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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
The Magna Carta (Great Charter) was a document written by the Baroms of England. They forced King John to sign it, and It limited his power over England. The Magna Carta also listed the rights of free English men. -
Oct 12, 1492
Columbus Discovers America
Bent on finding a route through the Atlantic to Asia, Christopher Columbus sailed west, and found the Americas. The Spanish Queen and King sponsored him, and he made four trips to the Americas. On October 12, he first hit land. Christopher Columbus went his whole life believing he found Asia. -
Period: Jan 17, 1502 to
Transatlantic Slave Trade
This is the time periond when the selling and buying of slaves was legal in America. Most of the slaves were from West Africa, and were traded for goods. The Middle Pssage is the way from England to the Americas, and it was horrendous for slaves. -
Sep 13, 1524
Pizarro Conquers Peru
Fransiscp Pizarro heard of the rich Incan Empire and led an expedition to find and hopefully conquer them. He captured their emperor Atahualpa, and executed him. On his third trip to Peru, he sucessfully conquered the Incas. -
Jan 17, 1534
New France Claimed
France sent Jacques Cartier to explore the Atlantic coastline of North America. They were trying to discover the Northwest Passage, a route through the Americas to the Pacific ocean. Although he didn't find a passage, he claimed land at what is now Canada for France. He later named it New France. The first settlement of the French was founded by Samuel de Champlain, and he named it Quebec. -
Apr 22, 1540
The Coronado Expedition
After Cabeza de Vaca made a report of people living in the seven cities of Cibola (and the confirmation of people living there), Viceroy Mendoza sent the conquistador Francisco Vázquez de Coronado to claim the area for Spain. A conquistador is a person who claims land to be under the control of a certain country. -
Settling Jamestown
Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in North America, was founded by Captain John Smith. The Virginia Company sent roughly 100 settlers to the New World, and they named the area Virginia after them. Jamestown nearly failed due to famine, disease and conflict with local Native American tribes in the first two years. The arrival of a new group of settlers and supplies in 1610 saved them. A time of peace followed the marriage of colonist John Rolfe to Pocahontas. -
New Netherlands
Henry Hudson's voyage to find the Northwest Passage, supported by the Dutch West India Company, resulted in claiming a colony near the New York Harbor for the Netherlands. They established a trading post near present-day Albany called Fort Orange. -
Slavery Comes to America
The first slaves came to America by a dutch ship. There was about 20, and they were brought to the colony of Jamestown. It is estimated there were 6-7 million slaves brought to America by the way of the Columbian Exchange (the trade of produce, livestock, slaves, and germ between the New World and the Old World). -
Massachusetts Colony
A group of about 102 pilgrims made a voyage to the Americas. They wanted religious freedom from the Church of England. They signed the Mayflower Compact saying how they would govern themselves on the way there. They arrived at shore in (what will be) Massachusetts, and named their new home Plymouth. Massachusetts was the first of the New England Colonies. The pepe in Massachusetts lived on farms and in cities. The rural areas were where they grew all the crops, and cities were more near ports. -
Maryland
MAryland was the idea of George Calvert. He died amidst the plans, so his son took over for him. The goal of the colony was religious freedom for Catholics. Cecil Calvert, George's son, made his brother Leonard the govenor. As govenor, Leonard wrote the first law guaranteeing religious freedom. -
Conneticut
Thomas Hooker didn't wholly agree with the practices in Massachusetts, so he travelled west to a valley and made a settlement called Hartford. Hooker helped plan the first written document depicting how the government would work. Nearby, a settlement called New Haven was being built near the same time. The king wrote a charter for both of the settlements as one, so they became Conneticut. -
Rhode Island
A young minister by the name of Roger Williams began preaching of different beliefs than the other Puritans of the Massachusetts Colony. He ran away South to avoid being sent back to England. The indians took him in for the winter, and he bought land from them to settle with his family and a few followers on. He named it Providence. They welcomed people of ant belief into their colony, and in 1663 elected an assembly to govern the colony. -
Establishment of New Amsterdam
The Dutch West India Company hired Peter Stuyvesant to be the governor of the colony on Manhattan. When he arrived at Manhattan, Stuyvesant declared that the settlement would be called New Amsterdam, after the capital city of the Netherlands. The English wanted to drive the Dutch out of North America. King Charles II of England refused to recognize Dutch claims to New Netherland. He sent his brother to conquer the land, and Stuyvesant surrendered without a fight. It became New York. -
