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Period: 1491 to
Period 1/2: 1491-1763
Native Americans, Early Exploration, Colonization -
Jamestown
The first permanent English settlement in the US. At first, the settlement struggled but then, with the help of John Rolfe and the introduction of tobacco as a cash crop, Jamestown flourished. -
Plymouth
The Plymouth colony was settled by Puritan pilgrims in search of religious freedom. The Mayflower Compact, signed by the people of Plymouth, was an important legal document that talked about democracy and "the Rights of Englishmen". -
Winthrop's "City on a Hill" Sermon
Puritan minister, John Winthrop, spoke about American exceptionalism in a sermon to the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The idea that America is a "chosen country" is used throughout US history. -
Rhode Island
Founded by Roger Williams who believed in the separation of church and state. Anne Hutchinson also played a part in the colony and believed in complete religious freedom. -
Virginia has laws encoding slavery
As indentured servitude began to end, the use of slavery became more widespread, and ultimately became engrained in the economy of the Southern colonies. -
Bacon's Rebellion
A rebellion started by Francis Bacon, a Backwater farmer in the Chesapeake colony who believed the government wasn't paying attention to poor farmers. This resulted in small government change but caused indentured servitude to end, which led to slavery. -
Trade and Navigation Acts
Acts imposed by Britain on the colonies that made most aspects of trade involve England and virtually created mercantilism in legislation. -
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The Great Awakening
The Great Awakening was a religious revival that resulted in a stronger interest in religion and the questioning of authority. -
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The French and Indian War
The colonies helped fight in this war and believed that the British did nothing and vice versa. This led to the end of Salutary Neglect. -
The Proclamation Act of 1763
This prohibited the settlement west of the Appalachians in an effort for England to seem in power, but the colonists disregarded it. -
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Period 3: 1763-1800
American Revolution, The Confederal Era, and the Early Federal Period -
The Stamp Act of 1765
The Stamp Act was a tax on the colonies from England of all printed goods. Sparked the founding of the Sons of Liberty and created unity against England. -
Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts were a tax on lead, glass, tea, paper, and paint and was meant to manipulate colonies. The colonial reaction was non-importation agreements and more unity. -
Boston Massacre
An incident between colonists and British soldiers that resulted in the death of a few people on both sides. It becomes a symbol and was used to spread revolutionary ideas throughout the colonies. -
Boston Tea Party
Retaliation to the Tea Act of 1773 where the Sons of Liberty dressed up as Native Americans and dumped bunches of tea into the Boston Harbor. Led to the Intolerable Acts as punishment. -
Second Continental Congress
A meeting of Congress to discuss rebellion and declare Washington Commander and Cheif of the Continental Army, which resulted in more colonial unity. -
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American Revolutionary War
A war between colonists and England that resulted in the freedom of the colonies from British control. -
The Declaration of Independence
A document that outlined the colonists right to rebel, along with a list of grievances against the crown, and declaration of colonies as a free nation. -
The Articles of Confederation
A legal document about the government of the colonies. They had lots of problems, including only one branch of legislation, no power to enforce laws, and no power to tax. -
Treaty of Paris
Marked the end of the American Revolution, and colonies were set free along with western boundaries set. -
Shay's Rebellion
Problems with the Articles of Confederation led to rebellion, with Shay saying the government wasn't protecting rights. The rebellion was suppressed but helped bring important problems up to people in government. -
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Legislation that led to 5000 adult male inhabitants to become a territory. Eventually led to legislation about territories becoming states. -
Constitutional Convention
Delegates from the colonies all met to discuss rewriting the Articles of Confederation and ended up writing the Constitution. Established three branches of government, along with allowing amendments to be made. -
Hamilton's Economic Plan
Alexander Hamilton, as Secretary of Treasury, created a financial plan that included the formation of the National Bank (BUS), assumptions of state debts, and protective tariffs. -
XYZ Affair
Political event between France and the US, during John Adam's early presidency that resulted in the US entering an "Undeclared War" with France. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
Acts that restricted civil liberties. The Alien Enemies Act said that aliens could be deported for any reason, and the Sedition Act said that people could be fined and prisoned for criticizing government officials. -
The "Revolution" of 1800
Thomas Jefferson was elected president and brought the shift from a Federalist president to a Democratic-Republican president. -
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Period 4 Pt 1: 1800-1824
The War of 1812, The Era of Good Feelings, Westward Migration -
Marbury v. Madison
Supreme Court case that established the concept of judicial review. -
