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Period: 2500 BCE to
Beginnings to Exploration
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50 BCE
The Olmecs created the Mesoamerican Ballgame
During 2500 BCE to 100 BCE, the Olmecs created the Mesoamerican ballgame to be played at a professional level. Years later, the ballgame spread to the other Mesoamerican civilizations. The game consisted of a rubber ball, weighing about 9 lbs, being hit around by the men's hips and other body parts. Researches now compare the game to that of present-day's racquetball. The games were held at Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital. In some civilizations, the losing team was used for human sacrifice. -
476
The Roman Empire falls
The Roman Empire existed for 500 years. The Roman Empire united Europe for the first time and was the basis and influence of Roman law because of how massive and big the size of the empire was. In 117 AD, the Roman Empire was at its greatest extent and prime. However, 359 years later, after the Germanic prince, Odovacar won control of the Roman army, the last Roman emperor, Romulus Augustulus, was overthrown and this caused the empire to fall apart and descend. -
1347
The Black Death hits Europe
In October 1347, the Black Death came to the port city, Messina, in Europe, through trade ships travelling through the Black Sea. From there the Black Death began spreading inland to Europe and Asia. The Black Death caused victims to undergo blood and pus leaking, followed by fever, chills, vomiting, diarrhea, etc. The violent symptoms and contagiousness of the disease causing a massive amount of deaths in Europe. Eventually, this led to the mass death of 60% of Europe's population. -
1440
The Invention of the Printing Press
Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press, a machine that prints texts or pictures through type or plates. Instead of having things being handwritten and limited, the Printing Press allowed for more production at a faster rate of products to be made. The printing press changed the world because it allowed for multiple copies of books and newspapers to be made and published at a fast rate. Along with that, the printing press forwarded the notion of the regular publication of newspapers. -
Oct 12, 1492
Christoper Columbus arrives in the Americas
In 1492, Christopher Columbus set out with three boats to search for a path from Southern Spain to Asia. He believed there was a faster route from Spain to Asia without having to traveling around Africa. He set sail on August 3, 1492 and sailed for two months. After two months, the crew almost mutinied, but Columbus promised 3 more days because he saw greenery in the water. On October 12, 1492, land was spotted. Columbus believed he landed in Asia, but he landed in San Salvador, Bahamas. -
Oct 31, 1517
Martin Luther publishes the 95 Theses
In the early 1500s, Martin Luther attacked the Catholic Church by writing and publishing the 95 Theses. In the 95 Theses, Luther shames the Catholic Church for its selling of indulgences (remission of a temporal punishment brought about by sin), the pope has no power over purgatory, and the purchase of indulgences gives people gives them false security and endangers their salvation. Luther's creation of the 95 Theses caused the division of Catholic followers and emergence of Protestantism. -
John White returned to a vanished Roanoke
In 1585, Sir Walter Raleigh and his colonists founded the Roanoke colony. However, as time passed the colonists suffered from low food supply and Indian attacks. Because of their struggle to survive, Raleigh sent John White and 100 of the Roanoke colonists out in search of food to bring back in 1587. However, when they returned three years later to the colony in August 1590, Roanoke was gone. There was no sign to what happened to and all that was left was the word "Croatoan" carved in a tree. -
Period: to
English Colonial Society
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Jamestown established the Headright System
In 1618, in Jamestown, Virginia, the headright system was passed as a way to attract settlers from Europe to the New World. Because tobacco demands had risen as an economic reliance, there was a demand for more workers and more colonists to occupy and begin farming. The Headright System promised any new settler who came to Jamestown on their own received 50 acres of land as a reward. On the other hand, colonists already residing in Virginia were granted 2 Headright Systems - 100 acres of land. -
The Mayflower Compact was signed
After the pilgrims and other settlers landed in Massachusetts, they decided to create the Mayflower Compact. It was a set of rules for a self-governing colony, in order to maintain control and peace. The Pilgrims signed the Mayflower Compact. The Mayflower Compact required colonists to remain loyal to King James, live by the Christian faith, live as one functional society, and maintain order that the rules made by the colonists are for the good of the colony. -
The Atlantic Slave Trade ships to America
In the 17th century, the Atlantic slave trade was used to transport slaves from Africa to the Americas. In Africa, slaves were trained and prepared to work in the New World. Sold off by other Africans and thrown on ships with poor sanitation. Transported by ships with poor conditions like low food shortages, contagious diseases, and a limited amount of room to move, the slaves would be shipped off to work in the Americas. During their route, more than 10% of the slaves died along the way. -
New Amsterdam becomes New York
