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Feb 3, 1488
Bartolomeu Dias Explors the Western Coast of Africa
Dias was a Portuguese explorer who sailed around the tip of Africa. The date here is the date that he landed at Mossel Bay in Africa. He started his journey in August 1487, and he returned in December 1488 after realizing that one could reach India by going around Africa (although he did not do this). He named the tip of Africa the Cape of Storms. This was later renamed as the Cape of Good Hope. Importance: Eventually lead to slavery; found gold in Africa -
Aug 3, 1492
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was Italian, but he sailed for Spain. It took seven years for the King and Queen to agree to fund his trip, partly due to his strange beliefs and demanding requests, but he finally set sail. He kept two records of his voyage: one true one and one fake one used to motivate his men. He landed in the Indies on October 12, 1492. He thought that he was in India. He went on three more expeditions, ending in 1504. Importance: Discovered America! -
Jun 7, 1494
Treaty of Tordesillas
The Treaty of Tordesills was an agreement between Spain and Portugal concerning the land in the New World. Pope Alexander VI established a line tunning through South America which split the land between the two countries. Land to the east would be Portugal's and land to the west would belong to Spain. Importance: Divided New World land between Spain and Portugal -
Jun 24, 1497
Cabot Claims Newfoundland
John Cabot claimed Newfoundland for King Henry VIII of England. One of Newfoundlands greatest qualities was its valuable fishing grounds. Generally though, England was not very active in exploring the New World. Importance: Newfoundland claimed for England -
Jul 8, 1497
Vasco Da Gama Water Route to India
Vasco Da Gama was a Portugeuse explorer and was the first European to find an all water route to India. He began his voyage on July 8, 1497, rounded the Cape of Good Hope on November 22, and arrived in India on May 20, 1498. Importance: First all water route to India -
Sep 27, 1513
Balboa Crosses the Isthmus of Panama
Balboa was a Spanish explorer who crossed the Isthmus of Panama and was the first European to see the Pacific Ocean. Importance: First to see the Pacific / cross the Isthmus of Panama -
Oct 31, 1517
Protestant Reformation Begins
Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the church door in Germany on October 31, 1517. The movement did not officially take place in England however until close to 1530 under the rule of King Henry VIII. Importance: Reformation begins; England breaks Catholic ties; encourages English exploration of the New World -
Apr 21, 1519
Cortez and the Aztecs
When the Spanish conquistador Cortez landed in Mexico, the Aztecs treated him and his crew as gods. This was fortunate for the Spanish explorer because they were greeted on friendly terms. The Aztec ruler at the time was Moctezuma and their capital was Tenochitlan. Cortez treated the Aztecs brutally and conquered them in 1522. Importance: Spanish conquering of Aztec land in Mexico -
Sep 20, 1519
Ferdinand Magellan Circumnavigates the Globe
Magellan set sail on September 20,1519. He is credited as being the first person to circumnavigate the globe even though he died during the voyage on April 27, 1521. His crew finished the circumnavigation on September 8, 1522. Only 18 men survived. Importance: First circumnavigation of the globe -
Jan 1, 1531
Pizarro and the Incas
Pizarro was a Spanish conquistador who conquered the Incas of Peru. He set sail from Panama sometime in January of 1531. By 1535, he had conquered the Incas in Peru. Importance: The Incas of Peru had been conquered for Spain -
Defeat of the Spanish Armada
The Spanish King Philip II sent a fleet of ships to England. The Spanish navy was the strongest in the world. Spain was provoked to send this fleet for many reasons: it did not approve of the English Protestant Reformation; Queen Elizabeth's had refused to marry King Philip of Spain; Enland supported the Netherlands (Spain's enemy) in 1566; Sir Francis Drake raided Spanish ships. England defeated the armada and became the strongest navel power Importance: England becomes strongest navel power -
Jamestown
Jamestown was the first permanent English colony; it was funded by the Virginia Company. The Virginia Company charter established the rights of Englishmen: voting, rep. in Parliament, fair trial. The VA Company sent out 3 ships in 1606 which landed in 1607, where they were attacked, then sailed a little farther to a new site. There were many deaths during that winter, and the "starving time" lasted from about 1607-1624.
