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Jamestown
Jamestown was the first successful English colony in the New World. It attracted lots of settlers through the headright system, leading to the development of the 13 colonies. It was an essential part of the triangular trade, perpetuated through England's mercantilist policies. -
French and Indian War
This was a war between the British and French (allied with Natives) in North America. This war was a British win but it left them with a lot of debt. Thus, they decided to tax the colonies to repay this debt. The Seven Years' War led to the end of benign neglect. It was also the first time that unionization was discussed in the colonies under the Albany Plan. Another impact was The Proclamation of 1763. -
Sugar Act and Quartering Act
These acts were passed in 1764-65. The Sugar Act lowered the tax on sugar/molasses to end smuggling. Instead, smuggling increased. The Quartering Act of 1765 stated that British soldiers were allowed to stay in any house for free. The colonists thought it was a loss of privacy and it impeded their natural rights. These acts led the colonists to resent the British and planted seeds of discontent. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was a stamp on anything that had to be recognized by the government. This included licenses, certificates, and legal documents. People disliked this tax as it was placed on very minor things. The Stamp Act led to violent protests and the slogan “No Taxation Without Representation”. This was a major theme in the American Revolution. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a standoff between British soldiers and a mob. A group of mobs were harassing British soldiers, leading to them shooting into a mob, killing 5 people. Crispus Attuks was a victim of this. Images made about the Boston Massacre (by Paul Revere) were spread as propaganda and led people to believe the British were tyrants. The public sentiment around the British became sour after this. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was caused by a high tax on tea. Many activists gathered and disguised themselves as Indians. They went on a ship and threw over cartons of tea. This caused $8 million in loss. The British retaliated by passing the Coercive Acts which closed down the Boston port, outlawed assemblies, and reinforced the Quartering Act. This devastated the entire economy of New England. The Coercive Acts were called the Intolerable Acts in the colonies. -
Shot Heard Around the World
The Shot Heard Around the World was during the Battle of Lexington and Concord. This was the first battle of the American Revolution, and all hope of a peaceful resolution was lost. This was the first time that there was a revolt against the British Empire. Its impact was the start of the American Revolution. The colonies were officially revolting. The Battle of Lexington and Concord was accompanied the night before by Paul Revere's Midnight Ride. -
2nd Continental Congress
The Congress was a meeting held in Philadelphia. They sent out the Olive Branch Petition to King George. When he rejected this, Thomas Jefferson was told to draft the Declaration of Independence. The Continental Congress established a Continental Army led by George Washington. The impact of the Second Continental Congress was that it was the start of a new nation, as the Declaration of Independence was signed here. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation were the first form of government in the colonies. The articles reflected the colonial fears of an overprotective government. Thus, the Articles had no major power over the colonies. Shays' Rebellion highlighted the problems of the articles, as the government had no power to stop the rebellion. The impact of the Articles of Confederation was the eventual writing of the Constitution. -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga was a turning point of the American Revolution. The turning point was when General Burgoyne’s army surrendered to an American Army. This had never been done before. It led to an increase in morale and hope for the Americans, especially since there was a string of defeats before this. Its impact was turning the tide of the war into an American Victory. -
Battle of Yorktown
The Battle of Yorktown was the last major battle of the American Revolution. The battle occurred when the French and American laid a siege on General Cornwallis’ army. Since he could not make any moves, Cornwallis surrendered on October 20. This led to the Treaty of Paris, which officially ended the war in 1783. Its impact was the official recognition of the United States by Britain. It also gave all British lands between the Atlantic and the Mississippi River to the US. -
Constitutional Convention
The Constitutional Convention was a meeting set to revise the Articles of Confederation. Instead, it drafted a new constitution. The Constitutional Convention had two factions: the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists. During the convention, there was the Great Compromise, leading to a bicameral system. The ⅗ Compromise led to some slave population counting. Later, the Bill of Rights was also formed because of this. The Constitutional Convention gave us our current Constitution. -
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Washington's Presidency
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Hamilton's Financial Plan
Hamilton's financial plan was to pay off war debt and raise revenue through tariffs, to build a stronger national economy. He also wanted to build a National Bank. Thomas Jefferson did not like the plan, so he struck a deal with Hamilton. In exchange for letting Hamilton’s plan pass, Jefferson established the capital at Washington DC. Jefferson and Hamilton’s arguments stemmed from their different interpretations of the constitution: strict and loose. -
Cotton Gin
The cotton gin was another invention by Eli Whitney. The machine would remove seeds from cotton fiber. This made cotton a profitable cash crop in the South. Previously, cotton had been too labor-intensive to be profitable. The impact of the cotton gin was that there was a resurgence in slavery, a leading cause up to the Civil War. -
