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Jan 1, 1450
"Pre-Discovery" America: Native Americans
Native American communities were scattered amongst the North American lands. They were languistically and culturally diverse and were all American culture consisted of up until Columbus' "discovery" of America in 1492. Native Americans lived subsistence lifestyles and did not have "intertribal cooperation." Many were nomadic, hunting and gathering as they moved locations to find more food. -
Oct 12, 1492
Columbus "Discovers" America
Columbus landed on some Carribean islands and America's existence became known to the rest of the world. Most of American culture was based off of various Native American tribes and civilizations. -
Jun 7, 1494
Treaty of Tordesillas
Spain and Portugal divided the newly discovered lands between them, establishing their intentions to take over the continent. The two sent conquistadors and explorers to essentially claim and enslave American land and inhabitants. -
Jamestown Established
The Virginia Company established one of Europe's first (English) permanent colony in America. The colony was led by John Smith, and the colonists were treated with the same dignity as they would have been treated in Britain-- began the establishment of the string of New England colonies throughout the 1600's. Many were influenced by Puritannical/Calvinist ideals of the colonies churches (theocratic-like governing). -
Beginning of Slavery in America
In Jamestown, Virginia, 20 captive Aftrican Americans were sold into slavery. This begins the long, unjust trend of slavery used by Europeans/Americans as a dirt-cheap source of labor to expand their influence, power, and wealth. -
John Rolfe's Tobacco
John Rolfe's discovery of using tobacco as a cash crop brought much wealth to America for years to come. It was a liberation of Americans from being so dependent on their mother country. -
Fundamental Orders
Connecticut settlers created a sort of consitution that called for the power of government to be drawn out of those who were so-called "governed" but neglected. This was seen as a beginning "seed of autonomy," an early incidence of Americans breaking away from Old World influence. -
Salutary Neglect
While America was officially under European rule, the mother countries were not doing a very good job of keeping tabs on their colonists. As a result, Americans didn't heed laws and acts (like the Navigation Act), and began to act in a rebellious way against their ruler. They sensed their first taste of independence. -
Mercantilism
England and other European felt that their colonies' only purpose was to gain the mother country wealth, and treated them as such. Consequently, colonists' feelings for their rulers began to sour. "Don't use and abuse!!!" -
French and Indian War
Growing tensions between the colonists and Indians to their westward borders resulted in the French and Indian War. This war was detrimental to the colonists' pride as they couldn't defend themselves and European contries had to intercede on their behalf. It was a step backwards in Americans' conquest to establish independence and identity. -
Post French and Indian War
The French and Indian war cost America lots of money, but who paid for it? In order to recover from war debts, King George the third enacted the Proclamation of 1763 so that conflicts between Indians and colonists might be ignored. To his dismay, most Americans disregarded it. Kind George then enacted countless acts to tighten his grip around the colonies (but only ended up pissing everyone off). Some examples: the Sugar Acts of 1764, the Quartering Act, the Stamp Acts, and so on... -
Formation of the Sons and Daughters of Liberty
The colonists were angry at all of the new Acts and taxes being forced upon them after years of salutary neglect by their mother country. They were basically left to govern themselves, and suddenly they were being punished as if they had known better the whole time. The colonists rebelled by forming anti-British associations, boycotting Britain rule and influence. -
Boston Tea Party
When Britain enacted the Tea act, colonists boarded a ship and dumped millions of dollars worth of tea into the Boston Harbor. It was the last straw. Britain retaliated with the Intolerable Acts, and the American Revolution was nigh. -
Shot Heard Round the World
The American Revolution began when in Lexington, the American militia (the Minutemen) fought the British Redcoats. The Rift between England and her daughter country began. -
Laissez-Fair Capitalism
Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations -
Declaration of Independence
When the colonists finally declared themselves independent from England in 1776, true American identity began. Congress drafted a national constitution called the Articles of Confederation which specified laws of government and balance of power in the then new-born country. It was ratified and made official in 1781. -
Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights granted all U.S. citizens unalienable rights, something Europe didn't grant/enforce. Another step for Americans towards progressive, western thinking! -
Abolition of Slavery
On April 8th 1864, slavery was officially abolished! No more barbaric thinking! -
Social Reforms
During the Gilded Age, many associations and reform movements were progressive and intended to change American society for the better. Many advocated women's rights, child labor laws, utopian societies, and so on. -
The Fifteenth Amendment
The Fifteenth Amendment was proclaimed to enforce the idea that "all men are created equal" (for real this time). It was a step towards eradicating Old World ideas from the new-born America. -
The Dust Bowl and Great Depression
When the stock market crashed on Black Tuesday, American farmers were left in shambles, and their condition worsened after the Dust Bowl. American economy turned outwards for international aid. -
Wartime Mobilization
When WWII began, American economy was stimulated. New jobs were created and a sense of nationalism washed over the country. America was officially self-sufficient, and a major world leader. -
American Divide
Americans felt a sense of loss of identity as consequence to foreign contact and influence in the 1950's. This resulted in the Vietnam War and the "Red Scare." Foreign policy became an area of great concern as conflict with communistic nations ensued. -
Civil Rights Movement
Even though slavery was abolished, blacks took another step towards liberating themselves from the stigma, violence, and rejection because of their skin color. Civil Rights leaders like MLK Jr. pushed for true social equality. America was moving towards a true melting pot of equally treated cultures. -
The Cold War
New war techniques were discovered like the atomic bomb. Tensions rised between America and Soviet Russia, and the Cold War became a major issue based purely off of the fear of the other nation using nuclear weapons. -
Increasing Communication, Mobility, and Health
America is now extremely advanced in terms of public health, social mobility, and international communication. It has elevated to the position of a major world leader, and strong relationships with other countries strengthen America's position.
