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Period: 1491 to
Period 1/2: 1491-1763
Native America, European Exploration, Colonization -
1492
Columbus Lands
Columbus landed in the Bahamas in search of India -
Jamestown
Jamestown was the first successful English colony in the US, settled in Virginia -
Powhatan Wars
The governor of Virginia, Lord De La Warr started a war with the Powhatan Indians over land disputes. The Powhatans were angry because of the disease and disrespect from the Europeans. -
Virginia House of Burgesses
The Virginia House of Burgesses was one of the first examples of a representative self-government in the colonies -
Indian Massacre of 1622
Chief Opchanacanough and the Powhatan Confederacy tried to destroy all settlers of Plymouth. They killed over 300 settlers in one day. -
Plymouth
Plymouth was the first settlement created in Massachusetts by Separatists who sought to create a religiously pure society. -
New England Confederation
Puritans of New England formed the New England Confederation to protect themselves from French and Indian ops -
Navigation Act
The Navigation act is passed by British Parliament to control colonial commerce in the colonies -
Bacon's Rebellion
Former indentured servants in Virginia rebelled against the House of Burgesses demanding land -
French and Indian War Begins
The French and Indian war began in the colonies when French settlers encroached on land claimed by the British. -
Period: to
Period 3: 1763-1800
American Revolution, The Confederal Era, The Early Federal Period -
Stamp Act
When Britain ended Salutary Neglect, they imposed taxes on the colonies to keep them in line. The Stamp Act imposed a direct tax on all printed materials. -
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
Colonists in Boston were outraged by the new tax acts, and decided to protested the tax on tea by dressing up as Indians and dumping huge amounts of British tea into Boston Harbor. -
Fighting at Lexington and Concord
This fighting between the British and colonists sparked the start of the Revolutionary War. -
Declaration of Independence
The Continental Congress met to create the Declaration of Independence in order to free themselves of Britians rule. It lists Britians abuses of the colonists natural rights, and explained why they had to break up. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was the United States first independent constitution, which attempted to give more power to the state governments to avoid another powerful ruler like England. -
Treaty of Paris
This treaty was signed by both leaders of Britain and the US in Paris to officially end the Revolutionary War. -
Shay's Rebellion
The Massachusetts state government taxed and foreclosed the land of poor farmers to repay debt from the Revolution, leading to a rebellion led by Daniel Shay. This exposed the financial and political problems caused by the Articles of Confederation. -
Northwest Ordinance
The Northwest Ordinance established a government for the Northwest Territory, and most importantly established that any new states would be considered equal to the original thirteen. -
US Constitution
Since the Articles of Confederation were not successful, and had many flaws, the US Constitution was created to establish the supreme law of the US. -
First President
General George Washington is elected as the first President of the United States, with all 69 votes of the electoral college. -
Bill of Rights
The initial US Constitution did not give enough power to the state governments and not enough power to the people. The Anti-federalists disliked it the most, so they established the Bill of Rights. The first 10 amendments protected the rights to freedom of speech, religion, protest, press, trial by jury, etc. -
Proclamation of Neutrality
In order to avoid war, Washington announced that the US would remain neutral in regards to the French and British dispute. -
Jay's Treaty
Jay's Treaty sought to resolve unsettled conflict between Britain and the US. Jay's Treaty would allow for ten years of peaceful trade between the US and Britain. -
Pinckney's Treaty
Since Jay's Treaty left Britain with a much better deal, Pinckney signed a deal with Spain that allowed the US access to the Mississippi and the northern border of Florida. This treaty greatly helped American trade, which relied on the use of the Mississippi River. -
Thomas Jefferson Elected
This was the first peaceful transition to power, from a federalist government tot a democratic-republican government. This marks the beginning of a more democratic government, for the common man. -
Second Great Awakening
This religious revival known as the Second Great Awakening impacted not only religious aspects of America, but sparked a push for women's rights and prison reform. -
Period: to
Period 4 Part 1: 1800-1824
Farming, Population Increase, Democratic Growth -
Marbury V. Madison
Established the law of "judicial review," which only allowed the Supreme Court to rule laws unconstitutional. This upset Democratic-Republicans because they thought that the states should also have that power. -
Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana purchased started the push for manifest destiny, and doubled the size of the US. -
Lewis and Clark
Lewis and Clark set out from St. Louis, Missouri, on expedition to explore the West and find a route to the Pacific Ocean. -
War of 1812
The war of 1812 was fought between the United States and Great Britain over British violations of U.S. maritime rights. It ended with the exchange of ratification of the Treaty of Ghent. -
Hartford Convention
Since most Federalists did not support the War of 1812, and many wanted to secede from the Union because of the power of slave states in congress. The Hartford Convention was a series of meetings regarding the Federalist grievances and issues with the federal government. -
Treaty of Ghent
This treaty was signed by both the US and Britain, ending the War of 1812. -
