was known as a great leader. He was in the leader during the Texas Revolution. Santa Anna led the Mexican Army at the Alamo, defeating the Texans. He was also captured at the Battle of San Jacinto and was forced to order Mexican troops to leave Texas. -
Battle of San Jacinto
The Battle of San Jacinto was apart of the Texas Revolution. It took place on April 21, 1836. The Battle of San Jacinto was the last battle of the Texas Revolution. The Mexicans were led by Santa Anna and the Texans were led by Sam Houston. They surprised the Mexicans. The Texans defeated the Mexican army. This was led them to gain the land in Texas. Santa Anna had to sign the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in exchange for his freedom after Sam Houston captured him. Texas declared Independence. -
Lowell Mills
During the Industrial Revolution, everyone had to work, women, men, and children. Roles of women shifted. The Lowell Mills was one of the first factories that were hiring women. It was a textile mill in Lowell, Massachusetts. In the 1840s, around seventy-five percent of the workforce were women. There were known as the "Mills girls" and "Lowell Girls" They were hired because the owner can pay them less. Working conditions were terrible. There were about 8,000 textile workers at Lowell Mills. -
Slums
A slum is an area of a city where poor people live. A lot of people in the slums do not have the basic necessities. Many people in the population moved to big cities during the rapid industrial revolution to have a better life and make money for their families. However, it became overpopulated and life was harsh. They migrate from rural areas like farms to the overcrowded cities. It was unsanitary for the people. They barely made money and could not support themselves and their families. -
Slavery
Slavery was very common in the South. The United States was divided into two, the free states and the slave states. Slavery was very controversial because not everyone agreed on whether they should have it or not. Slaves were used for plantations. There were slave codes that did not let them have basic rights. After the civil war, slaves were free. There were many laws that were established to help them but many anti-abolotionist found loop holes around them causing conflict within the nation. -
Manifest Destiny
The Manifest destiny was the belief from Americans that the Americans as a nation were destined in a fate that it was meant to be and duty to move westward and conquer the west to achieve a second opportunity in life because they also believed god blessed America and the growth of America. Polk was president during this time. So they believed it was a god desired to move westward and expand the lands across the North American continent from the Atlantic Ocean all the way to the Pacific Ocean. -
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Westward Expansion
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Sam Houston
Sam Houston was born on March 2, 1793. He was a politician and the governor of Texas. He is most known for being the leader of the Texas Revolution. Houston joined the army and fought in the War of 1812. In 1833, Houston settled in Texas. In 1836, the United States chose Sam Houston to be the commander. Sam Houston led the army to defect Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto. During the Civil War he was the governor, Houston decided to break away from the Union and join the Confederacy. -
Bear Flag Revolt
The Bear Flag Revolt took place from June 14 to July 9, 1864. American settlers in California's Sacramento rebelled against the Mexican authorities. California was declared a republic. It ended because of the California Annexation by the United States. It was given its name because of the people who revolted were called the "Bear Flaggers". This revolt created the California Republica flag with the grizzly bear next to a red star. The red star is a symbol of "Lone Star Republic". -
Suffrage
Women's Suffrage was the right for women to vote and hold an elected office. The first movement for women's suffrage was with the abolitionist in the 1840s to the 1950s. They believed not only that slavery should end, but everyone should be equal regardless of their race and gender. The first women's rights convention was at Seneca Falls in 1848. The leader was Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. When the 19th amendment was passed in 1920 women were finally given the right to vote. -
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Sectionalism
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Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed on February 2nd, 1848 by Mexico and the United States. This treaty ended the Mexican American War. The Mexican American war was a dispute between Mexico and the United States about territory Mexico had to give up California, Texas, Nevada, Utah, Colorada, and New Mexico to the United States. The United States had to pay Mexico $15,000,000 and withdraw troops from Mexican soil. This increased the belief of moving westward also known as Manifest Destiny. -
Mexican American War
The Mexican American war was fought between Mexico and the United States over Texas. James K Polk wanted to expand westward with the belief of Manifest Destiny. Polk sent troops to the border attacking the Mexican troops. There were border disputes between the two countries. On July 7, 1846, the United States declared war on Mexico. Mexico's leader was Santa Anna. The United States was led by Zachary Taylor. There was battle such as the Alamo. The war ended with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. -
Seneca Falls Convention
