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Founding of Jamestown
English colonists founded Jamestown in 1607 which was the first permanent English settlement in North America. Jamestown was established primarily to find gold in the New World. Jamestown helped to provide a basic stucture for a successful colony outside of England. -
House of Burgesses
The House of Burgesses, established by the Virginia Company in 1619, was the first example of representative government in the colonies. It was capable of creating laws, which could be vetoed by the governor of the Virginia Company. The House of Burgesses became a model for other colonies to follow on how to properly form a government. -
Founding of Plymouth Colony and Mayflower Compact
The colony of Plymouth was founded by English Puritans known as Pilgrims who arrived on the Mayflower. The Puritans founded Plymouth for religious freedom after leaving the Church of England. Upon arriving in Plymouth, they created the Mayflower Compact which was the first form of self government in America. -
Founding of Massachusetts Bay
The Puritans and specifically John Winthrop founded Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1628 searching for religious freedom from the King. The colony was centered around the cities Boston and Salem. The colony was a hub and starting point for other surrounding colonies to develop and prosper. -
Pequot War
The Pequot War was fought between the Pequot tribe against the Massachusetts Bay and Plymouth colonies. The war was trigged over the fur trade, with the English winning and gaining control over it. At the end of the Pequot War, the Native Americans started to lose their power as the English colonists gained theres. -
King Phillip's War (Metacom)
King Phillip's War was fought between Native Americans and English Colonists, when the Natives rebelled against the English intruding on their land and treating them unfairlly. The colonists won the war, resulting in Natives being sold as slaves as well as the remaining having to adapt to the colonists way of life. With the war destroying thousands of families and colonies, it took the colonists decades to rebuild. -
Bacon's Rebellion
The first rebellion in the American colonies was known as Bacon's Rebellion, which occured when colonists thought the government was not doing enough to put a stop to Native American raids on the colonies. Nathaniel Bacon started killing off all the Natives and burned the town of Jamestown in his attacks. The rebellion exposed tensions between the rich and poor, and was a factor in race relations in the colonies. -
Salem Witch Trials
The Salem Witch Trials were a series of court hearings to prosecute people accused of performing witchcraft. The accused were sentenced to hanging in front of the town. The aftermath of the trials resulted in Salem having to alter their politics and balance the roles of government and religion. Although the first hanging occured on June 10, the trials and accusitions started back in February of that year. -
French and Indian War
The British wanted to take control over French land in North America, which broke out to be the French and Indian War. The Native Americans joined the war to ally the French in hopes that the British would not take their land as well. As a result of the war, the British claimed most of the French territory in North America, and taxed the colonists to pay for the war. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was a direct tax imposed on the colonists by British Parliament, requring taxation on any paper, newspaper, document, etc. The British wanted this extra money from the colonists to help pay for their wars; enraged by this the colonists revolted which brought them closer to a revolution. -
Quartering Act
The Quartering Acts ordered American colonists to provide housing and shelter for British soldiers during their times of service. British Parliament passed the two laws because they felt that their soldiers were not being taken care of well enough, even though the soldiers started to take advantage of the act. This lead to the Quartering of Soldiers to be amended in the Bill of Rights. -
Boston Massacre
A mob of colonists were insulting and threatening British soldiers in Boston, which made the British fire arms, killing five colonists. This was the first killing incident that occured between the colonists and British which ultimately sparked as a the main cause for the American Revolution. -
Tea Act
British Parliament passed the Tea Act in 1773 in order to reduce the tax on tea that was shipped to the colonies and end the smuggling of tea. Most colonists were against the Tea Act because they made large profits from smuggling tea, and the elimination of that would cut their earnings. This led the colonists to revolt in what was called the Boston Tea Party. -
Boston Tea Party
A group of Massachusetts patriots boycotted the British tax on tea by dumping thousands of pounds of tea into the Boston Harbor. This proved to the British that the colonists were not afraid to stand up to them. This was one of the many significant events that led to the American Revolution, in which it rallied up revolutionaries. -
Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts were a series of laws passed by British Parliament relating to the colonies. The acts were made in response to the Boston Tea Party, which included closing the ports, closing town meetings, British control over Massachusetts assembly, and quartering. This led the colonists to boycott British goods, and to stop exporting goods as well. -
Lexington and Concord
Lexington and Concord ware the first battles of the American Revolution between England and the colonies. This showed the colonists that they could no longer rely on the British, which led to more battles in the future that meant they were one step closer to gaining independence. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was written after the colonists won the revolution, and states that the thirteen colonies are no longer under British rule, and are now independent states. It declared that the new nation would have common rights and privlidges, that they didn't previously have under British rule. New freedoms essentially arose because of the declaration. -
Shay's Rebellion
Shay's Rebellion was the result of farmers revolting due to heavy taxation. This showed the weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation and showed that a more effective central government was needed. -
Constitutional Convention
The Constitutional Convention was a meeting held in Philadelphia that drafted the Constitution. In the Constitution, the Great Compromise was included which combined the New Jersey and Virginia Plans. Also included was the 3/5 Compromise which stated the percentage that slaves counted in votes. -
Judiciary Act 1789
The Act declared that the supreme court would consist of cheif justice and five assosiate justices. It created the beginning of the Federal Court System. It allowed the government to institute laws on the US Constitution. -
Whiskey Rebellion
The rebellion was a revolt by American citizens against the 1791 tax on whiskey. It was one of the first tests of the US Constitution, and showed the determination of the government to enforce federal laws. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
The Acts consisted of four bills that the federalists passed. The acts gave the president to deport anyone from the opposing country that the US was at war with, and made it more difficult for foreigners to become US citizens. -
Revolution of 1800
The revolution had an impact on the United States as a nation. It proved to other countries that what the US was doing was working and had progressed. It described the shift in power from federalists to the democrats. -
Marbury vs. Madison
Marbury vs. Madison declared that the Constitution gave the court authority of judicial review. The midnight judges played an important role in Marbury vs. Madison and consisted of 42 federalist justices that were appointed as a matter of patroage. A portion of the Judicary Act of 1789 was declared unconstitutional because of the Marbury vs. Madison case. -
Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was the acquiring of France's land claim to Louisiana by the United States. It was bought to increase the size of the US. After the land was bought it encouraged people to move and settle west. -
Embargo Act 1807
The Act stated that American ships were not allowed to sail to foreign ports, and closed American ports to British ships. The act ended foreign competition. which lowered prices for goods which is good for consumers. -
War of 1812
The War of 1812 ignited because of trade restrictions made by Britian to interfere American trade with France. The British also forced US citizens to join their navy. The end of the war changed the worlds perception of the United States and increased US manufactoring. -
Election of 1816
The election of 1816 came at the end of James Madison presidency, and started the beginning of the Era of Good Feelings. James Monroe was elected in 1816, and ended most major conflicts between political parties. It ended the offical Federalist Party and confirmed the role of the Democratic Republicans. -
Election of 1824
This election had all four candidates from the same party, the Democratic-Republican party. The Era of Good Feelings came to an end and Andrew Jackson won presidency. -
Second Great Awakening
During the Second Great Awakening people participated in reforms and movements not necesarily related to religion. It also promoted temperance movements. It gave people determination to better improve society and themselves. -
Indian Removal Act 1830
The Indian Removal Act was a law that allowed president Andrew Jackson to move the Native American tribes west to Oklahoma. This was taken into effect because many states wanted the land that was inhabited by the Natives. -
Nullification Crisis 1832
The Nullification Crisis was conflict between the government and South Carolina over the Tarriff Acts. South Carolina tried to nullify federal legislation which voted against states interests. A compromise was reached by the government and SC, meeting their request for economic relief and Jackson's as a unionist. -
Texas Independence
Mexico wanted to abolish slavery and convert everyone to Catholicism, which Texas did not agree with,making them declare independence. Sam Houston led Texas to its independence by defeating Santa Ana's troops. Santa Ana signed off on a treaty declaring Texas as a Republic, and in 1845 Texas was annexed to the United States. -
