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'Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God' is published
This sermon by Johnathan Edwards demonstrates one of the two emotional themes preached during the Great Awakening. During this religious revival, people began to take their faith into their own hands. Equality was encouraged and the right to challenge authority was too. This Awakening divided denominations but it brought the people of the colonies together. There were more people in church, a bigger focus on religious education, and a new mindset that tipped the scale toward revolution. -
The Treaty of Paris of 1763
The Treaty of Paris ended the war and redistributed the dominion of North America between the European powers. When Britain gained land, many colonists were upset that they couldn't venture into the newly acquired land, feeling like they were owed it. Alongside the gains also came great amounts of debt. With each side believing they had contributed a lot to the war effort, and each side feeling the other had gained more out of winning, making up the debt was guaranteed to step on someone’s toes. -
The Battle of Lexington and Concord
The actual battles themselves were not significant due to numbers or strategy, they were significant in the effects. Politically, it was disastrous for the British and uniting for the colonists. The British forces were sent out to retrieve suspected weapons, and not only did they not collect many weapons, but they also caused the outbreak they were trying to stop. Worst of all, it brought many colonists together, proving to them that they did stand a chance against the redcoats. -
Patrick Henry Addresses the Virginia Convention
The Second Virginia Convention met in St. John’s Church in order to avoid interference from Governor Dunmore, and on the March day, Patrick Henry gave a proposal to the president of the Convention, Peyton Randolph of Williamsburg, of why they should organize a volunteer cavalry or infantry in every Virginia county. His eloquent speech ended with the famous words, “Give me Liberty or Give me Death”, which are accredited to convincing Virginia and its troops to join the Revolutionary War. -
The Declaration of Independence is Approved
The Declaration of Independence, from the pen of Thomas Jefferson and his committee, was approved by the Second Continental Congress, held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was influenced by many writers, including John Locke, and was full of the idea that man had the natural right to change or overthrow a government that denied their rights. Four days later, the declaration was given publicly for the first time outside Independence Hall, touching off a celebration that rippled through the city. -
Nathan Hale is Hanged
When George Washington needed intel, Hale volunteered. He left the safety of the American line on September 12th and was quickly turned in. Sources vary on who caught him, but they agree that he was recognized by someone who knew of him. When he was searched, the British found maps and drawings, sealing his fate. Often remembered for his supposed last words, “I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country”, Nathan Hale became a heroic symbol after he was hanged September 22nd. -
The World's First War Submarine in Action
While the first submarine was created in the 17th century, they were not used as war vessels until the Revolutionary War. The eight foot wooden submersible was big enough only to hold one operator and was completely hand-powered. The Turtle made many attempts to sink British ships but none of them succeeded due to a lack of skill of the operators. Although the impact was little, the idea was almost revolutionary. Using submarines for naval combat changed the course of future warfare. -
Lafayette Lands in South Carolina
Lafayette was a 19 year old Frenchman with little battle experience when he disobeyed the King and came to America. He was enthusiastic to help at a time when morals were so low. Nothing could stop him, and he was a key part of gaining French help, dramatically changing the war. He was like a son to George Washington and was a great general. Often a forgotten part of our history, Lafayette was a man who really was the "Hero of Two Worlds". After the war, he partook in France's own revolution. -
Treaty of Amity and Commerce
This, and the Treaty of Alliance, were agreements between France and America-to-be. Together, they recognized the United States as an independent nation and officially established the financial, economic, and military relations between the two countries against Britain. They agreed to mutual defense against their common enemy and forbid either nation making separate peace agreements with Britain. This would be the first time the United States, as a united states, engaged in foreign affairs. -
The Treaty of Paris of 1783
This ended the Revolutionary War, giving colonists the independence they had long been waiting for. Britain relinquished control and the U.S had a chance to prove itself with the negotiations, having to play with the big dogs: Britain, Spain, France, and the Netherlands. Without the treaty, the war could have raged on for much longer, causing more life loss and damage. Even if America would have still won the lengthier war, would the government and people even be able to create a stable country? -
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George Washington's Presidency
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The U.S. Postal Service Gets an Upgrade
