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Period: 1491 to
Periods 1 and 2
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Roanoke Island
Roanoke Island was England's first attempt at colonization in the future United States, located in North Carolina. It was attempted twice, and both failed. -
Jamestown
Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in the New World. -
Plymouth
Plymouth was the first English colony in Massachusetts. It was settled by separatists (pilgrims) who wanted to separate from the church of England. -
Massachusetts Bay Colony
The settlement of modern-day Massachusetts; John Winthrop described it as the "city upon a hill," and introduced American Exceptionalism. -
Navigation Acts
Laws passed by England that required all goods to be carried on English ships; colonists couldn't trade with other countries which resulted in smuggling. -
Bacon's Rebellion
An armed rebellion in the Virginia Colony against the government led by Nathaniel Bacon -
Period: to
The Great Awakening
A religious movement in Britain and the colonies that helped change the views of colonists concerning how they should be governed. -
Molasses Act
A tax on molasses in the colonies made by the British for their own gain. -
Stono Rebellion
A slave rebellion that left many whites dead, and eventually caused there to be stricter slave laws in the colonies. -
Period: to
French and Indian War
The French and Native Americans were fighting the British and their colonists over the Ohio River Valley. The end of the war marked the end of salutary neglect, which was what led to the Revolutionary War. -
Period: to
Period 3
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Sugar Act
A tax on sugar and like items by the British that further angered the colonists. -
Quartering Act
This act by the British required colonists to provide food and shelter, in some cases, to British troops stationed in the colonies. -
Declaratory Act
This act stated that the British parliament had the right to tax and govern the colonies no matter what the case. This really defined the rift between parliament and the colonies. -
Boston Massacre
Boston colonists were harassing a group of British soldiers, who in turn fired into the crowd and killed several colonists. This added fuel to the fire that eventually became the Revolutionary War. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was an incident by the colonists in protest of Parliament's Tea Act, in which they sank large amounts of tea into the Boston Harbor. -
First Continental Congress
A meeting of 12 colonies to discuss the threats Parliament was making to the colonist's liberties. The colonists declared their colonial rights. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
These battles marked the start of the American Revolutionary War. The British were attempting to reach a colonial arsenal in Concord. -
Period: to
The American Revolutionary War
The colonists fought for their independence from Britain, and eventually won. From this war the American colonies became an independent country. -
Period: to
Second Continental Congress
A meeting of delegates from all thirteen colonies. They became a government for the colonies for the war, and eventually created the Declaration of Independence. -
The Declaration of Independence adopted
This document, created by the Second Continental Congress, declared the thirteen colonies' independence from Britain. -
Articles of Confederation ratified
This was the first written constitution of the new country of the US. It established a strong state government rather than national. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris identified the US as an independent country, and formally ended the war. -
Period: to
Shay's Rebellion
This was an uprising, led by Daniel Shay, that essential protested the Articles of Confederation, because they were depriving citizens of civil rights. -
Constitution of the United States Ratified
This is the outline for our national government to this day. The Constitution fixed many problems that came about with the Articles of Confederation. -
Bill of Rights ratified
The Bill of Rights is comprised of the first 10 amendments to the Constitution of the US, it includes freedom of speech, etc. -
Period: to
Period 4 part 1
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Louisiana Purchase
This was a large land purchase, from France, in the middle of what is now the 50 states. The purchase was made by Thomas Jefferson. -
Period: to
Lewis and Clark Expedition
An expedition, sent out by Thomas Jefferson. Lewis and Clark had many goals, but their main job was to explore the newly acquired Louisiana Territory and beyond. -
Embargo of 1807
Passed under Thomas Jefferson's presidency, the Embargo of 1807 prohibited trade with foreign countries by way of American merchant ships, which was important in the US's establishment of neutrality. -
Macon's Bill Number 2
Reopened trade with Britain and France, making them both important partners to the US. -
Period: to
War of 1812
A war between the US and Britain, that was fought during James Madison's presidency. It allowed for US expansion beyond this Mississippi River, despite the Native's opposition. -
Hartford Convention
A meeting of Federalists in New England to discuss their grievances and possibly cession from the US, but it ended up being the death of the Federalist party. -
The American System
Created by Henry Clay, this system laid out a system that encouraged economic nationalism and it included protective tariffs, a second national bank, and infrastructure improvements. -
Period: to
The Era of Good Feelings (P4P1)
This came after the War of 1812 and it was defined as a time in the US with a large sense of national unity, and the idea that the US could and would accomplish great things. -
Adams-Onis Treaty
This was a treaty between the US and Spain that signed the Florida territory from Spain to the US. -
Panic of 1819
This was the first economic recession in US history, that caused the economy to be collapsed for the next couple of years. -
Period: to
Period 4 part 2
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The Tariff of Abominations
A tariff that heavily favored the north, and fueled what led to the Nullification Crisis in South Carolina. -
Indian Removal Act
An act by Andrew Jackson that forced thousands of natives out of their homes and into Indian Territory -
Nat Turner's Rebellion
A slave uprising in VA, led by Nat Turner. It caused there to be even stricter rules on slaves, causing more tension. -
Trail of Tears
The trail that the natives took who were forced out of their territory because of the Indian Removal Act. They were very mistreated by American soldiers and many of them died. -
The Nullification Crisis
South Carolina threatened to nullify a federal law and secede from the union, which Jackson threatened to stop with military force. This increased people's dislike for Jackson. -
Specie Circular
Put out by Jackson to say paper money would not be taken to purchase western land, and it ultimately caused the Panic of 1837. -
The Alamo
A battle during the Mexican-American War that Mexico had victory in. It was one of the most important battles of the war. -
The Panic of 1837
Caused by the Specie Circular. People rushed to the banks to exchange their paper money, causing an economic collapse. -
Brook Farm
This was a Utopian society that separated themselves from normal society, when it was becoming more popular to do so. They wanted to prove it could be done but didn't last very long. -
Commonwealth v. Hunt
This was a court case that officially established the legality of labor unions. -
Period: to
Period 5
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Clayton-Bulwer Treaty
A treaty between Britain and the US that settled a dispute over a canal that would connect the Pacific and the Atlantic. -
Compromise of 1850
Set into law that popular sovereignty would decide if certain states were free or slave; a part of the drawn out dispute over slave and free states. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
A novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe about the evils of slavery, and it helped to sway a large amount of Americans to the anti-slavery side. -
Gadsden Purchase
A purchase from Mexico of a very large area of land in the southwest of present day US. -
Period: to
Bleeding Kansas
A dispute over anti and pro slavery advocates that was very violent and left many people dead. -
Dred Scott v. Sanford
Said that congress had no right to ban slavery in the US, and all blacks were property of their owners. -
Confederate States of America formed
The southern seceded pro slavery states formed the confederacy to fight the union, with Jefferson Davis as their president. -
Period: to
The American Civil War
Fought between the northern and southern states, the main issue being slavery. The northern states were victorious over the seceded southern states, sending them into a period of reconstruction. -
Homestead Acts
People could apply to own federal land out west as long as they tended to the land for a certain amount of time. -
Emancipation Proclamation
Proclamation by Abraham Lincoln that stated all slaves in the confederacy were freed. -
Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction
Lincoln's plan for reconstruction which never got fully put into action because of his assassination. It decided how states were readmitted back into the union. -
Freedmen's Bureau
Formed to help the free slaves with their next steps during reconstruction. Getting jobs, homes, education, etc. -
Abraham Lincoln's Assassination
Abraham Lincoln, the president credited with freeing the slaves, was assassinated at a theater production. -
13th Amendment
The thirteenth amendment of the United States Constitution stated that slavery could not longer exist in the US. -
Period: to
Period 6
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14th Amendment
The fourteenth amendment stated everyone born in the US was a citizen, and no one could be deprived of their rights based on their race. -
15th Amendment
Granted voting rights to all men. Many governments still found ways around not allowing African Americans from voting. -
Civil Rights Act of 1875
This was a more defined law that came about after many people and governments were violating the rights of African Americans. -
Great Railroad Strike of 1877
A huge widespread strike on a railroad company that brought a lot of attention to labor unions. -
Pendleton Act
Said that government positions should be filled through qualifications and merit and not political affiliation. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
This was a result of broadened nativism in the US, it excluded any Chinese immigrants to come in the US for jobs as many people feared they were taking Americans' jobs. -
American Federation of Labor founded
This was founded by Samuel Gompers, and they fought for better wages and conditions. -
Dawes Severalty Act
Divided up Indian Reservation into private sections for families. -
Sherman Anti-Trust Act
Passed under Theodore Roosevelt as the first act against monopolies. -
Sierra Club founded
The Sierra Club is the first environmental organization in the United States, founded by John Muir. -
Panic of 1893
This panic was caused by railroad companies. It was the worst economic recession up to this point. -
Pullman Strike
Railway workers refused to move train cars, but the strike was shut down. This demonstrated government and business power over unions. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
This case legalized segregation. The term that came from this was "separate but equal," meaning blacks and whites COULD be separated. -
Period: to
Period 7 part 1
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Platt Amendment
Stated that after the US troops were removed from Cuba, the US could keep a base in there to protect their interests. -
The Square Deal
This was Theodore Roosevelt's plan to improve working conditions, and protect the environment. -
Panama Canal construction taken over by US
The US took over the building of the Panama canal that held the purpose of allowing ships to pass through Central America. This eventually sparked the Panamanian Revolution. -
Meat Inspection Act
Required there to be supervision of interstate sales of meat products. -
Pure Food and Drug Act
This act required there to be true labels on food products, and you could not sell contaminated food or medicine. -
Founding of the NAACP
The NAACP is still around today, and stands for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. It was founded by W.E.B. Dubois. -
Period: to
Dollar Diplomacy
Used mainly by William Howard Taft, this foreign policy used economic power to extend its relationships with countries. -
16th Amendment
This amendment to the US Constitution allowed for the collection of an income tax. -
Clayton Anti-Trust Act
Another important act that came during the battle against monopolies. -
Sinking of the Lusitania
German submarines sunk the British ship Lusitania, adding fuel to the causes leading to the first World War. -
National Defense Act
This updated previous acts surrounding the military, and specifically the National Guard. -
Keating-Owen Act
This act sough to ban child labor, but was eventually overturned by the Fair Labor Standards Act. -
The Zimmerman Telegram
A Telegram sent from Germany to Mexico, encouraging them to wage war against the US. This ultimately caused the US to become involved in WWI. -
Espionage Act
This act, passed while the US was in the war, made it illegal for anyone to say or write anything bad about the US or the war. -
Period: to
US participation in WWI
This was a global war fought in Europe. The original combatants were Serbia and Austria-Hungary, but allies stepped in to make it global. -
Period: to
Period 7 part 2
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18th Amendment
This Amendment prohibited the sale and distribution of alcohol in the US, and was later overturned. -
19th Amendment
The 19th Amendment allowed women the right to vote. -
Dawes Plan
This resolved the reparations that Germany had to pay after WWI. -
Kellog-Briand Pact
This pact stated that every country who signed it promised not to use war to solve a dispute. This didn't last, seeing as WWII started not too long after. -
Period: to
The Great Depression
This was the largest economic depression in United States history that started with a stock market crash. -
Good Neighbor Policy
This policy by FDR was meant to reach out to Latin America as an ally, and reduce nativism in the United States. -
Federal Emergency Relief Administration
This administration was meant to relieve unemployment, so it created a lot of new job opportunities. -
Period: to
The New Deal
This plan was enacted by Franklin Roosevelt and outlined the plan for recovery from the Great Depression. -
Neutrality Act of 1935
This act attempted to keep the US neutral, especially with the impending war. It banned the shipment of war materials to belligerent countries. -
The America First Committee
This was the largest group that was against the entry of US into WWII. -
Selective Service Act
This act allowed for the US government to draft members to the military for WWII. -
Lend-Lease Act
This act was establish to defeat the Axis Powers through the distribution of food, oil and materials. -
Pearl Harbor
This was an air strike bombing of the US Military Base Pearl Harbor, by Japan, that caused the US to enter WWII. -
Period: to
US Participation in WWII
The US entered WWII after the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the Japanese. It ended with the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. -
D-Day
This is the largest sea attack in history, in which the Allied Powers invaded the beaches of France, and it became a turning point in the war.