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Jamestown Settlement Founded
In 1607, 104 men from England arrived in North America to start a settlement that will soon be known as Jamestown. The first years were tough, with most of the population dying off from inexperience of the North American climate, starving and being killed off by disease. With the help of Native Americans, they ultimately survived.The Jamestown colony's significance lays in the fact that it is the first successful English colony in the new world. -
Introduction of the Headright System
The Headright System, which granted land to individuals who paid for the passage to North America, greatly helped boost immigration. The act granted 50 acres of land to any person who journeyed to the colonies, and additional 50 acres to each person one brought along. It importantly boosted the population of the new colonies and established a stable labor force. Land was something that was lacking in England, so this offer was tantalizing. -
First slaves arrive in colonies
In late August of 1619, the first slaves arrived in Virginia at what is now known as Fort Monroe. These slaves were captured from Africa and shipped over on a long, arduous journey. They were traded for supplies, and thus the slave trade in the colonies began. Slaves were primarily used as labor for cash crops, and were often used on tobacco plantations. In the beginning of this era, white indentured servants worked along these slaves to pay off debts. -
First Great Awakening
The First Great Awakening spanned from the 1730's to the 1740's. It was a largely religious movement, and was the beginning of emotional, deeply connective sermons. Major figures included George Whitefield, who was a famous evangelist who was famous for his sermons during this era. This movement lead to a heightened sense of individualism as well as various social and cultural changes. It helped shape the landscape of American religion and sowed the seeds of independence. -
Stono Rebellion
The Stono rebellion took place on September 9th of 1739 in South Carolina. It is historically known as the largest slave uprising in the British North American colonies. Around 20 slaves gathered and took weapons in an attempt to escape Spanish Florida, but were ultimately crushed by the local militia. This lead to harsher treatment of slaves, and revealed tensions that will continue to tighten in various slave states over time. -
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War started in 1754, and ended in 1763. The major root of the war was conflicts between Britain and France over land in North America, with violence erupting over the Ohio River Valley. The British eventually won, and lead to the Treaty of Paris, in which the French handed over a majority territories in North America to Britain. This war was expensive and lead to higher taxation rates on the American colonies, which will spark future conflict. -
Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts were passed in 1767, and were a group of laws passed by the British Parliament that imposed new Taxes on imports to the American colonies. This was due to a need to pay off war debt by Britain, so they turned to taxing their colonies for money. Americans were furious about being taxed without being adequately represented (hence the birth of "No taxation without representation"), leading to widespread boycotts and heightening of tensions between the colonies and Britain. -
Boston Massacre
On March 5th, 1770, a crowd of colonists started a confrontation with British soldiers due to escalating tensions. Feeling threatened by the altercation, the British soldiers fired into the surrounding crowd, killing five colonists. This incident was widely publicized and spread as propaganda to paint the British in a bad light in the colonies, fueling anti-British sentiment and further escalating tensions. This will eventually lead to major events such as the American Revolutionary War. -
Boston Tea Party
On December 16th o 1773, American colonists affiliated with the Sons of Liberty, a group of anti-British provocatuers, boarded three British ships while dressed as North Americans. They would then dump 342 chests of tea, which was around 1,700,000 dollars worth of loss in today's money. This event angered Britain, prompting them to pass the Intolerable Acts as a way to punish colonists. This further heightened tensions between the colonies and Britain. -
American Revolution Begins
On April 19th, 1775, the beginning of the American Revolution was marked by the exchange of gunfire between colonists and British troops at Lexington and Concord. This began a period of political upheaval in the American colonies, as well as battles and armed conflict between the colonies and Britain. After countless losses, the American colonies captured a victory at the Battle of Saratoga, which allowed them to gather support from the French, eventually leading to their victory. -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga, which occurred on September 19th of 1777, was a significant turning point in the Revolutionary war. During the battle, colonial forces, lead by General George Washington, won against the British. This greatly lifted American morale, boosted support for the revolutionary cause, and helped colonists secure the help of the French, who would provide supplies, ammunition, and troops and naval support to the Continental Army; this eventually lead to colonial victory. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was the first written constitution of the United States. Although it was ultimately unsuccessful, it served as the foundation for our current constitution. It emphasize many key ideals, such as a limited central government, which did not allow the government to form a national military or tax the people. However, this lead to the government being too weak and emphasized the need for a stronger central government, leading to the writing of the Constitution. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris that was signed on September 3rd of 1783 was the treaty that ended the Revolutionary War. It recognized American Independence, ripping the colonies from Britain's grasp. It established borders of the United States, and took much of Britain's territory. Property confiscated by each side during the war were returned to the other, marking the beginning of peaceful relations between the United States and Great Britain, and solidifying the United States as an independent nation. -