Mexican-American War
The Mexican-American War was the first conflict as a result of Manifest Destiny. Mexicans enraged by Texas' independence and border disputes fueled the war, in which the Americans came out with the victory. The US gained California and New Mexico as a result of the war. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed as the result of the Mexican-American War. The treaty offically gave the United States half of Mexico's territory. It also established the Rio Grande river as the border between Mexico and the United States. -
Dawes Act
The Dawes Act encourgaed Native Americans to give up their belongings and tribal traditions in exchange for land. The government offered this deal to the Natives in hopes that they could Americanize most of them. -
Wounded Knee Massacre
The Wounded Knee Massacre was a slaughter of Natives who had agreed to go onto a Reservation Land. They were unarmed and turning over their weapons. The shooting began because of a deaf Native who did not know that he was supposed to be giving up his weapons. The soldiers slaughered the Natives and left their bodies on the ground. -
Spanish-American War
The Spanish-American War was fought between Spain and the US as the result of Americans interfering with Cuban's pursuit of independence. As a result of the war, the US gained control of The Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico, and Cuba was declared a free nation. This was the beginning of US imperialism, where they were recognized as a dominant country. -
Founding of the NAACP
The NAACP is the oldest organization in the United States directed towards seeking integration for African Americans. The organization wanted to provide a new direction for Africans and to ensure equality of all people and to elminate discrimination. It was founded by a diverse group of people including W.E.B DuBois and William English Walling. -
First Red Scare
During 1919-1920, the First Red Scare was the widespread fear of anarchism and Bolshevism in the US, originating during World War I. Innocent people were jailed because of false accusations and voicing their opinions. American authorities were threatneed by revolutions in the acts of organized labor which led to challenged and violence. -
Red Summer
The Red Summer was a series of deadly riots that occured between African Americans and Whites. There were 26 race riots during that summer where hundreds of African Americans were killed. In a response to the Red Summer, the African Blood Brotherhood formed in northern cities to serve an armed resistance movement. -
Harlem Renaissance
The Harlem Renaissance occured after the end of World War I and lasted through the 1930's. During this time African Americans created music, poetry, etc. This it the time period where the Africans became proud of themselves and their heritage and expressed this new found confidence through art. The Harlem Renaissance introduced jazz and many black performers. -
Election of 1932
The 1932 election showed a strong desire for change during a time of economic struggles. FDR was elected president by a landslide, and one of his main goals after being elected was to form the New Deal. -
New Deal
The New Deal was set up by FDR to help bring the US out of economic depression. It provided jobs, services, and food to the American people. Some of the services are still in use today. -
Attack on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Trying to end WWII, president Harry S. Truman ordered the dropping of two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nahasaki in Japan. It was controversial because some say that Japan was already on the verge of surrendering. -
Truman Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine was created to provide aid to eastern European countries so they wouldn't fall under the rule of communism. It helpd to contain communism in Russia and kept it from spreading. -
Creation of NATO 1949
NATO was the US' foreign policy document during the Cold War that was joined by other countries. It was created to ensure that the Soviets would not take advantage of eatern European countries and convert them to communism. It also allowed for western European countries to have time to get reinforcements. It increased tension between the US and USSR. -
Fall of China to Communism 1949
After China fell to communism the countries surrounding it formed alliances with either the US or with eachother. For more than 20 years after the incident there were very few connections and trades between the US and China. -
Korean War
Korea became a divided nation after WWII ended, and the US and Soviet Russia withdrew their trops from Korea. The Soviets then supplied North Korea with tanks and money to take over the penninsula. The war was an example of the US' containment policy in action and was the first conflict of the Cold War. -
Election of 1828
The election of 1828 was the start of a new party system; the Democratic Party. This converted the Federalist party into the Whig party. This emerged a change in American politics. -
Election of 1952
During the electionof 1952 voters were concerned about the spread of communism and wanted change after having a Democratic leader for so long. Eisenhower was elected and hoped to streghten the federal government.
