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Period: 1491 to
Period 1/2: 1491-1763
Native America, European Exploration, Colonization -
1492
Christopher Columbus arriving in the Americas
While he was trying to find a quicker route from Europe to Asia Christopher Columbus landed in the Bahamas. His voyage “discovered” the New World and started the era of European colonization in the Americas. -
1492
The Columbian Exchange System
Exchange of goods, people, disease, and ideas between Europe, Africa, and the Americas. New crops like potatoes and maize were introduced to Europe and horses were brought to the Americas where they had a huge impact on Natives’ lives. -
Jamestown was established
Jamestown was the first successful colony that was established in what would become the United States. -
Headright System
This system granted land to settlers to attract people to the colonies and also address the labor shortage. Land was given to anyone who could cross the ocean and help populate the colonies. -
Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact was the first document to establish self-government in the New World. -
Massachusetts Bay Colony established
Massachusetts Bay Colony was settled by the Puritans and they set up their society to be in sync with God’s wishes. This colony was very successful and became very populated very quickly. -
Mercantilism
Mercantilism was a popular economic philosophy during colonialism. The concept was that the mother country would use their colonies for raw materials and other goods to enrich their own country. -
Age of Enlightenment
The age of enlightenment in Europe gave the colonists new ideas about education and natural rights. The founding fathers were influenced by these ideas and even implemented some into the Constitution. -
The Great Awakening
The Great Awakening altered the religious environment of the colonies. It brought them closer together by boosting church growth, but also created a divide between those who supported it and those who rejected it. -
The French and Indian War Begins
The French and Indian War began in the colonies when French settlers encroached on land claimed by the British. -
End of Salutary Neglect
The end of salutary neglect occurred in 1763 when the British issued the proclamation of 1763 which kept the colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains despite the overpopulation. -
Period: to
Period 3: 1763-1800
American Revolution, the Confederal Era, and the Early Federal Period. -
Stamp Act
A tax on any printed materials that was collected by the British. Showed the colonies that they were no longer in a state of salutary neglect. -
Stamp Act Congress
A meeting of delegations with representations from the colonies. It was formed to protest the Stamp Act which was a tax on anything printed on paper. -
Boston Massacre
Boston Massacre was an event where British soldiers opened fire on a group of colonists in the city of Boston. 5 colonists were killed in this incident. -
Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts were a series of punishments passed by parliament to get back at Boston for the Boston Tea Party. The British closed the port, expanded the quartering act, and also revoked multiple rights of the charter causing the formation of the first continental congress. -
Battle at Bunker Hill
This is a battle that was fought during the Revolutionary War. During the battle the patriots killed around 1,000 British soldiers and the British killed around 400 colonists. Although the battle was technically won by the British, it is seen as a moral victory by the patriots. -
Common Sense
Common Sense was a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine. The pamphlet gave the colonists the idea that they should gain independence. -
Revolutionary War: 1775-1783
The Revolutionary War is the war the British colonists fought against their mother country, England, in order to gain full independence. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was the first constitution that was created in 1777 and ratified in 1783. It said that the U.S was a strong confederation of states under a weak national Congress. -
Shay's Rebellion
Shay’s Rebellion was a rebellion in Massachusetts after the Revolutionary War. Some of the causes of the rebellion were high taxes and economic distress of rural farmers. -
Formation of the National Bank
A critical piece in Alexander Hamilton’s financial plan for the United States. However, the idea of the Bank of the U.S. was very disliked by Andrew Jackson and the Democratic Republicans. -
Jay's Treaty
This treaty was made in order to try to avoid war with Britain. In the treaty, Britain agreed to evacuate the forts they were occupying on U.S soil and in return the United States to repay pre-Revolutionary War debts and to abide by Britain's restrictive trading policies toward France. -
Formation of the First Party System
The first party system was formed in 1796 against Washington’s advice. The two parties were the Federalists and the Democratic Republicans. -
Washington's Farewell Address
