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Oct 11, 1492
Columbus Lands in the New World
Christopher Columbus landed in the New World and claimed it for Spain. He thought he had found a new route to the Indies though. He also discovered inhabitants there - Native Americans. -
Nov 14, 1519
The Spanish Empire
Since Columbus was succesful in his voyage to the Americas, Spain sent Cortes and PIzzaro to explore and claim land as well. This resulted badly for the Native Americans. Millions died, and many were enslaved. -
Aug 18, 1534
New France
The French sent Jacques Cartier to find a Northwest Passage. He failed, but he found land that is now Canada for France, naming it New France. The first colony in New France was established in 1608. Many French courers de bois (wood rangers) lived there as fur traders, and they made the Native Americans living there business partners. -
Jamestown: The First English Colony
John Cabot landed on an island off the coast of Canada - Newfoundland. The English lived in a swampy peninsula in Virginia, and were starving and dying of mosquito diseases until Captain John Smith made them work for food. -
The Starving Time
In the fall of 1609, John Smith returned to England after being injured in a gunpowder explosion. The following winter was so bad that it was called the "Starving Time". The Indians refused to trade with the settlers, and many of them died. -
New Netherlands
Henry Hudson claimed the land around present day Hudson River and named it New Netherlands. In 1629, the first Dutch colonists settled there. The English made Peter Stuyvesant surrender though, and took over their land in 1664. They renamed the land New York. -
Maryland Southern Colony
George Calvert's dream was to start a colony "founded on religious freedom." In 1649, Leonard Calvert - his son - helped pass America’s first law guaranteeing religious liberty, the Act Concerning Religion, which only applied to Christians. Protestants and Catholics still remained suspicious of one another, but Catholics in Maryland worshipped freely and took part in the colony’s government alongside Protestants, so George Calvert's dream was fulfilled. -
New Amsterdam
As the fur trade expanded, the Dutch settlement on Manhattan rose to ever 1,000 people. The Dutch West India Company hired Peter Stuyvesant as the colony's new governer, and he governed New Amsterdam for 17 years. By 1660, the colony had nearly 16,000 people. -
Claiming Louisiana
After Father Marquette and Lois Joilet explored the great Mississippi River, Robert de La Salle explored the entire length of the river. He planted a French flag at the mouth of the river and claimed everything west of it for France, naming it Louisiana. -
Proclamation of 1763
The British ordered the settlers to stay west , and the colonists east, of the Appalachian Mountains. They did this becase they couldn't afford to fight a war. The colonists argued about this law, but the British government just ignored them and expanded the army in the mountains to 7500 men to keep peace. -
The Stamp Act
The British needed money to pay the large debt left over from the French and Indian War, so a they enforced a new law. Colonists had to purchase a stamp with every piece of paper they used. This included newspapers, wills, licenses, and even playing cards. The colonists protested because of this law, and in the end, after violent acts from the colonists, the law was repealed. -
The Quartering Act
Another law passed by the parliament was 'The Quartering Act'. Colonists had to provide British troops with housing, and furnish them with candles, firing, bedding, cooking untensils, salt, vinegar, and beer or cider. New Yorkers protested to this law. The New York assembly decided not to give any salt, vinegar, or liquor to the troops, and the British reacted by refusing to let the New York assembly meet until it agreed to obey it. Tempers began to rise on both sides of the Atantic. -
The Townshend Acts
This law stated that all colonists had to pay 'duties' on everyday items imported from Britian. For example; glass, paint, paper and tea. The colonists decided reacted to this law by boycotting British goods. As a result, Parliament repealed duties on all items except tea. -
The Tea Act
This Act was Britian's attempt to rescue the British East Indian Company after the boycott. Colonists were only allowed to buy tea from this company, and the tea was made cheaper. Still, the colonists saw the act as another attempt to tax them, and they were angry. On December 16th 1773, the Sons of Liberty threw 342 chests of tea overboard onto the Boston Harbor. This excited Patriots throught the colonies. -
The Intolerable Acts
Parliament decided to punish Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party. It was a series of laws to hold Massachesetts firmly under British control.For example, the Boston Harbor was closed. This caused colonists to rebell against the British. The colonies also united to support Boston. They formed militias to enforce boycotts of British goods. -
Lexington and Concord
Instead of replying to the colonists complaints about his ruling, King George decided to fight them. The fight between the British and the Americans turned into a 7 year war. -
The Second Continental Congress
The Congress gathered to decide who should command the "New England Army." John Adams had a different idea though. He suggested that Congress create a “continental army” made up of troops from all the colonies, and he nominated George Washingto to lead this army. -
The Battle of Bunker Hill
The militiamen created a fort at the top of Breed's Hill, and this fort worried British general William Howe. He ordered an immediate attack. More than 1,000 British troops were killed or wounded, and nearly half that many Americans. This battle was the start of a war. -
The Olive Branch Petition
Congress sent King George a petition asking him to end the fights. The king had declared the colonies to be in “open and avowed rebellion," though and he ordered his ministers "to bring the traitors to justice." -
The Siege of Boston (The British Abandon Boston)
George Washington learned that his army only had 36 barrels of gunpowder, but to scare the British, he started a rumour that he had 1,800 barrels of gunpowder. On March 4th, seeing many cannons aimed at the city, 9000 British troops and 1,100 loyalists left Boston and fleed to Canada on ships. -
The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was an official letter drafted by Thomas Jefferson. It announced to the world that they wanted to be independent. On July 4th, the delegates signed the letter, knowing if they lost the war, they would all be hanged. -
