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Second Great Awakening Began
A series of religious revivals based on Methodism and Baptism. Stressed a religious philosophy of salvation through good deeds and tolerance for all Protestant sects it also attracted women, Blacks, and Native Americans. -
Eli Whitney patented the cotton gin
He developed the cotton gin, a machine which could separate cotton from its seeds. made cotton a profitable crop of great value to the southern economy. reinforced the importance of slavery in the economy of the south. -
Thomas Jefferson was elected president
First democratic republican president and first peaceful transfer of power between political parties. -
Gabriel Prosser Slave Revolt
Illiterate black slave planned revolt in Richmond and was crushed with him and 25 other blacks hung. VA passed restrictions on free blacks prohibiting education, assembly, and hiring out of slaves to restrict chances of learning and future rebellions -
Louisiana Purchase
US acquisition of the Louisiana territory from France. The purchase secured American control of the Mississippi river and doubled the size of the nation. -
Marbury v. Madison
The 1803 case in which Chief Justice John Marshall and his associates first asserted the right of the Supreme Court to determine the meaning of the U.S. Constitution. The decision established the Court's power of judicial review over acts of Congress -
Beginning of Lewis and Clark Expedition
The first American expedition to cross what is now the western portion of the United States.Produced extensive maps of the area and recorded many scientific discoveries, greatly facilitating later settlement of the region and travel to the Pacific coast. -
Embargo Act
Law passed by Congress forbidding all exportation of goods from the United States. -
Chesapeake-Leopard Affair
The American ship Chesapeake refused to allow the British on the Leopard to board to look for deserters. In response, the Leopard fired on the Chesapeake. As a result of the incident, the U.S. expelled all British ships from its waters until Britain issued an apology. -
James Madison Elected president
US Statesman and political theorist. He was the 4th President of the US. "Father of the Constitution" for being the primary author of the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights -
Non-Intercourse Act
Replaced the Embargo of 1807. Unlike the Embargo, this act only forbade trade with France and Britain. -
Francis Cabot Lowell Smuggled Memorized Textile Mill Plans from Manchester, England
Toured the British textile mills in 1810. Made sketches of what he observed. Returned to America and improved Slater's cotton spinning machine. Opened first integrated cotton mil in Waltham, MA in 1814. -
Beginning of Manifest Destingy
Americans’ belief that they were destined by God to spread their beliefs across the continent.This sense of duty created a sense of unity among the nation and stimulated westward expansion. -
Death of Tecumseh
The Prophet was discredited by attacking a much larger American army, and Tecumseh was killed in the Battle of the Thames. Their actions were in response to the flood of western-bound settlers, and resulted in Indian unity and cultural revival. Ended the hope of an Indian confederacy -
The British Burn Washington DC
British Army occupied Washington DC and set fire to many public buildings following the American defeat at the Battle of Bladensburg; Facilities of the US Government (i.e. White House and Capitol) were largely destroyed. -
Treaty of Ghent Ratified
Ended the War of 1812 and restored the status quo. For the most part, territory captured in the war was returned to the original owner. It also set up a commission to determine the disputed Canada/U.S. border. -
Hartford Convention
A convention of New England merchants who opposed the Embargo and other trade restrictions.They proposed some Amendments to the Constitution and advocated the right of states to nullify federal laws. Turned public sentiment against the Federalists and led to the demise of the party. -
Era of Good Feelings Began
A period of strong nationalism, economic growth, and territorial expansion. Since the Federalist party dissolved after the War of 1812, there was only one political party and partisan conflicts. -
End of the War of 1812
Andrew Jackson's troops defeated the British at the Battle of New Orleans, not knowing that a peace treaty had already been signed. The war strengthened American nationalism and encouraged the growth of industry. -
Battle of New Orleans
battle during the War of 1812 where the British army attempted to take New Orleans. Due to a foolish frontal attack, Andrew Jackson defeated them, which gave him an enormous popularity boost -
