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Jan 1, 1491
Cultures of North America
The Native American in population was much different from its counterpart in South America because they were smaller, less sophisticated, and did not live complex societies like the Aztecs and Incas. Instead, they lived in semipermanent settlements with different languages and traditions and were able to adapt to their environment depending on their region. The significance of the Native Americans in North America was that enabled the Colombian Exchange between North America and Africa. -
Period: Jan 1, 1491 to
Society and Culture
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Apr 1, 1491
Cultures of Central and South America
During this time, the native populations were concentrated with the Aztecs and Incas dominated the region centuries after the Mayas did as well. They were all significant because of their development of a highly organzined society, extensive trade, creation of calendar and the cultivation of crops that provided a stable food supply. -
Apr 23, 1534
French Society in the New World
Like with most other settlers, most of the French settlers were single young men. In addition, the Frecnch traded extensively with the Native Americans and there was also intermarriage between the French and Native Americans. The significance of French Society is that they established the friendliest relationship with Native Americans, so much so that the Natives were willing to convert to Christianity and add aspects of their culture to Christianity. -
Jan 1, 1542
Spanish Society in the Americas
In South America, Spain and Portugal sent mainly men to the Americas such as conquistadors, priests, and politcal figures such as viceroys to govern society in the Americas. As a result of no women coming to the Americas, there was a lot of intermarriage between Europeans and Native Americans, and later Africans. The significance of Spanish Society in South America was the formation of the encomienda system, which enslaved Native Americans and tried to convert them as well. -
Apr 23, 1570
English Society in the New World
Many English families came in families rather than as single young men, so marriage with natives was less common. Initially American Indians and English settlers coexisted with each other. The significance of English Soceity in the New World is that they both viewed each other in a negative light, which eventually led to conflicts with the Natives. Also, Colombian exchange of diseases decimated much of the Native population. -
Jamestown
In Jamestown, the town was almost destroyed because most of the settlers were English gentlemen who rarely worked for their own food. In additions, there were tensions with the Native Americans in the area. The significance of Jamestown is that it was the first permanent English colony in America -
Plymouth Colony
The people of the Plymouth Colony were known as Seperatists, or more commonly known as, Pilgrims. Their society was influenced heavily by relgion, so much so that their law was based on religion as well. The significance of the Plymouth Colony is that it had the first written framework established in what is now the United States. -
Massachusetts Bay Colony
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was also heavily influence, basically dominated, by relgion. However, the settlers were Purtians, who wanted to purify the Church of England. The significance of the Massachussetts Bay Colony is that it hoped to establish, in the words of John Winthrope, "a city on a hill": a model city that all other cities would follow. -
Chesapeake Colony
The Chesapeake Colony had religous issues, such as the debates between Catholic or Protestant policies. In addition, the settlers sought labor opportunites and turned away from Native Americans to indentured servants, the headright system, and eventually slavery. The siginificance of the Chesapeake colony is the adopted the first colonial statute granting religous freedom to all Christians known as the Act of Toleration -
Pennsylvania and Delaware
Started out as place for those perscuted for radical beliefs, such as the Quakers. The people here believed in the equality of all men and women, nonviolence, and resistance to militart service. This is significant because Pennsylvania and Delaware was the first colony to practice the equal treatment toward everyone and questioned the religous authority of the other colonies. -
Reroganization of the British Empire
The King of England starts changes from a loose control to a more tight control with his settlements. This causes major resentment and a rift between England and her colonies. This is significant because King George switches from Salutary neglect to Parliamentary Sovereignty, which is one of the reasons the American Revolutionary War started. -
Enlightenment Ideas
During this period, the era of the Enlightenment was at its peak in the mid-18th century. This heavily influenced most the English colonies, which culminated that actions that lead to the American Revolution. This is significant because the era of Enlightenmen was taking place during the years that the the future leaders of America, like Washington, Jefferson, and Franklin were comint to maturity. Also, these same ideas shaped the nation through documents like the Declaration of Independence. -
The Revolution
