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1492
Christopher Columbus Find America
In 1492, Christopher Columbus was sent by the Queen and King of Spain at the time to find a faster trade route to India. Christopher Columbus ended up sailing through to the Americas, North and South. This opened a whole new world to Europeans, who quickly colonized this land. England took the east coast, Spain the south and France took the middle of where modern day America is. Each traded and had rocky relationships with the Natives, usually abusing them. This was the discovery of America. -
Jamestown
Jamestown was the first settlement in America, funded by different English organizations. It promised free land and established the English as a major power in the newly discovered continent. This brought Puritans, as well as developers. Although the promise of free land and thus opportunity was successful, only about 20% of the people there survived due to the poor conditions. The conditions developed better, as eventually they started turning a profit with the tobacco plant, a cash crop. -
Triangular Trade
The Triangular Trade was a naval trade route from Europe to the Americas. This was in result of the Colombian exchange, coming from the plethora of natural resources available in the new world. It first really reached the British in 1619, with slaves. This led to more people coming to the Americas, and developing them both socially and economically. The triangular trade hinged on the natural resources available, and the result was the development of the Americas, being crucial for the future. -
Puritans Come to America
The puritans were a strict group of English religious outcasts, wanting to improve the Anglican Church, but were nevertheless outcasts. This was a majority of settlers in the new world, and many states made it necessary for one to be a puritan. They had a strict and hardworking way of life, being good for development of the untamed land. This is so important as this led to crucial development of the British colonies. Not everyone was a puritan though, with separatists existing, called pilgrims. -
Jonathan Edwards Preaches: "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God"
This was a sermon made by Jonathan Edwards, a preacher, who preached during a religious revival in the country. He preached a harsh message, whereas George Whitefield, another main preacher at the time, preached God's love. Those who stuck to old religion were called "Old Lights", whereas Old Lights called the new religious people "New Lights". This made huge social changes, especially in a more individualized outlook, as well as making people question power, like Great Britain. -
Proclamation of 1763
An English Act, this started heavy colonist disputes with England. England, seeing the colonies as a cash cow to pay off the recent war debts, as well as other debts, kept their soldiers there. These soldiers, under this proclamation, prohibited colonists from accessing new land, as they did not want to start another native war. This infuriated colonists, who, after being ignored by England through huge troubles, were now being milked for their cash and had no representation. -
End of the French Indian War
The French Indian War started over a land dispute from the French and English. Due to previous disputes, the Natives joined the French. The English ended up beating them and taking land in the Ohio Valley. The colonists and English had huge disputes afterwards, though. The English thought that the colonists were cowards as they used guerilla warfare and that they did not help in the war. The colonists were angry that they were still being treated as second class citizens. Tensions rose high. -
England Passes the Quartering Act
Considered a line of no return to some, this Act forced colonists to have to shelter and feed the people that are enforcing oppressive acts, english redcoat soldiers. This put colonists out of even more money and rights, as the soldiers would keep tabs on the colonists, furthering their lack of freedoms. This, as well as other oppressive acts, had pushed colonists even further, leading way to the Boston Massacre and Tea party, and eventually the revolution. -
Boston Massacre
On a snowy and cold day, angry colonists were throwing snowballs at british redcoats, when one drew blood. The british soldiers then fired on the crowd, killing 5 colonists. This was spread all throughout the colonies, who became increasingly angry. More and more hate came towards the british from the colonies due to this. It was published all throughout newspapers, and it added to the pile of reasons that the colonists should hate the british. This and acts like the stamp act caused rebellion. -
England Passes the Coercive Acts
Due to the Boston Tea Party, led by a drunk Samuel Adams, the British started cracking down very hard on the colonists. These acts increased enforcement of other acts, closed the Boston harbor (essentially destroying it) and made English officials take control of all colonial governments. These acts were so bad, they garnered the name "The Intolerable Acts", by colonists. At this point, many colonists believed that the English had gone too far, and that war would eventually happen. -