The Lousiana Purchase
The Lousiana Purchase happened when Jefferson bought a large amount of land (middle part of US) from France. Lewis and Clark famously were sent to explore the new land. -
Macon's Bill #2
Replaced the Non-Intercourse Act with an embargo against Britain and France, which pitted them against each other. -
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The War of 1812
A war between the US and Great Britain that involved Canada and Native Americans in the west. -
Hartford Convention
The Hartford Convention was a gathering of Federalists during the end of the War of 1812 to demand a limit on Congress's power. It ended up being the end of the Federalist party. -
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The Era of Good Feelings
The Era of Good Feelings was a period of increased national pride and unity after the War of 1812. -
Clay's American System
Similar to Hamilton's Economic Plan, Clay's American System included a protective tariff and a Second Bank of the US. Internal improvements outlined in the plan and population growth led to more westward migration. -
Missouri Compromise
Problems involving whether Missouri would come into the Union as a slave state led to this compromise of Missouri being a slave state and Maine being free. This showed that Congress would decide issues about slavery, and would try to keep a balance. -
The Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine was a policy regarding new smaller democracies forming in Latin America. Its main points covered the US no intervening or colonizing the in the Western Hemisphere, with a push for Europe to stay out of the new democracies. -
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The Second Great Awakening
The Second Great Awakening had ties to Jacksonian Democracy and involved a renewed interest in different religions and reforms. -
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Period 4 Pt 2: 1824-1848
Age of Jackson, Reform Movements, Post Jacksonian Politics -
Election of 1828
Andrew Jackson won this election with the rise of the "Common Man" image. He believed that he had a mandate in office and therefore thought he should have the most power. -
Tariff of Abominations
Jackson raised the tariff from 25% to 45% and South Carolina threatened to nullify the tariff. The attempt failed and the Force Act is enacted, which is where the Federal government can use military force to enforce the law. -
Nat Turner's Rebellion
Nat Turner was a former slave who led a revolt and killed many plantation owners, resulting in growing fear of Southern white people. -
The Bank War
Jackson vetoed a rechartering of the BUS, and took money from it and deposited it into state "pet" banks. This "war" caused inflation to go out of control and led to the Panic of 1837. -
Birth of the Whig Party
This formed America's second party system, with the Whigs being a composite of all the groups that hated Jackson. -
Texan Independence
The people of Texas fought against Mexico and declared independence. Jackson recognized the independence on his last day of office. -
The Trail of Tears
This was part of Jackson's Indian Removal policy. It moved thousands of Native American's from their homes, even after the Supreme Court deemed it unconstitutional. -
The Election of 1844
During this election, Polk ran on a platform that utilized the idea of Manifest Destiny, America's God-given right to expand coast to coast. Polk's election led to the annexation of Texas, Oregon, and California. -
Introduction of the Gag Rule
The Gag Rule was a policy in the House of Representatives that said any piece of legislation regarding slavery would be automatically tabled. -
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Period 5: 1844-1877
Slavery disputes, The Civil War, Reconstruction -
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The Mexican War
This war was between the US and Mexico regarding land disputes. It resulted in lots of new land for the US and solidified the US's place as the leading nation in the Western Hemisphere. -
Seneca Falls Convention
The first wave of the Women's Movement included this meeting of women such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott, in an attempt to bring awareness to women's rights. -
Compromise of 1850
After tensions escalated regarding slavery, Clay proposed this compromise that basically allowed most new territories to decide the issue of slavery through popular sovereignty. -
Clayton-Bulwer Treaty
The Clayton-Bulwer Treaty was a treaty signed with Great Britain saying that the canal to be built in Panama would be a joint project. -
Kansas/Nebraska Bill
This bill decided that slavery would be decided in these two places by popular sovereignty, but the problem was they had already been decided in the Missouri Compromise. The Republican Party forms from this event with the main idea of no more expansion of slavery. -
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Missouri/Kansas Border Wars
This was the result of the Kansas/Nebraska Bill, with people from both sides of the issue moving there to try and sway the popular sovereignty vote. It ends with contained violence and shows the US that people are willing to kill over this topic. -
Dredd Scott v. Sandford Case
This was a landmark case that brought up questions regarding the status of enslaved people. The ruling ended up saying that an enslaved person was "property" and property cannot be taken away for no reason. -
John Brown's Raid
In a raid led by abolitionist John Brown on Harper's Ferry with the intent to steal weapons, give them to enslaved people, and start a huge slave revolt. The raid failed, but when Brown was executed, he became a martyr for the North and propelled the abolitionist movement. -
