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Founding of Jamestown
King James allowed Capt. John Smith and other settlers to establish the first English settlement in America in VA in 1607. The town struggled with disease, famine, and native american attacks for a few years and then temporary peace came when john rolfe brought over the soon-to-be-cash-crop tobacco and married Pocahontas. -
House of Burgesses
First legislature in America which was located in Jamestown, VA. It was cut short at first by a malaria outbreak but later people such as George Washington and Patrick Henry continued to meet. -
Founding of Plymouth Colony and Mayflower Compact
A group of 101 colonists left England for VA for religious freedom but the Mayflower got blown off course and landed in Cape Cod, MA. Since the town was away from VA they needed a way to keep laws so the 1st agreement for self government was established (the mayflower compact) and shortly after Squanto helped the remaining settlers (which led to the 1st harvest of fall). -
Founding of Massachussets Bay
In 1628 a group of puritans pursuaded King James I to give them a plot of land so two years later they left. John Winthrop was the first governor of this MA Bay colony which was another step in self governing. -
Pequot War
Friction developed between native americans and colonists as the colonists started expanding westward (unfair trade, destruction of crops, etc) so the war started when John Oldham was killed by the pequot. The first clash between the English colonists and native americans followed when the militia got involved and the war ended with many Pequot killed or sold into slavery. -
King Philip’s War (Metacom)
This war was a series of battles in NH between colonists and Wompanowogs led by a chief known as King Philip (Metacom) which started when the MA government tried to assert court jurisdiction over the local natives. This war ended with the colonists winning and Metacom's head on stick and it shows us how Native Americans and colonists could not live together without disagreement. -
Bacon’s Rebellion
Bacon and other settlers were angry with the governor for appeasing the Doegs so they went against the government and formed an army with Bacon as the leader. They defeated the indians and burned Jamestown and this rebellion shows once more how colonists and natives could not live together. -
Salem Witch Trials
A brief period in history where many people were accused of practicing witchcraft and put on trial. The trials were unfair and anybody could be accused so this event showed trials of injustice and suspicion. -
French and Indian War
Between the colonists and Great Britain, versus France and some of the native americans. It was a seven year war that resulted in France losing control of Canada and the indians who had threatened the colonists being defeated. -
Quatering Act
British troops were sent to America at the end of the French and Indian war so the quartering acts were established by parliament to address concerns of troop deployment. This meant that colonists must provide the soldiers with basic needs and housing. -
Stamp Act
Parliament passed this new act which taxed all colonists on paper and the money went to help pay costs of defending the American frontier. Even though the tax was small, the colonists were unhappy because in the past tax was only used to regulate commerce not raise money. -
Boston Massacre
British troops were sent to Boston to enforce the Townshend Acts and their presence led to a pre-revolutionary incident when the troops, tormented by colonists, shot into the crowd. The troops were put on trial and John Adams defended them even though he is a colonist. -
Tea Act
This act consisted of the East India Company trying to sell its millions of pounds of tea so they sent ships to America and it did not impose any new taxes but the Americans were only allowed to buy tea from them. Radical leaders in America believed this was meant to support taxes already in place so the colonists boycotted the tea which sparked the final revolutionary movement in Boston. -
Boston Tea Party
The British had passed the Tea Act and after some colonists smuggled tea and sold it to other americans so Britian lowered their tea prices so that the prices were lower even with the tax. Some colonists dressed up as indians and dumped the tea to protest the principal of taxes. -
Intolerable Acts
In response to the Boston Tea Party these acts included the Boston Port Act (shut down harbor), MA Gov. Act (briefly disbanded Boston Assembly), Quartering Acts, and Administration of Justice Act (removed power of colonial courts to arrest royal officers). -
Lexington and Concord
First military engagements of the revolution which marked the outbreak of open armed confllict between Britain and the colonies ("Shot heard around the world"). Beginning of Siege of Boston. -
Declaration of Independence
An act of the Second Continental Congress that declared the 13 British colonies were "free and independent states". The document showed justifications for seperation from British crown. -
