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The beginning of slavery in the United States
Slavery in the United States (and North America) started in the colony of Jamestown, Virginia in 1619 to ultimately help with the production of crops like tobacco. By the year 1860, there were 4 million slaves in the U.S. but slavery in the U.S. was soon outlawed in 1865. -
The Articles of Confederation are ratified
The first form of American governement is implemented, setting up a one-house body of delegates where each state had a single vote. Any decision required at least 9 out of 13 congressional votes yet the government couldn't collect taxes and zero amendments were ever passed. -
Shay's Rebellion
Starting in the summer of 1786, the series of rebellions were lead by Revolutionary War veteran and indebted farmer Daniel Shays of Massachusetts. The bloody protests, lasting about two years, prompted the ratification of the Articles of Confederation. -
The Constitional Convention
The meeting of 55 male delegates from all states met in Philadelphia in 1787 where the original goal was to revise the Articles of Confedertion. Yet the Convention was concluded with a whole new document, the U.S. Constitution. -
The ratification of the United States Constitution
9 out if the 13 states were required to ratify the Constitution so three framers, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, wrote the 85 essays known as the "Federalist Papers" in order to convince the delegates to vote for it. -
Nat Turner's Rebellion (Southhampton Insurrection)
Nat Turner was a preacher and with the help of around 80 slaves, they went from plantation to plantation in Southhampton County Virginia killing all whites in sight (mostly women and children). This is an example of where the slaves resisted their owners and slavery all together. -
John C. Calhoun delivers speech to Senate floor
This speech shows how common it was fro typical white males to look at slavery as a positive and even try to justify it. This is what John C. Calhoun spoke about at a Senate meeting in 1837 calling slavery "instead of an evil, a good- positive good." -
The beginning of the Civil War
The American Civil War was the war between the Union lead the current U.S. President, Abraham Lincoln and the Confederate States led by the General In-Chief Robert E. Lee. This conflict was mainly caused by those who supported the idea that all men were created equal and those against. -
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, which ultimately declared the freedom of all the slaves in the United States. -
The Gettysburg Address
The Gettysburg Address was the speech delivered by President Abraham Lincoln at the dedication of Soldier's National Cemetary was to recognize the dead Union soldiers and why they sacrificed their lives. Today, this is one of the most famous speeches in the United States. -
The end of the Civil War
The end of the Civil War happened in the Spring of 1865 when the Confederacy;s general Robert E. Lee surrendered to the Union and it's agreed upon terms. This meant the Confederacy and it's army ceased to exist and the states returned to the Union. -
The Great Depression
A drop in economic prosperity in the United States and other places like Europe caused millions of people to be out of jobs and to go hungry. In the U.S. it was caused by the sudden collaspe in the Stock Market and the sevre Great Depression lasted 10 years. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
Japanese forces attacked the Allies and the United States at the naval base Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, destroying 187 American aircraft and killing over 2,000 U.S. Naval men. This surprise attack prompted the U.S. to declare war officially join World War II. -
The invasion of Normandy
On what is known as D-Day a combination of American, Brittish, and French troops invaded the beaches of Normandy. This battle is known as the beginning of the end of Nazi Germany. -
The end of World War II
Japan surrenered to the Allies after the United States dropped two atomic bombs on their cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, signaling the end of World War II. -
The Underground Railroad and the escape from slavery
The Undergorund Railroad was a passage to freedom to the North from the enslaved South. It can be defined as a network of safe houses with secret places to stay under them, creating a passage to the North. It's most famous leader (or conductor) Harriet Tubman escaped to Philadelphia in 1849 yet returned more than 20 times to Maryland to help others reach freedom by using the Underground Railroad.