American System
This system introduced by Henry Clay to help stabilize the country. The plan called for a protective tariff to be put in place for manufacturing, a new federal band, and improvements in transportation. This was a symbol of nationalism felt throughout America following the War of 1812. -
Missouri Compromise
This compromise was proposed by Henry Clay in order to maintain balance between Whigs and Democrats in congress. This allowed Missouri to enter as a slave state, and Maine to enter as a free state. This also created the 36 30 line to delegate which states were slave states. -
Gibbons V. Ogden
This case established that the Supreme Court held the power to regulate interstate commerce. -
Period: to
Period 4 Part 2: 1824-1848
Trial of Tears, -
Tariff of Abominations
This tariff was passed by the US to increase tax on imports from Britain, increasing prices of British goods, which only benefited the North. -
Indian Removal Act
President Andrew Jackson called for the removal of 5 Civilized Tribes from within the current state borders of the US to the west, in order to give more land to white farmers. This is what led to the Trail of Tears -
Slave Rebellion
A former Vriginian slave named Nat Turner led a violent slave revolt that killed hundreds of African Americans, and 55 white people. -
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was first used by a slave named Tice Davids fled from Kentucky into Ohio using this passage. -
Nullification Crisis
Southerners were displeased with the Tariff of Abominations, and were urged by John C. Calhoun to nullify the tariff and secede from the union. -
Treaty of Wanghia
This treaty was signed by both parties, and it gave the United States the right to trade in Chinese ports, as well as gaining additional legal rights inside China. -
Period: to
Period 5: 1844-1877
Civil War, Reconstruction Era, Industrial Revolution -
Mexican American War
Manifest Destiny caused Americans to take land forcefully because they thought it was their right. The US government began to want Mexico's land for it's resources, which led to war over land. -
Wilmot Provisio
This was a proposal made by Wilmot that if the Whigs were to give funding to the US, there will be no slavery in the territory gained from Mexico. -
Seneca Falls Convention
The Seneca Falls Convention was the first women's rights convention, and it was very successful. This had a major impact on the justice for the right to vote, and own property. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act allowed people in Kansas and Nebraska to decide whether or not to allow slavery within their borders. The Act served to repeal the Missouri Compromise of 1820 which prohibited slavery north of the 36 30 line. -
Dred Scott V. Sandford
This case was decided by the Supreme Court, and they ruled that Americans of African descent, whether free or slave, were not American citizens and could not sue in federal court. -
Lincoln Elected
When Lincoln became president, 7 Southern states seceded from the Union. -
Fort Sumter
Confederates attacked Union soldiers at Fort Sumter, South Carolina. This marks the start of the civil war. -
Emancipation Proclamation
This was a proclamation sent to the southern states that seceded, in hopes to convince them to rejoin the Union. -
Battle of Gettysburg
Robert E. Lee invaded the North with his last attack, attempting to invade D.C., but failed. This marked the point of certain victory for the Union. -
Gettysburg Address
This was the official public announcement that the Civil War had ended, and the 13th amendment would be passed. -
Freedmen's Bureau
This was an attempt by Congress to help freed slaves find jobs, education, and land. -
End of the Civil War
Robert E. Lee surrendered the final army of the confederate soldiers to the Union. -
Lincoln Assassination
John Wilkes Booth shot Lincoln at the Petersen House in Washington D.C.. This marks the first presidential assassination. -
Period: to
Period 6: 1865-1898
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14th Amendment Ratified
The amendment grants citizenship to "all persons born or naturalized in the United States," which included former slaves who had just been freed after the Civil War. -
Knights of Labor
This was a powerful workers Union that included African Americans and women. They focused on simple issues like working hours and wages. -
Ulysses S. Grant Elected
The Union war hero Ulysses S. Grant is elected as the 18th president of the United States. -
Standard Oil Company Established
This company quickly became a massive monopoly over the oil industry, and dominated the oil economy. -
Tweed Scandal
Boss Tweed was an extremely manipulative businessman who controlled the city of NYC, and stole millions from the NYC government. He was sent to jail for his crimes, but his rule continued throughout the Gilded Age because of his power. -
Yellowstone Established
Ulysses S. Grant created the first ever National Park. -
Credit Mobilier Scandal
The Credit Mobilier was a construction company used to gain money owned by Union Pacific Railroad Co.. This represents when the public began to realize the corruption in the US government. -
Panic of 1873
The rapid growth of production and manufacturing drove the economy down because of the surplus. This was the worst for blacks, and farmers. -
Civil Rights Act of 1875
This Act helped to secure African-Americans' safety in public. Republicans in Congress passed this law to guarantee African-Americans equal treatment in public places as well as inclusion in juries. -
Farmer's Alliance
During this age of mechanization, and industrialized goods, farmers were financially damaged. Farmers came together to form the Farmer's Alliance in order to weaken the strength of large cooperations. -
Booker T. Washington Tuskegee Institute
Washington created a school for blacks to learn and get an education. Washington was a highly respected man with a great level of education. -