Shay's Rebellion
his was a series of protests by farmers mainly in MA because of tax and debt laws. It basically emphasized the weakness of the Articles of confederation. -
Constitutional Convention
Convention led by George Washington that led to the creation of the Constitution and ⅗ compromise. Also, the VA plan (1st proposal for change in the articles) and the NJ plan (proposal against VA and for equal representation) came to a compromise (Great compromise- dual system of reps). -
Judiciary Act 1789
Act congressed passed which created the federal court. Federal District Courts were established in each state that operated according to local procedures. -
Second Great Awakening
Religious revivals swept through America during this time. It caused new divisions in society between the newer, evangelical sects and the older Protestant churches. -
Whiskey Rebellion
Protest caused by tax on liquor that tested the will of the government and the strength of the newly formed Constitution. The government showed strength and mercy through Washington’s quick response. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
Acts passed by federalists giving the government power to imprison/deport foreign citizens and prosecute critics of the government. Political statements (Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions) were drafted in 1798 and 99 that argued these acts are unconstitutional. -
Revolution of 1800
Jefferson's election changed the direction of the government from Federalist to Democratic-Republican, so it was called a peaceful "revolution." -
Marbury v. Madison
Landmark of the US Supreme court that helped define the boundary between executive and judicial branches and formed the basis for the exercise of judicial review. -
Louisiana Purchase
Aquisition of land that was owned by the French at the time -
Embargo Act 1807
Act that forbade all international trade to and from American ports (mainly directed at France and Britain) -
War of 1812
Conflict between Britain and America -
Election of 1816
Monroe won with more than 80% votes, he was the last of the founding fathers. This started the era of good feelings -
Election of 1824
Final collapse of Republican-Federalist political framework. John Quincy Adams won. -
Election of 1828
Represented a change in politics, Andrew Jackson won. -
Indian Removal Act 1830
Signed by Jackson, authorized him to negotiate with the native americans for their removal. -
Nullification Crisis 1832
Difficult time during Jackson's presidency, foreshadowed eventual succession in the south. Declared tariffs were unconstitutional. -
Texas Independence
After the battle at the Alamo, Sam Houston and his volunteer army surprised the Mexicans and defeated them at the Battle of San Jacinto. -
Mexican-American War
Conflict after annexation of Texas. Ended in 1848 with the treaty of Guadelupe Hidalgo. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Treaty that ceded land (California, Utah, and Nevada, as well as parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Colorado) from Mexico to America. -
Dawes Act
"An Act to Provide for the Allotment of Lands in Severalty to Indians on the Various Reservations", named for its author Senator Henry Dawes. Provided granting of landholding to individual NAtive Americans. -
Wounded Knee Massacre
An avoidable massacre where many indians were slaughtered. -
Spanish-American War
US declared war against Spain for the sinking of the ship The Maine and alsothe US supported the ongoing struggle of Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines for independence against Spanish rule. First war fought over seas. -
Founding of the NAACP
After a race riot, Northerners (racial activists) responded to "the call" by meeting and creating the The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People at a conference in NYC. -
Red Summer
Race riots exploded in over 3 dozen cities. -
First Red Scare
With hysteria still left over from WWI, Americans were paranoid of communists. This caused excessive false accusations, including the Sacco-Vanzetti case. -
Harlem Renaissance
A renewal/flourish of black literary and music culture after WWI. -
Election of 1932
FDR won, during time of the great depression and wall street crash. -
New Deal
Economic programs to help the people financially created by FDR -
Attack on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
US atomic bomb attacks on Japan cities -
Truman Doctrine
Policy to provide military aid if and stating we'll attack back if threatened -
Creation of NATO
North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Was created to protect America along with 11 other nations but the Soviets created Warsaw to counter. -
Fall of China to Communism
Led the United States to suspend diplomatic ties with the PRC for decades. -
Korean War
Between North Korea and South Korea/help from America -
Election of 1952
Eisenhower won as Republican candidate.