The Shot Heard Around the World
When Paul Revere saw English soldiers coming for Samuel Adams and Hancock, who were major colonial leaders. He warned them in time, and the colonial leaders barely escaped. About 70 - 80 Militia men were outside, and they had a confrontation with the English, where someone shot and everyone started to shoot. Both sides lost soldiers. The ones who did not die (Militia) went around and warned everyone else. This prompted a heavy militia counterattack, starting the Revolutionary war. -
Americans Pass the Declaration of Indepence
The signing of the Declaration of Independence was an American decision, prompted by all the terrible acts and oppression, as well as the impending war. This was also inspired and supported by the people, especially those who read Thomas Paine's "Common Sense". This was written by many important figures, but the main one was Thomas Jefferson. This made it clear what the colonists believed and wanted, which was freedom from the english and taxation without representation. -
Valley Forge
This is one of the first Militia wins, in Trenton, New Jersey. One Christmas, George Washington led his army at its lowest, being ridden with disease and deserters. Them, being inspired by Thomas Paine's "American Crisis", attacked a bunch of drunk British soldiers and mercenaries. They won, and took control of this industrial - like center. This surprise was successful, and it added incredible morale to the continental army, which needed it coming off of so many losses and a blizzard. -
Battle of Saratoga
Originally a British attack, a whole army of British troops tried to flank the militia, but were met with rough terrain. They were spotted, and the Militia took a whole British army, something that had never been done before. They won due to this, and it is considered the turning point of the war, as it added morale to the continental army, took out a whole army of British troops and got the French to support the Americans. The French came to support them after this, only asking for friendship. -
Battle of Yorktown
This is the end of the Revolutionary War, with an American Win. The british, led by General Cornwallis, retreated into Yorktown, trying to get the Americans to have to survive another valley forge situation. Instead, they were met with American Naval ships, who fired on this huge army of British troops. Soon, General Washington with his Continental Army and French troops had them surrounded, destroying and capturing a huge amount of British troops, and ending the Revolutionary War. -
The Northwest Ordinance is Passed
After the Revolutionary War ended, Americans came to have a huge fear of monarchies and central power, so they passed the Articles of Confederation. It gave little power to the Central Government, causing many problems, but it did give the United States of America a way to permit new states into the union, which was the Northwest Ordinance. It worked well for the time, making many midwestern states, like Indiana and Illinois. It required a thousand people, as well as a courthouse and some money. -
Americans Make the Constitution
This was made to replace the Articles of Confederation, which lacked too much federal power. It was made by two parties, the Federalists, who supported a lot of central power, and the anti - Federalists, who wanted state's power. This gave the federal government the ability to tax, and gave citizens specific rights, per request of the anti - Federalists, by the Bill of Rights. This has worked since, with many Amendments being added to the Bill of Rights, like Freedom of Speech for example. -
George Washington is Selected as President
George Washington was the first president of the United States, with his vice president, John Adams, and set many precedents. George Washington was selected, as he was the general who won the Revolutionary War. He would go on to be a very federalist president, mostly listening to Hamilton instead of Thomas Jefferson, who were two men on his cabinet. Him being first president, many presidents follow what he did, like putting their hands on a bible while being inaugurated. -
Hamilton Implements his Economic Plans
Due to George Washington leaning very Federalist, a party favoring elites and rich people, he listened to their leader, Hamilton, which was on his cabinet. Hamilton proposed a national bank and a plan of undertaking debt. Thomas Jefferson opposed this, thinking that it gave the federal government too much power, but it went through due to George Washington's federalist views. Hamilton wanted America to become a very industrial nation, which he helped do by boosting the economy with his power. -
Eli Whitney Creates the Cotton Gin
Eli Whitney made this to make cotton a cash crop. It worked extremely well, gaining popularity, as by just the turn of a handle you could separate the seeds from the fibers of cotton, making the process much more efficient and revolutionizing the textile and farming industry. People could farm this and make a huge profit, and textile companies could now buy a lot of it. This became the south's main economic beneficiary, but with a cost, a huge heightening in the slave trade, and plantation life. -
