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Oct 12, 1492
Christopher Columbus's Voyage
Christopher Columbus had sailed in search of another way to reach India. He contacted the Native tribes in the Americas, and wrote about his experiences in these lands. Once this land was discovered and reported about, a race began between countries. This was the race for land and gold, since land = opportunity. -
1500
Emergence of the Slave Trade
The Atlantic Slave trade is established between the Americas, Africa and Britain. This is the beginning of slavery in the Americas, and supports the economic system implemented. This allows the trade of cash crops between the Americas and Europe. -
Settling of Jamestown
The Virginia Company created a settlement in the Americas in 1607, and was the first permanent settlement. This was after failed attempts such as the colony of Roanoke. It is now known as the very first permanent settlement of the English in the Americas. -
Separatists settle in the New World
The Separatists, different from the Pilgrims of Jamestown, settled in the New World. They believed in separating from the church, as they believed it was too corrupt to be fixed. This was different from the Pilgrims, which believed the church could be fixed with changes. -
Bacon's Rebellion
Bacon's Rebellion was led by Nathaniel Bacon in Virginia. This was a rebellion against the governor, due to his reluctance to drive out the Native American populations. Settlers felt motivated to drive out these populations, in order to get more land. -
The Beginning of the Great Awakening
The great awakening was led by many practitioners, who had alternate methods of preaching. This included many positive or negative outlooks towards the afterlife. Johnathan Edwards was a Congregationalist, who believed in a fire and brimstone approach, whereas George Whitefield was the opposite. -
The Albany Plan
Benjamin Franklin wrote in a newspaper an idea of uniting all the Colonies. He assembled the Albany Delegation organizing people from all colonies to create alliances. However, this was not very successful and required more campaigning to push the idea. -
Beginning of the 7 Years War
The French-Indian War, or 7 Years War, began in 1756 due to rising conflicts between the French and English. The Native Americans and French had been encroaching on English territory, in order to capture furs. The same was happening with the English, leading Washington to attack and defeat the French. -
Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 was passed in order to appeal to the Native Americans. It prohibited the colonists from going left of the Appalachians, which would leave the Native Americans lots of land to live on. This would later be repealed as the wish to settle further west was granted by the federal government. -
The Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was one of the leading events that raised tensions up to the revolution. 5 people were killed, in a ruffle between the redcoats and civilians. People were shot even though they were only throwing snowballs at him. However, many different stories were recounted, which caused conflict, and leading to the redcoats being sent to England to be put on trial. -
The Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was an event where the Sons of Liberty rioted against the taxes imposed on tea. The Sons of Liberty gathered at Green Dragon's Tavern, and dressed as Native Americans to riot. They then destroyed over a million in tea by throwing it into the harbor, leading to the Intolerable Acts. -
The Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts were passed as a result of the Boston Tea Party. These were referred to as the Coercive Acts by British rule, which were imposed to punish the colonists. This closed the Boston Port, outlawed assemblies, and made trials required to be completed in England. They also passed the Quartering act, which allowed British soldiers to house themselves in people's homes. -
Assembly of the First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was a meeting with delegates from all the colonies except Georgia. They agreed that they would stay with the British if they would receive equal taxation and representation. This would eventually lead to the creation of the Olive Branch Petition. -
The Shot Heard Around the World
The British had marched towards Concord in order to capture the weapon stores. They had captured John Hancock and Samuel Adams, where Paul Revere had seen and warned people. This led to the minutemen standing in front of the British to prevent access to the weapons, and a shot was fired, leading to battle. This resulted in 17 total casualties. -
The Olive Branch Petition
This was a symbol of peace towards the British from the colonists. However, the British rule were extremely angered by this, as they believed they had absolute power over the colonies and sent military reinforcements. This last-ditch effort was only in an attempt to prevent war. -
The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was signed by the Second Continental Congress, listing the Colonies' grievances with British rule. This document declared independence from Britain, which led to the Revolutionary War -