The colony of New Amsterdam was established under the Dutch West Indian Company in 1624. It ran successfully for 40 years until after Stuyvesant. Dutch Governor Peter Stuyvesant surrenders the capital of New Netherland, New Amsterdam, to the English, the English and the Dutch lived in unity. Later, on September 8, 1664, Colonel Richard Nicolls renamed New Amsterdam to New York. In present day, New Amsterdam took up lands from New York City and parts of Long Island, Connecticut, and New Jersey. -
The Triangular Trade
The Triangular Trade, started and named after Christopher Columbus, was a trade route connecting the Old World to Africa, Africa to the New World, and the New World back to the Old World. Hence the name, Triangular Trade. The route roughly formed a triangle by the three continents. The Old World brought finished goods to Africa in exchange for the shipment of slaves to the New World. In the New World, the slaves would pick and produce the raw goods that are then shipped to the Old World. -
Bacon's Rebellion began
In 1676, Nathaniel Bacon and some settlers began revolting against Governor William Berkeley in the Virginia colony. The rebellion started because the settlers were upset that Governor Berkeley refused to fight against and defend themselves against the Native Americans. Because of this, Bacon and his followers retaliated against Berkeley. Along with Indian conflicts, the rebellion combined both black and white indentured servants. The compromise of the two races caused the ruling class to worry. -
Sir Isaac Newton's impact on the Enlightenment Era
During the Enlightenment Era, Sir Isaac Newton, an English mathematician and physicist, had discovered calculus, universal law of gravitation in 1687, and the three laws of motion in 1666. Beginning with his "apple story", Newton began experimenting on Earth's gravity. With his theory on universal gravity, it helped him prove heliocentrism, the astronomical model in which the Earth and planets revolve around the Sun at the center of the Solar System. Newton later published "Principia" in 1687. -
The Salem Witch Trials began
In Massachusetts, in the spring of 1692, little girls across the town began acting strangely. Doctors were called in to examine the screaming and odd behavior. Ultimately, doctors concluded that the girls were bewitched, beginning the accusation of women practicing witchcraft and superstitions broke out. Violence broke out in Massachusetts and women and young girls were prosecuted and interrogated. As time passed, townspeople began hanging women accused of witchcraft. -
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Colonial America
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The Act of Union 1707 was passed
When James VI of Scotland became James I of England, he wanted to combine his two nations together. He created many attempts to unite the two countries, but it never worked until Burnet, a Scotsman and English bishop, pushed for the union of the two kingdoms, Scotland and England. Both the English Parliament and the Sottish Parliament drew the agreement on July 22, 1706 and the Act of Union was passed on May 1st, 1701. The combination of both England and Scotland formed the United Kingdom. -
The Carolinas divide
The Carolinas were founded in 1663 by King Charles II. However, two major colonies developed separately in the north and the south. Due to the Northern and Southern being so far apart, it was difficult for the Lord Proprietors to control the entire colony, so Carolina split into North Carolina and South Carolina. Swamps, rivers, and unsettled land determined the border between the Carolinas. -
The Great Awakening
The Great Awakening was a time of spiritual renewal throughout the colonies - especially the New England colony. Colonists began realizing that the Church of England was not the only religion they had to follow. Due to being away from the mother country, Britain, settlers began doubting their belief in Christianity. Because of this, colonists began looking elsewhere for their religions and beliefs. With distance, and being open to new ideas and values in the New World, the Great Awakening began. -
Colonial Economics: The Lower South
In the South of the colonies, the economy was highly dependent on agriculture. Due to the warm, humid climate and fertile, nutritious soil, crops were able to be farmed there. With the mass number of help from slaves to work on the farms, the South was used as the factor for raw goods. Because of this, money was very valuable and desired in the South. Due to farming and money being a big deal, the lower southerners were the harshest on their slaves because of the economy. -
The French and Indian War/Seven Years War began
The France and Indian War/Seven Years War started in 1754 because the French expanded their colony to the Ohio River Valley. The British viewed this expansion as a threat to their people already residing in the area. Because of this, numerous battles between the French and the British broke out. Some of the significant battles during the war are at the Battle of Quebec, Siege of Fort William Henry, etc. In the end, the Treaty of Paris 1763 was created and signed. -
Period: to
The Revolutionary War
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The Treaty of Paris 1763 was signed
The Treaty of Paris 1763 ended the French and Indian War/Seven Years War between Great Britain and France. The treaty was signed on February 10, 1763. In the treaty contained information stating that it forced France to give up all of their territories in the North America to British. Because of this, the British military would not fell they have to put up a threat and maintain forced by the French because there was no worry of the French attacking the British colonies in North America anymore. -
Revenue/Sugar Act is passed