Importance: first permanent English settlement; English rights; widowarchy -
First Anglo-Powhatan War
Originally, Chief Powhatan wanted the Jamestown settlers to work with him to control all of the Indians in the area through the Powhatan Confederacy. However, relations between the Indians and the Settlers grew worse, and war broke out. Lord De La Warr was the British general in the war. There was peace when Pochahontas and Rolfe married (1614-1622), but periodic attacks between 1622-1644 led to John Rolfe's death and another war. Importance: leads to the marriage of Pochahontas and John Rolfe -
House of Burgesses
The House of Burgesses functioned as a council appointed by a royal governor. It showed the growing political power of Virginia. As King James I became hostile toward Virginia, he revoked its charter in 1624 making it a royal colony. Also, the first Africans arrived in Jamestown in 1619! Importance: beginning of self government in America -
Mayflower Compact
This document was signed by men aboard the Mayflower. It was an agreement for government. White, church going males could be a part of government. It would run on majority rule, and it started town hall meetings. Importance: An early agreement for government; established town meetings -
The Mayflower Arrives at Plymouth
The Mayflower set sail with 102 people. About half of them were separatists and the others were "strangers." They landed at Plymouth Bay which was outside of the domain of the Virginia Company where they were supposed to land. They believed in a "covenant of grace" between God and the community and a "social covenant" between individuals. Almost no one was lost on the trip over, but many people died that first winter. William Bradford became the governor Importance:Begins the colony at Plymouth -
Slave Codes
These Laws, passed in Virginia, stated that slaves were chattel and put restrictions on the education and religion that slaves could be involved in. They were made partly in response to the overwhelming numbers of slaves. Many other slave laws were modeled after these. Importance: set a precedent for slave treatmen -
Massachusetts Bay Colony
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was founded by a group of Puritans. They received their charter from King Charles I in 1629. This group of about 1000 people was governed by John Winthrop. The founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony was part of the "Great Migration" of the 1630's, during which about 70,000 people came to the New World over 10 years. Importance: Founded the strict Puritan colony of MA Bay -
Pequot War(s)
The Pequots were an Indian group that lived in the Connecticut River Valley area. During the Pequot Wars, the English nearly wiped out the Pequot Indians by burning down their huts and shooting those who escaped. Importance: English conquer the Pequot tribes -
Massachusetts School Law of 1642
Because New England colonies had a high population density and used the township system to divide their land, public education became the education of choice. This law stated that towns with 50 or more families must provide a teacher. Importance: growing public education in New England colonies -
New England Confederation
This was one of the early signs of colonial unity. This confederation was made up of colonists in the Plymouth/ Massachusetts Bay/ Connecticut area. It was formed to help protect the colonists from the Indians, and it was useful during King Philips War in 1675. Importance: colonial unity -
Second (Third) Anglo-Powhatan War
The Second (sometimes called the third) Anglo-Powhatan war began after John Rolfe was killed. It lasted until 1646 and ended with the Peace Treaty of 1646. Importance: war with the Indians; led to a peace treaty -
Massachusetts School Law of 1647
This school law followed up the Massachusetts School Law of 1642. This law required that towns with 100 or more families must provide both a teacher and a school for public education. Importance: growing public education in New England colonies. -
Toleration Act of 1649
The Toleration Act of 1649 was passed by Maryland (a colony created in 1634 as a haven for Catholics) in order to grant religious toleration to all who believed in the trinity. Importance: a degree of religious toleration -
Trade and Navigation Acts of 1651, 1660, 1696
These Trade and Navigation Acts were passed by Britain to promote mercantilism and minimize smuggling. These laws were not enforced very strongly due to internal English turmoil. Charles II attempted to reinforce these acts which led to the Dominion of New England in 1685. Importance: not inforced very much and caused trouble when they were; salutary neglect -
King Philip's War
"King Philip" was really Metacom, an Indian chief. Although the Indian treaty with the Puritans, signed in 1621, had worked well up to this point, it is possible that the Indians saw this attack as the last possible way to resist white settlers. The Indians united against the English, but in the end they were defeated. The war ended in the spring of 1676. Importance: Indian tribes unite against the English; the indians were crushed by the British colonists -
Nathaniel Bacon's Rebellion
Bacon led 1000 Virginians in a rebellion against Governor Berkley in response to the Virgina Assembly's decision to disenfranchise most landless men. Rebels attacked Indians, and Governor Berkley was deriven from Jamestown. They also burned the capital. Bacon suddenly died of fever; then Berkely brutally crushed the rebellion and hanged 20 rebels. Importance: frustrated freemen were willing to fight for their "rights" as Englishmen -
Boston Massacre
After a group of British soldiers were provoked by colonists in Boston, the soldiers fired into a crowd and killed 5 colonists. John Adams served as a defense attorney for the soldiers. This event led to the formation of the Committees of Correspondence. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord (Patriot's Day)