The Revolution of 1800
This was not a revolution, but a presidential election in the year 1800. This was a peaceful trade of power from the Federalists to the Anti - federalists, from John Adams to Thomas Jefferson. In most historical cases, this trade of power from one side to the other involves war or some kind of hardship, but this was not the case. It proved that the American political system worked, although John Adams did oppose with the Midnight Judges, hiring a bunch of federalist judges before he left office. -
XYZ Affair
While John Adams was President, and while a French and British war was happening, the French wanted American traders to pay for passage, to help fund against the British. John Adams sent out three diplomats, who went to negociate against this, but were insulted. They came back, told America, and Americans wanted war. John Adams avoided this, as America could not handle another war at the moment, but this was the unpopular move. He made the Alien and Sedition Acts to try and hold power due to it. -
Eli Whitney Creates Interchangeable Parts
This was a huge leap in both economics and industry, as Eli Whitney made parts of machines and other tools that could be exchanged for the same part, effectively creating repairs. Instead of buying a whole new tool, the customer would just have to replace the broken or poor part, which was Interchangeable, due to Eli Whitney's invention of Interchangeable parts. This was super cost effective, as the whole tool or machine would not have to be replaced, and many adopted this uncostly system. -
Marbury V Madison
This court case was to argue whether the Midnight Judges were constitutional or not. The court argued against it, and it gave the court the ability of Judicial Review, which gave the court the ability to decide if a situation was constitutional or not. The midnight Judges left, as with Judicial review, the court argued that John Adam's hiring of them was unconstitutional. Judicial Review is still heavily used today in many court cases, and is a staple of court runnings and the judiciary branch. -
Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase, which was the purchasing of previously French land by the United States from Napoleon, made the president at the time, Thomas Jefferson, walk at night thinking because of it. There were two sides, the Federalists, who believed in a loose view of the constitution, and the Anti - Federalists, who believed in a strict viewing of the constitution. Jefferson was an Anti - federalist, and the constitution never stated that he could take this incredible opportunity, but he did. -
Embargo Act of 1807
Jefferson passed this Act to keep America away from war. Although war did come with the war of 1812, this did push it back, as it forced people to not trade with France, temporarily fixing the problem. This did cause economic problems, but it had an unintended affect, the stimulation of industry and huge growth of American industry. This made America more business and industry based, stimulating trade between each other instead of other countries. This was essential growth for American Industry. -
Battle of New Orleans
A battle that occurred after the War of 1812, this battle was won by Americans. The Treaty of Ghent, which ended the war of 1812, which was caused by English anger and trade blockades, had not yet reached General Andrew Jackson and his American Army. This last battle killed 2,042 English soldiers and 71 American ones. Although the end of the War of 1812 was considered a tie, this battle set America ahead, and the people thought of it as an American victory, making Jackson a war hero. -
Compromise of 1820
When Missouri was trying to enter the Union, the Northern congressmen prohibited it, trying to keep another slave state from entering the Union. Tensions were extremely high due to this, as this is taxation without representation, which is what england was doing to colonists. Clay eased this with the Compromise of 1820, stating that when a state enters the union, it must be in pairs, one slave and one free, with the slave state being from under a certain line. This was a temporary solution. -
Election of 1824
The election of 1824 is infamous in the sense that some historians consider this to be a corrupt bargain. The evening before the House decided, John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay had gone into a room to meet, and when they came out, Henry Clay went and influenced the house in Quincy Adam's favor, and when he was elected, Henry Clay was put in as secretary of state. This was a first, and so it is important, and would later lead to Andrew Jackson using this in the election of 1828. -
Canals are Constructed
The Canals, particularly the Eerie Canal, led to huge development in America. It helped businesses and everyday people, as it decreased the time it takes to travel hugely. It added even more industry to America, and led to large economic growth. It even made large effects in the inventions area, as the steamboat was created to travel up these, making the canals a catalyst for a lot of incredible economics and inventions. It also influenced social regards, with people being able to connect more. -