South Carolina succeeds from the Union
South Carolina was the first state to succeed and was followed by other southern states soon after, creating the foundations of the Confederacy. -
The Election of 1860
Abraham Lincoln was elected president without even being on southern ballots, which implies that the South has no political power, leading to succession. -
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The Civil War
A war between the South and North of the US (The Confederacy and the Union) about the issue of slavery. -
Passing of Black Codes
Black Codes were a group of laws in Southern legislation that applied to African Americans that restricted their rights. Similar laws included vagrancy laws and "pig" laws, all targeting newly freed African Americans. -
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Period 6: 1865-1898
The Gilded Age, the Labor Movement, Monopolies -
Congressional Reconstruction
Congress's attempts at reconstructing the nation, specifically the South, after the Civil War. This resulted in the 14th Amendment, the formation of the Freedman's Burea, and the Civil Rights Act. -
Transcontinental Railroad Completed
The completion of the Railroad led to the formation of the railroads as a big business, which led to the expansion of every other industry, and the formation of monopolies. -
The 15th Amendement
This allows African American men to vote and helps in the 1868 election which resulted in Ulysses S. Grant winning. -
Credit Mobilier Scandal
A scandal involving the Central Pacific Railroad Company came to light, in which the company was using US money to buy stock in its own company. It brought attention to the corruption of the railroad industry. -
Tweed Ring In NYC
This was another scandal involving the major of New York City, where he was buying people's support. Tweed was famously criticized by Thomas Nast, a cartoonist who called for reform to the system. -
Compromise of 1877
This compromise ended Reconstruction, gave the South Federal money, and Hayes became president with Democrats promised at least one cabinet seat. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
As more nativist sentiments and a push to cut down on immigration happened, this act was passed, which blocked all Chinese laborers from entering the US. -
Settlement House Movement
This movement was a push by mostly wealthy white women to provide services to poor people, as the poverty rate increased. The most famous settlement house was Hull House. -
Haymarket Square Riot
A riot in Chicago of labor union workers where police fired on protestors and caused a link between unions and violence i the public's minds. -
Dawes Severalty Act
This act allotted Reservation land to Native Americans along with creating boarding schools for native children in an attempt to Americanize them. -
The Sherman Anti-Trust Act
This act was an attempt to break up monopolies, but as initially used when dealing with labor unions. -
The Tipping Point in Immigration
This was the point when there were more new immigrants than old, which caused a huge influx of immigrants, contributing to industrialization and westward migration. -
The Populist Party
The party was formed by farmers and had incredible success in the election of 1892 for such a new party. They ran on the Omaha Platform, which believed in federal loans to farmers and the elimination of private banks. -
Pullman Strike
With the leadership of Eugene Debs, a huge boycott of the railroad happened in prostest of unfair buisness practices and the treatment of its workers. It caused a huge distruptance, and although the US government eventually sided with the railroad companies, it brought the corruption to the public view. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
This was a Supreme Court case where the "separate but equal" idea originated, which continued the segregation of African Americans across the US. -
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The Progressive Era
The Progressive Era was caused by exposed corruption and a call to reform the US. The goals were to improve the lives of the average American and to change the function of government. -
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The Spanish American War
This war only lasted a small amount of time and was instigated by the US wanting to help the Cuban Revolution happening at the time. Yellow Journalism and Hearst Headlines were major factors in the US's public perception of the war, as everything was heavily exaggerated. -
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Period 7 Pt 1: 1898-1918
The Progressive Era, World War 1, New Imperialism -
Hay/Pauncefote Treaty
This treaty got the United States out of the Clayton/Bulwer Treaty and allowed them to build the Panama Canal and benefit by themselves. -
Election of 1904
Theodore Roosevelt was elected president with his "Square Deal" platform, the idea that he was good for everyone across the board. He did a lot of help the Progressive Movement and to break up monopolies in the years to follow. -
US Forest Service
Implemented by T. Roosevelt as a conservation act, putting restrictions on hunting, camping, and fishing. Followed by a debate with John Muir who was a Preservationist, and led to the creation of National Parks. -
Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle"
This novel, along with other Muckraker's writings and photography was used to portray the other side of life in the US, exposing the truths of the extreme poverty when compared to the concentration of wealth. -
Ballinger-Pinchot Controversy