Pennsylvania
William Penn was a Quaker. Quakers were not free to practise their religion in England, or the New England colonies. He was granted land by the king to create a colony, which he called Pennsylvania (which would be in the Middle Colonies, below New York). People were free to practise whatever religion they chose, and it was prosperous. Penn wrote government documents that made Pennsylvania the first democracy (a system of government in which the power belongs to the people) in the colonies. -
French Claim Louisiana
Robert Cavelier de La Salle explored the entire length of the Mississippi River.When he reached the Gulf, de La Salle planted a French flag at the mouth of the river and claimed everything west of the Mississippi River for France. He named it Louisiana, in honor of the King. -
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The Enlightenment
Some thinkers and writers in Europe (primarily London and Paris) believed they were more enlightened than those around them, and they decided to enlighten them. They believed that human reason could be used to combat ignorance, superstition, tyranny, and to build a better world. It was reffered to as the 'Age of Reason' in the 17th and the 18th centuries in Europe. Enlightnment thinkers emphasized using rational thought to discover truths about nature and society. -
English Bill of Righs
The English Bill of Rights was an act passed by Parliamen that limited the monarch’s power by giving certain powers to Parliament and listing specific rights of the citizens. -
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The Great Awakening
The Great Awakening was a spiritual revival in the 18th cantury. People were being quite monotonous about religion, and so preachers renewed worship and added more fervor. The Great Awakening hit the heardest in the New Englad Colonies, in the larger cities such as Boston and Plymouth. -
Georiga
The plan for Georgia was to help those in debtor's prison repay their debts. This plan did not work out too well, and the majority of the settlers were adventurers. Georgia is in the Southern Colonies, and it was the last to be formed. The King approved of the idea of Georgia because it kept the Spanish from moving north out of Florida. -
Ohio Valley Conflict
The American colonists started moving across the Appalachians and into the Ohio Valley, but Britain and France had both claimed the area for themseves. The French built Fort Duquesne, and the govenor of Virginia sent George Washington and a group of the Virginia militia (an army consisting of colonists) to drive the French out of the valley. Their success set George Washington on his path to become the president. -
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The French and Indian War (Seven Year's war)
The French and Indian War was a struggle over who would control the Ohio River area in America. The French and Algonquin fought the British (including American colonists) and Iroqouis. The turning point was when the british captured Canada in 1759. In 1763, Great Britain and France signed a peace treaty ending the war and giving Canada to Britain. -
Proclamation of 1763
After the British won the French and Indian War, they gained a lot of land. All the colonists were looking foreword to settling and exploring these new lands, but a proclamation came out by the king preventing them from doing so. It was in protection of the Indian's territories, and create some peace beteen them. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was a tax passed by the British Parliament on all of the American Colonists. It required them to pay taxes on every peice of paper they bought, such as newspapers, legal documents, liscenses, and playing cards. The tax was supposed to be for paying the costs of protecting the American frontier near the Appalachian Mountains. Colonists did not approve of this tax becaus they had no say in it, and their taxes could get worse if they did not say something about it. -
The Quartering Act
Because of the boycott (refusal to buy or do) of the Stamp Act, Parliament (the governing body of Great Britain) inposed another Act, the Quartering Act. This act required colonists to provide barracks and supplies to British troops. The olonists did not comply, and Parliament passed an act prohibiting the Royal Govenor of New York from signing any legislation untill the assembly complied with the act. -
Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts were a series of acts passed beginning in 1767 by the Parliament of Great Britain relating to the British colonies in North America. The acts are named after Charles Townshend, who proposed the program. It taxed glass, paint, oil, lead, paper, and tea. -
Boston Massacre
In Boston, Massachusetts, a troop of British soldiers went to go assist a sentrty that was being harrased by a crowd of people. The soldiers open fired on the crowd, killing five people. Later, the british officer and eight of the soldiers were arrested for manslaughter. -
The Repeal of the Townshend Acts