Shay's Rebellion
Shay's Rebellion occurred in Massachusetts during 1786, and was lead by Daniel Shays. The rebellion was sparked by the economic stress caused by heavy taxes and debt, leading to financial ruin for Shays and many other farmers. The rebellion highlighted the weakness of the Articles of Confederation, as they were not allowed to raise a militia to curb unrest, and had to depend on the Massachusetts government to do so. This realization led to the eventual drafting of the Constitution. -
Northwest Ordinance
The Northwest Ordinance was passed on July 13th, 1787, and was an important piece of legislation that would establish the process of creating states and territories as the population starts to expand westward. It specified that territories could apply to be a state when they have a population of at least 60,000, prohibited slavery in new territories, and pushed towards public education. The Ordinance serves as a blueprint for the expansion of the United States. -
Constitution is signed
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17th, 1787, and several key delegates of its creation included George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and James Madison. Aspects of its writing impacts the United States to this day, as it is still in use. It cemented the separation of power in the government to help prevent corruption, and established the Bill of Rights in order to help protect individual liberties. It came with compromises on representation like the Connecticut Compromise. -
First President Elected
George Washington is famously known as the first U.S. president, and the only president to be unanimously chosen. He established many processes of Presidency as a trailblazer figure for future presidents. These include the Oath of Office, the formation of the Cabinet, and the farewell address. He set key financial policies and implemented the Judicial system. He issued the Proclamation of Neutrality, and did not want political parties to become a thing, which we as a nation dutifully ignored. -
Court System Established
The Judiciary Act of 1789 established the United States's Federal court system. It laid out the structure of the courts into district courts, circuit courts, and the Supreme Court of the United States. The act outlined the types of cases each level of court would handle, such as cases of state disputes, law, and foreign governments. The act solidified the principal of judicial review by giving the Supreme Court the ability to appeal decisions from lower leveled courts. -
Hamilton's Financial Plan
Alexander Hamilton, who was the first Secretary of the Treasury, devised a financial plan with the aim of stabilizing the nation's finances and establish economic credibility for the United States. He proposed the National bank, advocated for protective tariffs, and had the federal government take on Revolutionary War debts instead of having individual states assume them with the aim of paying off debt and establishing national credit. It helped standardize American currency. -
Second Great Awakening
The Second Great Awakening was a religious movement that spanned from the 1790's to the 1830's. Like the First Great Awakening, it was emotionally driven and lead to the growth of church membership and personal relationship with god. Key aspects of this movement was the emphasis on individual salvation and social activism. Women were seen as holders of virtue and morality, and started holding positions in churches. Abolitionist ideas, temperance, and women's suffrage movements spread. -
Whisky Rebellion
The Whisky Rebellion was a result of the economic tax placed on Whisky by Alexander Hamilton as part of his financial plans. Farmers in the West heavily disliked this tax and refused to pay the tax, participating in acts of defiance against tax collectors. In response, George Washington led a militia force of around 13,000 me and successfully curbed the rebellion. This event showcased the new federal government's stronger ability to maintain order, as it now has a national military. -
Marbury v. Madison
The case of Marbury v. Madison occurred when William Marbury did not receive an official commission, and wanted to have James Madison deliver the commission. The Court ruled that it couldn't make Madison deliver the commission as although Marbury had a right to a commission, the Judiciary Act of 1789 was determined to be unconstitutional by the court. This case established that the Supreme Court has the authority to interpret the Constitution and determine the constitutionality of laws. -
Louisiana Purchase
In 1803, Thomas Jefferson negotiated with Napoleon Bonaparte to purchase the Louisiana Territory from France. This territory was around 828,000 square miles in size, which was a significant land gain for the United States, basically doubling the size of the country for only 15 million dollars. It opened up opportunities for expansion, settlement, exploration, and strengthened the power of the country due to giving the United States access to the New Orlean port and the Mississipi River. -
War of 1812
The War of 1812 lasted from 1812 to 1815, and was primarily a conflict between the United States and the British due to the British's impressment of American sailors and supplying Native Americans with arms to fight against Americans. The Battle of New Orleans was a significant victory that was won before the Ghent Treaty was signed, ending the war. The war solidified the National Identity of the United States, garnered respect for the United States, and weakened Native American resistance. -
Battle of New Orleans
On January 8th of 1815, a battle was fought between British forces and American forces along the Mississippi River near New Orleans. This is known as the Battle of New Orleans, a significant victory for the United States in the War of 1812. This event served to increase the national pride of Americans, and bolstered international respect for the United States. The victory also boosted General Andrew Jackson's popularity. He would later go on to become president. -