The Ballinger-Pinchot controversy happened between a member of Taft's cabinet and the head of the Forest Service, resulting in the firing of the Service head. This resulted in the public thinking that Taft was becoming less Progressive. -
Mann-Elkins Act
This act helped to regulate telephones and telegraphs, which helped cut down on monopolies and unfair business practices. -
Fighting ends in the Philippines
This was the end of fighting between the US and the Philippines about the issue of their independence and resulted in the gradual independence of the nation. -
The Sinking of Lusitania
The sinking of the Lusitania was one of the major events that led to the United States becoming involved in World War 1. -
National Defense Act
This allowed the army to double its size, as the US prepared for the possibility of entering World War 1. -
The Committee on Public Information/Creel Committee
This was formed to make society want to help the war effort through several propaganda initiatives. Its effects were the forming of the Boy Spies of America, Sedition Slammers, and the American Protective League. -
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US Participation in World War 1
World War 1 was a war that involved many countries around the world, with the US fighting for with Britain, France, and Russia. -
Wilson's "14 Points" Speech
This was a speech given by Woodrow Wilson as the United States was entering WW1 and outlined a series of principals for peace. It influenced many of the peace negotiations after the war and mentioned League of Nations, which later turned into the United Nations. -
Espionage and Sedition Acts
These acts during WW1 restricted civil liberties by saying that nothing bad could be said about the government of the military/war. -
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Period 7 Pt 2: 1918-1945
The 1920s, The Great Depression, The New Deal, World War 2 -
Palmer Raids
As part of the Red Scare in the United States, Attorney General Palmer ordered 6,000 people to be arrested due to alleged communist support. This helps to perpetuate the fear of communism that would continue until the end of the Cold War. -
The 19th Amendment
The 19th Amendment gave white women the ability to vote, but increased expectations of more equal rights to come. -
Volstead Act/18th Amendment
These two events go hand in hand because the amendment allowed the Prohibition and the act allowed for no selling, manufacturing, or transportation of alcohol. The Prohibition actually led to more crime and drinking, with the fact that it was illegal causing drinking to go underground. -
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The Harlem Renaissance
The Harlem Renaissance was the growth of African American art and culture that revolutionized that type of media. It was the foundation for the Civil Rights movement and inspired African Americans across the country. -
Teapot Dome/Elk Hills Scandal
This scandal was about the bribing of a member of Harding's cabinet, and brought the corruption of the federal government to the public's attention, reflecting the consumerism attitude of the 1920s. -
National Origins Act
The National Origins Act was an act with the purpose to limit immigration and put a cap on the number of people let in from each country, making fewer people allowed into the United States. -
Scopes Trial
This trial about evolution being taught in high school classroom was a landmark case that shows how the country is changing regarding religion and science and morality -
Kellogg Briand Pact
This pact was between almost all of the nations of the world and basically said that war was outlawed, but obviously that did not happen. -
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The Great Depression
The Great Depression was an economic depression caused by over-speculation of the stock market, tax policies favoring the wealthy, and chronic depression in certain industries. Both Hoover and Roosevelt tried to fix the problem in multiple ways, with Roosevelt being the most successful. -
The Election of 1932
Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected president in the election, mostly because of his philosophy about to solve the Great Depression, The New Deal. This included the three R's: Relief, Recovery, and Reform. -
Make-Work Programs
The Make-Work programs implemented by FDR as part of the New Deal was the biggest element in his plan for recovering from the Great Depression, with the purpose of giving people jobs, getting money back in the economy, and work that benefitted society. -
Fair Labor Standards Act
This act implemented a national minimum wage, maximum work hours, and said that children under 18 couldn't do certain things. It was a major improvement in labor problems. -
The Lend-Lease Act
The Lend-Lease Act was made in response to Great Britain running out of supplies and money in World War 2, and even though the US was technically neutral, they helped supply Great Britain with numerous supplies. FDR famously called this the "Great Arsenal of Democracy". -
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US Participation in World War 2
The United States at first declared neutrality on the issue of the war, but after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, they officially entered the war and fought with the Allied Powers. -
Executive Order 9066
This executive order made by FDR made relocation camps for Japanese-Americans for all of WW2 and was even held up in the Supreme Court case Korematsu v. the US. -
Atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
The decision to drop these atomic bombs was made In order to end the war sooner, with fewer US lives killed by FDR. After the bombs dropped, Japan surrendered unconditionally and World War 2 was ended.
