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Period: 1491 to
Period 1/2: 1491-1763
Native America, European Exploration, Colonization -
Jamestown
Jamestown was the first successful English colony in the future US, settled in Virginia. -
Plymouth
Plymouth was the first settlement created in Massachusetts by Separatists who sought to create a religiously pure society. -
Rhode Island Founded
Rhode Island was founded for people and by people who were kicked out of Massachusetts. Roger Williams, the founder, believed there should be separation of church and state which is why he was kicked from Massachusetts. -
The New England Confederation Was Formed
One of the earliest attempts at unity the New England Confederation was an alliance between Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, and Connecticut. -
The Start of King Philip's War (Metacom's War)
A dispute broke out between the Natives and the newcomers which led to an armed conflict between Indian inhabitants of New England and New England colonists. -
Bacon's Rebellion
Bacon's Rebellion was a rebellion led by Nathaniel Bacon and it highlighted the rift between the wealthy and the poor. This is one of the first times we see the lower class standing up for their rights and elites cracked down to help prevent this from happening ever again. -
Pennsylvania was Founded
Pennsylvania was founded by William Penn upon receiving a royal deed from the king in order to establish a haven for Quakers. -
Salem Witch Trials
Since Massachusetts was puritan, the Salem witch trials were a set of trials and hearings to prosecute people accused of witchcraft in Massachusetts. -
Albany Plan
The Albany plan, although never carried out, was a plan to unite all thirteen colonies under a unified government proposed by Benjamin Franklin -
The Start of The French and Indian War/Seven Years War
The war started over a dispute over French settlers moving into the Ohio river valley. This war led to territory changes and most notably the end of salutary neglect -
Period: to
Period 3: 1763-1800
American Revolution, the confederate Era, and the Early Federal Period -
Stamp Act
British Parliament decided that all printed goods must have a tax stamp on them which would be paid for by the colonists. The colonists did not like this -
Boston Massacre
Colonists decided to show their discontent, over the taxation laws, and fight back against British soldiers. During the eruption of anger, the British soldiers fired into a crowd killing five. -
Tea Act
A tax on tea that was collected by the British and protested heavily by the colonists, most notably in the Boston Tea Party -
Boston Tea Party
In response to the Tea Act colonists dumped lots of British tea into the harbor to show their discontent with the tea act. -
Intolerable Acts
Laws put into place by British Parliament after the Boston Tea Party that were meant to punish the Massachusetts colonists for what they had done -
Common Sense
A pamphlet expressing the need for independence from Britain written by Thomas Paine -
Declaration of Independence
A document the completely cut ties with between the thirteen colonies and Great Britain -
Article of Confederation
The earliest constitution of the United States which would later be replaced by the US constitution in the early 1780s -
Treaty of Paris
The official treaty that ended the Revolutionary War and recognized America as an independent nation. Signed by Great Britain and America -
Shays' Rebellion
An armed uprising in opposition to the government's increased efforts to up taxes on both the individual and trade -
The Federalist Papers Published
A collection of essays used to promote the ratification of the United States Constitution. -
Ratification of The United States Constitution
This was the framework of the US government and would later have the bill of rights added to protect basic human rights. -
Whiskey Rebellion
An uprising that was caused by a tax on whiskey that was put in place by George Washington to help pay for war debts. This led to George Washington Personally leads the US army to stop the rebels. -
Bill of Rights Ratified
The first ten amendments of the Constitution became law. These ten amendments were known as the bill of rights to help protect basic human rights -
Alien and Sedition Acts Passed
These laws were set in place to remove foreigners and made it harder for immigrants already in the US to vote. Most of these acts would expire in the following years -
Period: to
Period 4 part 1: 1800-1824
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Louisiana Purchase
President Jackson bought the whole Louisiana Territory from France for $15 million. (Very Cheap) -
The Start of Western Expansion/Manifest Destiny
With the purchase of the Lousiana territory, people stated moving westward for many different reasons including spreading Christianity, Gold, and Glory -
The Start of The Lewis and Clark Expedition
Lewis and Clark set out to explore and map the newly acquired Louisiana territory -
Embargo Act
Prohibited any US ship from trading in any foreign port -
Non-Intercourse Act
Lifted any and all embargoes on US ships except for British and French ports -
Washington DC Burns
The British marched to Washington DC and set all government buildings on fire. -
