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Settlers
250,00 settlers came to the English colonies. -
First Colonial Newspaper
We had the first colonial newspaper this year and Public Occurrences Both Foreign and Domestic in Boston. -
Colonial Economic Life
The colonial economic life quickens. -
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Great Awakening
Religious revival in the colonies in 1730s and 1740s; George Whitefield and Johnathan Edwards preached a message of atonement for sins by admitting them to God. The movement attempted to combat the growing secularism and rationalism of med-eighteenth century America. -
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French and Indian War
Part of the Seven Years' War in Europe. Britain and France fought for control of the Ohio Valley and Canada. The colonies fought under British commanders. Britain eventually won, and gained control of all of the remaining French possessions in Canada, as well as India. Spain, which had allied with France, ceded Florida to Britain, but received Louisiana in return. -
Declaration of Independence
Approved by Congress on July 4, 1776, drafted by Thomas Jefferson, it formalized the colonies' separation from Britain and laid out the Enlightenment values. -
British Defeated at Saratoga
A turning point of the Revolution in October 1777, when an army of 6,000 British soldiers surrendered in New York. The American victory convinced the French to ally with the colonies and assured the ultimate success of independence. -
French get Involved
The French join the war against British. -
Battle of Yorktown and Articles of Confederation Ratified
A siege that ended in October 1781 when Washington trapped 8,000 British soldiers on a peninsula in Virginia after a British campaign in the southern colonies. Cons outweighed pros of Articles of Confederation so it was ratified. -
Peace
Peace treaty signed in Paris. -
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Northwest Ordinance of 1784, 1785, and 1787
This law provided that the area north of Ohio be divided into three to five territories, and allowed a territory to have a governor, secretary, three judges, and a legislature if inhabited by 5,000 white males. The territory could apply to the U.S. government for statehood if it had 60,000 white males. -
Annapolis Convention
In this convention, states near the Chesapeake Bay area talked about the lowering of taxes and tariffs to increase trade between states. -
Shay's Rebellion and Constitutional Convention
Captain Daniel Shays led back country farmers in a rebellion because many people were losing their farms through mortgage, foreclosures, and tax delinquencies. Delegates from all states but Georgia met in Philadelphia to discuss the Articles of Confederation. -
Federalist Papers Written and Constitution Ratified
Federalists paper was made up of 85 essays that were written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. Many colonies refused to sign the Constitution until certain rights were added to the Constitution. -
Washington and French Revolution Begins
George Washington inaugurated as President of the United States. Reacting to the oppressive aristocracy, the French middle and lower classes overthrew the king and asserted power for themselves in a violent and bloody revolution. -
Capital
The capital was placed on Potomac River. -
Citizen Genet
French statesman who came to America in search of monetary aid. -
Whiskey Rebellion and Indians Defeated at Fallen Timbers
The small farmers of western Pennsylvania rose up in rebellion against an excise tax on whiskey. The last major conflict of the Northwest Territory Indian War between Native Americans and the United States. -
Jay and Pinckney Treaty
Jay treaty sought to settle outstanding issues between the two countries that had been left unresolved since American independence. Pinckney treaty established intentions of friendship between the United States of America and Spain. -
Undeclared War with France and Alien/Sedition Act and Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions
Also known as the Quasi War fought almost entirely at sea between the United States of America and the French Republic from 1798 to 1800. Alien/Sedition acts, fearing an event like The French Revolution in America, this was passed by the Federalist Congress in 1798 and signed into law by President Adams. Measures passed by the legislatures of Virginia and Kentucky.