Rush-Bagot Treaty
The treaty established strict limits on naval armaments in the Great Lakes, a first step in the full demilitarization of the U.S.-Canadian border, completed in the 1870s. -
James Monroe Elected President
Marked the beginning of the Era of Good Feelings. Last presidential election in which federalists ran a candidate. -
Anglo-American Convention
This convention allowed New England fisherman to access Newfoundland fisheries and set the northern border for the Louisiana territory. It also allowed joint occupation of the Oregon country -
Adams-Onis Treaty
Purchased Florida from Spain. Established western boundary for US and prevented Seminoles from invading Georgia -
McCulloch v. Maryland
The courts ruled that the states cannot tax the federal government. Federal government is supreme to the states (supremacy clause); confirmed the constitutionality of the Bank of the United States (elastic clause). -
Dartmouth College v. Woodward
New Hampshire had attempted to take over Dartmouth College by revising its colonial charter. The court ruled that the charter was protected under the contract clause of the US Constitution; upholds the sanctity of contracts. -
Panic of 1819
A natural post-war depression caused by overproduction and the reduced demand for goods after the war. However, it was generally blamed on the National bank. -
Missouri Compromise
Admitted Missouri as a slave state and at the same time admitted Maine as a free state. Declared that all territory north of the 36°30" latitude would become free states, and all territory south would become slave states. -
Denmark Vesey Slave Revolt
led an aborted slave rebellion in Charleston; it aggravated the anxiety about possible federal interference with the institution of slavery -
Monroe Doctrine
A statement of foreign policy which proclaimed that Europe should not interfere in affairs within the United States or in the development of other countries in the Western Hemisphere. -
John Quincy Adams Elected President (Corrupt Bargain)
No president received a majority of electoral votes leaving the House of Representatives to select the next president. The House selected John Quincy Adams over Andrew Jackson even though Jackson had received much more votes in the regular election making it believed that Henry Clay convinced Congress to elect Adams who then made Clay his Secretary of State. -
Gibbons v. Ogden
Clarified the commerce clause and affirmed congressional power over interstate commerce. -
Erie Canal Completed
Clinton's Ditch". First major canal created. Proposed in 1817 by DeWitt Clinton. Was the longest standing canal ever built at the time(27 miles). -
Robert Owen Founded the New Harmony Community
This was a society that focused on Utopian Socialism (Communism). It was started by Robert Owens but failed because everybody did not share a fair load of the work. -
Charles B. Finney Lead religious revivals in Western New York
He believed that conversions were human creations instead of the divine works of God, and that people's destinies were in their own hands. His "Social Gospel" offered salvation to all.n the 1800's, farmers there were susceptible to revivalist and tent rallies by the pentecostals (religious groups). -
Lyman Beecher Delivered his "Six Sermons on Intemperance"
This was written because of heavy drinking problems and the result was that it ran through both the United States and England -
Tariff of Abominations
A protective tariff passed by Congress designed to protect industry in the northern US; southerners labeled it the Tariff of Abominations because of the effects it had on the Southern economy; led to the Nullification Crisis. -
Andrew Jackson Elected President
7th president who shaped modern Democratic Party and was the protector of popular democracy and individual liberty for American citizens but also supported slavery and Indian removal; nicknamed "Old Hickory." -
Indian Removal Act
Part of the Indian Removal policy that was signed into law by Andrew Jackson in 1830. Strongly supported in the South where states were eager to gain access to lands occupied by the Five Civilized Tribes. -
Joseph Smith Found the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints
Founded by Joseph smith in 1830, book of Scripture, book of Mormon, traced a connection between the Native Amer. and lost tribes of Israel, polygamy -
Worcester v. Georgia
Established tribal autonomy within their boundaries. The tribes were "distinct political communities, having territorial boundaries within which their authority is exclusive." -
Andrew Jackson vetoed the Re-Charter of the Second Bank of the United States.