Interstate Commerce Act
The railroad companies were becoming monopolies, and were putting the farmers into debt, so they proposed this act in order to regulate the trade between states. -
Sherman Anti-Trust Act
This was an attempt to regulate the monopolistic trusts in order to improve lives of lower class people. Even after this law was passed, big businesses still found loopholes and got around many regulations. -
Wounded Knee Massacre
Since the US had banned the ritual the "Sun Dance" in 1884, Indians instead did the "Ghost Dance." Soon after it began to get popular, the US army raided tribes and killed over 200 Indians. -
Spanish-American War
The constant successful expansion of US territory gave Americans confidence to conquer more land, and the US government decided to attack Span for control of Cuba. -
Treaty of Paris
This marked the end of the Spanish-American War, with Spain surrendering. Even though the Teller amendment forbid the US from withholding freedom from Cuba, the US continued to control and monitor the country for years, -
Period: to
Period 7 Part 1: 1898-1918
Spanish-American War, Panama Canal, Treaty of Paris -
Philippine-American War
This war was fought over land disputes, and rights to the Philippines. There were over 200,000 soldier casualties, and close to a million civilian casualties. -
McKinley Assassination
This assassination is what led to the need for more security for the President. After McKinley was shot, the Secret Service was established. -
Ford Established
Henry Ford creates the first public automobile company. -
The First Successful Airplane
The Wright brothers successfully flew an full-size aircraft in Kitty Hawk -
Roosevelt Corollary
This was an addition to the Monroe Doctrine, which added the right of the United States to intervene in order to "stabilize" the economic affairs of small states in the Caribbean and Central America if they were unable to pay their international debts. -
Sinking of the Titanic
This was a traumatic day for many Americans, and it led to a massive increase in passenger boat safety, and procedure. -
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal opened to traffic. -
Clayton Anti-Trust Act
This was an act that attempted to lessen the powers of monopolies, restricting their ability to manipulate the markets. -
Virgin Islands
The U.S. purchases the Virgin Islands for $25 million. This purchase was important because the US bought it mostly to retain it from the Germans. -
US Enters WW1
The US government publicly announces that the US will be joining the allies in WW1. -
Treaty of Versailles
This treaty was important because it ended the fight between the allies and the German powers, ending WW1. -
First Red Scare
This was a period where Americans lived in fear of Bolshevism and anarchism, due to real and imagined events. Real events included the Russian Revolution and anarchist bombings. -
Harlem Renaissance
The Harlem Renaissance was an intellectual, social, and artistic explosion centered in Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, spanning the 1920s. It was mainly black Americans, and black culture that was promoted and celebrated. -
Period: to
Period 7 Part 2: 1918-1945
Prohibition, -
18th Amendment
This amendment prohibited the sale and consumption of alcohol in the US. This was the era of prohibition. -
Schenck V. US
This case established that the freedom of speech protection in the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment could be restricted if the words spoken or printed represented to society a “clear and present danger.” -
19th Amendment
This marks the passing of the law to allow women to finally vote. This amendment helped women through so many different platforms including welfare, healthcare, education, etc.... -
League of Nations
The League of Nations was an attempted peace treaty between countries, and attempt to form an alliance that would do good to benefit the world. -
Emergency Quota Act
This was the first law to restrict the amount of immigrants allowed in the US. This was the foundation for all future immigration law and reform. -
Start of The Great Depression
The Great Depression began when the stock market crashed caused by a series of weaknesses in the economy. This marked the beginning of the worst economic period of American history. -
The New Deal
The New Deal was a series of programs, public work projects, financial reforms, and regulations enacted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the United States between 1933 and 1939. It responded to needs for relief, reform, and recovery from the Great Depression. -
Indian Reorganization Act
This act sought to decrease federal control over Native American people and tribes. This allowed tribes to self-govern, as well as gain lost land that was taken. -
Wagner Act
This was one of the first union/worker reform acts that helped employees form unions, and gives the right to organize in Unions. -
Social Security Act
This act was an idea of a way to keep elders off the streets. This act gave a plan for an economy that younger, working people support older people who are retired -
US neutrality WWII
To prevent future involvement in foreign wars, the US government decided to remain neutral in WW2. -
Pearl Harbor
The imperial Japanese ariforce bombed the airbase in Honolulu, Hawaii, leading to the US entering the war. This event helped unite the US, and prove that the US is a world power. -
Bracero Program
The Bracero Program was a series of laws and agreements benefiting farmers and laborers. -
D-Day
D-Day or known as the Normandy landings were the landing operations on Tuesday, 6 June 1944 of the Allied invasion of Normandy during World War II. It was the largest seaborne invasion in history. -
United Nations
26 different representatives from different nations signed the deceleration of the United Nations, forming the United Nations.