APUSH Timeline

  • Period: to

    Period 4

    1800: Jefferson is elected
    1848: End of the Mexican-American War
  • Louisiana Purchase

    Jefferson used a loose interpretation of the Constitution to purchase land ending at the Mississippi River.
  • Marybury V. Madison

  • Embargo Act

    Restricted all trade with Great Britian
  • James K. Polk is elected

  • Period: to

    Period 5

    1844: Election of James K. Polk
    1877: End of Reconstruction
  • Annexation of Texas

    The Lone Star Republic is admitted as a state, which becomes Texas. Texas is admitted because it will be a slave state, making the south happy.
  • Oregon Territory

    U.S obtains the Oregon territory from the U.K
  • Mexican-American War Begins

    It began due to the disagreements with Mexico over Texas' border. Mexico believed Texas was east of the Nueces River, while the United States argued Texas' border stopped at the Rio Grande.
  • Wilmont Proviso

    David Wilmont attempts to add an amendment to a bill for military funding, stating that there would be no slavery in the Mexican Cession.
  • Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo / Mexican Cession

    The treaty between Mexico and the United States ended the Mexican-American War. The United States gained land and called it the Mexican Cession.
  • Seneca Falls Convention

    A Women's Rights convention held in Seneca Falls, New York.
  • Declaration of Sentiments

    Document written by Elizabeth Cady Stanton that dramatized the denied citizenship of (white) women, and that claimed "all men and women are equal."
  • Gold Rush

    Rapid migration to the west, specifically to San Franciso, California to search for gold. Many did not find gold and were forced to stay as it was dangerous and expensive to move back east. This mass migration allowed California to apply for statehood in 1850.
  • Compromise of 1850

    1. California is admitted as a free state
    2. There is a stronger Fugitive Slave Law
    3. Popular Sovereignty would be used in the rest of the Mexican Cession land
    4. The slave trade was outlawed in Washington D.C
    5. The United States would assume Texas' war debt.
  • Franklin Pierce is Elected

  • Gadsden Purchase

    The United States purchased 30,000 square miles from Mexico for $10 Million, under the Treaty of Mesilla (Which didn't officially take effect until 1854.) The area was meant to be used to build a southern transcontinental railroad, and to resolve more conflict from the Mexican-American war.
  • Founding of the Republican Party

    Northern Abolitions / Free-Soilers and Whigs came together to form the Republican Party in response to slavery's expansion into the west.
  • Kansas-Nebraska Act

    An act that dictated that the Kansas-Nebraska territory would use popular sovereignty, repealing the Missouri Compromise and going against the 36 30' line.
  • Bleeding Kansas

    When voting for popular sovereignty, violence broke out as people fought over who to vote for. This shows that popular sovereignty did not work.
  • The Raid at Harper's Ferry / John Brown's Raid

    John Brown (Northern Abolitionist) attempted to break into the Army's arsenal and lead a slave revolt. He was arrested and hanged before he could execute his plan.
  • Election of 1860

    Lincoln was elected as the president, even though he was not added to the Southern ballots.
  • South Carolina Secedes

    In response to Lincoln winning the election of 1860, South Carolina seceded from the Union a month later. The rest of the CSA follows later.
  • Battle of Fort Sumter / Beginning of the Civil War

    Confederate soldiers fire on Fort Sumter, a Union fort in Charleston, SC.
  • Homestead Act

    Said that anyone who could move to the west would be given 160 acres of land for free if they could live there for 5 years. If they left before the 5-year period ended, they would have to pay the full amount for the land. Due to the rough and dry climate, many were not able to establish agriculture and live on these acres successfully.
  • Battle of Gettysburg

    Known as the "Turning Point in the Civil War" as it involved the largest number of casualties of the entire Civil War. This forced General Robert E. Lee to retreat back to the South.
  • Emancipation Proclamation

    **Takes effect in 1863
    Lincoln declared that the Civil War was being fought to abolish slavery. Lincoln said that certain states could not have slavery anymore, but this did not apply to border states. This was ultimately unsuccessful because the South had already seceded, and were not going to listen.
  • Battle of Vicksburg

    ** Part of the Anaconda Plan to full surround the South The Union sieges Vicksburg, and the Confederates attempt to take it back. This fails and the Confederates surrender, giving the Union access to the Mississippi River and splitting the South in half.
  • Election of 1864

    Lincoln chose Andrew Johnson as his Vice President to appeal to more voters. Lincoln is reelected for a 2nd term.
  • 13th Amendment