On this date, George Washington signed the Postal Act of 1792. The modern mail system was created with that act. The Postmaster General was given more powers, low mail rates were ensured for newspapers, and privacy was protected. In the law, postal officials opening mail, other than undeliverable mail, was deemed illegal and punishment included time in jail or a fine. This act shaped one of the many things we take for granted today: the post. -
The Destruction of Bower Hill
After a previous conflict, a mob of as many as 700 men met at John Neville’s Bower Hill Estate. They wanted Neville to surrender, but he had escaped. They then told the 10 soldiers there to surrender. After that amazing offer was refused, they allowed the Neville women to flee to safety before opening fire and using actual fire to burn things. This event was part of the Whiskey Rebellion. When people didn’t like the laws, and if they react poorly, will the government be strong enough? -
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John Adams' Presidency
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Alien and Sedition Acts Pass
The alien laws made citizenship take 14 years and made it so that the president could deport any “aliens''. The sedition acts took away people's freedom of speech making it so that they could be arrested for speaking against the government. This was important because it went against the Constitution, angering a lot of people, and allowed for the Anti-federalist party to take power. It was the most obvious attack on rights that was ever legal. -
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Thomas Jefferson's Presidency
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John Marshall to Supreme Court
John Marshall was the 4th and longest serving chief justice. Under his leadership, the national government’s powers and the powers of the Court itself were expanded. His court set many precedents on many issues, believing in a more loose constructionist view of the Constitution. Some of his decisions were changed or overturned by the following Taney court, but John Marshall’s decisions were mostly defining the beliefs that the nation either held or would hold. -
The U.S Navy Enters the First Barbary War
The First Barbary War happened under the presidency of Thomas Jefferson, who wanted to show American resolve. When the U.S ended the tributes demanded by the pirates of the North African Barbary states, war broke out. This was significant because it was the first foreign conflict since the Revolutionary War. It brought Americans together once again and practically saved the Navy which had been dismantled and was on its way to extinction. It also proved that this new country did have a chance. -
United States Military School Opens
Developing the military and improving it always influences a nation, but this was a big one. Here, legends were born. Some of the most skilled generals and leaders from the American Civil War were trained here including Thomas Jackson, William Tecumseh Sherman, Ulysses S. Grant, and Robert E. Lee. The creation of this school inadvertently led to some of the biggest match ups in American history. Although it also trained George McClellan and he didn’t do much. But aside from that. -
Marbury V. Madison
Marbury v. Madison was actually about a pretty trivial issue. William Marbury had been denied by James Madison, a position that he had been previously given. The dilemma was if they ruled in favor of Marbury, Madison could just ignore it because they had no way to enforce it. If they ruled in favor of Madison, it would look like they bent to the executive’s wishes. His solution was to not rule due to the base of it being unconstitutional. This gave the court the power of judicial review. -
12th Amendment is Ratified
It became clear to the American government that increasing political parties meant the election system needed to change. Men who despised each other were becoming President and Vice President and the laws did not prepare for when there was no clear majority. The 12th Amendment solved this: making distinct ballots for each position and a plan in case no candidate gets the majority. This mattered. Our election process dramatically changed and the Election of 1824 could have been very different. -
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James Madison's Presidency
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The Last New Madrid Earthquake
The final of a series of 3 large earthquakes from December 1811- February 1812 that caused over 1,874 aftershocks. They were the strongest recorded semantic events In North America east of the Rocky Mountains, with the largest one with an 8.8 on the Richter scale. The impacts from the earthquakes were fissures, soil liquefaction, large waves from the Mississippi river, and even causing it to change directions for several hours. It was also the first national call and response for relief aid. -
The British Burn the White House
During the War of 1812, the British came to the U.S capital and burnt much of it, including the White House. This attack on the capital was deeply felt by the American people. Being attacked in the heart can do much more damage than an extremity. However, the bravery of the first lady Dolly Madison saved some treasured artifacts from the fire. She became a national hero for her effort to preserve history. -
Francis Scott Key Writes the Star Spangled Banner
