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Jul 19, 1215
Magna Carta
It was a charter signed by King John in 1215. It was important because it created peace between groups of rebel barons and King John. -
Period: Jan 1, 1300 to
The Renaissance
The birth of new technology and literature in Europe after the Dark Ages. The Renaissance led to the advancements of technology and the increase of literature and the arts. -
Period: Mar 4, 1394 to Nov 13, 1460
Prince Henry the Navigator
Henry supported the Portuguese maritime technology. His support led to the spread of religion and technology. -
Period: Jan 1, 1450 to
Columbian Exchange
The trading of goods, slaves, and diseases between the New World and Europe. This was important because it was introducing all these new things to the Europeans and Native Americans, which led to many changes. This includes the mixing of races, the Mestizo race emerged. People were migrating over to the Americas. -
Aug 3, 1492
Christopher Columbus
Credited for discovering the Americas. He was trying to find a faster route to the Indies by sailing West. This began the European migration over to the Americans and the Columbian Exchange. -
Period: Jan 1, 1500 to
The Middle Passage
The sea journey that slaves took from West Africa to the America's in the early 1500's. It was important because it was the main passage for the slave trade. -
Period: Jan 1, 1500 to
Puritanism
A religious sect that broke away from the Catholicism and fled on the Mayflower due to persecution. -
Aug 13, 1521
Hernan Cortes
A spanish conquistador who claimed Mexico for Spain. He took siege of the Aztec Empire in order to claim Mexico. Cortes was a conquistador, a spanish conqueror of Mexico and Peru in the 16th century. -
Aug 13, 1521
Moctezuma
Ruler of the Aztec Empire when the Spanish conquered it. Cortes took him hostage in order to take siege of the Mexican Empire. -
Jan 1, 1580
John Smith
An Englishman that married Pocahantas and was apart of Jamestown -
Period: to
Indentured Servant
A European that sells their services for multiple years to get a trip to America -
Period: to
Joint Stock Company
Private investors that supported the colonies. This was important because it took power away from the crown and gave it to private companies -
Cash Crops
Crops that were very profitable, like cotton and tobacco. They were important because it created plantations and a need for slaves to tend to these crops. -
House of Burgesses
The first representative body in America (Jamestown). It was important because it was the beginning of democracy in the America's. -
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Elizabeth Scranton
An Amrican suffragist, social activist, and abolitionist who led the early women's rights movement. She was important because she was the forefront leader of the women's rights during the 1800's -
Bacon's Rebellion.
A rebellion against governor William Berkeley. It was important because it was the first rebellion against the crown's leadership in the colonies. -
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Habeus Corpus
A recourse in law where by a person can report wrongful imprisonment. -
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William Penn
William Penn ruled Pennsylvania in 1861. He had absolute rule but was open to new things. It was important because it was a refuge for the Quakers and it was the biggest colony at the time. -
English Bill of Rights
Created separation of powers. It was important because it limited power of the monarch and enhanced democratic election and bolstered freedom of speech in England. -
Period: to
The Enlightenment
An 18th century movement that focused on sicence and reason. It was important because it supported more advances in technology and knowledge. -
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Mercantilism
An economic system in which countries try to obtain large amounts of gold and silver -
Period: to
Enlightenment
An 18th century movement that focused on science and reason. It supported more advances in tehcnology and knowledge -
Period: to
Iroquois League
A league of the five Iroquois Nations (Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca coming together). They used adobe, sun dried clay bricks used for houses in the Americas. -
Great Awakening Begins
A revival of religion in the American colonies. It was important because it created a surge in religion of the Americas. -
Period: to
Great Awakening
A revival of religion in the American colonies, it was important because it brought over Puritanism and other orthodox religions -
Period: to
John Jay
A Chief Justice of the Supreme Court at the time of the Fallen Timbers. It was important because it helped negotiate for who got what territory west of the Appalachian mountains -
Andrew Jackson
A general that won many battles and gained him national fame. He was important because he led to many victories in the War of 1812. -
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Presidio
A fortified military settlement. It allowed the Spanish to have a significant military presence in the America's -
Period: to
Henry Clay
A representative for Kentucky in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. He was important because he was the Secretary of State for John Adams and proposed the American System -
Articles of Confederation
A set of law proposed that made two brances that shared fundamental powers. This was important because it was the beginning of the equilibrium in our government. -
Period: to
Shay's Rebellion
A mob of farmers that had debt and wanted the courts closed so they weren't set to prison or so they didn't lose their farms. It was important because it called for a national government. -
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Bicameral Legislature
A legislature body that has two branches (upper and lower). It was important because created a system that gave more power to the larger states. -
Period: to
The Federalist
A series of 85 essays defending The Constitution against antifederalists. It was important because it helped to get the constitution ratified. -
Period: to
The Constitution
The new constitution created made a lot of changes to the government. One of the things made was limited government, the idea that the people have the power to influence the rule or law and the government is a minimal size.It also made the separation of power, the idea that the creation of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. It also made the checks and balances idea, a system to prevent one branch from dominating the others. -
Northwest Ordinance