The Beginning of The Era of Good Feelings
This was a period of time when there was only one political party, the Democratic-Republicans, so everyone was "on the same side" -
The Panic of 1819
This was the first financial crisis in the United States and led to the collapse of the economy that lasted about two years -
Missouri Compromise
A compromise between the North and the South that established the 36 30 line where no slaves could be held above said line -
Monroe Doctrine
Stated that the US should be involved in European affairs but Europe shouldn't get involved with US affairs -
Period: to
Period 4 Part 2: 1824-1848
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Tariff of Abomination
A protective tariff in order to protect industry in the north -
Indian Removal Act
This act gave the president the authority to negotiate with Native American tribes in their relocation to federal territory west of the Mississippi -
Trail of Tears Began
The forced relocation of thousands of Native Americans because of the Indian removable act -
Whig Party Established
Established in order to oppose Jacksonian Democrats. Believing in modernization, protection of the economy, and banking -
Texas Declaring Independence from Mexico
Resulted from the Texas Revolution where Texas declared independence from Mexico -
Panic of 1837
A financial crisis in the United States that lasted until the mid-1840s. Unemployment went up while profits, prices, and wages went down. -
Period: to
Period 5: 1844-1877
Pre Civil War, Civil War, and Reconstuction -
Annexation of Texas
The annexation of Texas severed ties with Mexico and helped build tension for the Mexican-American War -
Start of the Mexican-American War
Conflicts in Texas quickly lead to armed conflicts between Mexicans and Americans. -
Gold Rush
The gold rush in California led to mass movements of people westward to California -
Publication of Civil Disobedience
A book that was written by American philosopher Henery David Thoreau where he argued that citizens must disobey laws if they appear to be unjust. -
Publication of Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle tom's Cabin, written by Harriet Beecher Stowe, was an anti-slavery novel that helped bring many people into the view that slavery was wrong -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Passed by Congress in 1854 it created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska and let them decide for themselves whether or not to allow slavery -
John Brown's Raid
An armed slaved revolt led by John Brown where they captured a US arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia -
South Carolina Seccedes
South Carolina becomes the first state to officially secede from the Union. Followed by ten others at later dates -
Start of The Civil War
Fought between the South and the North started by the South's attack on Fort Sumter. Caused by the tensions over the enslavement of African Americans. -
Confederate States of America Established
The Southern States that seceded from the Union come together to form a separate nation in order to oppose the North -
The Emancipation Proclamation
Abraham Lincoln delivers the proclamation saying that all slaves, that were held in the rebellious states, are now free -
Black Codes/Laws
Passed by southern states with the intent of restricting the freedom of African Americans and encouraged them to take jobs for low wages -
Freedman's Bureau
An agency established in order to support and help newly freed slaves coming from the south -
13th Amendment Ratified
Abolished slavery in the United States -
Period: to
Period 6: 1865-1898
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Reconstruction Acts of 1867
Laid out the process for southern states to be readmitted into the Union and placed the south under military occupation -
14th Amendment Ratified
Grants citizenship to anyone born or naturalized in the US which included the newly freed slaves -
15th Amendment Ratified
Granted the right to vote to all African American men -
Civil Rights Act
The act helped solidify that all men are equal under the law and prohibited racial discrimination in public places and facilities -
Great Railroad Strike
Due to the panic of 1873 railroad companies cut wages for employees which shot off strikes and work shortages. Resulted in over 100 deaths due to violence tied to this -
Chinese Exclusion Act
An immigration law passed in 1882 that stopped Chinese workers from immigrating into the US. The first immigration law that targeted an entire ethnic group -
Pendleton Act
A civil reform that allowed for economic change because jobs were now given on a merit basis and not based on class -
Haymarket Square Bombing
A series of bombs set off by anarchists, during a labor demonstration which led to several deaths of police officers and civilians -
Interstate Commerce Act
Federal Laws to help regulate the railroad industry, in particular, their monopolistic practices. Required railroads rates be reasonable but didn't address any specific rates -
Sherman Anti-Trust Act
Passed by congress this act helped regulate competition between enterprises and helping protect citizens from monopolies -
Forest Reserve Act
A law that gave the President permission to set aside forests as reserves -
Populist/People's Party formed