During the War of 1812, one of Key’s friends, Dr. William Beanes was captured by the British. Key went to negotiate Beanes’ release, but they were not allowed to leave until after the British bombardment of Fort McHenry. From 8 miles away, Key watched the conflict and the next day when the British gave up, he was relieved to see the American flag still flying. This inspired the originally named “The Defence of Fort M’Henry”, a poem which would eventually become the national anthem of America. -
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James Monroe's Presidency
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James Russell Lowell is Born
With the birth of James Russell Lowell, the Fireside Poets’ youngest member started life. This date is significant because by this time, all the Fireside Poets were alive. One day, they would be writing their poems and would become equals of popular British poets. These five men often wrote about the unity and unity of a hearth, donning them ”Fireside” poets. Their works were moral, contemporary, comforting, and purely American. It brought literature up to the European level of Romanticism. -
The Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine was a very effective statement. It cemented America’s view and position in foreign politics. It promised to stay out of European affairs and that included the colonies they had that were already established. However, aside from that, the Americas were closed for that colonizing business. The United States were stating that they would stay in their hemisphere, but that Europe needed to stay in its hemisphere. It was a pillar of American beliefs. -
The Corrupt Bargain of 1824
During the elections of 1824, none of the 4 men got over half of the electoral college votes. Therefore it went to the House(oR). The race was now between Andrew Jackson and John Quincy Adams. When the Speaker of the House Henry Clay met with Quincy, and afterwards gave his full support towards him, (being rewarded with a high position), Jackson supporters called it a "corrupt bargain". Public opinion of the two men dropped, and Jackson used campaigning tactics still used today to win next time. -
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John Qunicy Adams' Presidency
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Andrew Jackson's Presidency
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First Issue of The Liberator is Published
The Liberator was an abolitionist newspaper that was full of people not afraid to speak their minds. It was the first circulating paper that didn’t use the cautious approach to abolition, instead demanding the end of slavery with no re-compensation to their owners. Part of this was due to the black Northerners who finally had a platform to speak. Out of this came the American Anti-Slavery Association and added pressure on the Southern politicians defending slavery. -
First Bank Robbery in U.S History
The first bank robbery was performed by Edward Smith on New York’s Wall Street, robbing the City Bank. Entering the bank after closing with a duplicate set of keys, he stole $245,000 which is a sum of money equivalent to $7.7 million now. He was caught and served 5 years in prison for it. The effects of this were that there was more security and focus on keeping the bank as well as the bank's money safe. -
Nat Turner's Rebellion
Nat Turner was an enslaved preacher who led a slave rebellion. The results were the deaths of up to 200 black people and a tighter control of slaves. When a solar eclipse occurred that year, Turner was convinced it was a sign from God that it was time to rebel. During the insurrection, 55 white citizens were killed, almost ¼ of the number of blacks punished for it. The Southerners were now frightened and the organized abolitionist movement stopped there, and laws became more oppressive. -
Attempted Assassination of Andrew Jackson
This was the first assassination attempt on an American president. Richard Lawrence approached Andrew Jackson in front of Congress. Lawrence shot at him, and his gun misfired, pissing the president off but leaving him very much alive. The angry Jackson man beat Lawrence with his walking cane. Lawrence pulled out a second gun which also misfired. The chance of both guns misfiring were 1 in 125,000. If the odds would have been in Lawrence’s favor though, our history might have changed course. -
Davy Crockett and Gang Arrive in Texas
Davy Crockett was known for his daring adventures, both true and unreal, and especially his death. Davy and his buddies swore allegiance to Texas in return for land. On February 23rd, the Mexican president and his thousands of troops attacked Alamo, which was only defended by 200 Texans. All of the defenders were killed over a span of 13 days. His death moved him up to legendary status. He was remembered as fighting for the American ideals of liberty. -
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Martin Van Buren's Presidency
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Elijah P. Lovejoy is Killed
Elijah P. Lovejoy was an abolitionist minister whose newspaper walked the line of somewhat controversial and very controversial. After it being burned down three times by unhappy mobs, Lovejoy had had enough. When another pro-slavery mob came to burn down his newspaper a fourth time, he attempted to stop them and was killed. This event sparked outrage in abolitionists and those who believed in freedom of the press alike. -
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John Tyler's Presidency