A procedure that the government put in place in order to properly divide the land in territories. This was important because it created the requirements to be considered a state. -
The Great Compromise
The agreement to have a bicameral legislature in order to please both large and small states. It is important becuase it is still in place today. -
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Tariffs
Tariffs were an import tax on goods produced in Europe. IT was important because it was supposed to encourage American production by making imports hard and expensive. -
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Government construction
Loose construction is a broad interpretation of the Constitution by a court. It was suggested by Hamilton and it was about establishing the first bank. Strict construction was the ideology that limits judicial interpretation suggested by Thomas Jefferson. It was made to prove that establishing a bank was unconstitutional. -
Cabinet Created
The President's chief advisors with different departments. It was made by George Washington and it is important because it is still in effect today. It was revolutionary because it brought in other ideas and perspectives to make decisions. Washington didn't let people in that just brought in the same opinion, he brought in opposing people. -
Alexander Hamilton
He was the first Secretary of the Treasury in Washington's cabinet. He proposed a centralized federal government -
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Second Great Awakening
A revival of Baptist and Methodist practice in America. This was important because it increased ideas and values into society today. -
Period: to
Whiskey Rebellion
A mutiny of farmers were fighting the import taxes on Whiskey. It was important because it showed the tension between the state and federal governments. It was also an opportunity to demostrate the federal army. -
American System
A plan suggested by Henry Clay and John Adams that was a new form of federalism. It was important because it supported a high tariff for American industries and government. Also it preserved the national bank. -
Cotton Gin
The Cotton GIn was a machine invented by Eli Whitney in 1798 that dramatically increased cotton gin. This was important because it dramatically increased cotton production and slavery and the tension between the North and South. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
Acts that raised the citizen requirements for the United States and the President's right to deport and set fines and terms for people opposing the government. It was important because it outted a lot of Democratic-Republican people to be jailed or fined, went against rights. -
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Salutary Neglect
Britain's unofficial policy to relax the enforcement of strict laws imposed on American colonies -
Period: to
Nat Turner
An African American slave who led a slave rebellion in Virgina that led to 60 white deaths. This was the first major rebellion that ot so out of hand. -
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Dorothea Dix
She was an activist on behalf of the mentally insane that petititioned and achieved the first wave of asylums. This was the first effort that was ever extended to the mentally ill. -
Louisiana Purchase
An exchange between America and Paris for a bunch of land for 15 million dollars. It was important because it doubled the size of US. -
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William Lloyd Garrison
The editor of a paper tha twas solely dedicated to discussing the abolishment of slavery. This was important because he founded the New England anti-slavery society. -
Mardbury v Madison
A decision by the Supreme Court about Adams's push to add 16 federalists to the Supreme Court. It created the judicial review, which was the ability of the Supreme Court to declare an act of Congress unconstitutional. This made the government more balanced. -
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Harriet Beecher Stowe
The author of Uncle Tom's Cabin, a novel about politics of slavery and the moral struggle. It was important because it caused strong reactions from the North and the South. This pushed the North to rebel more and angered the South. -
War Hawks
A group of young congreemen from the South and the West that called for war. It was important because it led to the War of 1812 with Britain. -
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Impressment
The British practice of seizing Americans at sea and drafting them into the British navy during the War of 1812. It was important because it created the anger between Britain and America and led to an embargo. -
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Hartford Convention
A series of meetings in Conneticut. It was important because the New England Federalist Party discussed their grievances that they had about the ongoing War of 1812. -
Treaty of Ghent
An armistice or end to the fighting between British and American forces. It was important because it finally made peace between Britain and America but didn't deal with impressing. -
Monroe Doctorine
A foreign policy passed by James Monroe that stated the US was no longer available to colonization and the Eastern hemisphere. This was important because it established the US as a free and permanent country. -
Erie Canal
A canal opened that connected Lake Erie and the Great Lakes system to the Hudson River by James Monroe. It was important because it gave the western states access to the Atlantic Ocean without shipping goods downstream. -
Tariff of Abominations
A high tariff on British imports that angered the South because the South still used a lot of British goods. This was the first example of nullification, a state's right to refuse an act of Congress that was unconstitutional. South Carolina nullified this tariff. -
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Jacksonian Democracy
It was a greater democracy for the common man. It was important because it was a new era of President. -
Indian Removal Act
Andrew Jackson's act that allowed Congress to negotiate with Indains. It was important because it took more land from the Indians and they were put on reserves. -
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Abolition Movement
The effort by both white and black citizens to abolish slavery in all of America. This was important because it was the goal of the Civil War and basically started it. -
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The Lone Star Republic