Colonists protested and boycotted the Towmshend Acts. Soon before the Acts were repealed (revoked), The Boston Massacre occurred. Eventually, they lifted the Taxes, all except the tax on tea. -
Tea Act
The Tea Act was made to help save the East India Company. It granted the company the right to ship its tea directly to the colonies without first landing it in England, and the company was no longer required to pay a tax in England. Although the duty on imported tea stayed the same, the Tea Act effectively lowered the price of the East India Company’s tea in the colonies. Colonists saw this as another attempt at contolling them. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea party happened when the colonists were tired of paying taxes on tea, so the Sons of Liberty decided to protest. They snuck onto a merchant ship dressed up as indians, and tossed all the tea into Boston Harbor.This resulted in the closing of Boston Harbor until all the tea could be payed for. -
Intolerable Acts
In England the Boston Tea Party angered the king, Lord North, and Parliament. As a concequence the British govornment enacted a series of punitive acts (the Coercive Act, Quartering Act, Boston Port Act, and the Quebec Act). -
First Continental Congress
The first Continental Congress met in Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia, from September 5, to October 26, 1774. Delegates from all of the colonies (except for Georgia) met and discussed a plan of action for the colonies. They didn't agree on much, but they did agree that the King and Parliament must be told of the troubles of the colonies and that they must do everything possible to make sure all of the colonists and the rest of thr world understood. -
Lexington and Concord
Lexington and Concord was the first battle of the American Revolution. General Gage sent troops to capture Samuel Adams and John Handcock from Lexington, and seize guns and ammunition from Concord. They defeated a group of colonial militiamen at Lexington, but were once again stopped at Concord. The British retreated back to Boston. -
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American Revolution
The American Revolution was the war for freedom of the Colonists from Great Britain's tyrrany (cruel and opressive government rule). The causes of the revolution were things such as taxation without representation. -
Continental Army Formed
The Continental Army was made to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in their revolt against the rule of Great Britain. The Continental Army consisted of soldiers from local militias and other troops that remained under control of the colonies. George Washington was the Commander-in-Chief of the army throughout the war. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
Both sides suffered major losses at the Battle of Bunker Hill. The colonial militia waited until the British had marched very close to them on the hill before firing, and the british fled down the hill. The rushed the hill a second time, with the same results. On their third attack, the Colonists were running low on ammunition, and had to use hand-to-hand combat. Finally, the British took control of the hill. -
Common Sense Published
Common Sense was a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine for the American colonists with an argument for freedom from British rule at a time when people were unsure about starting a revolution or not. It made many people change their opinions on the war. Paine wrote that independence was a "natural right"- univeral, inalienable rights that everyone deserves. Also known as fundamental rights. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was the document that was adopted by the Continental Congress stating that the 13 colonies are now free states from Britain. It was written by Thomas Jefferson. The day it was adopted (July 4th) is considered Independence Day. -
Victory in Trenton
This was the first major victory for the patriots. The Contintental Army snuck up on a large group of German Hessians working for the British, and attacked them early in the morning on the day after Christmas. General Washington neened a win to bring up his troops' morale, or he would lose too many once their contract expired at the end of the year. -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga was the turning point in the American revolution. The British General Burgoyne had mad a plan to divide and conquer the american troops. The plain was falling apart from from the beginning, but they went through with it anyways. At Saratoga, The brithish were badly defeated, and that major win for the Patriots proved to the French to enter the war as America's allies. -
Valley Forge
George Washington's troops leave Valley Forge, ready for more war. The beginning of the six month stay threatened to be the ruin of the army, with horrid weather, diseases, no food or clothing, and death. After the weather let up, food and supplies slowly started coming in. Baron Freiderich von Steuben came, and started properly trining the Army and improving them quite a lot. -
Battle of Monmouth