English colonies were fed up with the British Rule after the Intolerable Acts were passed, as result, the revolutionary war began, however the colonies were divided between those supported their cause and those who supported England. The significance is that there was a growing divide between the colonists that were seperated into two groups: The patriots and tories. -
Women During the War
Many women supported the war as well. Some particularly daring women chose to serve as nurses, attendants, cooks, and even spies on the battlefields. Others, such as the famous “Molly Pitcher” and Deborah Sampson saw action in battle. The significance of this is that women were able to hold down the fort while their husbands were away, giving rise to the importance of women and eventually women's rights. -
African Americans in the war
At first, African Americans were not allowed to fight in the war. However, after the British promised freedom to the enslaved people, Washington and Congress quickly proposed the same. As a result, approximatley 5,000 African Americans fought as Patriots. This was the fist time African Americans took part in military actions in America and were recognized for their sacrifice. -
Reforming Society
Reform movements evolved during the antebellum era. At first, the leaders of reform to improve people's behavoir through moral persuasion. However, after they tried sermons and pamphlets, reformers often moved on to political action and to ideas for creating new institutions to replace the old. The significance of these reform movements is that some of the changed, or started to change society for the better and led to more reforms in later years, such as the women's rights and antislavery -
Second Great Awakening
Religous revivals swept throguht the United States during the early decades of the 19th century. They were partky a reaction against the rationalism that had been fashioned during the Enlightenment and the American Revolution. The significance of the Second Great Awakening is that it led to new movement that would improve society, like the temperance movement. -
Other Reforms
There were also smaller movements during the antebellum era to reform individuals and society such as aboloshings war, protecting sailors, and dietary reforms. The significane of theses reforms is that some individuals followed some of these reforms which caused it to spread. -
Romantic Ideas
During the early 19th century, artists and writers shifted away from the Enlightnement emphasis on balance, order, and reason and toward intuition, feelings, individual acts of heroism, and the study of nature, which is known as Romanticism. The significance of Romanticism,is that it heavily influenced other aspects of society like arts and literature. -
Southern Reaction to Reform
Reform movements were found in the northern and western states, with little impact in the South. Southerners were committed to tradition and slow to support public education and humanitarian reforms, while the North was more "mordernized". The significance is that they viewed social reforms as a nothern threat against the southern way of life, which caused a rift a between the two sides, especially when it came to slavery, -
The Expanding Economy
The era of territorial expansion coincided with a period of remarkable economic growth from the 1840s to to 1857. This is signifcant because it led to industrialization to other states of New Englandm which led to the invention of new techonologies. In addtion, foreign commerce prospered as well. -
Expansion Politcs
Enthusiam for expansion reached a fever pitch in the 1840s. It was driven by a number of forces: nationalism, population increase, rapid economic development, technological advances, and reform ideals. The significane of the expansion politcs is that it led to annexing of more territories in the United States -
Women's Rights Movement
Women continued to fight for the rights and had great leaders such as Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady. The significance is that the first women's rights convention was planted -
Manifest Destiny
Many Southerners hoped to acquire new territories, especially in areas of Latin America where they thought plantations worked by slaves were economically feasible. This is significant because it was used to justify the Westward expansion of American citizens to other annex more land to the United States. -
Panic of 1857
The midcentury economic boom ended in 1857 with a financial panic, Prices, especially for Midwestern farmers, dropped sharply, and unemployment in Northern Cities increased, The significane was that Southerners believed that their plantation economy was superior and that continued union with the Northern Economy was not needed. -
Growth of Immigration
The growing connections between the United States and the world are evident because of immigration, A increased combination of pushes and pulls increased migration around the world. The significance of immigration resulted in distinction between "old" immigrants and "new" immigrants, a rapid population growth, and the restriction of immigration all together for a period of time. -
Awakening of Reform
Urban problems, including the desperate poverty of working-class families, inspired a new social consciousness among the middle class. Reform movements begun in ealier decades increased strength in the 1880s and 1890s. The significance of these movements is that shaped society like the social gospel, which espoused the cause of social justice for the poor. -