Publishing of the Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation are written by the Second Continental Congress. This was the first central government of the US, however it was very weak and did not have many federal powers. It could not tax, declare war, or even form an army, leaving it all to the states. -
The Treaty of Paris
The British wrote the Treaty of Paris in 1783. This would give the US their land and their independence. This marked the official beginning of the USA. -
The Constitutional Convention
The Constitutional Convention occurred to replace the very weak Articles of Confederation. This was when delegates from all the states gathered to draft a much stronger federal government, and replaced the Articles of Confederation. Several laws were changed, and the Bill of Rights highlighting citizen's individual rights were added. -
Thomas Jefferson's Election
Thomas Jefferson's election was the first democratic change of power in the US. Previously, John Adams had been in power but was defeated in the presidential election by Thomas Jefferson. However, there had never been a peaceful transition of power alike this one ever in history, which was an extremely promising sign for a new democratic system. -
The Louisiana Purchase
In 1803, Jefferson purchased the Louisiana Purchase from France. He used federal funds to buy new federal land for $15,000,000, and was very split on whether he should do so. However, this was a significant moment in US history, since they received 530,000,000 acres of land. -
Beginning of the War of 1812
The War of 1812 began after attacks from the French and British. American ships were being captured, and the soldiers were being impressed. This led to James Madison making the decision to declare war against Britain once again. -
The Indian Removal Act
The Indian Removal Act was made intending to relocate the Native American tribes. This would force all the Native tribes east of the Mississippi to relocate onto reservations plotted out in the west. However, this was met with resistance by the tribes already living in the west, leading to the trail of tears. -
Andrew Jackson "kills" the bank
Andrew Jackson decided to not renew the Second National Bank in 1832. He believed the bank was corrupt, and that they were generating too much revenue off of people's tax money, so he vetoed the passing of the bank. This would allow him to give the power to the states, and establishing state banks using America's funds instead of one bank controlling everything. -
The Beginning of the Texas Revolution
The Mexican-American War was caused by laws being imposed on American settlers in Texas. People would bring slaves into Texas, which was eventually outlawed without the Texans receiving a vote. This led to a revolution against Mexico, with reinforcements from the US. -
The Alamo
The Alamo was a building where there was a slaughter during the Spanish-American War. All the soldiers fighting were killed inside the building by the Spanish army, fighting for their cause. This led to increased war efforts and the motto, "don't forget the Alamo". -
The Miracle Plow
The Miracle Plow was invented to be able to cut through top sod. This allowed the migration to the west to be much more feasible, since the common person could cut through the top sod and reach the fertile soil beneath it. This would also allow the creation of sod houses, which was a very sustainable source of homes. -
Texas is Annexed
In 1844-1845, Texas was annexed by the US. This was following the offer for US citizens to move into Texas, and people brought slaves. They were wronged and not given rights, so the US annexed Texas and took power over them. -
Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo was passed in order to end the violence between Mexico and the US and Texas. This also gave session to the US, giving them California, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and Nevada. Texas would also be taken into the US. -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was passed in order to ease sectional conflicts. This allowed California to join the Union as a free state, but also added fugitive slave laws, which would make the north unsafe for runaway slaves, instead making the goal Canada. This also made one big change, banning the slave trade in Washington DC but not owning slaves. This was the first step to abolishing slavery across the US. -
The Caning of Charles Sumner
The caning of Charles Sumner was some of the first recorded violence between the North and South. Charles Sumner was discussing slavery in congress, when Preston Brooks approached him and attacked him. He went unconscious and was in critical condition, whereas Preston Brooks fled to the South and was hailed as a hero. -
Scott's Great Snake
General Scott of the Union formed his anaconda plan to capture the south. This entailed blocking off trade from the sea and surrounding the South with an army on land. This would also block off the Mississippi, making it impossible to trade, and then closing in on the South to capture it. -
South Carolina Secedes
John C Calhoun convinces South Carolina to secede from the Union. This was due to their grievances with the laws imposed on them regarding taxes and slavery. This cascades into other states from the Union into seceding, leading to the Civil War when Lincoln attempts to preserve the Union. -
Kansas Enters the Union