The short lived time period where Texas was it's own country with a chamber of commerce. This was important because the land was scarcely populated prior to this. -
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Utopian Communities
Experimental groups who tried to create a perfect society. It was important because these people tried to have a perfect society and failed. -
Manifest Destiny
The belief that the US would obviously expand to the pacific Ocean and Mexican territory. This was important because it made the Americans feel entitled to the land even though others had it. -
Wilmot Proviso
A plan suggested by David Wilmot that California, New Mexico, and Utah would be closed to slavery forever. This was important because it heightened the tensions between the North and South. -
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The Mormon Movement
The Mormon's relocated in 1846 because of the persecution in the North Eas Countries. This was important because it was a relocation of the Mormons to Utah where they are still prominent. -
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California Gold Rush
A period of time that begun when a man found a piece of gold and this led to the largest migration of 300,000 people in hopes of riches. This is important because it redistributed the population more to the west. -
Treaty of Guadalupe
This treaty brought an official end to the Mexican American War over land. This was important because it ended the multi-year conflict between the Mexicans and Americans -
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Seneca Falls Convention
The first women's rights convention that was all about discussing Civil and Social rights. It was important because it was the beginning of a long struggle. -
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Popular Sovereignty
Popular sovereignty is the idea that the people gete to choose certain decisions about the government. This is important because it is the foundation for our country. -
Compromise of 1850
An agreement suggested by Henry Clay that California be admitted as a free state and New Mexico and Utah are decided by popular sovreignty and the Fugitive Slave Law would be heightened. This was important because it did pacify both sides but eventually was more gunpowder in the gunpowder keg. -
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Popular Sovreignty
The right of residents of a territory to vote for or against slavery. This was important because it suggested how slavery should be chosen for many states during the Civil War. -
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Underground Railroad
A network across the country of African Americans that were free and white abolitionists that helped slaves escape to the North through secret houses of conductors. This was important because it helped many slaves to freedom which angered the South. -
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Northwest Passage
A sea route connecting the Northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through the Arctic Ocean. This was a prominent trade route for the America's which increased the interaction -
Gadsden Purchase
The purchase of a large amount of land that is now Arizon from Mexico for 10 million dollars. This is important because the US acquired more land and continued to expand. -
Missourie Compromise
An effort by Congress to diffuse the problem with sectionalism vs nationalism as to whether Missouri would be a free or slave state. It was important because it created Missouri as a slave state and then Rhode Island was made free to even out the states in Congress. -
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Radical Republicans
Radical Republicans were a group that strongly advocated for the freedom of African American's. They opposed the Fugitive Slave Act and the Kansas Nebraska Act. They wanted total equality and this made them important in the fight for racial equality. -
Kansas - Nebraska Act
An act proposed by Stephen Douglas that said Kansas and Nebraska would be split into two states and would be pro or against slavery by popular sovreignty. This was important because it was against the Missouri Compromise, but was passed because it was the true democratic thing to do. This caused more tension. -
Dred Scott Case
A Supreme Court case about a slave petitioning for his rights because he was living in a free state when his master died. The Supreme Court ruled he didn't have rights because he is property. This also deemed the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional. This was important because ti allowed slave owners to have slaves anywhere by getting rid of the Missouri Compromise. Opened the door for more slavery. -
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Harper's Ferry
A potential uprising led by John Brown with 21 men who went to Harper's Ferry, Virginia tos eize the arsenal and distribute weapons to slaves to create an uprising. It failed badly. This was important because it was the first attempt to start a war and aroused the Northern fury. -
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Confederate States of America
The secession of the Southern states into their own country that protected slavery. This was important because it basically started the war. -
The Battle of Fort Sumter
There were 80 Union soldiers and 500 Confederate soldiers. There was only 1 Union casualty and 0 for the Confederates. This was the first battle of the Civil War and it made people realize that the war was real. This made people enlist in the Union. Was in Charleston, South Carolina. Confederate General was Beauregard. Union General was General Robert Anderson. -
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The Anaconda Plan
This was a war strategy that was devised by General Winfield Scott. The strategy was to blockade all commerce on the Mississippi River so no cotton could be exported and no war supplies could be imported to the South. It was also to divide the South by conquering the Mississipi River, Richmond (confederate capital), and the Tennessee RIver. Used in the Battle of Hampton, Shiloh and Antietam. Strangled the South out of supplies. -
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Fort Sumter
The first battle of the Civil War. Lincoln chose to send food in and not fire. This was important because this unified the Northh and it's success prompted the people to join the military in the North. -
The First Battle of Bull Run
