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Treaty of Paris of 1763
The Treaty of Paris of 1763 ended the French and Indian War between the British and French in North America from 1754 to 1763. According to the contract, the French had to give all territory east of the Mississippi River to Great Britain. The French's removal stopped their colonial power and led to increased tension between the British and Native Americans, effectively causing Pontiac's Rebellion in 1763. This war expanded Britain's territory, but it also left them in massive war debt. -
The Stamp Act
Due to the debt from the French and Indian war, the British had to tax the colonists. The Stamp Act required all printed materials to have a tax stamp, which caused many colonial protests, including the formation of groups like the Sons of Liberty. The slogan "No Taxation Without Representation" was created to show that they shouldn't be taxed without representatives in Parliament. Eventually, the Act was repealed, but the Declaratory Act stated that Parliament had the right to tax them again. -
Proclamation of 1763
Following the end of the French and Indian War, King George III issued this proclamation to try to prevent further clashes with the Native Americans. Areas west of the Appalachian Mountains were forbidden. This was extremely unpopular with the colonists since they had helped the war in order to gain land, and now, it was being taken away from them. Many people simply ignored the Proclamation of 1763 and encroached on Native American land anyways. These actions increased tensions in the colonies. -
The Boston Massacre
Tensions escalated between colonists and British soldiers due to the Stamp Act and Townshend Acts. One day, a crowd gathered to protest by throwing snowballs and insults. In response, the soldiers fired into the crowd and killed 5 people. The soldiers were tried for murder, 2 were found guilty, and the rest were not. A famous engraving by Paul Revere was made depicting the British slaughtering innocent people, and this became a propaganda piece to rally colonists in support of the Revolution. -
First Continental Congress
After the Intolerable Acts of 1774 (due to the Boston Tea Party), colonists wanted to address their grievances. Delegates from 12 of 13 colonies gathered in Pennsylvania to form the First Continental Congress. The colonies agreed to boycott British goods and wrote the Declaration of Rights and Grievances. It said that colonists should have the same rights as British citizens. This congress was the first time that the colonies would see themselves collectively rather than as separate states. -
The Boston Tea Party
The Tea Act of 1773 gave the British East India Company a monopoly for tea in the colonies, but they still could tax it. The colonists were furious since this was a way for Parliament to tax them without representation. In response, the Sons of Liberty dressed up as Native Americans boarded 3 tea ships, and threw 324 crates overboard. The British lost millions of dollars that night, so they enacted the Intolerable Acts. The colonists' rebellion was a show of defiance against British authority. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
The Battles of Lexington and Concord were the beginning of the Revolutionary War. The British wanted to steal the colonists' military supplies in Concord, but Paul Revere and others alerted the minutemen, who defended the armories. The "shot heard around the world" was at Lexington, but the British beat the colonists and continued to Concord, where they were defeated. This showed the colonists' willingness to fight for their rights. This determination was crucial to the American's victory. -
Saratoga
Burgoyne and his troops, defeated, began a march to the town of Saratoga where they entrenched themselves once again in hopes of escaping. Within a fortnight, however, Gates's army had surrounded them and forced them to surrender. The Battle of Saratoga was a turning point in the Revolutionary War. The American defeat of the superior British army lifted patriot morale, furthered the hope for independence, and helped to secure the foreign support needed to win the war. -
Battle of Trenton
The Battle of Trenton was a symbolic win as it was the first in a long string of losses in the Revolutionary War. It took place starting on Christmas since Washington wanted to take advantage of the Hessians -
Battle of Yorktown
The Battle of Yorktown was the last battle of the Revolutionary War. The British Army was led by General Cornwallis, who was met by a combined American and French force at Yorktown. Eventually, the American-French army was able to successfully siege the city, and Cornwallis surrendered. This surrender was such a lost to Britain, that the already war exhausted Parliament agreed to the end of the war. -
Connecticut Compromise
The Constitutional Convention was created to address the issues of the Articles of Confederation. The Shay's Rebellion showed the need for a stronger federal government, so the convention was held. Two plans that were proposed were the Virginia Plan (favoring large states based on population) and the New Jersey Plan (favoring small states with equal representation). The Connecticut Compromise used both plans to make the House of Representatives and the Senate. The 3/5 Compromise was also made. -
Northwest Ordinance
The Northwest Ordinance was the Founding Fathers' method for administering new states into the Union, and set the foundation for future expansion over the Continent. The Ordinance was focused on the Northwest Territory and gave certain population goals for the territories to hit before they could apply for statehood. It also laid out the relationship with the Indian population, giving them land they could live on, but saying that colonists could live there as well. -
Ratifying the Constitution