From 1854 - 1861, Bleeding Kansas had been going on where many pro-slavery and anti-slavery citizens moved to Kansas in order to influence the vote in their favor. This led to violence and killing between the different factions, which caused further rising tensions towards Civil War. On January 29th of 1861, Kansas entered the Union as a free state. -
Attack on Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter was attacked on April 12th of 1861, after rising tensions between the North and South. The fort was located in the South, manned by union troops, and received reinforcements leading to its capture. This marked the beginning of the Civil War. -
The Homestead Act
The Homestead Act was passed in order to flourish settlement in the west. This was following the construction of the railway from coast to coast, making migration much easier. However, this act would take land from Native Reservations and partition them for homesteads. -
The Battle of Bull Run / Manassas
The Battle of Bull Run, or the Battle of Manassas, is considered the first official battle of the Civil War. Many people sat and had picnics due to their believed ease of the war, although they were surprised by the brutality of the war. There was lots of death, and it was not considered a win for the North. -
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam was the single bloodiest day in American history. This was the turning point in the war, because it was declared a North victory, allowing Lincoln to release the Emancipation Proclamation. This would change the trajectory of the war to be about slavery, instead of just preserving the Union. -
The Emancipation Proclamation
Lincoln released the Emancipation Proclamation, stating all slaves in the south were freed. However, this also said any state that rejoined the union could keep their slaves if they rejoined peacefully. This would allow the North a last ditch effort to get the south to rejoin the union. -
Creation of the Freedmen's Bureau
The Freedmen's Bureau was created by radical republicans who wished to help recently freed African Americans. This would start schools for African Americans, get labor contracts, and loans. This, however, led to several problems such as sharecropping and segregation. -
Surrender at Appomattox Courthouse
After being surrounded by two Union armies, the Confederate army was forced to surrender. This was after they marched to Appomattox to resupply, although they were beat to the warehouses by the North. General Lee was forced to surrender on April 9th of 1865. -
Election of 1864
Amidst the Civil War, there was an election between Abraham Lincoln and George McClellan. This was a landslide vote for Abraham Lincoln, with an electoral vote of 212:21. Lincoln was still fighting the Civil War during this time. -
Lincoln's Assassination
Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth on this day. He was killed in a theatre, by a gunshot to the back of the head. This marks the beginning of reconstruction, when Andrew Johnson became president and the radical Republicans got majority in Congress. -
14th Amendment
The 14th Amendment was passed in 1865. This declared that all African Americans would be considered citizens, whether they used to be slaves or were freedmen. This amendment officially made anyone born in the US to be a citizen of the United States. -
Military Reconstruction Act of 1867
The Military Reconstruction Act of 1867 would place military oversight in the south. This would be to ensure that the south would not feel inclined to rebel, and be forced to implement the changes in congress. However, the south did not like this since they could not rebel or have a say in congress until they re-integrated into society. -
15th Amendment
The 15th Amendment was specifically passed to allow African American men the right to vote. However, this did not include women. This did allow all minorities to vote, as long as they were male, including Native Americans that are integrated into society. -
The Compromise of 1877
This compromise was officially the end of reconstruction. In 1877, the election was extremely close, forcing congress to vote. Since Hayes became president, military oversight was agreed to end in the south. However, this led to a weak presidency since he was seen as illegitimately elected, and the end of military oversight in the south meant that Jim Crow laws could be implemented. -
Jim Crow Laws enacted in the South
After the end of military reconstruction in the south and Haye's election, there was much more freedom with the laws. This allowed the passing of Jim Crow Laws, as the states did not monitor the counties closely. This allowed segregation and voter tests, that were aimed so African Americans could not vote. -
The NAWSA is founded
The National American Women's Suffrage Society was founded by Susan B. Anthony in 1890. This was to prevent drinking, as she believed alcohol is the root of all evils. This would go hand in hand with organizations that stand for African American rights, as they both felt oppressed. -
Plessy V. Ferguson
Plessy V. Ferguson was a supreme Court ruling that officially allowed segregation laws. However, the condition was that these buildings would have to be equal. This led to the motto of "separate but equal", and there was little enforcement on this law.