The Populist party was a party made by the poor for the poor -
Pullman Strike
The Pullman Strike was a nationwide railroad spike that greatly affected railroad travel in the Midwest. This was the first time the government got involved in order to break a strike -
Plessy V. Ferguson
A supreme court case that led to the verdict "separate but equal" and set a precedence for future cases -
Teller Amendment
The Teller Amendment was made to help protect Cuba by keeping a military presence there just in case someone attacks them -
Hawaii Annexed
Hawaii joined the US after their economy crashed and farmers, that supported annexation, rebelled against the queen -
Treaty of Paris
The end of the Spanish-American war signed by both the US and Spain -
Period: to
Period 7 Part 1: 1898-1918
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Open Door Policy
A policy that allowed for a system of trade in China open to all countries equally -
The Boxer Rebellion
The boxer rebellion was an uprising in China but in order to keep American properties safe the US sent troops to force the rebellion down -
Big Stick Policy
A policy adopted by President Theodore Roosevelt which he described by saying "speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far." -
Revolution in Panama
After Columbia denied the US access to build the Panama Canal President Roosevelt put together a revolt which was successful in making Panama, independent -
Dollar Diplomacy
A foreign policy that focused on extending the United States power through financial means -
Panama Canal Completed
Allowed shippers of all types of goods to save money by creating an easy access point connecting the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans -
Assassination of Franz Ferdinand
The assassination of Franz Ferdinand and his wife sparked a series of events that would ultimately lead to World War One -
World War One Begins
A global war that originated in Europe that lasted for over 4 years. This was fought between the allied powers, which consisted of France, Great Britain, Italy, Russia, and later the United States, and the axis powers, which consisted of Austria-Hungary, Germany, and Turkey -
Sinking of the Lusitania
A German U-boat shot an American Passenger ship sinking it and in turn, the US government gained support for the citizens to enter into the war -
The Red Scare
The period time where the fear of a potential rise in anarchy, communism, and radical leftism manifested -
Espionage Act
Prohibited recording any information with the intent or belief that the information will harm the United States or advance any foreign nations -
Zimmerman Telegram
The Zimmerman Telegram was secret communication that was intercepted that proposed an alliance between Germany and Mexico -
High Taxes
The US managed to raise 33 billion dollars, by upping taxes on luxury goods, to go to World War 1 -
The Sedition Act
Made it a crime to "willfully utter, print, write, or publish any disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language about the form of the Government of the United States" -
The 14 Points
The 14 points were a set of points, written by Woodrow Wilson, that should be used for peace negotiations in order to end WW1 -
Period: to
Period 7 Part 2: 1918-1945
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Schenck v. United States
A supreme court case that upheld the constitutionality of the Espionage Act -
18th Amendment Ratified
The 18th amendment prohibited alcohol in general which led to lots of crime revolving around the selling and consumption of alcohol (Eventually Repealed) -
19th Amendment Ratified
Prohibited states from denying the right to vote on a basis of gender -
New Quota Laws Added
Restricted immigration to three percent of any countries population for that year (later the percent was reduced) -
The Great Depression
A time period that was a severe worldwide economic collapse that affected millions and even killed some -
Dust Bowl
The dust bowl was a period of time with severe dust clouds covering areas destroying crops in their paths -
Empire State Building Unveiled
When construction was completed, President Hoover pressed a button in the white house officially opening the Empire State building in the US -
New Deal Starts
The New Deal was President FDR's idea and it was a series of programs, public work projects, and financial reforms -
Amelia Earhart Takes Flight and Disappearing
Amelia Earhart attempted to fly around the world but mysteriously disappeared and became one of today's biggest mysteries -
WW2 Begins
The second World War that lasted over five years and resulted in the death of millions -
The Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a completely shocking bombing performed by the Japanese Navy Air Service -
The Atlantic Charter
The Atlantic Charter was put out to outline the US and British goals following WW2 -
Internment of Japanese Americans
In an attempt to protect the United States from spies during World War 2 the US put lots of Japanese Americans in internment camps -
D-Day
During WW2 D-Day was the allied invasion of the Normandy beaches and it was the largest seaborne invasion -
United Nations Was Formed
United Nations was founded after WW2 in order to create a dialogue between nations without the need for another world war
