-
100
Pangea
The combined landmass of all our lands on Earth that existed at the dawn of our planet's existence. Convection currents in magma under the crust has caused the plates in the lithosphere to move. -
Jan 1, 1215
King John signs the Magna Carta
The King signs the Magna Carta therefore limiting his powers and giving specific rights to the English people. -
Aug 19, 1492
Christopher Columbus Sails for America
Christopher Columbus sails to America believing he would land in Asia, but instead lands in what is now the Caribbian Sea. He brings word back to Europe that there is land to be settled in. -
Sep 13, 1494
Columbian Exchange Begins
After Columbus's voyage to the Americas a huge exchange of slaves, resources, animals, and diseases between The Americas, Africa, and Europe began. While it was good for the Europeans, It meant diseases and death for the Native Americans and voyagers. -
Period: Jan 1, 1500 to
Slavery Comes to America and Slave Trade Begins
As a part of Atlantic slave trade, Africans are brought to the Americas and sold into slavery. Slavery becomes a way of life in many colonies. This therefore also begins the Columbian Exchange. -
Sep 19, 1532
Pizarro Conquers Peru
In 1532, Pizarro attacked the powerful Inca empire in what is now Peru. The empire was badly divided thanks to smallpox killing off thousands of Incas. Pizarro killed their ruler, Atahualpa, and took over the Inca Empire. After that Spanish conquistadors conquered most of South America. Not much remained after they took the land, resources, (gold) and even took apart the small pyramid- like structures. Many Conquistadors like himself ventured into South America and the South of North America. -
Jan 1, 1534
New France
The first settlement in New France was founded by Samuel de Champlain (duh sham-PLANE). In 1608, Champlain sailed up the St. Lawrence River and built a trading post he called Quebec (kwuh-BEK). For the next 150 years, Quebec would be a base for French explorers, soldiers, missionaries, traders, and fur trappers. -
Oct 1, 1540
The Coronado Expedition
The 16th-century Spanish explorer Francisco Vázquez de Coronado was serving as governor of an important province in New Spain when he heard reports of the so-called Seven Golden Cities located to the north. In 1540, Coronado led a major Spanish expedition up Mexico's western coast and into the region that is now the southwestern United States. Though the explorers found none of the treasure, they did discover the Grand Canyon and other major landmarks of the region. -
Period: to
Enlightenment
the “Age of Reason” in 17th- and 18th-century Europe. Enlightenment thinkers emphasized using rational thought to discover truths about nature and society. -
Jamestown is Founded
Jamestown becomes the first permanant English colony in America. Even though there were initial hardships the colony flourished when Roanoke failed. -
New Amsterdam
As the fur trade expanded, the Dutch settlement on Manhattan swelled to over 1,000 people. In 1647, the Dutch West India Company hired Peter Stuyvesant (STY-vuh-sunt) as the colony’s new governor. When he arrived at Manhattan, Stuyvesant declared that the settlement would be called New Amsterdam, after the capital city of the Netherlands. -
New Netherlands is Taken
The English wanted to drive the Dutch out of North America. England’s king, Charles II, refused to recognize Dutch claims to New Netherland. In 1664, Charles gave his brother, James, the Duke of York, ownership of all Dutch lands in America—if he could conquer them. James promptly organized a small invasion fleet to take the colony. When the English arrived, they sent Stuyvesant a letter demanding his surrender. Stuyvesant tore up the note and refused to consider giving up. -
John Locke Writes His First Draft
John Locke writes His draft of Fundemental and natural rights explaining how we are due certain rights that are not to be taken. He was a excellent writer and his writings inspired those like Thomas Paine and even Francis Scott Key. -
French Claim Louisiana
The search for furs led the French far inland from Quebec. In 1673, two explorers, Father Marquette and Louis Joliet, explored the great Mississippi River. They hoped this waterway would be the long-sought Northwest Passage. But, instead of flowing west to the Pacific Ocean, the river flowed south toward the Gulf of Mexico. Disappointed, the explorers returned to New France. Nine years later, Robert Cavelier de La Salle explored the entire length of the river and claimed all land to the west. -
The English Bill of Rights
An act passed by Parliament in 1689 that limited the monarch’s power by giving certain powers to Parliament and listing specific rights of the citizens. -
Period: to
Great Awakening
The Great Awakening was a fervent religious revival movement in the 1720s through the 1740s. Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield were two of the most influential ministers during this time. -
The Colonies are in Place