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was an agreement that was made to maintain balance between slave and free states. Tensions were increasing between Northern and Southern states over whether new states being admitted should be free or slave states. The Missouri Compromise drew a line across the Louisiana Territory, and stated that any states on the north of the line would be free states, and the ones south of it would be slave states. This will be later overturned by the Kansas-Nebraska Act. -
Introduction of Steam Engines
In 1827, John Fitch made the first successful North American steamboat. The steam-powered engine was highly important to the industrialization of America. The introduction of steamboats streamlined transportation and cargo delivery through waterways. Machines with steam-powered engines automated many tasks, allowing for the mass production of goods. This caused the boom and birth of factories, mills, and industries, revolutionizing industrialization. -
Railroads in America
In 1829, Tom Thumb, the first American-built steam locomotive was built. The introduction of the steam-powered locomotive revolutionized transportation, moving not only goods, but also people throughout the country at speeds that was never possible before. These locomotives will go anywhere railroads lead, increasing connectivity. This lead to an economic boom as railroads expanded throughout the country, leading to the growth of cities and various urban centers. -
Indian Removal Act
The Indian Removal Act, which was signed by Andrew Jackson in 1830, forced Native Americans to areas west of the Mississippi River. This ultimately led to the trail of tears, where thousands of Cherokees died on the journey. This uprooted tribes, devastated Native American groups, and led to many deaths throughout their move. The Act also helped to facilitate expansion to the west as settlers moved into territories that were no longer occupied Native Americans. -
Force Bill passed
The Force Bill was primarily a response to the Nullification Crisis, where South Carolina attempted to nullify federal tariffs imposed upon them in the state. The Force Bill gives the president the power to use military force against states, such as South Carolina, that refused to follow federal law. The passage of this bill enforced the federal government's power over the states. However, it was passed alongside a Compromise Tariff that gradually reduced the Tariff over a decade. -
Telegraphs arrive in America
On May 24 of 1844, Morse tapped out the first telegraph message from the Capital of the United States - "What Hath God Wrought." This is the first message sent via telegraph in America, marking the beginning of a communication revolution. Messages sent through telegraphs arrived across long distances almost instantaneously. It improved long-distance communication the spread of information, which sped up transactions and provided data for industries, and accelerated the spread of news. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which was signed on February 2nd of 1848, officially marked the end of the Mexican-American war. The United States acquired a large amount of territory, which now are the states of California, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah through the treaty. It resolved disputes over the Texas-Mexico border, and also ensured the protection of Mexican citizens who had become U.S. Citizens. The land acquired will help pave the way for westward expansion. -
Seneca Falls Convention
The Seneca Falls Convention was a two-day long Women's rights convention starting on July 19th of 1848 in New York. It is most importantly known as the first women's rights convention in the history of the United States, aiming to address issues such as the social, civil, and religious rights of women. This convention inspired subsequent gatherings and campaigns advocated for women's rights, paving the way of efforts towards civil and suffrage rights for women. -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 aimed to resolve tensions between Northern and Southern states on the issue of whether newly admitted states should be free or slave states. It settled that new states will be able to vote for being a free or slave state through popular sovereignty. It also introduced the Fugitive Slave Act, which was an act that stated that all runaway slaves, even if they are in a free state, can be captured and returned to their owners. This act only served to further increase tensions. -
Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas was a violent event birthed from tensions between northern and southern states over the question of slavery in newly admitted states. John Brown, who was an abolitionist, led his followers to the Pottawatomie Creek area in Kansas, and hacked apart five pro-slavery advocates with swords in front of their families as retaliation for voting fraud by slavery supporters. This act soon became a symbol of the intense tensions between the North and the South over the issue of slavery. -
Lincoln becomes President
Lincoln's was inaugurated to be president on March 4th, 1861. Although his terms as president was turbulent, his leadership skills proved to be excellent. He is known to have issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, and the Gettysburg Address in 1863, articulating the principles of equality, liberty, and the preservation of the union. His leadership during the Civil War guided the Union through the conflict, and his legacy of moral values and commitment left a lasting on national identity. -
Civil War starts
After Lincoln was elected president, South Carolina seceded from the Union. This action was followed by all other southern slave states as they feared that Lincoln would take away their ownership of slaves. This was the primary cause for the Civil War, as Lincoln was forced to resort to using military campaigns to force southern states back into the Union. The Battle of Bull Run was the first major battle of the war, and the Battle of Gettysburg was the turning point for Northern victory. -
Homestead Act Passed