The Seneca Falls Convention was a convention for women's rights. This event took place on July 19 to the 20th in 1848 at Seneca Falls, New York. This launched the movement for woman suffrage. Women suffrage is a woman's right to vote. Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott speaking out for women's right. They wanted equality for women. There were many abolitionists there such as Fredrick Douglas. There were 12 resolutions created. Newspapers were shaming them for this convention. -
North
In the North, there were the manufacturing of goods and factories. People moved from rural area to cities to work. There were new ways of transportation and technology. Cities became overcrowded and polluted. People lived in slums and unsafe buildings. Women often worked in factories along with children. Life in factories was unsafe and many hazards. A lot of people were poor because they only got paid a little but would work all day. Many children had to work to provide for their families. -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was a series of laws passed by Congress. It was created when new territory was added to the country after the Mexican War. The northern and southern states argued whether the new territory should allow slavery or not. The compromise was created by Henry Clay. He proposed that California becomes a free state and that slave trade would be illegal in the District of Columbia and that New Mexico and Utah have slavery. He also wanted the Fugitive Slave act to become stricter. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Two new states joined the nation called Kansas and Nebraska. The south was afraid to have another free state. They also wanted to abolish the Missouri Compromise. This law was written by Stephen Douglas and was passed on May 30, 1854, by Franklin Pierce. It divided territory west of Missouri and Iowa. It was a compromise based on Popular Sovereignty. The 36' 30' act was repealed. It opened up a new region for slavery and abolitionist were angry. However, Kanasa became a free state in the future. -
California Gold Rush
Gold was first discovered in California by a man named James W. Marshall. He found gold in the river and shared the news with John Sutter. Many Americans in 1849 started to migrate to California in search of gold. They were known as the 49ers. Miners would go in the river and seek for gold. Wherever the gold was, people would move in and mine for gold. However, when the gold was gone the towns would become deserted. Some of the people became wealthy but left California without anything. -
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was not an actual railroad. It was a route where slaves took to be transported from the south to the north to escape slavery to be free. People who showed slaves the way were called conductors. There were safe places slaves could go to rest. A well known "conductor" was named Harriet Tubman. Slaves would travel at night to reduce the risk of getting caught. Over 100,000 slaves were able to escape. Abolitionist and Quakers helped slaves escape. -
South
The south was majority agriculture. They had a population of 9 million with 3.5 to 4 million slaves. They industrialized but not as much as the North did. The south was also pro-slavery. They had inventions such as the cotton gin. The cotton gin made the industry of cotton grow and had more slaves working because of the high demand. Slaves were viewed as property rather than human beings. They would work nonstop in harsh working conditions on plantations. Many slaves were able to escape. -
Election of 1860
During the election of 1860, there were two Democrats. The Democrats were John Breckinridge and John Bell. John Breckinridge was official and John Bell was unofficial. The Republican that ran was Abraham Lincoln. America was divided during this time over slavery. Many of those in the South wanted slaves but the North did not. Abraham Lincoln believed that slavery should not be allowed in the newer states. John Breckinridge supported slavery. In the end, Abraham Lincoln won the Election of 1860. -
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Civil War
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The Civil War
The Civil War was fought between the southern and northern states. The south did not want to be apart of the United States because they wanted slavery and the north did not. The southern states called themselves the Confederates. The northern states called themselves the Union. President Lincoln wanted a stronger federal government and no slavery and the south did not agree. The war was rough for the Union at first but they did not give up leading to a victory overall when Robert Lee surrendered -
Fort Sumter
The battle of Fort Sumter was the first battle. It took place over two days from April 12 to the 13th in 1861. Fort Sumter is on an island in South Carolina. These were the first shots fired in the Civil War. President Lincoln told them there would be a supply ship going to Fort Sumter. However, the confederated knew that the union was going to attack. The Confederates were led by General P.G.T Beauregard. He told Major Anderson to surrender or else he would fire but he did not surrender. -
1st Bull Run
The First Battle of Bull Run was the first major battle during the Civil War. The battle took place on July 21, 1861. On that morning General McDowell ordered the Union to attack. They thought the war was going to end quickly. There were 30,000 Union troops that marched south. The Union outnumbered the Confederates. However, the Confederates won the battle. The Union was not trained. President Lincoln had to enlist 500,000 more union soldiers. He also hired McClellan to be the new general. -
Women at Work