Election of 1828
The election of 1828 resulted in a win for Andrew Jackson, as John Quincy Adams was both distrusted for his father's wrongs and the corrupt bargain. Andrew Jackson also won because of his uplifting of the "common man", and this was significant as this was the first election that all white men could vote. Andrew Jackson was also named "Old Hickory", for his winning at New Orleans. This election led to a lot of institutionalized native racism and the founding of the Democratic party. -
The Steam Engine is Brought to America
Being a part of the transportation revolution, the steam engine was brought to America in the 1830s, from England. The Steam engine led to the creation of huge corporations, efficiency, which led to extra industry and growth of business, as well as a more unified country, as the Steam engine could traverse almost any terrain. The Steam engine was used to travel, and ship goods, services and people, and due to its accessibility the steam engine is one of the most important inventions in history. -
Indian Removal Act
Andrew Jackson's racism towards natives, which bled over into John Marshall's court, only truly came to fruition in Martin Van Buren's presidency. The Indian Removal Act led to the removal of many natives to western lands, forcibly, leading to the infamous Trail of Tears. Natives were abused and hurt, and forced into worse territory, some occupied by other natives. This would lead to conflict, and the continuation of native racism for a while, as the future westward expansion saw native racism. -
Compromise Tariff of 1833
This Tariff was made by Henry Clay to ease tension in the nation overall, as John Quincy Adam's Tariff of Abominations was so bad that South Carolina was threatening succession. Jackson called this out, and tensions were extremely high. Henry Clay saved the day with the Compromise Tariff of 1833, which made a plan for the tariff to get smaller overtime. This eased tension and calmed Andrew Jackson, and without this, the country would have devolved into civil war much sooner. -
Battle of the Alamo
Texas was a terrible Mexican State, until American immigrants were told to move there for free land. This worked too well, and the Mexican government would put extra taxes on the Americans, without representation. Texas seceded from Mexico, and a war began. The most infamous battle was the battle of the Alamo, of which many Americans died, including Davy Crockett. No soldier surrendered. This would later lead to the Mexican American War, and by extension, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. -
Panic of 1837
The Panic of 1837 was an economic crisis caused by Jackson's refusal to recharter the second national bank. Although, this was during Martin Van Buren's Presidency. Unemployment was at 25%, making this economy unbearable, skewing people's views on Martin Van Buren and the Democratic party. This led to William Henry Harrison's win in the next presidential election. This taught America the unreliability of the market, a theme that would echo all throughout America's history going forward. -
The Great Schism
The women's suffrage movement and the abolition movement had gone hand in hand before this. One convention, that famous abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison was going to speak at, refused women from speaking on stage in this movement. William Lloyd Garrison was so mad about this that he refused to speak, causing huge controversy and splitting the movements until the end of the Civil War. Also, due to Lloyd Garrison's notability on the "Liberator" newspaper, both movements saw a dip in popularity. -
Frederick Douglass Starts the North Star
Frederick Douglass, a previously enslaved man who taught himself how to read and write, started this incredibly influential and abolitionist newspaper. He was the antithesis to the south's views of slaves, and was hated by the south for it. His newspaper, the "North Star", grew the abolitionist cause by strides. By inspiring papers like the "Liberator", and using the North Star as escape symbolism, he increased popularity for the abolitionist cause, causing vital rebellion against the south. -
California Gold Rush
With the discovery of gold in California, the rush of people to come to california was quicker than expected. Many dangerous mines were created, and many natives and immigrants, from England to China, were abused and killed. Nations around the world saw the opportunity in the california gold Rush, and it led to the hoard of people incoming in 1849, called 49ers. This social movement saw massive immigration of many people to California, out west, and saw the American people learn the frontier. -
Synica Falls
A major Women's suffrage convention, this vital convention led to the organization of major women in this movement, like Susan B Anthony, Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Caty Stanton. Without this convention, women may not have gotten suffrage when they did. This would spring the Women's suffrage movement forward largely, with the vital dealings of organizations coming to play after the civil war, with the creation of NAWSA. This would not have happened without the Synica falls convention. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