The Homestead Act, which was passed on May 20th, 1862, granted up to 160 acres of land to any settler willing to live on and farm the land for at least five years. This was successful as an incentive to encourage people to migrate westward to claim land. Many immigrants and African Americans took this opportunity as well in order to seek opportunity that they otherwise lacked. This expansion ultimately lead to confrontations between settlers and Native Americans that lived on the plains. -
Pacific Railway Act
The Pacific Railway act was passed by U.S. Congress during the Civil War that primarily focused on encouraging the construction of the First Transcontinental Railroad. It provided subsidies to the Union Pacific Railroad and the Central Pacific Railroad, pitting the two companies as competitors against each other by paying them based on the amount of tracks they laid. The railroad was finally completed in 1869 at Promontory Summit, Utah. This railroad system helped to spur economic growth. -
Emancipation Proclamation
Abraham Lincoln delivered the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1st of 1863. The Proclamation famously declared that all slaves held within the Confederacy were freed. This turned the issue of the Civil War from keeping the Union together to one focused on slavery. This effectively prevented overseas forces from allying with the Confederacy for their cotton, as European countries had outlawed slavery already and do not want to be seen allying with a force that supports it. -
Battle of Gettysburg
In 1863, The Battle of Gettysburg, a pivotal Civil War battle, took place. During the battle, Union forces, under the leadership of General Meade, beat the Confederate army that was led by General Lee. The battle lasted approximately three days, and resulted in heavy casualties on both sides. The Union victory greatly boosted morale and hope for a victory for northerners, while at the same time crushing the hopes and morale for Southerners. It is the single bloodiest battle of the Civil War. -
Sand Creek Massacre
In 1864, the infamous massacre involved the Colorado Territory militia with a force of around 700 men going after a peaceful Cheyenne and Arapaho camp along the Big Sandy Creek, where the militia, led by Colonel Chivington, killed around 200 Native Americans. This brutal surprise attack was completely unprovoked, showcasing the cruelty of the American Military against the Native Americans, further increasing tensions between Indigenous peoples and the United States Government. -
Black Codes passed
After the Civil War, between 1865-1866 Southern states enacted Black Codes, which sought to maintain a system of slavery, imposing harsh labor contracts and limiting the civil rights of freemen. They essentially took existing slave laws and replaced the word "slave" with freedmen, and "owner" with "employer". This practically took away the rights of freed slaves. The Black Codes emphasizes the challenges faced in getting true post-war racial equality for African Americans. -
13th Amendment Passed
The 13th Amendment, which was approved in 1865, abolished slavery in the United States. It states that "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction." However, many Southern states took advantage of a loophole, and purposefully arrested African Americans and forced them to work plantations as "punishment." -
Abraham Lincoln Assassinated
Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth US president, was shot through the head on April 14, 1865, by John Wilkes Booth, a Confederate sympathizer at Ford's Theatre during a performance of Our American Cousin. Lincoln would die the following day from the wound. This assassination had major repercussions in the post-war Reconstruction era, leading to a change in leadership as Andrew Johnson assumed the position of president and implemented policies differing from those of Lincoln's. -
14th Amendment Passed
The 14th Amendment, approved in 1868, granted citizenship and equal protection to all persons born or naturalised in the US. It aimed to keep the rights of newly freed slaves safe and guarantees equal protection of the law for all. This amendment would lay the ground for more civil rights changes in the future, as it would be followed by the 14th and 15th amendment years later. Despite this, injustice and discrimination against freedmen was still rampant in the southern states. -
Reconstruction Acts
The Reconstruction Acts of 1867 were a series of new laws that turned the South into military districts, each governed by a Union general. It had the goal of rebuilding the Southern states post Civil War; they required them to draft new constitutions, guarantee black male suffrage, and seek readmission to the Union. Although many southerners protested this, every southern state that had seceded eventually returned to the Union as a result of these acts. -
Grant's Peace Policy
In the 1870, Grant's Peace Policy sought to assimilate Native Americans. It aimed to "kill the Indian, save the man' - "civilizing" Native Americans to get them to let go of their "barbaric" ways. Native Americans were forced into reservations and their children taken to boarding schools, resulting in what was essentially a cultural genocide. Some Native tribes resisted, and that, along with other challenges and corruption in the administration, led to the policy seeing limited success. -
15th Amendment Passed
Approved in 1870, The 15th Amendment aimed to disallow the prohibition of voting rights based on a person's race, color or status of previous servitude. It aimed to further give African American men suffrage and equality. However, this didn't fully put a stop to the discrimination and challenges during the Reconstruction era due to the pre-existing racial biases of the South and corruption. The South would pass Jim Crow laws to circumvent this amendment. -
Panic of 1873
The Panic of 1873 was a severe economic downturn that initially began in Europe, and was triggered by the collapse of the banking firm Jay Cooke & Company. The stock market crashed, which led panicked investors to sell off all the investments they had in American projects. It led to a six year long period of depression, business failures, high unemployment rates, and extreme financial hardship. The panic contributed to the Long Depression, which impacted people internationally.