During the Civil War, most of the men in the north had to go fight for their country. Some men volunteered and others were drafted into the war. Because of the men leaving, women had to fill in their spots in factories, hospitals, and more. The war gave women new roles in traditionally male positions. They became teachers, nurses, and store managers. In the south, they became farmers and planters. A woman named Clar Barton created the American Red Cross to help aid soldiers on both sides. -
Gettysburg Address
The Gettysburg Address was a speech given by President Abraham Lincoln on November 19, 1893. He gave this speech in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The speech was short but meaningful. This two-minute speech is one of the greatest speech in history. The speech was delivered at the height of the Civil War. The reason for the speech was the dedication of the national cemetery in Gettysburg. It honored those who died at the Battle of Gettysburg during the Civil war. It was given six months after. -
Election of 1864
The Election of 1864 was between Abraham Lincoln and George B. McClellan. Abraham Lincoln was a Republican and George McClellan was a Democrat. Lincoln was re-elected as president. McClellan and Lincoln hated each other. This election took place during the middle of the Civil War. The Confederate states did not participate. Abraham Lincoln was the first president to be re-elected since Andrew Jackson. He won by over 400,000 popular votes. He also had 212 electoral votes while McClellan had 21. -
Freedmen's Bureau
The Freedmen's Bureau was established in 1865. It was established to assist the slaves who were free. The freed slaves are called freedmen. The Freedmen's Bureau is a relief agency in war-torn south. They gave the freedmen food, schools, and emergency services. The land confiscated and given to the freedmen along with a mule. This was known as 40 acres and a mule. It was the main institution created for reconstruction. There were schools provided for the former slaves by the Freedmen's Bureau. -
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Reconstruction
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Lincoln's Assassination
On April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth. Abraham Lincoln was attending a play called "Our American Cousin" at the Ford Theatre. He was with his wife Mary in the presidential box. John Wilkes Booth shot him in the back of the head by a small pistol and Wilkes hurt his leg while trying to run away. Lincoln was carried to a nearby hospital and died on the 15th. Booth was hiding in a barn when soldiers found him. They lit up the barn and he got shot by a soldier. -
KKK
The KKK is short for Ku Klux Klan. They want to create fear through violence for blacks. Their purpose is to scare the freed African Americans and take away their rights. They would also attack whites who would support blacks. The KKK wants restoration for white supremacy. They ride horses at night to terror people. The Ku Klux Klan cover their faces in white hooded costumes to hide their identity. It represents the ghost of the dead Confederates. They do anot agree with racial equality. -
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was the 17th president of the United States. When Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, Johnson took over. He was apart of the democrat party. Before Lincoln was assassinated he needed a vice president who supported the south to show support for the south and unification. Johnson wanted to help the south after the civil war. He vetoed many bills and many people in Congress wanted to impeach him. The House of Representatives voted to impeach Johnson. But Senate kept him during trial. -
Freedom Amendments
Freedom Amendments are amendments for the former slaves. The 13th amendment was passed by Abraham Lincoln and the Republican Party before the civil war ended. It abolished slavery and made slavery illegal in 1865. The 14th amendment defined citizens as people who were born in the United States. Lastly, there is the 15th amendment that gave African Americans the right to vote. It was necessary to protect black votes. These Freedom Amendments helped protect rights for former slaves after the war. -
White Resistance
White resistance is when white people resented black rights. There were groups such as the White Brotherhood, White League, and the Ku Klux Klan. They all started in the south. Mississippi was one of the most racist states in the south. The poor whites felt like they were not at the bottom of the social ladder. The groups punished black people and white people who challenged the social order. They would lynch and murder blacks. A lot of people with get beat and hanged. This still occurs today. -
Election of 1876
The Election of 1876 was between Rutherford B. Hayes and Samuel J. Tilden. Rutherford B. Hayes was a Republican and Samuel J. Tilden was in the Democratic party. Hayes won the election with 185 electoral votes. However, Tilden won the popular vote. The electoral votes were unclear. The Republicans agreed to remove the federal troops from the south. The had to deal with the issues of Corruption, reconstruction, economy. They needed to help reconstruct the country. Grant ran again in the future. -
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was born on April 27, 1822, and died on July 23, 1885. He was also the 18th President of the United States and served two terms. Ulysses S. Grant was a part of the Republican party. In 1973, he crashed the stock market causing a panic for the economy. Many people lost their jobs. He fought for the rights of African Americans. Ulysses S. Grant also fought in the Civil War. He got Robert E. Lee to surrender to him at Appomattox Court House. He died of throat cancer in 1885.
