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The establishment of Jamestown
Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in North America. Established by the Virginia Company, it hoped to bring profit to its shareholders and to establish an English colony in the New World. The settlement faced numerous challenges including harsh weather, food shortages, and conflicts with the indigenous people. Despite early struggles, Jamestown eventually paved the way for further expansion in the Americas. -
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The Enlightenment
The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement between the end of the 1600s and the beginning of the 1800s. This emphasized reason and the improvement of science. a few characters like John Locke, Voltaire, and Montesquieu challenged the old ideas about government and knowledge, advocating for freedom and education. Because of this, colonies began developing their own crop of thinkers like Benjamin Franklin. -
The 7 Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global conflict involving most of the European great powers. It was fought primarily in Europe and the Americas. One of the opposing alliances was led by Great Britain and Prussia. The other alliance was led by France and Austria, backed by Spain, Saxony, Sweden, and Russia. This war was fought over North American land claims in the region around Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, ultimately leading to colonial discontent and the American Revolution. -
The Sugar Act
Passed by the British government, the Sugar Act provided for a strongly enforced tax on sugar, molasses, and other products imported into the American colonies from non-British Caribbean sources. This act angered the colonies because these newly taxed items were used to make rum which was a main export in colonial trade with other countries. New England ports suffered economic losses from the Sugar Act because smuggling molasses was more common between the colonies, leading to the act's end. -
The Quartering Act
The British Government passed the Quartering Act which required the American colonies to provide homing to British forces stationed in their towns or villages. The colonies also had to supply the troops with food and drink, fuel, and transportation. This only further enraged the colonists by having what appeared to be foreign soldiers in American cities and taking away their authority to keep the soldiers distant. This act then led to the creation of the 3rd Amendment. -
The Stamp Act
Passed by the British government, the Stamp Act required colonists to pay taxes on every page of printed paper they used. The tax also included fees for playing cards, dice, and newspapers. Colonists felt that the Stamp Act taxed them unfairly because they lacked representation in British Parliament. British merchants and manufacturers pressured Parliament because their exports to the colonies were threatened by boycotts. The act was repealed on March 18, 1766. -
The Boston Massacre
Tensions ran high in Boston after more than 2,000 British soldiers occupied the city of 16,000 colonists and tried to enforce Britain’s tax laws. American colonists rebelled against the taxes they found repressive. During one of the colony's rallies, seven British soldiers fired into a crowd of angry Boston colonists, killing five, wounding another six, and angering an entire colony. -
The Boston Tea Party
On this day, dozens of disguised men, some as Indigenous Americans, boarded the three East India Company ships and dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor. -
The Battle of Lexington & Concord
The Battle of Lexington and Concord was one of the first major military campaign of the American Revolutionary War. The leading cause of this war was the high tensions between the British and the colonies. This became an open conflict in the towns of Lexington and Concord. At the break of dawn, British troops marched towards Lexington with orders to seize weapons and arrest colonial leaders Samuel Adams and John Hancock. This battle was ultimately the beginning of the American revolution. -
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The American Revolutionary War
The leading cause of the American Revolution was because of colonial opposition to British attempts to impose greater control over the colonies. During his war, major battles took place like the battle of Saratoga and the battle of Valley Forge. This great war ended with the Treaty of Paris in 1783, giving us our national independence and committing the new nation to the ideal of personal independence. -
Thomas Paine’s ‘Common Sense’
Common Sense, written by Thomas Paine was first published in Philadelphia in January 1776. It was a 47-page pamphlet against the injustice of rule by a king. It argued that Americans had a unique opportunity to change the course of history by creating a new sort of government in which people were free and had the power to rule themselves. By promoting the idea of American exceptionalism and the need to form a new nation. Paine’s pamphlet attracted public support for the Revolution -
The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress after America won the American Revolution against Great Britain. The Declaration helped unify the colonies so that they all fought together instead of trying to fight as multiple separate colonies. This Desclaration formally detached political ties between the American colonies and Great Britain, showing the colonie's plan to form an independent nation. -
The Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga occurred in September 1777, during the second year of the American Revolution. The Battle of Saratoga was a turning point in the American Revolution. It gave the Patriots a major morale boost and persuaded the French, Spanish, and Dutch to join their cause against a mutual rival. In the end, the Continental Army persevered and won a decisive victory at the Battle of Saratoga. -
The Articles of Confederation
These articles were adopted by the Continental Congress. They acted as the first set of rules for how the United States would be run after gaining its independence from Britain. This document also served as the United State's first constitution. But, The Articles established a weak central government, and placed most powers in the hands of the states, ultimately leading to the creation of the U.S. Constitution. -
The Battle of Yorktown
The battle of Yorktown was between the colonies and the British, after the British evacuated forces from Philadelphia and occupied New York City as their new main base of operations. The Battle of Yorktown was led by Colonel Alexander Hamilton, one of the Founding Fathers. On the morning of October 19, the British sent forward an officer waving a white handkerchief. British General Cornwallis had surrendered. This marked the end of the American Revolutionary War. -
The Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris was signed on September 3, 1783, between the American colonies and Great Britain. This officially ended the American Revolution and formally recognized the United States as an independent nation. The treaty included the term, that France gave up all its territories in mainland North America, effectively ending any foreign military threat to the British colonies there, guaranteed both nations access to the Mississippi River, and defined the boundaries of the United States. -
Shays Rebellion
Shays' Rebellion was brought about by a financial debt crisis at the end of the American Revolutionary War. War veterans struggled, as many received little in the way of pay for their military service, leading to many of them going into debt, unable to pay. Daniel Shays, the leader of the rebellion, formed a militia of similar veterans being threatened with debtors prison. Shays' Rebellion quickened calls to reform the Articles, eventually resulting in the Philadelphia Convention of 1787. -
The Northwest Ordinance
The Northwest Ordinance, created by Thomas Jefferson, was created to organize the Northwest Territories after the Treaty of Paris. It led to the Prioritization of education and created a pathway of statehood with a minimum of 60,000 people. But it also created a huge debate between the Federalist and Anti-Federalist parties, with the Federalists wanting total government control and the Anti-Federalists fighting for state government. -
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George Washington's presidency
George Washington was selected (not elected) as the first president of the United States. President Washington established many crucial presidential precedents, he helped shape the office's future role and powers and set formal and informal precedents for future presidents. Washington served 2 terms as president until he chose to step down and allow someone else to take his place. -
The Federal Judiciary Act
This act, passed by Congress, established the federal court system separate from individual state courts. It created the 3 different levels of the court system, with them being the district, appellant, and supreme court. The Supreme Court handled laws that the first 2 levels could not come to an agreement on, this level included a chief justice and 5 associate justices. President George Washington appointed John Jay as chief justice of the first-ever Supreme Court. -
The Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights is the first 10 Amendments to the Constitution. It spells out Americans' rights concerning their government. It guarantees civil rights and liberties to the people like freedom of speech, press, and religion. It sets rules for the process of law and gives all powers not given to the Federal Government to the States. This bill won over states skeptical of a federal government, balancing the Federalists and Anti-Federalists. -
Alexander Hamilton's Financial Plan
On December 15, 1790, Hamilton submitted a report to Congress making the case. He proposed a Bank of the United States. Hamilton believed in a strong federal government. Hamilton's plan included paying off the states' war debt and raising the federal government's revenues through tariffs and taxes. Thomas Jefferson, the Secretary of State and a strong Anti-Federalist, rejected the project. George Washington on the other hand approved the project and the first Bank of America is created. -
Pickney's Treaty
The Pickney's Treaty was signed on October 27, 1795, by the United States and Spain. It defined the border between the United States and Spanish Florida. It also guaranteed the United States navigation rights on the Mississippi River. it allowed American farmers to seize land in the Ohio Valley and it granted the United States the right of deposit or access to the port of New Orleans. This treaty was an important diplomatic success for the United States. -
The Whiskey Rebellion
In 1784, President George Washington put a 6 to 18-cent per gallon tax on the creation of Whiskey. Civilians were angry, many farmers' income was built off selling whiskey, so as a result, many farmers refused to pay the tax until the American army forced it. This action upholds the power of the new federal government. This rebellion enforced the idea that the new government had the right to levy a particular tax that would impact citizens in all states. -
The Election of 1800