New England, Middle, and Southern colonies are all in place now. They all have different climates and resources and especially sizes of the states. The New England colonies which lied to the north relied on trade and were small states with large urban cities. Middle colonies had many resources and were in the mountains. Then the southern colonies had all farmland and rural life but lots of slaves. -
The Father of the Constitiution
James Madison, Jr. was an American statesman and political theorist, the fourth President of the United States. He was the leader in the Constitutional Convention and led the campaign for ratifying the Constitution. -
Ohio Valley Conflict
Colonists were beginning to want to move across the Appalachian Mountains, although French had already built a fort called Fort Duquesne there. Then the governer of Virginia sent a small militia lead by George Washington to drive them out. -
Period: to
The French and Indian War
A war started by George Washington when he attacked French soldiers. The English sent over generals such as Wolfe and Braddock to help win the war. The colonist and Iroquois tribe fought the French and various Indian tribes such as the Huron. The French were successful early, but the English turned the war around by taking Quebec and Montreal. -
Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 was passed mostly due to Chief Pontiac's uprisings. The British government did not want any more trouble so they passed this law which prohibited any colonist to settle beyond the Appalachian. This upset many colonists. -
Quartering Act
The Quartering act was another act that the colonists disliked. It forced all colonists to provide food and shelter to any British soldier who demanded it from them. It happened in case another thing like the French and indian war were to come again. -
The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act applied certain stamp taxes in American plantations and British colonies. The colonists considered it obsurd and would boycott it. Although the British would not give p so easily. -
Period: to
The Townshend Acts
The Townshend acts were another series of acts which upset the colonists. It made colonists pay a tax at ports while delivering goods. All the money attained from the acts paid for royal governors salaries which greatly upset the colonists. After much debate and -
The Boston Massacre
60 townspeople in Boston had formed a mob around 10 red coats and mocked and bothered the soldiers. They were pelted with snowballs and insulted. They proceeded to open fire on the crowd killing 5 and injuring 6. There was some evidence that a member of the crowd yelled fire. During their trial, the soldiers were defended by John Adams and found not guilty. -
The Tea Act
The Tea Act was an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain. Its principal overt objective was to reduce the massive surplus of tea held by the financially troubled British East India Company in its London warehouses. A related objective was to undercut the price of tea smuggled into Britain's North American colonies. -
The Boston Tea Party
Three ships importing tea were raided by townspeople before the taxes were collected. 342 chests of tea were tossed overboard. -
Intolerable Acts
It contained 5 acts which prohibited goods from being shipped to the port in Boston, giving justice to people questioning about acts and for riots Massachusetts Bay. -
First Contininental Congress
The First Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from twelve of the thirteen North American colonies that met on September 5, 1774, at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, early in the American Revolution. Georgia felt different in opinion so no delegates came from there. -
Period: to
Constitutional Convention
A series of events and Congress meetings (First and Second Continental Congresses) that helped create the U.S. Constitution. -
Period: to
The American Revolution
The conflict arose from growing tensions between residents of Great Britain's 13 North American colonies and the colonial government, which represented the British crown. Skirmishes between British troops and colonial militiamen in Lexington and Concord in April 1775 kicked off the armed conflict, and by the following summer, the rebels were waging a full-scale war for their independence. France then entered the American Revolution on the side of the colonists in 1778. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
General Gage sent out British soldiers to capture leaders Sam Adams and John Hancock, and to get gunpowder. However, spies and friends found out, and told of their coming and the battle began. -
Battle at Bunker Hill
American troops were sent from Artemas Ward to go to Bunker Hill and attack British ships in the Boston Harbour. However, the troops misunderstood and went to Breed’s Hill. The British saw them and attacked, beginning the battle. -
Thomas Paine's "Common Sense"
"Common Sense" was a document written by Thomas Paine about the royal monarchy and the British government. It was the first work to ask for independence from Great Britain. With it Thomas Paine hoped to "awake" people by telling them it is common sense that they needed to be free. -
The Declaration of Independence is written.