Battle of New York
The Americans and British Armies met in Brooklyn, New York for a battle. The Americans were confident, but their lack of experience caused them to retreat against the British (who had a lot of training and greater number of soldiers). In 2 days of fighting the British lost 377 men while the Americans lost 1407. -
Trenton
Washington and his men ambush the British troops in Trenton on the morning of Christmas. When they reached Trenton, the Hessians were asleep. Since they were caught by surprise, they surrendered. Washington captured 868 prisoners without any of his troops dying. -
Saratoga
Saratoga Springs was the first hope for the Americans. General Burgoyne was on his way to meet General Howe (both British Generals), and on his way, decided to attack Saratoga Springs, despite being outnumbered. Round after round, the Americans held out and eventually, Burgoyne accepted defeat. After this, The Spanish and French decided to help the Americans by becoming allies. Lafayette and Freidrich von Steuben were key members in helping the American Army. -
Ratification of the Articles of Confederation
For the Articles of Confederation to take action, ratification (approval) from all 13 states was necessary. Because of many arguments, ratification was delayed until Maryland approved. -
Yorktown
The French and Americans set a trap for Cornwallis and his troops in Yorktown. The French sent 8,000 troops and 20 warships to join Washingtons Army. The French warships arrived just in time to seal off the entrance to Chesapeak Bay. Thus Cornwallis was cut off from the British Navy. -
Treaty of Paris
In Paris, the representatives of the US and Britain signed a peace treaty. The treaty had three major agreements. The first one was that the US would be recognized as an independent nation by Britain. The second one was that Britain would give up its claims to all lands between the Atlantic Coast and the Mississippi River. The third and final agreement was that the US would return all the rights and lands to the Loyalists that was taken from them during the war -
Shays Rebellion
Shay's Rebellion was a farmers rebellion caused by the arrest of Daniel Shays, a farmer who couldn't pay his debt from the war. The farmers thought this was unfair because Shays had borrwed money to make food for the Continental Army, and now couldnt earn money since sales were down, so they burnt down a courthouse and attacked an aresenal. -
Constitutional Convention
After the Articles of Confederation failed, the Contituitional Convention was formed. Their goal was to improve the Condfederation, but instead, they scrapped it and made a new set of laws. -
Ratification of the U.S. Constitution
The U.S. Constitution has 27 amendments, and the first 10 of them are the Bill of Rights. The Constitution had to be approved by atleast 9 out of the 13 states in order to take action -
The Louisiana Purchase
In 1803, the US planned to buy New Orleans from France for $7.5 million. French ruler Napolean was scared that they would lose Louisiana to the British though, so they sold the entire Louisiana Terriotory to the US for $15 million. -
Spain gives Florida to the U.S
Since Semiole Indians were raiding lands of landowners in Georgia, Andrew Jackson was sent to Georgia to chase the Indians to Florida, but he invaded the Spanish colony illegally as well. Fearing war, the US decided to apologize to the Spanish, but instead, John Quincy convinced the president to tell them to either govern Florida properly, or get out. Span feared war too, so they sold Florida for $5 million, and went to Texas, which they were told would be honored under their claim. -
The Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise added Maine as a free state, and Missouri as a slave state to the Union. In addition to that, Congress banned slavery in part of the Louisiana Territory, and this upset Southerners. -
The Indian Removal Act
This law allowed the president to make treaties in which Native Americans traded their Eastern lands for new territory on the Great Plains. President Jackson wrote a letter to the Creeks, thinking it would persuade them to move, and some groups did move on their own, but some resisted. The groups that resisted usually suffered. -
The "Trail of Tears"
Indians were forced to move for a long time, and one jorney, remembered as the "Trail of Tears" was full of misery. More then 17,00 Cherokee were forced to walk hundreds of miles barefoot, with no horses, no blankets, and no extra clothes. Four thousand people died during this torturous journey, -
Refusal of Abolitionists Petition's
Congress voted to set aside anti-slavery petitions. This upset northerners because they were not allowed to devate over slavery in Congress -
Oregon Treaty
In 1819, Oregon was claimed by Russia, Spain, Great Britian, and the United States. Eventually, Spain and Russia dropped out, and the land was later split between Great Britian and the US in 1844. Presidnet Polk didn't want war, so he agreed to make a treaty that divided Oregen roughly in half at the 49th parallel. This way worked well, as not a drop of blood was spilt. -
Texas is annexed
It all started in 1821, when Moses Austin dreamed of starting an American colony in Spanish Texas. A lot happened over the next 24 years, like Mexico gained independence from Spain, and there was a lot of fighting between General Sant Anna's army and the Texan's. Texas was an independent country for 10 years, but was annexed in 1845. -
War With Mexico
War first broke out in Texas in 1846, because Mexicans didn't like the annexation of Texas; to them it was an act of war. After 2 years of fighting, in 1848, Mexico and the US signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Mixigo gave up Texas and another vast region to the US, in return for $15 million. -
The Fugitive Slave Law
This law was passed by Henry Clay, now a senator from Kentucky. Southerners were upset by this law because they felt it didn't do enough to ensure the return of their escaped 'property'. -
Kansas Nebraska Act
This act opened these 2 territories to slavery by vote. Northerners were upset by this act because they were haunted by nightmare visions of slavery marching across the plains. -
Civil War
The first battle that marked the beggining of the Civil War was the attack on Fort Sumter in South Carolina. Abraham Lincoln was elected president shortly before the war, and 11 southern states seceeded from the country because of disputes over slavery. The war ended on April 9th, 1865, when General Lee from the Confederacy surrendered to General Grant of the Union.