Whiskey Rebellion
The Whiskey Rebellion happened when farmers refused to pay tax on the whiskey they produced. The American Army had to enforce it forcefully. The Whiskey Rebellion was important since it was a test of the Constitution. The rebellion proved that the Constitution could handle problems within the country. The test was quite effective as it showed us that the Constitution was successful and that it would work under times of stress. -
Pickney's Treaty
Pinckney's Treaty was an agreement struck with the Spanish that allowed Americans to freely travel along the Mississippi River into New Orleans. It gave farmers who lived past the Appalachian a good way to trade their materials. It later became the basis of the Louisiana Purchase. Thomas Jefferson did not like the treaty because he believed that the Spanish wouldn’t follow it, as the Americans had not followed their promise to France by drafting the Proclamation of Neutrality. -
XYZ Affair
The XYZ affair occurred when the French tried to bribe America's diplomats into meeting with higher-level French bureaucrats. The Americans did not follow through on this. When the general population learned about this, they wanted war. Adams avoided war by crafting a treaty with Napoleon, which made him very unpopular. The XYZ Affair led to the creation of the US Navy, as the whole affair was caused by the French impounding American Ships. -
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Adam's Presidency
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Alien and Sedition Acts
The Alien and Sedition Acts were a violation of the Bill of Rights. They increased naturalization time. It also gave the president the power to deport anybody who is dangerous. It also made it illegal for the newspapers to criticize the president or Congress. This was all done so no one could speak out against Adams or support the Anti-Federalists. Its impact was the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions (not allowed by the Supreme Court). Adams also got voted out of office for this. -
Interchangeable Parts
Interchangeable parts were an invention by Eli Whitney. They allowed for mass manufacturing, as parts became standardized for multiple objects. Interchangeable parts allowed for less experienced factory workers and an overall growth in factory life. The impact of its invention was that mass manufacturing became more common and the factory system emerged. -
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Jefferson's Presidency
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Marbury v. Madison
Marbury v Madison was a Supreme Court case that gave the Supreme Court the right to judicial review. After George Washington had established the court system using the Judiciary Act of 1879, their powers were very vague. Marbury v Madison gave the Supreme Court the power to strike down the laws for being unconstitutional. The Supreme Court became the interpreter of laws. Its impact was giving the Supreme Court a defined role. -
Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was a territorial deal between France and the US. The US originally wanted to buy the port of New Orleans. However, Napoleon offered to sell all of the Louisiana Territory to the US for $15 million. This threw Thomas Jefferson into a dilemma because he wasn't sure if it was constitutional, as he was a strict constructionist. He ended up purchasing the territory, doubling the size of the country. The Louisiana Purchase led to the Lewis and Clark expedition. -
Embargo of 1807
The Embargo of 1807 was caused when Thomas Jefferson imposed a ban on all foreign trade. He did this to remain neutral in the fighting between Britain and France. It damaged the economy very much but later on it ended up encouraging domestic manufacturing. The Embargo of 1807 led to a domestic boom, which continued even when the ban was lifted. -
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Madison's Presidency
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War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a war caused by the British attacking American ships and supporting Native Resistance against the US. One major battle was the Battle of New Orleans, which made Andrew Jackson a hero. Washington DC was also set on fire by the British. The national anthem was also written at this time. The war ended with the Treaty of Ghent. The major impact of the War of 1812 was that it proved the legitimacy of the American Revolution and America got global respect for defeating Britain. -
Erie Canal
The Erie Canal was a man-made canal from the Great Lakes to the Hudson River. It allowed for faster transportation of goods from the Northwest to the Atlantic. It was a part of the Transportation Revolution, characterized by a growth in canals and railroads. The Erie Canal’s impact was faster trade along waterways and growth in national transportation with inventions like the steamboat. -
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise of 1820 was a legislative agreement to resolve tensions between free and slave states. It admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state to maintain the balance in Congress. The compromise also established the 36°30' parallel as a line dividing free and slave territories, with slavery prohibited north of the line. It was ultimately repealed by the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, where the states got to vote on the issue of slavery. -
Indian Removal Act
The Indian Removal Act of 1830, signed by President Andrew Jackson, authorized the forced relocation of Native American tribes living east of the Mississippi River to lands west of the river. The goal was to open up land for white settlers, particularly in the South. The Act led to the infamous "Trail of Tears," where thousands of Native Americans were forcibly moved, resulting in thousands of deaths. This went against the Supreme Court case of Worcester v. Georgia. -
Nullification Ordinance