At the end of his presidency, Washington gave a speech with a long lasting impact on the United States. He gave advice for the future leaders about not having long lasting alliances or political parties because they just cause divide in the country where there should be unity. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
Were a series of laws passed in order to restrict the lives of foreign immigrants in the United States. -
Invention of Interchangeable Parts
The concept of interchangeable parts is credited to Eli Whitney. They are large pieces that are uniform and can be made and replaced easily which allowed for more production and less work. -
Period: to
Period 4 Part 1: 1800-1824
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Marbury v. Madison
Supreme Court case deciding the validity of Adams’ “midnight justices”. It was decided they were invalid and the case helped establish judicial review. -
Louisiana Purchase
Purchase of the Louisiana Territory from France for 15 million dollars. The purchase doubled the size of the United States. -
Non Intercourse Act
The U.S opened trade, but with a maintained embargo on Britain and France. Ultimately, it gets replaced by Macon’s Bill #2. -
War of 1812
1812 War between the United States and England who was trying to interfere with American trade with France. -
Hartford Convention
It was a meeting of Federalists at the end of 1812 and they compiled a list of the party’s complaints about the republican party. Ultimately, it exposed them as hypocrites and led to their downfall. -
Adams-Onis Treaty
Spain sold Florida to the U.S for 5 million, established the border between Louisiana and Texas, and set the northern boundary at the 42nd parallel. Also, Spain gave up their claims to Oregon. -
McCulloch v Maryland
Supreme Court case where the Supreme Court ruled the Second BUS was constitutional, and that states couldn't tax the federal government. Established that federal government had more authority (Necessary and Proper Clause). -
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was proposed by Henry Clay. It allowed Missouri to enter as a slave state, and Maine entered as a free state, would not allow slavery north of the 36˚ 30' line in the Louisiana Territory. -
Second Great Awakening
This movement caused moral movements such as prison reform, temperance, and moral reasoning against slavery. This led to utopian communities and the movement attracted blacks, women, and Natives. -
Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine was written by John Quincy Adams to encourage small democracies. It stated that there would be no new European colonization in the Western Hemisphere in exchange for the United States not interfering with existing colonies or European affairs. -
Period: to
Period 4 Part 2: 1824-1848
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"Revolution" of 1828
This was the election of 1828 which is the election where Andrew Jackson was elected. This election shifted power to “the common man”. -
Trail of Tears
The Cherokee Indians were forced to leave their lands, to go to Indian Territory. During the journey, more than 4,000 Cherokees died due to the cold, disease, and lack of food. -
Removal of Deposits
Andrew Jackson removed all of the money from the Bank of the U.S and put it into state banks. This was his way of “killing” the bank. -
Panic of 1837
This Panic was caused by the Specie Circular and the Bank of the U.S closing. Because of this businesses closed, cotton prices fell and there was widespread unemployment and distress. -
Period: to
Period 5: 1844-1877
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Annexation of Texas
Texas was annexed after the Mexican-American War during James K. Polk’s presidency. -
Oregon Treaty of 1846
1846 Established the U.S/Canadian (British) border at the 49th parallel. The boundary would extend from the Rockies to the Pacific Ocean. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
This treaty ended the Mexican American War and gave the U.S control of California, Texas, and New Mexico in exchange for 15 million dollars (Mexican cession). -
Seneca Falls Convention
The first national women’s convention where they wrote the Declaration of Sentiments which called for equality between men and women. -
Underground Railroad
A system that helped enslaved African Americans follow escape routes out of the South to freedom in the North or Canada. -
Compromise of 1850
California was admitted as a free state, there was more strict fugitive slave law, and Texas downsized allowing for the creation of Utah and New Mexico. -
Kansas Nebraska Act
Divided land into two territories Nebraska in the North and Kansas in the South. People had the right to choose to be a free or slave through popular sovereignty. -
Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas was a series of violent fights between pro-slavery and anti-slavery people in Kansas who moved to Kansas to try to influence the decision of whether or not Kansas would a slave state or a free state. -
Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott had been a slave in free territory and decided to sue for his independence, but the Supreme Court ruled that he was property, and not a citizen so he had no right to sue. -