    Amendment that abolishes slavery unless you are convicted of a crime.
  • Johnson becomes President

    Lincoln is assassinated and Andrew Johnson is now the president.
  • Appomattox Court House / End of Civil War

    Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant, ending the Civil War.
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    Period 6

  • Founding of the Ku Klux Klan

    The KKK is founded
  • Johnson's VETOS of 1866

    President Johnson vetos the renewal of the Freedman's Bureau and the Civil Rights Act of 1866.
  • Seward's Folly

    William Seward he negotiates the purchase of Alaska, from Russia for $7 million.
  • Military Reconstruction

    The South was divided 5 military districts to make sure they continued to Union laws, and Union soldiers are stationed in the South.
  • Tenure of Office Act

    Johnson tried to fire the Secretary of War, but this Act prohibited the President from firing a civil officer. This gives the House a reason to impeach Johnson.
  • 14th Amendment

    Amendment that gives all people born in the united states citizenship
  • Johnson Impeachment

    Johnson gets impeachment charges brought against him.
  • Election of 1868

    Ulysses S. Grant won the election and became President.
  • Women Voting in Wyoming

    Women receive the right to vote in local elections in Wyoming.
  • Pacific Part of Transcontinental Railroad Completed

    The transcontinental railroad finished in Utah.
  • Enforcement Act

    Congress passed the Enforcement Act that gives the military more power
  • 15th Amendment

    Black men receive the right to vote.
  • Reelection of Grant

    Grant gets reelected despite his scandals.
  • Panic of 1873

    Trying to get the country back to it's original economic state before the Civil War, especially with currency.
  • Election of 1876

    Rutherford B. Hayes won despite issues with contested votes from SC, LA, FL
  • Compromise of 1877

    Rutherford B. Hayes is elected, on the grounds that Military reconstruction ends in the South.
  • Munn vs. Illinois

    tbd
  • Pendleton Act

    The idea that having a government job means you should be qualified to serve in these jobs. Opposite of the Spoils System under Jackson
  • Daws Severalty Act

    Legal attempt to break up reservations and place Native Americans into their "nuclear families." Attempt of forced assimilation. If you were willing to assimilate by:
    - Going to school and converting to Christianity

    Then...
    Natives would become farmers and receive 160 acres of land. (The land was bad)
  • Wabash v. Illinios

    Granger Laws were illegal because they violated the Interstate Commerce Act.
  • Sherman Anti-Trust Act

    Congress passed an act that was supposed to reduce the power of the big trusts. It was symbolic and did not do much, and later on ended up being used against Labor Unions
  • Wounded Knee

    The battle at Wounded Knee, the U.S government massacres the Sioux tribe over serval things, but especially the Ghost Dance.
  • The Tariff of 1890 / McKinley Tariff

    Senator W. McKinley pushes for the highest tariff in American history at 50%, which continues into his presidency.
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    Period 7

    Populism - End of WW2
  • Election of 1896

    William McKinley won the presidency against William Jennings Bryan in the election.
  • Cross of Gold

    William Jennings Bryan gives this speech saying that not coining silver would go against the bible and that it is unhuman.
  • Plessy vs. Freguson

    A court ruling that all facilities were "Separate but equal." This violated the 14th amendment.
  • Spanish-American War

    U.S wins the war and gains:
    Puerto Rico, Philippines, Guam, and Wake Islands, and Cuba with imperial influence. The U.S gets Guantanamo bay.
  • Election of 1900 - McKinley Wins

    William McKinley wins, but is later assassinated in 1901
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    Progressivism

    • Social Gospel
    • Settlement House
    • Pure Food and Drug Act
    • Meat Inspection Act
    • Roosevelt's Square Deal (Consumer protection, corporate reform, conservation)
    • Wilson's triple wall of privilege (Tariffs, Banks, Trusts)
    Amendments:
    16th - Grad Fed Income Tax
    17th - Direct Election of Senators
    18th - Prohibition
    19th - Women's Sufferage
  • McKinley Assassination

    McKinley was assassinated and Theodore Roosevelt (R) became president.
  • Anthracite Coal Miner's Strike

    T. Roosevelt shows that he is willing to side with workers, unlike Cleveland in the Pullman Strike
    (May 12, 1902 – October 23, 1902)
  • Election of 1904

    Roosevelt wins
  • Election of 1908

    T. Roosevelt decided not to run, thinking Taft would have similar ideals to him, and William Henry Taft won.
  • 16th Amendment