Took place in Fair Fax and Prince William Country in Virgina. Union forces were slow and that allowed the Confederate forces to take time to arrive by rail. Both forces had about 18,000 poorly trained troops. Union lost. Thought they could end the war right there but the Confederates beat them. Union general was General McDowell. Confederate general was Beauregard. First major battle of the CIvil War. Lincoln called for 500,000 soliders after this. -
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Battle of Shiloh
Took place in Tennessee. Union general was Ulysses S. Grant. Confederate general was Albert Sydney Johnston and Beauregard. Confederacy had more casualties. Known as the bloodiest battle of the war so far. So many lives were lost that is showed how brutal it is. Johnston died. Union was losing the first day. Confederate -
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Second Battle of Bull Run
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Battle of Antietam
Union general was McClellan and Confederate was Lee. Near Sharpsburg Marlyand. Antietam Creek. McClellan thought the Confederacy had more soldiers than them. Lee baited McClellan into attacking first. McClellan was on defense but outnumbered the Confederacy. Bloodiest single day battle. Linear formation. Was basically a draw but mainly the North won. Repelled Southern invasion. Lifted Northern morale. Emancipation Proclamation was a direct result of this battle.African Americans fought in it. -
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Battle of Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg Virginia. One of the largest and Deadliest battles of the Civil War. Union general was Ambrose and Confederate was Lee. Confederate victory. Fought on southern territory. Union had way more soldiers. Burnside was let go because he sucked. Was a key battle because showed the Confederates had a more consistent and strong leadership. -
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The Siege of Vicksburg
Last major Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River. Completed the second part of the Anaconda Plan. The Union was attmepting to cut off the Confederacyś resources. It failed. Used guerilla war tactics against the Confederacy. Confederate general was Pemberton. Union general was Grant. Grant had 30,000 soldiers captured but didnt want to pay for their entrapment so he just let them go. Grant thought they wouldnt have any morale left to fight but they did. Pemberton wanted surrender. -
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Battle of Gettysburg
South had Lee. Union had Meade and Reynolds. Had about the same number of casualties. Union won. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Leeś second invasion attempt of the North. Largest battle in the civil war and in North America. Bloodiest battle at this time. Aftermath was the Gettysburg Address. Meade was fired. -
Appottamax Court House
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Battle of Atlanta
Union Won. Took place just south of Atlanta. Union general was Sherman and Confederate general was John Bell Hood. Helped Lincoln win the presidency again. Battle was important because Atlanta was the southś military operation capital. After this was Shermanś march to the sea. Union morale boost because the war was ending. -
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Sherman´s March to the Sea
William Sherman and Grant that marched from Atlanta to Savannah. Split army with 62,000 soldiers. General Howard and General Slocum for Confederates only had 13,000 men. Union used total war= destroying everything in your path (houses, livestock, miles of railroad) and it screwed up the Southś economy. Lincoln didn´t endorse it but he let Sherman do what he wanted. South morale and economy was destroyed. Freed slaves. Sherman wanted the South to be pushed into surrender. Split the South. -
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Freedman's Bureau
Freedman's Bureau was the establishment of better education for the poorer or colored people in the society. This is important because it began to educate the lower class, starting the fight to even out the playing field against wealthy white men. -
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The Black Codes
The Black Codes were laws passed by Southern states that limited the freedom of African Americans. It mainly limited their right to vote. This was important because it was yet another obstacle for African American's even though the South lost the war. -
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The Reconstruction
The Reconstruction was the rebuilding of the nation after the Civil War. Not only was it physical rebuilding of the destruction caused by Sherman's march to the sea and other battles, it was the rebuilding of the way the country was run and equal rights for all colors. It was important because it shaped the way our country is today. -
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Ku Klux Klan
The Ku Klux Klan was a secret society that was formed to work against the African American's in gaining liberties. It was formed by southern people that were angry about African American's getting more rights and the South losing. They didn't want colored people to obtain the right to vote. They are still at work today. -
Civil Rights Act of 1866
These laws granted citizenship and the same rights enjoyed by whites to all manes without any color discrimination. This was a huge step forward in the fight to racial equality. -
14th Amendment Passed
The 14th Amendment guaranteed citizenship to all people born or naturalized within the US. The state governments could not "deprive any person of life liberty, or property without due process of law" -
The 15th Amendment Passed
This was the law that gave all men the right to vote. Women activists were mad that African Americans and everyone else had the right to vote but women didn't. This amendment was important because the right to vote was something that had been debated over for years. -
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Sharecropping
Sharecropping was the act of letting a poor farmer cultivate and live on your land. The landlords would be paid through a share of the harvest, or crop. This was invented primarily so white plantation owners could have the same amount of workers without having to actually pay them because African Americans couldn't afford to buy land. -
The Enforcement Acts
The Enforcement Acts were criminal codes that protected Africcan American's right to vote, right to hold office, right to serve on a jury, and the right to equal protection of the law. This was a huge step in the right direction for the African American's.