Both Federalists and Anti-Federalists agreed that they needed a stronger government, however, they disagreed on how much power to give it. Anti-Federalists were afraid of tyranny, so they wanted most of the power to go to the states while the Federalists wanted most of the power for the federal government. They compromised by allowing the addition of the Bill of Rights after the Constitution was made official. The Constitution was ratified in June 1788, and it went into effect on March 4, 1789. -
Whiskey Rebellion
The Whiskey Rebellion was a protest by farmers in western Pennsylvania against a tax on whiskey, which was part of a new law passed by the federal government. Farmers, who relied on whiskey production to make a living, felt the tax was unfair. The rebellion turned violent, but President George Washington sent a large military force to stop it. This showed the strength of the federal government and its ability to enforce laws, even in the face of resistance. -
Revolution of 1800
The Revolution of 1800 was the election in which Thomas Jefferson beat President John Adams. It’s called a "revolution" because it was a peaceful change of power from the Federalists (Adams’ party) to the Democratic-Republicans (Jefferson’s party). Even though it was a close election, it showed that the U.S. could switch leaders without violence. This peaceful transfer of power became an important part of how American democracy works. -
Marbury v. Madison
The night before Jefferson's inauguration as the president, Adams and the Federalists created a number of new courts that were to be filled with Federalist judges, a way to hold power. A letter to one of these judges, Marbury, was discovered by James Madison, who took it to Jefferson. Marbury attacked Madison in court stating that he had the right to the commission. In the end, Marbury won, and the Supreme court created the idea of judicial review, an idea that is instrumental to our government. -
Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was when the U.S. bought a huge piece of land from France for $15 million. It stretched from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains and doubled the size of the country. The deal was made by President Thomas Jefferson, who saw it as a way to expand the nation and secure more resources. The purchase also gave the U.S. control of New Orleans, a key port for trade, and helped the country grow westward. -
The Embargo Act
The Embargo Act of 1807, signed by President Thomas Jefferson, aimed to pressure Britain and France to respect American neutrality during the Napoleonic Wars by banning all U.S. exports. It sought to avoid war but severely harmed the U.S. economy, especially in New England, where trade was crucial. The act failed to change British and French policies and was repealed in 1809, replaced by the Non-Intercourse Act, which targeted only Britain and France. -
Burning of Washington DC
It occurred on August 24, 1814, during the War of 1812. British forces captured the U.S. capital and set fire to several important government buildings, including the White House and the Capitol. The attack was in retaliation for the U.S. burning the city of York (modern-day Toronto) earlier in the war. The British destroyed much of the city, but the White House and Capitol were later rebuilt. This event shocked the nation but also helped strengthen American resolve during the war. -
Battle of New Orleans
The Battle of New Orleans took place in January 1815 during the War of 1812, after the peace treaty had already been signed but before news of it reached the soldiers. U.S. forces, led by General Andrew Jackson, defeated a much larger British army that was trying to capture New Orleans. The victory made Jackson a national hero and boosted American morale. The battle was important because it secured control of the Mississippi River and showed the strength of the U.S. military. -
Panic of 1819
The Panic of 1819 was the first big economic crisis in the U.S. It happened after the War of 1812, caused by too much land speculation, risky bank loans, and a sudden drop in land prices. The Second Bank of the U.S. cut back on credit, which led to job losses, bankruptcies, and falling prices. Many people blamed the bank, and the panic helped create political unrest, eventually leading to Andrew Jackson’s rise to power. It showed the need for better financial control. -
Missouri Compromise
As the US was expanding westward, the expansion was slavery was a major issue. Missouri became a slave state, and Maine became free to maintain the balance between free and enslaved. North of the 36°30′ parallel in the Louisiana Territory was free and south was a slave state. The Missouri Compromise a a temporary relief of tensions between the North and South, but the Dred Scott decision and Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 caused tensions to rise again. Ultimately, it led to the Civil War. -
The Monroe Doctrine
It was a policy announced by President James Monroe on December 2, 1823. It stated that the Western Hemisphere was off-limits to European colonization or interference. Monroe declared that any attempt by European powers to control or influence countries in the Americas would be seen as a hostile act against the U.S. At the same time, the U.S. would not interfere in European affairs or with existing colonies in the Western Hemisphere. The doctrine became a cornerstone of American foreign policy. -
The Corrupt Bargain
The "Corrupt Bargain" refers to the 1824 presidential election when Andrew Jackson won the most votes but not a majority. In the House of Representatives, Henry Clay supported John Quincy Adams, who won the presidency. Adams then appointed Clay as Secretary of State. Jackson and his supporters accused them of striking a deal to rig the election. This controversy fueled Jackson's campaign and helped him win the presidency in 1828. -
Erie Canal Opens
The Erie Canal opened on October 26, 1825. It was a man-made waterway that connected the Hudson River in New York to Lake Erie, allowing goods to be transported more easily between the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Lakes. The canal helped boost trade, made New York City a major port, and spurred the growth of the western U.S. It was a major engineering achievement at the time and played a key role in the country’s economic development during the 19th century. -