Panic of 1857
The panic was caused by over speculation in land, war in Europe because they weren't buying from the U.S, and the Gold Rush in CA which was caused inflation/ -
Secession of the Southern States: Civil War
The Southern States seceded over the slavery disagreement and formed the Confederate States of America. -
Anaconda Plan
Northern Plan to win the Civil War. They wanted to "squeeze" the life out of the South by blockading all of the southern ports so they could have no trade/imports/exports, control the Mississippi river and main tributaries in Tennessee and Ohio, and to capture Richmond, VA. -
Emancipation Proclamation
Was given by Abraham Lincoln and freed slaves in states of rebellion, prevented Britain from siding with the South, and allowed slaves to free themselves. -
Wade Davis Bill
The Wade Davis Bill stated Congress was in charge of reconstruction, a majority of all citizens in a state take an oath before becoming apart of the union, high ranking military and political leaders who voluntarily taken up arms against the US lose the right to vote. The new states' constitutions must abolish slavery, and the confederate debts repudiated, this law never passes. -
Freedmen's Bureau
The purpose of the Freedmen's Bureau was to help freed slaves find jobs, locate housing, negotiate contracts, provide education and medical services, and help families find each other. -
Black Codes
Southern laws designed to restrict the rights of newly freed slaves for example they set curfews, restricted their use of weapons, and vagrancy laws. -
Formation of the Klu Klux Klan (KKK)
The KKK formed as a group to protest the new amendments saying that all blacks are equal under the law. -
Period: to
Period 6: 1865-1898
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Civil Rights Act
Extended equal protection under the law to African-Americans, would lead to the 14th amendment -
Credit Mobilier Scandal
Credit Mobilier used federal money to buy stock in CP at a discounted rate, which was then inflated and sold at going rate. -
Force Acts
The Force Acts banned clan membership, the use of intimidation to prevent blacks from voting, and gave the U.S. military the authority to enforce the acts. -
Pendleton Act
This act required many government jobs to be filled by a civil service test, created the Civil Service Commission, helped limit the spoils system. -
Resumption Act of 1875
Congress said in 4 years people would be allowed to exchange greenbacks for gold. This helped stabilize economy after the Panic of 1873. -
Compromise of 1877
The compromise said Reconstruction was over,and the military was going to pull out of the South. It also said that the South will receive federal money to rebuild infrastructure Southern Democrat will have a cabinet position. -
Immigration Act of 1882
This was the first comprehensive immigration law put in place in the United States. In response, Congress passed other major acts, like the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 which would restrict Chinese laborers from emigrating into the United States. -
American Federation of Labor Founded
This union sought to better wages, work hours, and working conditions. Many skilled laborers joined out of dissatisfaction from the Knights of Labor in a non-violent ensemble. -
Interstate Commerce Act of 1887
This law established the Interstate Commerce Commission to monitor the business operation of carriers transporting goods and people as a means of regulating railroad prices. -
Pan American Conference
Economic conference with North and South America. The conference was called by James Blaine and it created an organization of cooperation between the US and Latin American countries. -
Sherman Antitrust Act
The act said that restricting free trade was illegal. It was supposed to prevent and breakup monopolies, but it was used to break up labor unions. -
Ellis Island Opened
A major immigration station in New York opened in 1892 where new arrivals had to pass rigorous medical and document examinations and pay entry to formally be allowed into the United States. -
Panic of 1893
A serious economic depression that was caused by railroad companies overextending themselves, causing many bank failures. It was considered to be the worst economic crash in American history up to that point. -
Pullman Strike
Pullman lowered wages yet refused to lower rent in the "company town". As a result, the American railway union refused to move train cars, but achieved nothing when Cleveland shut down the strike. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
This United States Supreme Court case decision that legalized segregation as long as facilities for both blacks and white were equal. Although the facilities were separated, they were certainly not equal. -
Period: to
Period 7 Part 1: 1898-1918
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Treaty of Paris
This treaty ended the Spanish-American War. It said that the U.S gained control of Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines and that Cuba gains independence due to the Teller Amendment. -