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William Henry Harrison Dies
William Henry Harrison was an influential figure. He was in several military and political roles; at times being called to defend against angry Natives, including a group led by Tecumseh and the Prophet. With the Battle of Tippecanoe and gains in the War of 1812, Harrison became a national hero, which was exactly why the Whigs party nominated him. He won by a landslide but developed a cold a month in. 32 days after becoming president, Harrison died of pneumonia, and with him the Whig Party. -
The First Electric Telegraph is Sent
Morse and his assistant developed a way of sending signals across electric lines, in a language known as Morse code. The telegraph completely changed the world. News, messages, and information could be sent and received almost instantly instead of having to be carried from person to person over spans of weeks or months. The 4 word message sent by Morse on that day in May, “What God Hath Wrought”, was the first of a new era: the era of telecommunication. -
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James Polk's Presidency
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The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo is Signed
The war between the two new countries of Mexico and America ended with this agreement. Mexico, having lost the conflict, ceded just over half of its territory which consisted of present day California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, as well as parts of Kansas, Wyoming, Arizona, Oklahoma, and Colorado. On this day, the U.S grew by a third and became a continental country. This new land, however profitable it could be, made way for new conflicts as the territories would try to become states. -
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Zachary Taylor's Presidency
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Elizabeth Blackwell Gets Her Degree
Elizabeth Blackwell was the first woman in the United States to be granted a MD degree. She was turned away by over 10 medical schools because she was a woman. Her refusal to pretend to be a male just to get admitted, held her back but eventually she was allowed to Geneva Medical College as a joke. AFter graduating, she struggled to find work but worked to open opportunities up for women. It was a great advancement for the women’s movement. -
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Millard Fillmore's Presidency
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Uncle Tom's Cabin is Published
One of the most influential works in the history of American literature, Uncle Tom’s Cabin brought together the divided abolitionists. Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe just 9 years before the outbreak of the war, it changed many things. The (in)famous book told of two antislavery plots and its emotive language and descriptive scenes brought many to the cause. Mr. Russell says it isn’t a good book, nevertheless, its impact on American society was profound. -
Henry Clay Dies
The alien laws made citizenship take 14 years and made it so that the president could deport any “aliens''. The sedition acts took away people's freedom of speech making it so that they could be arrested for speaking against the government. This was important because it went against the Constitution, angering a lot of people, and allowed for the Anti-federalist party to take power. It was the most obvious attack on rights that was ever legal. -
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Franklin Pierce's Presidency
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The First Railroad Crosses the Mississippi
Crowds gathered and cheered as the first train crossed the Mississippi on the first bridge constructed at Rock Island, Illinois to Davenport, Iowa. The bridge almost didn’t happen, and once it was built, a most likely deliberate act of sabotage put it out of commission for a few more months. This historic event would be the first time Secretary of War Jefferson Davis and railroad attorney Abraham Lincoln would be in the middle of a heated conflict. -
Charles Sumner is Attacked in Congress
South Carolina Congressman Preston Brooks attacked Senator Charles Sumner with a cane in the hall of the U.S. Senate after Sumner gave a speech attacking Southern sympathizers for the pro-slavery violence in Kansas. Sumner would take three years to recover while Brooks became a hero in the South. This event caused already high tensions to rise even higher and just goes to show the state of the divide between the North and South and the violence that built up and eventually led to the civil war. -
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James Buchanan's Presidency
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Dred Scott Decision is Made
Dred Scott was a slave who had been moved around various slave and free states. He sued his owner to gain his freedom. The case went all the way to the Taney Court, which ruled that people of African descent were not U.S. citizens, making them unable to sue in federal court. They held the belief that slaves were the owner’s legal property and made the unpopular stand that Congress had no power to limit the spread of slavery. This outraged abolitionists, strengthening the divide. -
The First Transatlantic Cable is Completed