The only nationwide bank at the time and along with president Nicholas Biddle exerted tremendous influence over the nation's financial system. Jackson viewed second bank as a monopoly -
Nullification Crisis Began
Showdown between President Andrew Jackson and the South Carolina legislature, which declared the 1832 tariff null and void in the state and threatened secession if the federal government tried to collect duties. -
Black Hawk War
A war in Illinois between and alliance of Sauk and Fox Indians under Black Hawk against white settlers in an effort to overturn what Black Hawk considered an illegal treaty ceding tribal lands in that state to the United States. This war was notable for the viciousness of the white military efforts. -
Creation of the Whig Party in the US
Started by modernizers who saw President Andrew Jackson as a dangerous man on horseback with a reactionary opposition to the forces of social, economic and moral modernization. Supported Jeffersonian Democracy/ Democratic- Republican Party -
Treaty of New Echota
Signed by only 500 Cherokee Indians who were bribed saying that all 17,000 Cherokee's must leave within 2 years to go to land in Louisiana Territory. IF not they would be forced to leave by the United States Army on the Trail of Tears. -
Catherine Beecher Published Essays on the Education of Female Teachers
Female reformer that pushed for female employment as teachers; however, she still embraced the role of a good homemaker for women. She said women were better teachers than men and that female teachers would expand supply of teachers and also give jobs to the middle class. -
Transcendental Club's First Meeting
Transcendental Club formed used to discuss philosophy, literature, and religion. -
First McGuffey Reader Published
Written by an Ohio teacher-preacher; these grade-school readers were first published in the 1830's & sold 122 million copies in the following decades; these hammered home lasting lessons in morality, patriotism & idealism -
Texas Declared Independence from Mexico
Passed by the Consultation announced that the Texan war against Mexico principally intended to restore the Mexican Constitution of 1824 -
Battle of the Alamo
An attack on the mission in San Antonio by Mexican forces during the Texas revolution. -
Martin Van Buren Elected President
He created the system of party government and claimed that political parties were necessary to "check" the government from abusing its power. He also created the first political machine and denounced the American System and opposed the Whigs. -
Andrew Jackson Issued Specie Circular
It was issued to try and stop land speculation caused by states printing paper money without proper specie (gold or silver) backing it. It required that the purchase of public lands be paid for in specie. It stopped the land speculation and the sale of public lands went down sharply. -
Horace Mann elected secretary of Massachusetts Board of Education
He was secretary of the Massachusetts Board of Education and instituted many reforms, including increased spending on schools, a lengthened school year, improved courses of study, a teachers' association, and the division of students in classes with standardized textbooks. -
Panic of 1837
It was an economic downturn that resulted in many state banks collapsing. Bank of the U.S. failed, cotton prices fell, businesses went bankrupt, and there was widespread unemployment and distress. -
Trail of Tears Began
The Cherokee Indians were forced to travel from North Carolina and Georgia through more than 800 miles (1,287 km)-to Oklahoma More than 4,000 Cherokees died of cold, disease, and lack of food during the 116-day journey. -
Ralph Waldo Emerson gave the "Divinity School Address"
Emerson's Divinity School Address warned listeners at Harvard Divinity School that true church seemed to totter its fall. Believed many congregations had lifeless preaching; while nature was alive/vibrant outside church and he shocked his listeners. -
Webster-Ashburton Treaty
A treaty resolving several border issues between the United States and the British North American colonies, particularly a dispute over the location of the Maine-New Brunswick border. It also banned the slave trade (on the ocean). -
Treaty of Wanghia with China
Signed by the U.S. and China, it assured the United States the same trading concessions granted to other powers, greatly expanding America's trade with the Chinese. -
James Polk elected president
Slave owning southerner dedicated to Democratic party. He favored American expansion, especially advocating the annexation of Texas, California, and Oregon. -
US Annexation of Texas
U.S. made Texas a state in 1845. There was a joint resolution, both houses of Congress supported annexation under Tyler, and he signed the bill shortly before leaving office. -
Start of the Mexican War
Was the result of conflict after US annexation of Texas. Mexico still considered Texas its own and at the end the US was granted all land from Texas to California (minus the Gadsden Purchase) in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. -
Bear Flag Revolt
Americans in California wanted to be independent of Mexican rule, so when the war with Mexico began these Californians revolted and established an independent republic. They hoisted short lived California Bear Flag Republic -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The treaty ended the Mexican-American War. Mexico gave up all claims to land from Texas to California for $15 million -
Gold Rush Began in California
Thousands of miners travel to Northern California after news reports of the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill in January of 1848 had spread around the world. This caused Californians to apply for statehood in 1849 -
John Humphrey Noyes founded the Oneida Community
A radical Utopian community established in New York, in which complex marriage (free love), male consistence (a form of birth control), and controlled breeding to create a new superior generation, were all practiced. The community lasted for over thirty years because artisans made advanced steel traps. -
Henry David Thoreau Published Civil Disobedience
He wrote this essay where he expressed opposition to the Mexican War. He argued that individuals have a moral responsibility to oppose unjust laws & unjust actions by gov'ts. -
Commodore Mathew Perry Entered Tokyo Harbor Opening Japan to the U.S
American Commodore Matthew Perry led his four ships into the harbor at Tokyo Bay, seeking to re-establish regular trade and discourse between Japan and the western world. -
Gadsden Purchase
1853 treaty in which the United States bought from Mexico parts of what is now southern Arizona and southern New Mexico. Southerners wanted this land in order to build the southern transcontinental railroad, it also showed the American belief in Manifest Destiny. -
Kanagawa Treaty
Ended Japan's two-hundred year period of economic isolation, establishing an American consulate in Japan and securing American coaling rights in Japanese ports.