Eerie Canal
Even though the west was open for settlers, the Appalachian mountains were a major roadblock for those who dared to go settle in the wilderness. The Erie Canal, which used the Hudson River to link New York and the Midwest provided an easy route through, and was a major factor in the settling of Central and Midwestern United States. It also bolstered trade and economy by reducing travel times for raw materials traveling from west to east and manufactured goods traveling east to west. -
Indian Removal Act
The Indian Removal Act of 1830, signed by President Andrew Jackson, forced Native American tribes, mainly in the Southeastern U.S., to move west of the Mississippi River to lands designated as Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma). Many were eventually forced to leave. The most tragic result was the Trail of Tears, where thousands of Cherokee and other Native Americans suffered from disease, hunger, and exhaustion, leading to the deaths of thousands during the forced relocation. -
Cherokee V. Georgia
This court case was brought to the Supreme court by the Cherokees, who sued the state of Georgia for violating the treaties signed by the Cherokee nation and the United States. The Supreme Court however, declared that it could not hear this case since the lands of the tribe were not considered states. This opinion was later revised in Worcester v. Georgia where the supreme court ruled in favor of the opposite. These cases set an important precedent for the dealings with Native Americans. -
Panic of 1837
The Panic of 1837 was the start of an economic downturn in the United States that lasted for several years and led to high unemployment. Multiple factors led to this event. Prior to this financial crisis, unregulated banks gave too many loans and printed excessive amounts of their own money. -
Mexican American War
The Mexican-American War (1846-1848) was fought between the United States and Mexico over territorial disputes, particularly after the U.S. annexed Texas. The war ended with a decisive U.S. victory, leading to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Mexico ceded vast territories (including California, Arizona, and New Mexico) to the U.S. The war intensified debates over slavery in new territories and accelerated U.S. westward expansion. -
Seneca Falls
A well known abolitionist, Elizabeth Cady Stanton organized the convention at Seneca Falls to fight for the civil rights of women. During the convention, the attendees along with Stanton drafted the Declaration of Sentiments which among other things implored for women's suffrage. This convention was the place where the women's suffrage movement was kickstarted. -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was a series of laws aimed at easing tensions between the North and South over slavery. It admitted California as a free state, allowed New Mexico and Utah to decide slavery by popular sovereignty, strengthened the Fugitive Slave Act, abolished the slave trade in Washington, D.C., and settled border disputes with Texas. While it temporarily reduced tensions, it failed to resolve the slavery issue and contributed to the divisions that led to the Civil War. -
Kansas and Nebraska Acts
The Kansas Nebraska Act was an 1854 bill that mandated popular sovereignty allowing settlers of a territory to decide whether slavery would be allowed whithin a new states border. Senator Stephen Douglas of Illinois introduced a bill that divided the land immediately west of Missouri into two territories, Kansas and Nebraska. He argued in favor of popular sovereignty, or the idea that the settlers of the new territories should decide if slavery would be legal there. -
Dred Scott v Sandford
Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) was a Supreme Court case in which Dred Scott, an enslaved man, sued for his freedom. The Court ruled that African Americans, free or enslaved, were not U.S. citizens and had no right to sue. It also declared that Congress could not ban slavery in U.S. territories, striking down the Missouri Compromise. The decision deepened tensions between the North and South, contributing to the outbreak of the Civil War. -
Pacific Railway Act
It was signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln on July 1, 1862. It authorized the construction of a transcontinental railroad, linking the eastern U.S. to the western territories. The act provided land grants and government bonds to two companies, the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads, to build the railroad. The completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869 significantly boosted trade, migration, and settlement in the western U.S. and helped shape the nation's economy. -
Morrill Land Grant Act
The Morrill Land-Grant Act was passed in 1862 by Congress and signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln. It provided federal land to states to build colleges that focused on agriculture, science, and engineering. The goal was to promote education and advance practical skills to support the nation’s economic development, especially in farming and industry. The act led to the establishment of many state universities, known as land-grant institutions, that are still influential today. -
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863. It declared all enslaved people in Confederate-held territory to be free. While it did not immediately free all slaves, it was a pivotal step in the abolition of slavery. The Proclamation also allowed Black men to join the Union Army, significantly bolstering its forces. It shifted the focus of the Civil War to include the fight for freedom and paved the way for the 13th Amendment. -
Gettysburg
At the battle of Gettysburg, both sides suffered thousands of losses, making it the bloodiest battle of the civil war with around 50,000 men lost. However, the union victory highly bolstered their war efforts, and stopped further expeditions of the south into the north. The Gettysburg Address also subtly reinforced the point that the war was about slavery, preventing foreign nations from coming to the south's aide. -