The Nullification Ordinance of 1832 was a South Carolina declaration that federal tariffs, particularly the Tariff of 1828 (the "Tariff of Abominations"), were unconstitutional and therefore null and void within the state. South Carolina, led by John C. Calhoun, argued that states had the right to nullify federal laws they deemed unjust. This led to a standoff with President Andrew Jackson, who threatened military action. The crisis was resolved with a Compromise Tariff of 1833. -
Battle of the Alamo
The Battle of the Alamo was a defining moment in the Texas Revolution, ultimately leading to Texas gaining independence from Mexico in 1836. This victory allowed Texas to become an independent republic, the Republic of Texas, and later join the United States in 1845. The battle also fueled American expansionism, embodying the spirit of Manifest Destiny and contributing to the tensions that led to the U.S.-Mexico War (1846–1848) and the annexation of Texas. -
Telegraph
The telegraph was an invention by Samuel Morse which sent messages through a wire. He also invented Morse code to help with this communication. The impact of the telegraph was that rapid communication was finally becoming common. Before this, the quickest way to reach somebody was the horse. The telegraph allowed the country to become more interconnected. -
Panic of 1837
The Panic of 1837 was a severe economic downturn triggered by President Andrew Jackson’s "Bank War." Jackson’s decision to dismantle the Second Bank of the United States and withdraw federal funds into puppet banks led to instability in the banking system. This led to the collapse of major banks. The panic resulted in widespread unemployment, bank failures, and a long recession, influencing the rise of the Whig Party and sparking debates over federal economic intervention. -
Start of US-Mexico War
The U.S.-Mexico War (1846–1848) arose from tensions over U.S. settlement in Texas. In the 1820s, Americans moved to Texas, a part of Mexico, leading to disputes over land and governance. After Texas declared independence in 1836, the U.S. annexed it in 1845, angering Mexico, which still claimed Texas. President James K. Polk, a strong proponent of Manifest Destiny, engineered the annexation and pushed for expansion. A border skirmish in April 1846 led Polk to declare war. The United States won. -
Treaty of Guadalupe y Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed in 1848, ended the U.S.-Mexico War and expanded U.S. territory. Mexico ceded roughly half of its land, including present-day California, Arizona, and New Mexico, in exchange for $15 million and the assumption of Mexico’s debts. The treaty confirmed U.S. control over Texas and fulfilled President Polk’s Manifest Destiny vision. However, it also intensified debates over slavery in the newly acquired territories, shaping future political conflicts. -
Gold in California
The discovery of gold in California in 1848, sparked the California Gold Rush, a massive migration of prospectors and settlers. Thousands of people, known as "49ers," flocked to California hoping to make it rich. This influx of settlers led to California’s rapid population growth and its admission as the 31st state in 1850. The entrance of California also led to debates over slavery, transferring over to the Civil War. -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was a series of legislative measures to resolve tensions between free and slave states. Crafted by Henry Clay, it admitted California as a free state, allowed territories of New Mexico and Utah to decide slavery through popular sovereignty, and included a stricter Fugitive Slave Act. It also settled border disputes between Texas and New Mexico. While it temporarily eased sectional conflict, it failed to resolve deeper divisions, setting the stage for the Civil War. -
First Sack of Lawrence
The First Sack of Lawrence occurred on May 21, 1856. Pro-slavery forces, led by "Border Ruffians," attacked the anti-slavery town of Lawrence, Kansas, destroying buildings, printing presses, and looting homes. This attack escalated tensions, leading to more violence in the region, also known as Bleeding
Kansas. This contributed to the national crisis over slavery, which ultimately culminated in the Civil War. -
Dred Scott v. Sanford
Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857) was a pivotal Supreme Court case in which Dred Scott, an enslaved man, sued for his freedom, claiming that living in free territories made him free. The Court ruled 7-2 against Scott, stating that African Americans, free or enslaved, were not U.S. citizens and had no right to sue. It also declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional, stating Congress could not ban slavery in the territories. -
South Carolina secession
South Carolina's secession from the Union on December 20, 1860, was the first state to leave after the election of Abraham Lincoln, who opposed the expansion of slavery. The secession was driven by fears that the federal government would limit slavery's spread. South Carolina's action sparked the secession of other Southern states and led to the formation of the Confederacy. This event marked the beginning of the Civil War. -
Anaconda Plan
The Anaconda Plan was General Winfield Scott’s military strategy during the Civil War. It aimed to suffocate the Confederacy by blocking Southern ports, cutting off trade, and controlling the Mississippi River to divide it. The plan was to squeeze the South by not allowing it to trade. The plan also involved capturing key Southern cities and resources. The strategy ultimately contributed to the Union’s victory by weakening the Confederate economy and disrupting its supply lines. -
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Civil War