This election was between former Vice President Thomas Jefferson and former President John Adams. The election ushered in a whole new generation of Republican Party rule. and the eventual demise of the Federalist Party in the First Party System. Thomas Jefferson had won the state majority, but both he and his vice-presidential, Aaron Burr, received an identical number of electoral votes. The House of Representatives voted to break the tie. Thomas Jefferson ended up winning on the 36th ballot. -
The Embargo of 1807
Embargo Act, Legislation by the U.S. Congress in December 1807 that closed U.S. ports to all exports and restricted imports from Britain. The embargo aimed to maintain U.S. neutrality by preventing American support to either Britain or France. The embargo was an unpopular and costly failure. This embargo hurt the American economy far more than the British or French and resulted in widespread smuggling. It reflected the U.S. interest in avoiding conflict. -
The War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a conflict fought between the United States and Great Britain. This war was primarily fought over the impressment of American sailors by the British Navy, as well as disagreements over trade. The war boosted America's reputation by successfully defending against the British navy and It tested the U.S. Constitution and the new government. It ended with the exchange of ratifications of the Treaty of Ghent. -
The British Burn the Capitol
During the War of 1812, the British were urged to attack the former colonies after American troops attacked Canada and burned government buildings. The U.S. capitol was picked as the target because of its symbolic importance, its easy access from the sea, and the inability of inexperienced American troops to defend it. British had hoped that burning the capitol, it would demoralize Americans, but instead, it gave Americans a cause to rally behind in defeating the British once again. -
The Battle of New Orleans
The Battle of New Orleans was fought on January 8, 1815, between the British Army under Major General Sir Edward Pakenham and the United States Army under General Andrew Jackson. -
The Transportation Revolution
The Transportation revolution began with the creation of the canal system. This system links the Hudson River with Lake Champlain, Lake Ontario, and Lake Erie via the Niagara River, allowing boaters to travel from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. The steamboat revolutionized trade in America, and they were much more suited for river-based travel than other boats. The railroad was both flexible and dependable. They were able to work year round unlike the canal system and steamboats. -
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The Second Great Awakening
Like the First Great Awakening, the second strived for church growth because they believed the church meant a perfect society. The Second Great Awakening is seen as a vehicle for social change, especially for women. During this time women were given more rights than they have ever had. Both Awakenings were emotionally driven and worked for new denominations. It changed the way Americans worshiped and preached, inspiring social reform, and converting thousands to Christianity. -
The Tariff of Abomination
The Tariff of Abomination raised taxes on imported manufactures to reduce foreign competition with American manufacturing. Southerners argued that the tariff enhanced the interests of the Northern manufacturing industry at their expense. The increased tariff negatively impacted Southern farmers. Due to the significantly increased tariff, Southern farmers had no choice but to purchase Northern manufactured goods. Because of this tariff, South Carolina adopted the Ordinance of Nullification. -
The Indian Removal Act
The Indian Removal Act was a U.S. law signed by President Andrew Jackson. It allowed the forced relocation of Native American tribes from their homelands in the territory West of the Mississippi River. The goal of this law was to make the land that was originally occupied by Native Americans, available for white settlers. This act led to the deaths of thousands of Native Americans due to the Trail of Tears and did not increase the population of white settlers. -
The Panic of 1837
The Panic of 1837 was the start of an economic downturn in the United States. it was triggered by declining cotton prices, risky investments in land and infrastructure, and President Andrew Jackson's economic policies created strong economic instability. In this panic, banks collapsed, businesses failed, and unemployment rates skyrocketed. After this panic, the U.S. fell into a depression that lasted until the 1840s. -
The Overland Trail
The Overland Trail was a stagecoach and wagon trail in the Western part of America. The Overland trail was essential for pioneers seeking to settle in the West. This helped to facilitate migration during significant periods like the California Gold Rush. the most common type of transportation for anyone traveling on these trails was the Conestoga wagon. The journey, which took 6 months or more, put heavy pressure on families. 250,000 people between 1840-1860 made this trek West. -
the Mexican-American War
. At this time, Texas was a part of the Mexican territory. In fear that the U.S. would take Texas, Mexico wanted the population of Texas to grow. But over time, Texas became overpopulated and Mexico now had an illegal immigration problem. America said they would defend Texas if they joined the U.S. They agreed. A fight broke out between the Texas and Mexico border. This war ended with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, giving America ownership of California, New Mexico, Nevada, and Arizona. -
The Compromise of 1850