A document written to declare The United States of America Independent. To this day we celebrate National Independence Day on the fourth of july annually. -
Victory in Trenton
After General George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River north of Trenton, New Jersey. The hazardous crossing in adverse weather made it possible for Washington to lead the main body of the Continental Army against Hessian soldiers garrisoned at Trenton. After a brief battle, nearly the entire Hessian force was captured, with negligible losses to the Americans. The battle significantly boosted the Continental Army's flagging morale, and inspired reenlistments. -
Burgoyne's Plan
Burgoyne's plan revolved around an invasion of 8,000 British troops from Canada, who would move southward through New York by way of Lake Champlain and the Mohawk River, taking the Americans by surprise. General Burgoyne believed he and his troops could then take control of the Hudson River and isolate New England from the other colonies, freeing British General William Howe to attack Philadelphia. -
The Battle of Saratoga
The battle of Saratoga was said to be the turning point of the war. Chief John Burgoyne was the leader of the British arriving from the north. His plan was to come through the Hudson River and meet with General Howe who was coming from New York. They were to meet in Albany, Howe changed his plans. General Howe decided to capture Philadelphia, which was the capital of the American Revolution. -
Valley Forge
With winter almost set in, and the prospects for campaigning greatly diminishing, General George Washington sought quarters for his men. Washington and his troops had just fought what was to be the last major engagement of 1777 at the Battle of White Marsh in early December. He devised to pull his troops from their present encampment in the White Marsh area and move to a more secure location for the coming winter. -
The Battle of Monmouth
The Battle of Monmouth was an American Revolutionary War battle fought in June 1778. The battle was fought in Monmouth County, New Jersey. The Continental Army under General George Washington attacked the rear of the British Army column commanded by Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton as they left Monmouth Court House. Washington had fought his opponent to a standstill after a pitched and prolonged engagement; the first time that Washington's army had achieved such a result. -
The Battle of Yorktown
A battle that lasted many hours and the sides struggled although the British had no chance against the Colonial Army blocking them from land and the French Navy blocking them from the sea. One of the greatest British generals and the one who led the British in the battle was Charles Cornwallis who ended up surrendering. This was possibly the greatest victory in American history. -
The Articles of Confederation are Adopted
The Articles o Confederation was the 1st plan of government for the USA, it gave the states power, although it left a weak Central government that was not able to settle debts. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris is signed, formally ending the war fought between Great Britain and the United States during the American Revolution. -
Shay's Rebellion
Daniel Shays led 1,000 farmers in a protest in Massachusetts against the high taxes on farm land. There was high ebt and with the articles of confederation the government had no good way of paying debts back. -
Northwest Ordinance
The Ordinance of 1787 makes slavery illegal in the Northwest Territory. It also organizes governing structures, and sets up guidelines by which teriotries can be admitted as states. The U.S Constitution states that Congress may not ban the slave trade until 1808, but the banning of slavery in the Northwest was signifigant for anti-slavery advocates. -
The Viginia Plan
Drafted by James Madison and proposed by Edmund Randolph, the Virginia Plan called for a strong national government with three branches. A legislative branch would make laws. An executive branch would carry out the laws. Then a judicial branch would apply and interpret the laws.
Under the Virginia Plan, Congress was to be made up of two houses, the House of Representatives and the Senate. The number of lawmakers that a state could send to Congress dependedon the state’s population. -
The New Jersy Plan
Delegates from the small states disliked the Virginia Plan. Just as the convention was about to vote on it, William Paterson of New Jersey introduced a rival proposal. The New Jersey Plan called for a government with three branches. However, the legislative branch would have just one house, not two. Each state would have an equal vote in Congress, no matter how big or small. This plan, Paterson argued, would keep the small states from being “swallowed up” by their more populous neighbors. -
The Great Compromise
A judge from Connecticut, Roger Sherman, proposed the plan that became known as The Great Compromise. Delegates would want only one plan or parts from both and no one could decide so the great compromise consisted of ieas from both the Virginia and New Jersy plans. -
Three Fifths Compromise
People wondered if slaves should count as people or property. Smaller states didn't want the big states in the south who have more slaves to get even bigger in population so they wanted slaves to be property, although the bigger states wanted the oppositte. A compromise was reached and put into place that slaves would be counted as 3/5 a person. -
The Federalist Papers
The Federalist Papers are a series of 85 articles or essays promoting the ratification of the United States Constitution written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. They support quite Federalist views. -
The U.S. Constitution is Adopted
The U.S. Constitution states that we are a free country that allows many rights to the people and that we are a country that is not a monarchy and will prevent tyranny like that of King George's. It consists of many sections including the Preamble which is the introduction. -
Checks and Balances
The system in government that allows branches of government to limit the powers of others by being able to reject or critique their ideas for laws, bills and treaties. Without it we might have unfair laws or alliances. -
More that the Constitution States:
It Lists the three Branches of Government:
Judicial- makes laws, interprets Constitution, insures justice, consists of Supreme Court
Executive- executes laws, makes sure they are followed, represents country, consists of President and others such as the President's Cabinet
Legislative- Makes and proposes laws, declares war, prints money, consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives and as a whole is referred to as Congress. -
Interstate Commerce
Interstate Commerce is trading and dealing between states. In order to have a good country it is necessary to have states be able to do so. -
Electoral College
The group established by the Constitution to elect the president and vice president. Voters in each state choose their electors. The people can vote for the president although members of the Electoral College can override desicions, mostly when results are close. -
Judicial Review
the power of the Supreme Court to decide whether laws and acts made by the legislative and executive branches are unconstitutional. It is one power that makes the three branches equal and without it we might would have some unfair laws right now. -
Popular Sovereignty
The idea that the government’s authority comes from the people, without it we would not have the rights we have today. It is the base of all that the colonists wanted. -
Majority Rule
A basic principle of democracy that says laws are passed by majority vote and elections are decided by a majority of the voters. (In the case of electoral college the peoples' votes are discarded if necassary and it is majority of the Electoal college that is counted) Without it voting would not be fair and some would rule over others in an unfair way. -
Bill of Rights is Adopted
The Bill of Rights now has about twice the amendments it first had which were the First Ten Amendments. It lists specific rights of the people and tht rights not listed still exist.