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Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, declared all enslaved people in Confederate-held territories to be free. Although it did not immediately free all slaves, it shifted the focus of the Civil War to include abolition as a central goal, weakening the Confederacy’s economy and morale. It also paved the way for the enlistment of African American soldiers in the Union Army, marking a pivotal step toward the end of slavery in the United States. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg (July 1–3, 1863) was a turning point in the American Civil War. Fought in Pennsylvania, it was the bloodiest battle ever fought in US history, with over 50,000 casualties. Union forces, commanded by General George Meade, successfully repelled a Confederate invasion led by General Robert E. Lee. The Union victory marked the end of Lee’s attempt to invade the North and shifted the momentum of the war in favor of the Union, leading to eventual Confederate defeat. -
Battle of Vicksburg
The Battle of Vicksburg (May 18 – July 4, 1863) was a crucial Union victory during the Civil War. General Ulysses S. Grant's forces besieged the Confederate stronghold of Vicksburg, Mississippi, a key point on the Mississippi River. After weeks of intense fighting and starvation, the Confederate army surrendered. The Union's control of Vicksburg split the Confederacy in two, giving the Union full control of the Mississippi River and a strategic advantage. This fulfilled the Anaconda Plan. -
Transcontinental Railroad (start)
The Transcontinental Railroad, completed in 1869, connected the eastern U.S. with the Pacific Coast. It was made by the decree of the Pacific Railroad Acts. The companies hired were the Union and Central Pacific. They were paid in land and money to build the railroad across the US. This railroad helped the growth of the economy and settlement. It accelerated the displacement of Native Americans. The railroad led to the creation of the Homestead Act, which encouraged settlers to move west. -
Sherman's March to Sea
Sherman's March to the Sea was a devastating Union campaign led by General William Tecumseh Sherman during the American Civil War. After capturing Atlanta, Sherman’s forces cut a 60-mile-wide path of destruction through Georgia, marching from Atlanta to Savannah. The goal was to break the South’s morale to fight by destroying infrastructure, supply lines, and civilian property. The march significantly weakened the Confederacy and helped lead to its eventual surrender in 1865. -
Wade-Davis Bill
The Wade-Davis Bill (1864) was a proposal for Reconstruction after the Civil War, introduced by Senator Benjamin Wade and Representative Henry Winter Davis. It required that a majority of white male citizens in Southern states take an "ironclad" oath of loyalty to the Union before they could form new governments. It also demanded stronger protections for emancipated slaves. President Lincoln vetoed the bill, favoring a more lenient approach, such as his 10 Percent Plan. -
Surrender at Appomattox
The surrender at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865, marked the effective end of the American Civil War. General Robert E. Lee, commander of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant, commander of the Union Army. Lee’s army, exhausted and outnumbered, was surrounded and had no choice but to lay down arms. -
Reconstruction Acts of 1867
The Reconstruction Acts of 1867 were a series of laws passed by Congress to rebuild the South after the Civil War. They divided the South into five military districts, placing them under military control to enforce Reconstruction policies. States had to write new constitutions, ratify the 14th Amendment, and allow African American men to vote before rejoining the Union. These acts aimed to protect the rights of freedmen and ensure a more radical Reconstruction. -
14th Amendment
The 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, is one of the most important amendments to the U.S. Constitution. It grants citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, including former slaves, and ensures equal protection under the law. It also prohibits states from denying any person due process or equal protection, reshaping civil rights in America. The amendment was crucial in securing the legal rights of African Americans, it also made Scott v Sanford an unjust ruling. -
Battle of the Little Bighorn
The Battle of Little Bighorn (1876), where Sioux and Cheyenne forces, led by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, defeated General George Custer's 7th Cavalry, was a significant Native American victory. However, it sparked a fierce U.S. military response, leading to the eventual surrender of many tribes. The battle highlighted the growing tensions between Native Americans and the U.S. government, accelerating the government's push to suppress Native resistance and further colonize Western lands. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
The Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) was influenced by the influx of Chinese laborers who played a crucial role in building the Transcontinental Railroad. Between the '60s and '70s, Chinese immigrants worked for the Central Pacific Railroad, enduring dangerous conditions and low wages. Despite their vital contribution, anti-Chinese sentiment grew, leading to the Act, which banned Chinese immigration and restricted their rights, reflecting racial prejudice against Chinese workers. -
Wounded Knee
The Wounded Knee Massacre (1890) marked the brutal end of the Indian resistance to U.S. expansion. U.S. troops killed around 300 Lakota Sioux, at Wounded Knee Creek in South Dakota. The massacre symbolized the violent suppression of Native American culture, marking the end of the Indian Wars. Although the massacre is dubbed an accident, the implications of it led to long-standing tensions. This continued through the systematic oppression of native culture in boarding schools. -
Plessy v. Fuergeson
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) upheld racial segregation under the "separate but equal" doctrine, legalizing segregation in public facilities. It happened when Homer Plessy was not allowed to ride in a white train carriage. It solidified Jim Crow laws and racial segregation until the Civil Rights Movement challenged and eventually overturned it. Plessy v. Ferguson's legacy of inequality persisted long into the 20th century, shaping America's Civil Rights Movement.