President James K Polk had sent out some soldiers to Mexico, as tensions were rising at the border. The Mexicans killed these soldiers, outraging america, who started the Mexican American War. America tore through Mexico, and before they seiged Mexico city, this treaty would be signed to end the war. It gave America Texas, California, Arizona and other states around there. The significance lies in the fact that this ended a war, and gave America a large expansion into the west. -
Compromise of 1850
Another state problem arose in California, as when trying to enter the Union, it was not decided if they would be a slave state or free state, as it was on both sides of the line. This created huge tension, leading to potential succession from certain states. Henry Clay came and made another compromise, easing the tension and post - poning the civil war. This compromise put California in as a free state, but gave the south the fugitive slave act, allowing them to come north for escaped slaves. -
Bleeding Kansas
When entering the Union, Kansas was left up to a vote to see if it were to be a slave or free state. Southerners flooded in, threatening those around them, and essentially did voter fraud to make Kansas a slave state. This worked, but the majority, northerners, who lived there, were not happy. This made violence rise heavily in Kansas, with murders and exceptional violence being commonplace. This may be the singular biggest tension creator prior to South Carolina's secession. -
Election of 1860
Abraham Lincoln, due to the southern division on their candidates, won, being in the united republican party. Lincoln never planned on fully removing slavery, but after the South seceded when Lincoln was elected, the civil war started. This election started the civil war, as the south was extremely scared of Abraham Lincoln. The next four years saw the civil war, and Lincoln leading the north into victory, despite having poor generals, until Ulysses S Grant came along. -
Homestead Act
To encourage western expansion, Abraham Lincoln passed the Homestead Act, giving families that plan to make farms 160 acres purely for moving west. This is incredibly significant, as it severely affected native populations, the inhabiting of over half of the nation's land and the making of the US "Wild West" culture, even if it is overdone. Without this act, less people would have moved west. This movement also helped America economically, as the abundance of new resources created more exports. -
The Battle of Vicksburg
A key win in the war for the Union, this is the single most important battle in the Civil War. General Grant finished the Anaconda plan, successfully restricting the south, dealing a huge blow to their economy and military forces. This gave morale to the Union, who was growing tired of this war. Lincoln won the next election, securing the continuation of the war and the winning of the union. It also made the confederacy push forward, letting the Union deal a major blow at Gettysburg. -
Appomattox
The last major battle of the civil war, this is where Ulysses S Grant took General Lee's confederate army, essentially destroying the south militarily. His army was running out of supplies, and with that, the Union trapped them in Appomattox, where they surrendered. This ended the civil war, finishing slavery off in America, as well as the confederacy. Without this win, the Confederate Army may have come back with supplies, but this victory prohibited this and won the Union the civil war. -
First Impeachment
Reconstruction, or the re - entering of the south to the Union and integration of ex - slaves, was taking place. At first, he followed Lincoln's plan, but stopped before doing anything significant. Congress did not like this, and took his power. This put important acts in place, like the 14th and 15 Amendments, as well as the Freedman's Bureau. They set a trap for Johnson, which he took, firing a secretary, and was impeached, but not fired, as Congress was scared to go that far. -
Election of 1876
This election showcased Samuel Tilden versus Rutherford Hayes, and it was so close that Congress had to decide. First, 100% of southern votes went to the Tilden, showing voter fraud. The north oversaw it again, and they stated that South Carolina had flipped, showing voter fraud again. A group of 15 decided on Rutherford Hayes, but due to both sides committing voter fraud, nobody listened to them. This was important to show a flaw in the system, and showed future candidates what voter fraud did. -
The Battle of Little Big Horn
The battle of Little big Horn was the culmination of the native's abuse and the destruction that the new settlers brought to their ways of life. This includes the massacre of natives, putting them on small, barren, reservations and the killing of bison, an animal that the plain's indian's lived on. This event villainized the natives, as people became fearful of them after this. They became scared as they slaughtered lieutenant Custer and his troops after they attacked the native encampment.