The main goal of the Compromise was to balance the interests of the slaveholding South, and the free North. They hoped to prevent the secession of Southern states that could lead to the splitting of the Union. The 4 major provisions of this act were that California would enter the U.S. as a free state, the slave trade would be abolished in Washington D.C., the fugitive slave laws would be enacted, and territories applying for statehood would be governed under the concept of popular sovereignty. -
Bleeding Kansas
When Kansas was applying for statehood, they had to hold an election for whether they would enter the U.S. as a free or slave state based on popular sovereignty. The North and South try to entice migration into the territory in order to sway the votes. On election day, a posse of pro-slavery from Missouri crossed over to Kansas and stuffed the ballot box with fraudulent pro-slavery votes. Kansas then entered the U.S. as a slave state. People were furious! -
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The Civil War
The Civil War began due to disagreements over slavery, state vs. federal rights, and the election of Abraham Lincoln. After Abraham Lincoln was elected president which the South did not like at all. Abraham Lincoln had large anti-slavery beliefs and the South was terrified that Lincoln was going to abolish slavery entirely instead of leaving it up to the states. Because of this fear, the South seceded from the Union and created their own set of states called the Confederates. -
The Pacific Railway Act of 1862
The Pacific Railway Act of 1862 was signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln. It established the nation’s first transcontinental railroad. This was a game-changer! This act aided in the construction of the railroad and telegraph line from the Missouri River to the Pacific Ocean and secured the use of that line by the government. The transcontinental railroad was finally finished in 1871, transforming our economy. It increased the standard of living while decreasing the cost of it. -
The Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was a presidential proclamation and executive order issued by United States President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863. This gave slaves the opportunity to free life in the United States as Lincoln now attempted to end slavery in the South. The Emancipation Proclamation was a controversial document. Southerners did not want to interrupt their economic stability. They argued the slaves did not know how to function without an overseer. -
The 10% Plan
The original 10 Percent Plan was created by President Abraham Lincoln. The Radical Republicans, opposed Lincoln's plan, as they thought it was too lenient toward the South. After Lincoln's assassination, Andrew Johnson followed in former president Lincoln’s footsteps with the rebuilding of the 10 percent plan, but with a few changes. While Lincoln's initial plan wanted to ensure rights, such as voting, for the formerly enslaved, Johnson's plan did not have these same requirements. -
The Wade-Davis Bill
the Radical Republicans proposed the Wade-Davis Bill as an alternative to Abraham Lincoln's 10% plan. This bill required that 50% of all voters in the Confederate states, as opposed to Lincoln's proposed 10%, must pledge allegiance to the Union before reunification. This bill also provided for the appointment of provisional military governors in the seceded states as they joined the union. -
The Sand Creek Massacre
The Sand Creek Massacre was one of the planned murders of the Native Americans. The Sand Creek Massacre was a massacre of Cheyenne and Arapaho people by the U.S. Army on November 29, 1864. This is seen to be one of the darkest days in Native history. Over 200 Native Americans were killed in this massacre, most of them being women, children, and the elderly. Public outcry at the massacre led eventually to more humane policies relating to Indian tribes following the Civil War. -
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The Reconstruction Era
After the Civil War, began the reconstruction of the nation. The Reconstruction Era lasted from the end of the Civil War in 1865 to 1877. Its main focus was on bringing the Southern states back into full political participation in the Union. Reconstruction guaranteed rights to former slaves and defined new relationships between African Americans and whites. This era ultimately altered the meaning of citizenship and the relationship between the Federal and state governments. -
The 13th Amendment
In the aftermath of the Civil War, the 13th Amendment was adopted as part of the United States Constitution. The amendment officially abolished slavery, and immediately freed more than 100,000 enslaved people. This amendment faced opposition from a significant number of Democrats who felt that the abolishment of enslavement by the federal government would amount to a violation of the rights and powers reserved to the states. -
The Freedman's Bureau
The Freedmen’s Bureau provided assistance to tens of thousands of formerly enslaved people and poor whites in the Southern States in the years following the war. It helped newly freed blacks transition to a life of freedom by creating new schools for young African Americans, teaching them how to read and write which most had the ability to. The bureau provided legal aid and secured loans allowing freedmen to purchase land and get back onto their feet after securing their freedom from slavery. -
The Ku Klux Klan
Founded in 1865, the Ku Klux Klan, also known as the KKK, extended into almost every southern state by 1870. It became a vehicle for white southern resistance to the Republican Party’s Reconstruction-era policies that aimed at establishing political and economic equality for Black Americans. The KKK’s efforts centered around the idea of redemption and the end of reconstruction. This group historically is known for its violent protests and hate crimes against immigrants. -