Battle of Gettysburg
It took place from July 1 to 3, 1863, during the American Civil War. It was fought between the Union Army, commanded by General George G. Meade, and the Confederate Army, led by General Robert E. Lee. The battle was one of the largest and bloodiest of the war, with over 50,000 casualties. The Union victory marked a turning point in the war, halting Lee's invasion of the North and giving the Union a much-needed morale boost. It is often considered the turning point of the Civil War. -
Battle of Vicksburg
The Battle of Vicksburg took place from May 18 to July 4, 1863, during the American Civil War. Union forces, led by General Ulysses S. Grant, laid siege to the Confederate stronghold of Vicksburg, Mississippi, which controlled the Mississippi River. After weeks of fighting and starving the Confederate forces, Vicksburg surrendered on July 4. This victory gave the Union full control of the Mississippi River, splitting the Confederacy in two and significantly weakening its resources. -
Lincoln's 10% Plan
Lincoln's 10% Plan was a Reconstruction strategy aimed at reintegrating the South into the Union after the Civil War. It required 10% of a state's 1860 voting population to swear allegiance to the Union before it could reestablish its government and send representatives to Congress. The plan was lenient, offering amnesty to most Confederates, but it faced opposition from Radical Republicans who wanted harsher measures. -
Surrender at Appomattox
The confederate army led by Gen. Lee, in fighting the union army had exhausted all their ammunition, and was racing against time to a nearby warehouse when the Union army led by Gen. Grant intercepted them on their path. This led to Gen. Lee surrendering to the union army at the Appomattox court house, signaling the end of the final battle of the Civil War. There was still some unrest in the southern states, however, which made bringing them back into the union an impossible task. -
Passing of the 13th Amendment
The 13th Amendment finally abolished slavery within the entirety of the United States. The ratification of this amendment was then required for the southern states to enter back into the union and once again gain representation in congress. This was the monumental step that was at the pinnacle of all abolitionist's dreams, and it was now reality. This amendment, however, made the already failing economy of the south worse by ridding them of their investment which will take time to recover . -
14th Admendment
The 14th Amendment was the follow up to the 13th Amendment that tried to help the new freed population out a little bit. After slavery was outlawed, many in the South feared that the new black voting population would lead to a "Colored Empire". White supremacists groups started killing blacks and those in power passed Black Codes that limited the right to vote and was pretty much slavery in everything but name. The 14th made it so that no law could limit the rights of anyone born in the US. -
15th Amendment
The 15th Amendment, ratified on February 3, 1870, granted African American men the right to vote. It stated that the right to vote "shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude." Despite this, Southern states implemented poll taxes, literacy tests, and other measures to disenfranchise Black voters, delaying full voting rights until the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. -
Civil Rights Act 1875
The Civil Rights Act of 1875 was a federal law addressed racial discrimination and segregation, particularly in public accommodations. It sought to ensure that African Americans had equal access to public places. However, the law was largely ineffective, as it was poorly enforced and faced opposition from Southern states. In 1883, the Supreme Court struck down key provisions of the law in a series of decisions, further undermining federal protections for African Americans. -
Battle of Little Big Horn
The Battle of Little Bighorn, also known as Custer's Last Stand, was a battle between Sioux Indians, led by Sitting Bull, and American forces, led by General Custer. Custer had been trailing the Sioux army for a while and believed he could wipe them out. However, he was surprised by their numbers and, after splitting his army, was completely wiped out. This battle turned out to be the last time a Native army defeated the US and fueled Anti-Native feelings in the states. -
Compromise of 1877
The Compromise of 1877 resolved the 1876 presidential election between Rutherford B. Hayes and Samuel J. Tilden. In exchange for Democratic acceptance of Hayes' presidency, Republicans agreed to withdraw federal troops from the South, ending Reconstruction. This allowed Southern Democrats to regain control and led to the rise of Jim Crow laws. The compromise marked the end of federal intervention in the South, leaving African Americans vulnerable to discrimination and disenfranchisement. -
Dawes Act
The Dawes Act of 1887 aimed to assimilate Native Americans into American society by dividing tribal lands into individual plots for Native American families. The law sought to promote farming and ownership of property, but it resulted in the loss of millions of acres of tribal land, which were often sold to non-Native settlers. The act weakened tribal sovereignty and contributed to the erosion of Native American cultures and communities. -
Plessy v Ferguson
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) was a landmark Supreme Court case that upheld racial segregation under the doctrine of "separate but equal." Homer Plessy, a Black man, was arrested for sitting in a "whites-only" railroad car in Louisiana. The Court ruled that segregation was constitutional as long as facilities were "equal," cementing racial segregation laws (Jim Crow) for decades. The decision was overturned by Brown v. Board of Education in 1954.