This shot heard around the world occured when the British general Gage was ordered to take the weapons that were being stockpiled at Lexington and to capture John Hancock and Sam Adams. When Gage reached Concord bridge on his way back, he witnessed a "countryside in arms." -
Declaration of Independence
This document stated that America was a free country independent of Britain. It was signed by the founding fathers and mostly written by Thomas Jefferson. It discussed natural rights and also listed many grievances by the colonists against England. -
George Washington's Inaguration
George Washington was the first president of the US and the only president to be chosen unanimously. Importance: America's first president -
Pinckney's Treaty
The Spanish believed that England was going to side with the American's and possibly even fight for the Spanish territory. So, in this treaty Spain gave America the right of deposit on the Mississippi River. Importance: Gave America the right of deposit on the Mississippi -
John Adams Inaguration
John Adams was the second president of the United States. He only served one term, and his attempt to keep peace through unpopular treaties led people to turn against him. Importance: Second President -
Jefferson's Inauguration
Jefferson won the election of 1800 and became the nation's third president. He was a Democrat- Republican, and he tried as hard as he could to keep peace. One of these attempts to prevent war was the Embargo of 1807 which greatly hurt his popularity. He served two terms. Importance: third president; embargo of 1807 -
Marbury v. Madison
This Supreme Court case started when Marbury sued for not being granted his position as a "midnight judge" that Adams had given him. Chief Justice John Marshall stated that it was unconstitutional for Adams to have created those positions, so Marbury's argument was not valid. Importance: established judicial review by the Supreme Court thus takings the power of nullification away from the states -
Embargo of 1807
This was passed under Thomas Jefferson. It cut off all foreign trade with America. The American's did not like it, and it ended up hurting America rather than helping it. America had hoped to hurt Britain and France in the process. Importance: Hurt America and Jefferson's popularity; increased manufacturing -
Non Intercourse Act
This was put in place uner the Presidency of James Madison. It took the place of the hated Embargo act of 1807 when it expired. Essentially, it reestablished trade to the whole world except to England and France. However, it was difficult to enforce, and smuggling occurred often. Importance: Reopened American trade to all the world except England and France -
Macon's Bill #2
Offered to reopen trade with France or Britain. Whichever country chose to lift its trade restrictions first would be traded with, and the other country would face and embargo. This led to France saying that they would lift their restrictions, but they did not. Importance: Gave France and England a second chance at trade -
America's Embargo with Britain
When France said that they would lift their trading restrictions with America, America decided that they would trade with France and place an embargo on Britain. -
The War of 1812
This war was also known as the Second War of Independence. It was fought between Britain and America, and the declaration of war was only voted for by a slim majority. There was no real winner to the war, and the Treaty of Ghent which ended the war essentially only put conditions back to the way they were before the war. Importance: Brought about a sense of Nationalism; no real winner -
Battle of Thames
This battle took place during the War of 1812 in a Moravian town. The Americans fought against the Indians, specifically Tecumseh and the confederacy he had formed. Tecumseh was killed, leading to the end of Indian resistance in the Northwest. Importance: end of Indian resistance in the Northwest -
Battle of Horseshoe Bend
This battle was a part of the War of 1812. It was fought between the Americans, led by Andrew Jackson, and the Creek Indians of Alabama. This was an American victory and helped to break up Indian resistance in the Southwest. Importance: led to break up of Indian resistance in the Southwest -
The Hartford Convention
This convention, which lasted into January, was held by Federalists in the North. It's demands on issues such as secession, the presidency, congressional powers, and the 3/5's compromise led to a major decrease in Federalist popularity and essentially the death of the Federalist party. Importance: led to the death of the Federalist party -
Treaty of Ghent
This treaty marked the end of the War of 1812. Since there was no real winner of the war, the treaty basically just established that things would be the way they were before the war started. It did set up a convention system, however, in which the US and Britain would come together to discuss certain topics. Importance: ended war without giving either side an advantage -
Battle of New Orleans
This battle was fought as a part of the War of 1812, but ironically the Treaty of Ghent had already been signed. It was the most significant battle of the war, killing over 2000 Britains. It gave Andrew Jackson widespread acclaim and also gave the new nation an overwhelming sense of nationalism. Importance: fought after the Treaty of Ghent, Andrew Jackson, nationalism -
Adams Onis Treaty
This treaty is also known as the Florida Purchase Treaty or the Transcontinental Treaty. It was a result of Jackson's invasion into Florida. It stated that US would get Florida in exchange for $5 million dollars. It also set the boundary between Louisiana and Texas. Spain gave up their claim to Oregon, and set the 42nd parallel as the northern border of Spanish claims. Importance: America received Florida and other Spanish territory