Intellectual and Cultural Movements
The change form an agricultrual to an industrial ecnonomy and fromrural to urban living profoundly affected all areas of American life, including education, sciences, literature, arts, and popular entertainment. The significance is that there was a grwoing complexity of life, along with with Darwin's theory of evolution raisd challenging questions about what schools should teach. -
Urbanization
Urbanization and industrialization developed simultaneously. Cities provided both laborers for factories and a market for factory-made goods. The signifcance is that the population from rural to urban became more obvious with each passing decade, so much so, that by 1900 almost 40% of Americans lived in towns or cites, -
Popular Culture
Entertaining the urban masses became big business in the late 19th century. People wante amusements as respites from their work. This significane is that newspapers and other forms of amusement like sports, particularly baseball started to emerge. -
Progressive Era
The movement were committed to democratic values and shared in the belief that honest government and just laws could improve human conditions. The siginificance is that it heavily influenced government witht three Presidents Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson. -
Political Reforms
The cornerstone of Progressive ideaology was faith in democracy. Progressives believed that, given a chance, the majority of voters would elect honest officials instead of corrupt tones back by boss-dominated politcal machines. The significance of politcal reforms is that it called for more democratice ideals like the direct election of senators and direct primaries. -
State Reform
At the state level, reform governors battled corporate interests and championed such measures as the initiative, the referendum, and the direct primart to give people control of their own government. The siginificance is that it led to the prohibition of alcohol and the passing of child labor laws. -
A New Culture
The culture of the cities was based on popular tastes, morals, and habits of mass consumption that were increasingly at odds with the strict relgious and moral codes of rural America. The siginificance is the new technologies, movements and forms of entertainment came, as well as a change in gender roles started to increase as well. -
The Great Depression
Black Thursday, there was an unprecedented volume of selling on Wall Street, and stock prices plunged. From that day on, prices on Wall Street kept going down and down. The significance is that the Depression's influence on American thinking and polocies has even extended beyond the lifetime of those who experienced it. -
Popular Cultures in the Fifites
the 1950s were marked by similarites in social norms. Consesnsus about politcal issues and conformity in social behavior were safe harbors for Americans troubled by foreing ideology of communism. The significance is that there was a rise in consumer culture and conoformity. In addition, there was fear of the spread of communism. -
Women's Role in the 1950s
The baby boom and running a home in the suburbs made homemaking a fulltime job for millions of women, The significance is that the traditional view of women was reaffirmed in the mass media and in best selling books. -
Civil Rights Movment
The movemtent where African Americans tried to gain their rights promised by the Constitution. This is significant because it led to improvedd race relations with African Americans and white populations as well as led to other movements like gay rights -
The Beat Movement
A groupo of rebellious writers and intellectuals made up the Beat Generation fo the 1950s, They advocated spontaneity, use of drugs, and rebllion againsts social standards. The significance of the movement is that they would become models for the youth rebellion of the 1960s. -
Counterculture
An expression by the rebellious young people of the 1960s. The significance of the group is that they were the generation of baby boomers who had hoped to defeat many social problems, however were impatient and were discredited. However, they did inspire new movements like the sexual revolution. -
American Society in 2000
The resident population of the United States has grown tremendously which resulted in greater politcal power. The siginificance is the shift of congressional representatives and electoral votes to those regions -
Immigration
The immigration reform and control act of the 1980s failed to stop the entry of illegal immigrants into the United States. The significance is that there has been an increase in debates about the issue of illegal immigrants. -
Aging and Family
The United States population started "graying" with the steady increase in life expectancy. The significance is the increase in concern with health care, prescirption durgs, senior houses and social security. -
Income and Wealth
Americans were achieving the American dream. The siginficance is America became the richest country in the world among the industrialized nations. -
Today's Society
Today, America has undergone a huge change in society especially with music and technology The signicificance is that the improvement of technology.
