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Apr 15, 1215
Magna Carta
A document guaranteeing basic political rights in England. Also called the Great Charter. Approved by King John -
Roanoke
Roanoke, the "Lost Colony", was sponsored by Sir Walter Raleigh. It was founded on Roanoke Island, North Carolina. -
Jamestown, VA Founded
The colony of Jamestown, Virginia is founded by Captain John Smith. Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in the New World. -
House of Burgesses
The House of Burgesses was the first representative assembly in the New World. -
Mayflower Compact
It was the 1st social contract in the New World. It helped establish the idea of self-government and majority rule. -
Providence, RI Founded
Roger Williams founded Providence, Rhode Island -
Navigation Acts
Were passed by England to regulate colonial commerce to suit English needs -
Bacon's Rebellion
Bacon and his followers rebelled against the Massachusetts government when a war against the Native Americans was declined -
Pennsylvania Founded
William Penn founded Pennsylvania for religious tolerance -
Salem Witch Trials
People were accused of being witches and put them on trial ultimately to their death -
The Great Awakening
The Great Awakening was a religious renewal movement through the colonies. People wanted Americans to go back to the religious roots that brought them to America -
Poor Richard's Almanac
Benjamin Franklin published the first Poor Richard's Almanac -
The Zenger Trial
The Zenger Trial is the reason we havee the 1st amendment to our Constitution. He was aquitted from charges that he spoke negatively about the government. -
The Albany Plan of Union
Benjamin Franklin wrote the Albany Plan of Union in order to organize the colonies -
The French and Indian War
The French and Indian War began -
Proclamation of 1763
Forbade colonists to settle west of the Appalachian Mountains -
The Sugar Act
Britain passed the Sugar Act on the colonies in order to pay debts from the French and Indian War -
The Stamp and Quartering Act
The Stamp and Quartering Acts were passed by Britain in the coloines that taxed certain goods and required colonists to house soldiers. -
The Townshend Acts
These Acts were passed in the colonies in order to raise revenues for England. These were basically the other repealed acts combined. -
The Boston Massacre
British soldiers fired into a Boston mob. They killed a black man by the name of Crispus Attucks. -
Boston Tea Party
A group of people threw chests of tea into the harbor to protest the Tea Act. -
Intolerable Acts
Britain passed the Intolerable Acts to punish the colonies for the Boston Tea Party -
1st Continental Congress
12 or 13 colonies met to discuss civil disobedience against Britain in response to the Intolerable Acts -
"Give me liberty or give me death"
This was said by Patrick Henry at the Virginia convention -
Paul Revere's Midnight Ride
Paul Revere, William Dawes, and William Prescott ride to warn the colonists that the British are coming -
Lexington and Concord
These were the first battles of the American Revolution. -
Common Sense
Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense to promote independence as the right path to take -
The Declaration of Independence
This document, written by Thomas Jefferson, was approved on July 4, 1776. It declared America's independence from Britain -
The Battle of Saratoga
This was the turning point of the American Revolution. This battle, along with Benjamin Franklin, helped convince the French to support us in the Revolution. -
The Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation were adopted by the Continental Congress as the first governement, though it had many weaknesses -
John Paul Jones defeats the Serapis
"I have not yet begun to fight" -
Surrender at Yorktown
Generel Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown, making the Battle of Yorktown the last battle of the American Revolution. -
Treaty of Paris of 1783
This is the treaty that ended the American Revolution. It was signed by the US and Britain, recognizing America's independence -
Constitutional Convention
Where delegates from different states came together in Philadelphia to draft the Constitution -
The Northwest Ordinance adopted by the Continental Congress
This Ordinance set the orderly pattern of growth for the United States and accelerated westward expansion -
George Washington elected the First President
George Washinton was elected President of the United States -
Bill of Rights went into effect
The Bill of Rights ws the reason all the states ratified the Constitution -
Whiskey Rebellion
This was the rebellion by farmers over the tax on whiskey. It was deemed a just tax because the US passed it, not Britain -
The Cotton Gin
Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin to help make the slaves' work easier -
Washington's Farewell Address
Washington gave a farewell address after deciding not to run for a 3rd term. This set a precedent for all the other presidents to follow and he warned against political parties and entangling foreign exchanges -
Marbury vs. Madison
Established judicial review. The Supreme Court has the final say in interpreting the Constitution -
The Louisiana Purchase
Doubled the size of the US. Bought by Thomas Jefferson from France for $15 million -
Lewis and Clark Expedition
Lewis and Clark, along with Sacagawea, explored the LA Territory for Jefferson. The expedition ended September 23, 1806 -
Steamboat invented
Robert Fulton invented the steamboat -
The War of 1812
The War of 1812 began. The three main causes were British interference with American shipping, allying with the Native Americans, and impressment of US sailors -
The Star Spangled Banner
The Star Spangled Banner was written by Francis Scott Key. It became America's national anthem -
Missouri Compromise
It was written by Henry Clay. Missouri became a slave state while Maine became a free state. It also called for slavery to be banned from the Louisiana Territory north of the parallel 36° 30' -
The Monroe Doctrine
Announced by President Monroe, It was a policy of opposition to any European interference in the Western Hemisphere -
The Trail of Tears
Indians were forced to walk the Trail of Tears from Georgia to Oklahoma because of the Indian Removal Act -
Telegraph
The telegraph line was invented by Samuel F. B. Morse -
Seneca Falls Convention
Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton held the Seneca Falls Convention for women's rights in Seneca Falls, NY -
Compromise of 1850
Created by Henry Clay. Stated that California would be admitted as a free state and the slave trade in Washington D.C. would be abolished. However, the Fugitive Slave Act was also put into effect -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin, a novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe, was published -
Dred Scott v. Sandford
A Supreme Court case where it was ruled that since Scott couldn't sue since he was a slave. The Supreme Court also ruled that legislation such as the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional -
Abraham Lincoln elected President
Abraham Lincoln was elected the 16th President of the United States -
Confederate States of America
7 Souhtern states seceded from the Union to form the Confederacy. They elected Jefferson Davis as President -
Civil War began
The Civil War started at the Battle of Ft. Sumter -
Battle of Antietam
The bloodiest one-day battle of the Civil War -
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was issued by Abraham Lincoln. It freed all the slaves in the Confederate territory -
Gettysburg Address
The Gettysburg Addres was delivered by Abraham Lincoln in Gettysburg, PA on November 19. It is considered as one of the greatest speeches of all time -
Surrender at Appomattox Court House
General Robert Lee surrendered his army of Confederate troops at the Appomatox Court House in Virginia -
Lincoln's assassination
Abraham Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes booth in Ford's Theater. Lincoln died the next day -
13th Amendment
The 13th Amendment abolished slavery -
14th Amendment
The 14th Amendment stated that all people born in the United States were citizens and had the same rights, but this amendment did not include black suffrage -
15th Amendment
The 15th Amendment stated that citizens could not be stopped from voting on account of race or color -
Clara Barton
Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross
