-
Period: 1491 to
Period 1/2: 1491-1763
Native America, European Colonization, and Exploration -
1492
Columbus Stumbled Upon the Americas
Christopher Columbus sponsored by Queen Isabella of England stumbled upon the Caribbean and largely made travel to the "New World" popular. -
Jamestown
Jamestown was the first successful English settlement in North America, founded in Virginia. -
Plymouth
Plymouth was the first settlement established in the wave of pilgrimage, which started the rise of Puritan migration to create a religiously pure government in North America. -
Period: to
Great Puritan Migration
Puritans escaped to the Caribbean, MA, and VI from the prosecution of King Charles the I in England. -
Rhode Island
Established by rouge religionist Roger Williams who believed in the separation of church and state. -
Trade and Navigation Acts: 1651, 1660, 1696
The Trade and Navigation Acts put British mercantilism into law to better control the colonies. -
Period: to
King Phillips War
A major conflict between Natives and the Colonists fighting for land, one of the earlier instances we see of such and this trend will continue for centuries. -
Glorious Revolution
Commonly called the "Bloodless Revolution" the Glorious Revolution was the overthrow of Catholic King James II, the crown was then given to his Protestant daughter Mary and husband William. -
Stono Uprising
Largest uprising from enslaved people in North America at the time in Charleston, SC at the Stono River. Enslaved peoples gathered tools and weapons to fight back against oppressors. -
Seven Years War
The beginning of the Seven Years War between Britain and France which started because the French entered British territory near the Ohio River. -
End of Salutary Neglect
With the Proclamation Act of 1763, King George III came into power and created a tighter reign on the colonies of North America after the Seven Years War with France. -
Period: to
Period 3: 1763-1800
American Revolution, the Confederal Era, and the Early Federal Period -
Boston Tea Party
Retaliation against Great Britain and the Tea Act conducted by the Sons of Liberty in Massachusettes Bay where they dented Britain's economics by dumping all precious crates of tea into the harbor. -
Tea Act
British introduced the Tea Act to help fix British economy after the Seven Years War, which was ultimately one of the last Acts from British Parliament before the Revolutionary War broke out. Also directly contributed to the Boston Tea Party -
Intolerable/Coercive Acts
The Intolerable Acts was a 5 part legislation passed by parliament to punish the colonist for their rebellion in the Boston Tea Party against the Tea Act. -
Lexington and Concord
The battle of Lexington and Concord was the first engagement of fighting between American and British militias in the Revolutionary War. -
Declaration of Independence
Signed by the Second Continental Congress the Declaration of Independence addressed the grievances of the colonies under King George III rule. A democratic announcement for their reasons behind their wish to separate from Britain. -
Articles of Confederation
Ratified in 1781 the Articles of confederation was the first government the United States was run over, eventually being replaced by the US Constitution because of flaws in the Articles: no taxation for funding, limited representation, and excruciatingly difficult ratification of laws. -
Treaty of Paris 1783
The Treaty of Paris in 1783 was a formal acknowledgment of America's independence from Britain signed in Paris by representatives of the colonies and King George III. Thus, sealing the end of the Revolutionary War conflict. -
Whiskey Rebellion
Occurring under George Washingtons Presidency the Whiskey Rebellion was a tax protest that was resolved by Washington and the new federal government getting involved and sending in a military. Thus, showing the country that the new Constitution was a strong government. -
Jay's Treaty
Jay's Treaty settled relations with Britain after the war; British troops left the Northwest troops and American repaid pre-war debts. This treaty also contributes to the first political parties in America. -
Pinckey's Treaty
Spain gave the United States the right of deposit at the Port of New Orleans, which allowed the US to use the large port for trading purposes. -
XYZ Affair
A diplomatic incident between France and America which then resulted in the Quasi-War; an undeclared naval war between the two countries. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
Signed into law by John Adams the Alien and Sedition Acts denied the rights of citizens to press and speech, and encouraged the deportation of foreigners and made it harder for immigrants to vote. -
Period: to
Period 4 Part 1: 1800-1824
Nationalism-Jefferson through the Market Revolution, Era of Good Feelings -
Louisiana Purchase
Thomas Jefferson purchased the land in the Lousiana Purchase from Spain that would double the size of the country overnight. -
Marbury v. Madison
This case established the principle of judicial review after William Marbury declared the "Midnight Justices" were illegally appointed and established that Judicial Review: supreme court judges had the final say about Constitutionality. -
Embargo of 1807
Thomas Jefferson signed the Embargo of 1807 and ended all trade with all other countries. The effect was devastating to the developing American economy but carried on the trend of Americans neutrality set by George Washington. -
War of 1812
The War of 1812 escalated from an invasion of neutrality from Britain to the US, however, recognition was informally given to American claimed neutral rights and respect for the US increased. The War of 1812 also was the start of Nationalism and proved to be the end of the Federalist Party. -
Clay's American System
A tariff created by Henry Clay on foreign goods to promote the sale of American goods and an extension of what was Hamilton's financial plan. -
Second Bank of the US Charter
Closely based after the first bank the Second Bank held federal tax money and receipts regulating the money circulating in the economy. The Second Bank was extremely unpopular with farmers in the West the matter of the national bank grew larger with The Grange in 1865. -
Boundaries Convention
The Boundaries Convention democratically established the 49th parallel as the border between US and Canada, thus resolving the border issues fought over in the War of 1812. -
Adams Onis Treaty
The Adams Onis Treaty was signed by Spain and America and established the border of Spain's Western territory, the 42nd parallel now becoming the farthest north after America purchased Florida. -
Missouri Compromise
Missouri would have no more new slaves and gradual age emancipation; a compromise regarding slavery in the first state in the Lousiana Purchase territory. This brought up the important slavery question for the new states and the pressure of slave/free state would build-up to the Civil War. -
Period: to
Second Party System
Lasting from the 1820s-1850s was the Second Party System that led the Jacksonian era with both parties, the Democrats and Whigs, on equal standing throughout the country. -
Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine stated that colonization of the Western Hemisphere by European countries would be viewed as a threat and that if they abided to this America would stay out of European business, once again an establishment of wanting to remain neutral in foreign affairs. -
Period: to
Period 4 Part 2: 1824-1848
Jacksonian Democracy and Westward Expansion, Era of Good Feelings -
Tariff of Abominations
The Tariff of Abominations was designed as a protective tariff for the northern and western economy goods against imports, however it injured the south's economy and pride. The tariff would then directly cause the creation of John C. Calhoun's South Carolina Expedition in the midst of the Bank War. -
Indian Removal Act
President Andrew Jackson negotiated the Indian Removal Act which forced Native Americans to move of their ancestral homes in exchange for territory further west by the Mississippi River. Notably caused the infamous Trail of Tears. -
Period: to
The Bank War
Caused by the Charter for the Second National Bank of the US the bank war escalated over how to run banks in the United States. Ultimately causing the Panic of 1837 and the end of the American Second Party system. -
Henry Clay's Compromis Tariff
In order to avoid nullification from South Carolina Henry Clay's Compromise Tariff stated that the tariff would now start at 35% and go down gradually in the following years. Fortunately, this worked and the threat of seceding would wait for another day. -
Panic of 1837
As a direct result of the Bank War, Andrew Jackson tried to alleviate the bank problem by printing out paper money without any specie of gold or silver to back it up. The panic's recession caused by foreclosures and bankruptcies of the change lasted until the 1840s. -
Period: to
Manifest Destiny
With the newly acquired land from the Mexican Cession and the Louisiana Purchase Americans started moving westward with the belief that their migration was ordained by God and this contentment was theirs for the taking. This caused many squabbles with Native American tribes and added to North American relation tensions. -
Period: to
Period 5: 1844-1877
The Civil War and Reconstruction -
Period: to
Mexican War
Escalating from a territorial dispute in Texas the Mexican War was a fight for territory claimed by Spain and ended with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hildago and the Gadsen Purchase which seceded the territory of the Mexican Cession to the United States ending the war. -
Seneca Falls 1848
Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott hosted the very first Women's Rights Convention in 1848 the first convention of the Women's Rights Movement, thus launching the fight for female suffrage. -
Period: to
First Wave of Feminism
Characterized by early calls for temperance and leaders such as the Grimke Sisters, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Lucretia Mott the early wave of the feminism movement focused on equality through suffrage and lasted roughly from 1848- early 1920. -
Compromise of 1850
Henry Clay created the Compromise of 1850 in 6 separate pieces individually passed by Congress: 1. CA is a free state, 2. Stronger fugitive slave law, 3. Popular Sovereignty in Mexico and Utah, 4. End Slave Trade in Washinton D.C., 5. Resolve the TX and NM land dispute, and finally 6. TX was given money from the gov't. for the land. -
Period: to
The Border Wars or Bleeding Kansas
Starting prior to the Civil War the Kansa/Missouri Border Wars fired the conflict of a slave state versus free state where the Federal Government choose to give the sovereignty to the states, throwing away the effect of the Missouri Compromise. -
Period: to
New Imperialism
New Imperialism began and lasted through the second half of the 19th century a true break away from Americas Monroe Doctrine, Nativism, and Neutral philosophies. Ultimately resulted in the acquisition of American territories. -
Period: to
Secession
The first state leading secession was S.C. in Dec. 1860, Georgia, FL, and AL joining in Jan. 1861, and Mississippi, TX, and LO in Feb of 1861. These states met at the end of February to create the Confederacy. -
Period: to
American Civil War
The American Civil War lasted for 4 years as a battle between the North and South as Union and Confederacy. While the Civil War was fought over the ideals of slavery these issues were hardly addressed afterwards, "The North won the War, but the South won the Peace." -
Emancipation Proclamation
Declared that all enslaved persons within rebellious states were now free under the law, however, these states didn't listen and the Emancipation Proclamation did more work on paper than in reality at the time. -
13th Amendment
First in line of the Reconstruction Era Amendments to the Constitution the 13th Amendment now abolished slavery and indentured servitude except for certain punishments. -
Period: to
Period 6: 1865-1898
The Gilded Age - "Era of Good Stealings" -
Period: to
Reconstruction
Immediately after the Civil War, the period of Reconstruction for the United States began with changing challenging areas like the Military, Equal Rights, and once again implementing new laws passed into the newly reabsorbed Confederate States. -
14th Amendment
The 14th Amendment was part of the Reconstruction-era Amendments and granted citizenship of people born or naturalized in the US (including formerly enslaved peeople) and stated that they were all equal under the law. -
Completion of the Transcontinental Railroad
Finally completed in 1869 the Transcontential Railroad now ran across and connected the country geographically for the first time, a sense of unity. -
Knights of Labor
The Knights of Labor was founded in 1869 with members that consisted of both skilled and unskilled laborers and aimed to create cooperate workspaces where laborers' health was considered. -
15th Amendment
A huge step for African American rights in that now African American men were granted the right to vote under the law, yet the reality of doing so often proved dangerous and African Americans still wouldn't vote as a whole for several years to come. -
Panic of 1873
The Panic of 1873 was in the midst of many currency controversies in the US and as a consequence, it was decided that the banks weren't supposed to give people their gold. -
"Crime of '73"
The United States officially declared that they would stop the coining of new silver for greenbacks and ended bimetallism in the US. However, bimetallism would be fought for later by the Populist Party. -
Whiskey Ring
Exposed in 1875 the Whiskey Ring was members of the treasury accepting bribes instead of collecting whiskey manufactures taxes, they also gave themselves raises and backpays. This incident would lead to paranoia about corrupt businesses in the following decades. -
Battle of Little Bighorn
The largest Native American victory, led by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse the Battle of Little Bighorn is also commonly referred too as Custard's Last Stand because of his death and the overwhelming Native victory. -
Compromise of 1877
The Compromise of 1877 made Rutherford B.Hayes President in exchange for 1 guaranteed Democratic cabinet seat, federal dollars to rebuild, non-enforcement of 14th and 15th Amendment, and that the Era of Reconstruction was declared over. -
Great Railroad Strike of 1877
Laborers working for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad company formulated this strike after having wages significantly cut 3 times within the year. Eventually, this strike had to be stopped by the National Guard and was the rock unto which labor Unions would later look back on. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
Chinese Exclusion prevented the immigration of Chinese Laborers as American citizens were blaming them for a "lack of job opportunity" and also made Chinese citizens ineligible for US citizenship. An act of American Nationalism embodied. -
Bureau of Labor Established
Established in 1884 the Bureau of Labor was created with the intention of having them hold standards for businesses and workplaces. -
Haymarket Square Riot
The Haymarket Square Riot started out as a strike outside factory gates in Chicago and was protesting for the 8 hr workday, which quickly escalated as leaders were arrested and sent to jail and various sentences including death by hanging. -
Dawes Severality Act
The Dawes Act divided Native American Reservation into individual allotments assigned to individual families thus forcing American assimilation on Indians. -
Period: to
City Beautiful Movement
An urban philosophical reform movement hoping that the organization and beautification of cities would prove to cultivate civic virtue in urban areas. -
Period: to
Progressive Movement
The Progressive movement focused on promoting morality, economic reform, and social welfare. Notable progressive era heroes were Upton Sinclair, Ida B. Wells, Eugene Debs, and W.E.B. DuBois. -
Election of 1896
The Election of 1896 brought about the death of America's most successful third party: the Populist Party. In this election, they decided to run with Williams Jennings Byran and died off after, but in the next 25 years, all aspects of the Populist platform would be achieved. -
Spanish American War
A conflict between America and Spain that led to the acquisition of territories in Latin American and the Western Pacific all in order to end Spanish colonization in the Americas. Eventually, this led the US to be involved in Cuban Independence. -
Wilmington Massacre
Occurring in Wilmington NC, the Wilmington Massacre was an act of radical racial violence where a white mob destroyed the headquarter of the only African American newspaper in the area and continued to terrorize the community afterward resulting in a number of deaths. -
Period: to
Period 7 Part 1: 1898-1918
Progressivism, Imperialism, and WWI -
Period: to
Open Door Policy
A huge flub in Foreign Affairs the Open Door Policy was a statement made by America regarding trade with China. The Open Door Policy stated that China was "open" for trade with all countries equally. -
Period: to
Eugenics Programs
The Eugenics Movement was about the selective breeding of traits and genes amongst people, largely activity took place from 1900-1940s. It's often linked directly with similarities to the antisemitism movement in Germany and many cases still take place for those whose families were affected by the eugenics program. -
Insular Cases
With the acquisition of new American Territories from the Spanish-American War questions about citizenship erupted; the Insular Cases. The series of citizenship cases are referred to as the Insular Cases and the rulings declared that not all American rights were granted to these new territories and that only certain rights applied. -
Platt Amendment
The Platt Amendment was a US treaty with Cuba that offered protection to Cuba during the Spanish- America and listed the conditions for the withdrawal of American influence in the Cuban government. The Platt Amendment also stated for a later date of Cuban Independence once the war was over and the Cuban government was safely reestablished. -
Anthracite Coal Strike
A strike in eastern Pennsylvania by the United Mine Workers of America protesting for a shorter workday, higher wages, and for union recognition. The US government sided with the Union in this case for the first time, which strengthened the ICC. -
Varilla Treaty
The Varilla Treaty dealt with the construction of the Panama Canal and stated that Britain and American had joint protection of the canal, but that America would construct and operate the Panama Canal on their own. -
US Forest Service
Theodore Roosevelt founded the US Forest Service for the conservation of natural land and it's beauty, it's impact on the American way of life still present as it's continued operation to care for our ecological diversity. Gifford Pinchot was the first chief of the US Forest Service, handpicked by Roosevelt himself. -
Pure Food and Drug Act
The Pure Food and Drug Act established the legal labeling courtesy manufacturers must abide in by including accurate labels on the ingredients of products. -
Mann Act
The Mann Act stated it's illegal to move any woman across interstate borders for immoral purposes. Federal attempt at limiting and making the sex trade illegal in the United States. -
Mann-Elkin Act
The ICC otherwise known just as the Interstate Commerce Commission was now given the authority to regulate both telegraphs and telephones. -
16th Amendement
The 16th Amendment is Congress putting the income tax into law to fairly collect the individual taxes. -
17th Amendment
The 17th Amendment allows for the direct and democratic election of senators. -
National Park Service
Founded by President Woodrow Wilson the National Park Service's purpose is to provide safe natural places for citizens to explore and to educate them about North America's unique landscape. -
US Enters WWI
The US enters the battle of WWI despite its neutral policy by being pushed over the edge with a return to submarine warfare, the Zimmerman Note, and the Russian Revolution. -
18th Amendment
The 18th Amendment started Prohibition in the United States and outlawed the sale of alcoholic beverages which started lots of different underground alcohol rings such as Al Capone's Chicago Outfit. -
Period: to
Selective Service Act
The Selective Service Act was enacted to draft men in for the military for WWI. The draft is still in use today as young men at 18 receive a draft card in case their services are needed. -
Hammer v. Dagenhart
Hammer v. Dagenhart dealt with the constitutionality of the Keatings-Owens Act which restricted shipment of factory goods made by children under the age of 14. In this labor case, Supreme Court ruled that the Federal restriction on interstate commerce, regardless of it banning child labor, was unconstitutional and was then overruled. -
Period: to
Period 7 Part 2: 1918-1945
The 20s, The Great Depression and the New Deal, and WWII -
Schenck v. US
Schenck v. US case was a supreme court ruling dealing with the Espionage Act of 1917. Schenck was guilty of mass-producing a pamphlet that stated the draft was illegal and charged with military insubordination and the obstruction of recruitment, the ruling was that speech can be limited if it presents a clear and present danger. -
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles ended WWI with the conditions that Germany was to take the blame for the war and had to greatly reduce its militia. The Treaty also laid the foundation for WWII at the same time with the new occupational territories for France, Britain, and America to look over. -
Red Scare
Reaching part of its peak in the 1920s the Red Scare was the widespread fear of communism spreading throughout the world by Americans. During this time there was lots of paranoia amongst citizens to their immigrant neighbors, lots of communist accusations, and plenty of public propaganda. -
19th Amendment
Pushed for by the Women's Suffrage movement the 19th Amendment was finally ratified and gave women the right to vote! -
Emergency Quota Act
With Nationalism pushed to the extreme during war times the Emergency Quota Act tremendously cut the immigrant capping quantity for "New Immigrant Countries" by pulling data from the census 10 years prior to ensure the numbers would already be low. -
Period: to
The Great Depression
The Great Depression is the worst economic downfall in American history, starting with the Stockmarket crash in 1929, peaking in 1932, and ending in 1939 with the beginning of WWII. -
Period: to
The Dust Bowl
In the Great Plains area of the US the Dust Bowl was a series of storms occurring in the middle of a drought-period right after farmers' annual plow up of the land. The Dust Bowl is still one of the largest man-made natural disasters that greatly affected the US during the Great Depression as people, livestock, and crops were massacred by the dusty winds. -
21th Amendment
The 21st Amendment finally repealed the 18th Amendment in 1919 and ended Prohibition. -
Period: to
The First New Deal
The New Deal is commonly split into two parts, the First New Deal and the Second New Deal. Franklin D. Roosevelts New Deal Programs dealt with the pressing matters of the Great Depression providing immediate relief (US Housing Authority and the Works Progress Administration) and government and business reforms to ensure that a period of depression as bad as this one wouldn't happen again. -
Indian Reorganization Act
Enacted by US Congress the Indian Reorganization Act aimed to give Native Americas move freedom in self-governing and undid the Dawes Severality Act of 1887. -
Period: to
WWII
World War II lasted from 1939 to 1945 and was a huge global conflict regarding the spread of communism through the USSR and the sides were the Allies and the Axis. The reasons for the war breaking out dealt a lot with the impact and outcome of the Treaty of Versailles from WWI along with Germany, Japan, and Italy's imperialist mindset. The end of WWII is celebrated as VE Day or Victory Day when the Axis's declared surrender. -
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor the leading war that prompted us to later go and intervene with the country of Japan in the Pacific was an attack on a US naval base in Hawaii. The Japanese military used bombs and a torpedo to inflict damage and successfully killed approximately
2, 403 people in the attack, successfully riling up American citizens and military.