    Graduated Federal income tax. More income = More taxes
  • Payne Aldrich Tariff Act

    Act to lower tariffs
  • Election of 1912

    T. Roosevelt disagreed with Taft's actions during the presidency and ran in the "Bull Moose" Party against Taft. The ballots are split and Woodrow Wilson wins (D)
  • 17th Amendment

    The direct election of senators
  • World War One Starts

    WW1 started in Europe and the progressive behavior in the United States was quickly forgotten. (In terms of law making / passing.)
  • Election of 1916

    Wilson runs again and wins.
  • 19th Amendment

    Women have the right to vote on the federal level
  • 18th Amendment

    Prohibition
  • Yalta Conference

    President: FDR This conference was held to discuss what would happen to Germany, and the rest of Europe under Nazi rule. The USSR, U.S and U.K were present.
  • Potsdam Conference

    President: Harry Truman Conference between the U.S, U.K, and USSR to negotiate the terms of ending the war.
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    Period 8

    End of WW2 - Reagan's Election "Roll Back" - Trying to remove communism from the countries it was already in. Civil Rights Movement - Movement to end discrimination towards African Americans. Many protesters focused on getting people registered to vote.
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    Truman's Presidency

    Truman is a Democrat, he took over office when FDR died at the beginning of his term. Truman Doctrine - Containment Theory
    * Contain communism, and prevent it from spreading throughout Asia.
  • Truman Doctrine

    Truman's doctrine of containing communism and not letting it spread to Western Europe and Asia.
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    Second Red Scare

    Immigration quotas limit immigrants from Eastern Europe. Senator McCarthy accused several Hollywood actors and even members of the U.S. military.
  • Election of 1948

    Truman Wins, he is a Democrat.
  • Creation of NATO

    An agreement between the U.S., Canada, and several Western European nations met to discuss providing collective security against the Soviet Union.
  • China falls to Communism

  • NSC-68

    C for immediate increase in defense spending from $13 billions to $50 billions a year, to be paid for with large tax increase
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    Korean War

    The U.S. and USSR are in a proxy war. The U.S. sided with the South, and the USSR sided with the North. It ended in a stalemate, but it was considered a victory under the Truman Doctrine
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    Eisenhower's Presidency

    Republican
  • Brown v Board

  • Suez Canal

    Egypt takes back the Suez Canal with use of weapons from the Soviet Union
  • Civil Rights Commission

    Established a commission in the Civil Rights Department of DOJ, this was meant to investigate any discrimination.
  • Cuba falls to Communism

  • JFK Elected

    JFK Policies: New Frontier:
  • Bay of Pigs Invasion

    The CIA tried to gather people who opposed Castro's rule. This failed cuz no one showed up
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    JFK's Presidency

    The New Frontier
  • Cuban Missile Crisis

    The U.S received military intelligence that
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    Lyndon B. Johnson's Presidency

    The Great Society - War on Poverty
  • Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

    This act allows the president to send troops anywhere without congressional approval or an official declaration of war.
  • Gulf of Tonkin

    Alleged attacks due to a missing boat.
  • 24th Amendment

    Made poll taxes, and literacy tests unconstitutional.
  • Civil Rights Act

    Prohibited discrimination in any federally funded programs, and reenforced the desegregation of schools.
  • Voting Rights Act

    Prohibits racial discrimination for voting
  • Tet Offensive

    Large-scale military campaign in South Vietnam to spread communism. This weakened Johnson's credibility and caused many to lose faith in the White House.
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    Nixon's Presidency

    • Used a policy of Detente with the Soviet Union
    • Environmental Protection Agency
    • Drug Enforcement Administration
  • Paris Peace Accords

    The U.S. agrees to remove its military presence in Vietnam after an armistice.
  • War Powers Act

    Congress reverses the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution with the War Powers Act, limiting the president to sending troops for no longer than 60 days without congressional approval to stay longer.
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    Ford's Presidency

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    Carter's Presidency

    Democrat, Election of 1976 Human Rights Diplomacy - Championing Human Rights through the United Nations
  • Camp David Accords

    Peace agreement between Egypt and Israel, where the U.S. served as a moderator.
  • Iranian Hostage Situation

    Iran takes over 60 U.S. hostages and doesn't release them until 1981, on the first day of Nixon's presidency. Many criticized Carter for being 'too nice' as he was never able to successfully negotiate bringing the hostages home.
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    Period 9

    Election of Reagan to present day
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    Reagan's Presidency