After four attempts of unsuccessfully laying the cable, the fifth attempt, using four ships from Britain and America, worked as the ships were able to successfully lay their parts of the cable. However, because the signal was so weak, the idea was scrapped. Later on, Cyrus West Field was able to restart his project and in 1866 the first permanent line was laid, which would prove to make communication so much more efficient and allow for many future advancements all around the world. -
Abraham Lincoln Finishes Debating Stephen Douglas
While Stephen Douglas did not originally want to debate Lincoln, he was eventually in a place where he couldn’t refuse. The debates went well for Lincoln, proving he was an eloquent speaker of the Republican cause. Although Douglas ended up narrowly winning the Senate seat, his position on the topic of slavery extension angered the South. When the rematch came with the presidential elections, the Republican Lincoln won, leaving Douglas and his divided Democrats in a distant second. -
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Abraham Lincoln's Presidency
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Fort Sumter is Attacked
This Union fort in Southern territory was bombarded for 34 hours by Confederate forces after the U.S. Army commander failed to evacuate. This event started the four years of conflict known as the U.S. Civil War. Fort Sumter was captured April 14 when Major Robert Anderson turned the fort over to the Confederates. Both groups were regarded as heroes when they returned home, and both the Union and Confederacy began gathering troops for war. -
The Emancipation Proclamation is Issued
This date was when it became in effect, not the day it was given. Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation didn’t actually free any slaves; it was an ultimatum. The rebelling states had two options: come back to the Union and keep slavery, or continue the war and get no dues when they were conquered. The ballsy move claimed the North would win, it just depended on how the South wanted to play it. It also made the war about slavery, keeping European nations virtually unable to assist the South. -
Robert E. Lee Surrenders
As commander in chief of Confederate forces, Lee surrendered his 28,000 man army to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, effectively ending the four years of Civil War conflict. Additional troops under southern command would continue to surrender until May 26. This was the beginning of the end for the war. The highest ranking General relinquishes control of his army, and while it wasn’t technically the end of the war, it was pretty darn close. -
Lincoln is Shot
Abraham Lincoln was shot in Ford's Theatre five days after the Confederate surrender. The shot, fired by actor John Wilkes Booth, during the play "Our American Cousin," threatened the life of the men who presided over the War of Rebellion and the end of slavery. Lincoln would die one day later. Booth’s original plan was to kidnap Lincoln, but as that failed, he made one last attempt to save the Confederacy. This event changed the course of Reconstruction and also brought the nation together. -
The KKK is Formed
The Ku Klux Klan formed secretly to discourage blacks from voting, issuing in a brutal and shameful era of terror and crime amid southern states as civil rights for freed slaves emerged from the Civil War Era and made hesitant progress throughout the majority of the 1900’s. Their goal was to restore white supremacy through hate, intimidation, and violence. This hate group mostly disbanded in the 1870’s because their goal of supremacy had been largely achieved. It unfortunately was revived later. -
William H. Seward Agrees to Purchase Alaska
Secretary of State William H. Seward makes the sale of Alaska to the U.S. from Russia for $7.2 million dollars, approximately two cents per acre, by signing the Treaty of Cession of Russian America to the United States. Russia, lacking the financial resources to keep Alaska, decided they would rather sell Alaska to the U.S than let Britain get their hands on the territory. Although the desire to expand was briefly paused with the end of the Civil War, the Senate approved the treaty of the land. -
Hiram Rhodes Revels is Sworn Into Office
The first African-American to be sworn into office in the United States Congress, Hiram Rhodes Revels, a Republican from Mississippi takes his place in the United States Senate. Born a freeman, Revels was one of the few black men with some college education. His journey to the Senate was full of resistance but once he was there, he was appreciated by whites and blacks alike. He was a moderate Republican who represented freemen, but also favored amnesty for former Confederates. -
The Confederate States of America are Officially Dissolved
On this day, Georgia became the last rebelling state to be readmitted to the Union. With that, the Confederacy was dismantled. Although Georgia was readmitted in July of 1868, the political racial inequality caused them to be barred. They were allowed to return due to a new bargain made in 1870, but the terms of that quickly fell apart. Soon, Georgia came under the control of the Redeemers, a group of segregationist white Democrats who often used terrorism to support their rule. -
The First Official Weather Forecast
The National Weather Service, known then as the Weather Bureau, made its first official meteorological forecast. The first reports were taken at 24 stations at 7:35 AM and were telegraphed back to Washington D.C. "High winds at Chicago and Milwaukee... and along the Lakes." Without the Weather Bureau, weather preparation would have been much lower and disasters would strike much worse.