Washington sent soldiers under Major General Lee to attack the British near the Courthouse pf Monmouth. Lee had to retreat, and Washington with the rest of the troops attacked, beating the British back several times. Eventually, both sides claimed victory. -
Battle at Yorktown
The Battle of Yorktown was the last major engagement of the American Revolution. Cornwallis (British Gen.) was against Marquis de Lafayette (French Gen.) and General George Washington. A French fleet assisted and defeated the British navy, keeping them from entering Chesapeake Bay and helping Cornwallis.Cornwallis surrendered on October 17, his troops vastly outnumbered. Through winning the battle, the Americans effectively won the war. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was the first plan of government for America. It gave the states power, although it left a weak Federal government that was not able to settle debts. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris was a formal agreement between America and Great Britain. The signed agreement recognized American independence, established borders for the new nation, and formally ended the Revolutionary War. -
Northwest Ordinance
The Ordinance of 1787 makes slavery illegal in the Northwest Territory (the new federal lands were east of the Mississippi, and between the Ohio River and the Great Lakes). It organizes the governing system, and sets up rules 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. -
Shays' Rebellion
Daniel Shays led 1,000 farmers in a protest in Massachusetts against the high taxes on farm land. There was high debt 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 terretories 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 Virginia Plan Proposed
Virginia delegate Edmund Randolph proposed what became known as "The Virginia Plan." Written primarily by James Madison, the plan traced the broad outlines of what would become the U.S. Constitution: a national government consisting of three branches with checks and balances to prevent the abuse of power. It has two houses, the House of Represesntatives and Senate. It preferred for a strong Federal government. -
Presentation of the New Jersey Plan
William Peterson of New Jersey presented a plan to the Convention known as the New Jersey Plan. It called for one branch of legislture, with equal representation for all states and three balanced branches of the Government. -
Great Compromise
The Great Compromise was the plan of government that was adopted at the Constitutional Convention. It established a two-house Congress, with the House of Representatives (the number of representatives was based on the state's population), and the Senate (two Sentors from every state). It made our government a Federalism- with the power split between the state and national government. -
The Constitution
The Constitution was written by James Madison, the "Father of the Constitution". The Preamble is the introduction, and it lists the basic goals of the Constitution. The Great Compromise is in the Constitution, along with the 3/5 Compromise (slaves will be counted as 3/5 a person in population counts). It explains the Executive (President), Judicial (supreme court), and Legislative (congress) branches of the Government. The three branches of the government are on a system of Checks and Balances, -
Constitutional Convention
The Constitutional Convention was originally set up to revise the Articles of Confederaation. They ended up writing a whole new document, the Constitution. In the debate over what to write, there were two plans proposed- the New Jersey Plan and the Virginia Plan. -
The Constitution Continued (see other first)
where each of the three branches have powers that balance out the other two. For instance, The Congress (who also regulates interstate commerce) can impeach the president, but the president can veto congressional legislation (Presidential Power). The president nominates Supreme Court (highest level of Federal Courts) Judges, but the Judges can declare the president's actions unconstitutional (judicial review). The Constitution and the voting system lets us have Popular Soverignity in the U.S. -
The Electoral College Votes Washington
In the first presidential election, not all the states held elections. The majority of the states had not set up their means of voting, so the state legislatures chose the Electoral College. The Electoral College is the group established by the Constitution to elect the president and vice president. George Washington won with the majority of votes (the majority rule states that the laws are passed by majority vote and elections are decided by a majority of the voters). -
Bill of Rights
Th Bill of Rights is a formal listing of the basic rights of U.S. citizens. The Federalists required that to ratify the Constitution. It is a list of our first ten amendments. In ordero create an amendment, it must go through the amendment process. If 2/3 of the Congress or Nationl Convention agree, they can propoose an amendment. It has to be ratified by 3/4 of the state lesiglatures or the NAtional Convention. -
Theory of Pangea Was Formed
Alfred Wegner published his theory of Pangea, or "all earth". It states that all the continents were originally one.