The Reconstruction Acts
The Reconstruction Acts of 1867 outlined the conditions under which the Southern states would be readmitted to the Union following the American Civil War. The bills were mostly written by the Radical Republicans in the U.S. Congress. They were created as a way to strip the Southern states of their political power. They stated that if the southern state wanted to rejoin the union, it had to ratify the 14th Amendment and create a state constitution that guaranteed all men the right to vote. -
President Andrew Johnson's Impeachment
During Andrew Johnson’s presidency, congress passed the Tenure of Office Act, a United States federal law that was intended to restrict the power of the president to remove certain officeholders without the approval of the U.S. Senate. Johnson had violated this law by removing Edwin Stanton from the position of Secretary of War and replacing him with Brevet Major General Lorenzo Thomas. Because of his actions, the House impeached Johnson. Johnson was now officially powerless. -
The 14th Amendment
the 14th Amendment defined birthright citizenship and guaranteed due process and equal protection, ultimately giving freedmen American citizenship. The Dred Scott case was the main reason for the creation of the 14th Amendment. Southerners thought the 14th Amendment had been passed to punish them for starting the Civil War. However, because the Southern states were ruled by federal military commissions, they were forced to ratify the amendment in order to regain their full legal status. -
The 15th Amendment
The 15th Amendment granted all males the ability to vote by prohibiting voter discrimination based on race, color, or previous condition. This meant that ex-confederates and ex-slaves were given the right to vote in elections. The Fifteenth Amendment would guarantee protection against racial discrimination in voting, but many women's rights activists objected to the proposed amendment because it would only apply to men and it would still take time for women to be allowed the right to vote. -
The Civil Rights Act of 1875
The Civil Rights Act of 1875, was a United States federal law in response to civil rights violations against African Americans. The bill was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant. The act was designed to "protect all citizens in their civil and legal rights", providing for equal treatment in public accommodations and public transportation. This act offered some protection against black codes but it didn’t give the black community full shielding from them. -
The Battle of Little Big Horn
The Battle of Little Big Horn was another planned massacre of the Indian wars. In this battle, more than 260 soldiers of the U.S. Army made their way to the valley of Little Big Horn where the Cheyenne tribe’s village was. Led by General Custer, the U.S. army was split in 2 and was given the order to go on the opposite side of the valley, this decision is seen to be the downfall of General Custer. this was the first battle the Native Americans won, but it was a very short-lived victory. -
The Compromise of 1877
The Election of 1876 was between Republican Governor Rutherford B. Hayes of Ohio and Democrat Governor Samuel J. Tilden of New York. This election was the last one held before the end of the Reconstruction era. In this election, it seemed as though 100% of the southern states voted toward Tilden. This was very suspicious and the North questioned the ability of the results given the known intimidation of republicans and freedmen. After a recount, Hayes was given the title of president. -
The Americanization of the Native Americans
The Americanization of the Native Americans was when schools were created specifically for Native American children. Children from the ages 6-18 were sent away to schools far away from their families. these schools would strip Native children of everything that made them Indian. At 18, children are sent back to their tribes, but they have no way to communicate or relate to them. They are considered aliens to their tribes now. Many of them tried to join white communities, but they were rejected. -
The Dawes Act of 1887
The Dawes Act of 1887 was like the Homestead Act but for Native Americans. Though many saw it as a big opportunity for the Native Americans, it was really an attack on the native tribes. They would give land to natives, but the land they would be given was the land typically from the reservations. The Dawes Act, meant to help the Indians, devastated them instead. ⅔ of native land was lost due to this act. As a result of the Dawes Act, tribal lands were parceled out into individual plots. -
The Ghost Dance
The ghost dance was the leading cause of the Battle of Wounded Knee. The ghost dance was a ritualistic dance of the Native Americans. They performed this dance because they thought that the gods had given up on them because they had begun to go against the normal native traditions. They thought that performing this dance would please the gods and that the spirit of the buffalo would return. The American troops on the other hand saw this dance as that they were preparing mentally for a war. -
Jim Crow Laws
Jim Crow laws were a system of laws that ensured social segregation in transportation, accommodations, schools, courts, and more which arose in every southern state. Redeemer systematically excluded black voters by creating different laws that prevented freedmen from being allowed to vote in elections. Jim Crow laws legalized segregation and restricted black civil rights. Because of these laws, there was a dramatic reduction in the number of blacks registered to vote within the South.