Elkins Act
This act strengthen the ICC by banning rebates from Railroad companies. -
Niagara Movement
The Niagara Meeting was a meeting in Niagara Canada on how to best advocate for African American equality. This was the beginning of the NAACP. -
Pure Food and Drug Act
Forbid the manufacture or sale of mislabeled food or drugs, called for truth in labeling. -
Gentlemans Agreement
Agreement between the US and Japan saying the US won't accept any new Japanese immigrants, and Japan won't let anyone immigrate to the US. -
16th Amendment
This made the income tax constitutional. -
Clayton Antitrust Act
Strengthened the Sherman Antitrust Act, it was not allowed to be used against labor unions. -
Sinking of the Lusitania
British passenger ship sunk by German U-boats on May 7th, 1915. 128 Americans died, turning the U.S against Germany, but not why we enter the war. -
National Defense Act
This allowed the army to double in size taking it from 100,000 people to 200,000 and the National guard to increased to 450,000. This was in response to the sinking of ships and in preparation for war. -
Bolshevik Revolution
Russia was overthrown by communists and had to deal with their own country, ultimately pulling out of WW1. This left a spot for the U.S. -
Zimmerman Note
Germany urged Mexico to attack the US, promising it would help Mexico win back land lost in the Mexican-American War. -
Espionage Act of 1917
Law which punished people for aiding the enemy or refusing military duty during WW1. It also made it a crime for a person to convey information with intent to interfere with the operation or success of the armed forces of the US, or to promote the success of its enemies. -
United States enters WW1
The U.S entered the war due to the Germans continuing to sink American ships and also passing the Zimmerman note. -
Sedition Act of 1918
Made it illegal for Americans to speak badly about the US government, constitution, flag, war or enlisting. -
Flu epidemic
This happened as the war was ending, and returning soldiers spread it worldwide causing a pandemic. 1/3 of the world's population had the flu, and 20-50 million were killed by it. -
Treaty of Versailles
Treaty that ended WW1 and it was very harsh on Germany who was forced to pay $33 billion in reparations, give up a ton of land, demilitarize, and say the war was their fault. It also created 9 new countries and the League of Nations. -
Period: to
Period 7 Part 2: 1918-1945
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18th Amendment
This amendment made prohibition constitutional. -
19th Amendment
This amendment gave women the right to vote. -
Red Scare
Intense fear of communism and other politically radical ideas after WW1. -
Harlem Renaissance
A period in the 1920s when African-American achievements in art and music and literature flourished. There was a growth of African American art and expressionism directly due to the Great Migration. -
Nine Power Treaty
Treaty with the United States, Great Britain, France, Japan, Italy, China, Belgium, Netherlands, and Portugal where they agree to respect the sovereignty of China and honor the open door policy in China. -
Teapot Dome Scandal
This scandal involves corruption of Harding's cabinet member Albert Fall, who took bribes to allow oil drilling on public lands where the oil was intended for the military. -
Immigration Act of 1924
Same as the National Origins Act, limited the quota to 2% of each nationality based on the 1890 census, in effort to limit Eastern European/communist/Asian immigrants. -
Kellogg Briand Pact
Agreement to outlaw war which was done to create a sense of global security. This did not stay in place and was not effective. -
Wall Street Crash
Took place on October 29, 1929, caused by a variety of factors like depressions in farming & mining, lack of diversification in industry, and over speculation. Ultimately led to the Great Depression with the help of other factors like the Dust Bowl. -
Emergency Banking Relief Act
This gave the President power over the banking system and set up a system by which banks would be reorganized or reopened. -
Agricultural Adjustment Act
Agricultural Adjustment Act was passed May 1933. It paid farmers to grow less crops in attempt to fix prices and overproduction. -
Public Works Administration
Public Works Administration was a part of FDR's New Deal. It put people to work building or improving public buildings like schools, post offices. It helped initiate long term and industrial recovery and unemployment relief. -
United States enters WWII
The United States enters WWII on the side of the allies after Japan bombs Pearl Harbor in 1941. -
Manhattan Project and the Atomic Bombs
The Manhattan Project was a secret U.S. project for the construction of the atomic bomb, which led to them being dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Hiroshima happened on August 6, 1945, and 70-80,000 people were killed immediately and Nagasaki took place on August 9, 1945, and 36,000 people were killed immediately. Ultimately this led to Japans surrender and the end of WWII.