In the years leading up to the American Revolution, the British began charging the colonies hefty taxes in order to gain more money. The first act passed was the revenue act, or sugar act. This was the taxing of sugars for the colonists' tea. The tax on the sugar greatly angered the colonists so they began resisting the tax. The colonies voiced their displeasure and created a petition against the act. As punishment for not cooperating, Britain began searches of private property without warrants. -
The Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre involved a crowd of Bostonians and British soldiers. In Boston, the colonists began harassing and throwing snowballs at the soldiers as an attack for the massive amount of taxes imposed on them. Due to being targeted, the British soldiers fired back at the colonists in defense. This event caused the death of 5 people. 3 were killed on the scene of the massacre and 2 died later due to injuries. This event caused the colonists to view Britain as an enemy and led to the revolt. -
First Continental Congress Meeting
In 1774, representatives from each colony, with the exception of Georgia - who sent no one, were sent down to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to discuss the issue between the Thirteen Colonies and Great Britain. The colonial leaders were concerned for the sanity of the colonies due to the heavy taxes imposed on them and their people. Because of the first continental congress meeting, the representatives decided to denounce the Intolerable Acts and began boycotting British goods as a way to revolt. -
"Common Sense" - by Thomas Paine
In the years leading up to the American Revolution, Thomas Paine, an English-American writer, wrote "Common Sense". He published the pamphlet attacking the British and motivating the colonists to fight for independence. Within the pamphlet, he argued for independence, favored a democratic representative government, and attacked the English monarchy. Because the pamphlet was so popular and cheap, a lot of colonists got a hold of it. The pamphlet changed the colonial viewpoint of the monarchy. -
The Declaration of Independence was signed
Because of the heavy taxes and poor treatment the British put on the colonists, they believed the only way out was to declare independence. The colonies declared themselves a united and independent state. Thomas Jefferson was in charge of writing the Constitution. He completed the draft on July 2, 1776 and it was signed on July 4, 1776. Within the Constitution contained grievances against Britain, rule that avoided anti-monarchical sentiment, and to search for new European allies. -
The Battle of Saratoga began
During the American Revolution, the Battle of Saratoga was fought over a span of eighteen days. Beginning on September 18, 1777 through October 9, 1777, the Battle of Saratoga was the turning point of the revolution. The British, under the control of Burgoyne, forced to surrender. Unlike the previous battles,all in which the British have won, the Battle of Saratoga proved to the British that the colonists were not giving up and that they were going to put up a fight no matter what. -
Americans viewed the AOC as a weak and insufficient
After the American Revolution, the Americans came to the realization that the United States could not run stably on the Articles of Confederation. It had a weak central government, the deal with money and laws differed between states, it had no central authority, Congress couldn't get anything passed and done under the Articles of Confederation, numerous numbers of rebellion tested the weak Articles of Confederation, it ha no executive, and it was hastily put together. -
American Virtue hits the United States
After the American Revolution, the United States was hit by American Virtue. To celebrate their victory, Americans spread ideas of Republicanism, involving everyday citizens in activities because they were celebrating, create state constitutions that are separate from the Articles of Confederation, taught citizens about political ideas, and educate kids in schools. Americans began straying away from English ideas and looked elsewhere for inspiration in terms of architecture (the Greeks). -
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The Constitution
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The Treaty of Paris 1783 was signed
After the British surrendered at the Battle of Yorktown, the English an the Americans sign the Treaty of Paris 1783. Within it explains that the English recognize the United States as an independent and sovereign nation, it established the northern border between the United States and British North America (aka Canada), it restores loyalists properties that the British took, and it relieve the United States of all economic recession due to the restricted trade and decrease agricultural prices. -
The British did not live up to the Treaty of Paris 1783
After the United States' victory in the American Revolution and the signing of the Treaty of Pairs 1783, the Americans still had problems with Great Britain. In the Treaty of Paris 1783, it states that the rest of the land below the US/Canada border was the American's. However, the British would not vacate the Ohio River Valley. Along with keeping their fronts, the British did not pay concessions for the United States' war debt from the revolution like the terms in the Treaty of Paris 1783 said. -
Shay's Rebellion began
Shay's Rebellion, led by Daniel Shay, was a revolt for against the government because of the high taxes imposed on American farmers. The revolt was primarily in Massachusetts, but it started in New Hampshire and South Carolina. America fell into an economic depression due to bad harvests and the high taxes the government created. This angered the farmers and caused them to join Shay's Rebellion. This rebellion tested the Articles of Confederation and caused the leaders to revise the AOC. -
3/5 Compromise is approved
As the United States was in the process of eliminating the Articles of Confederation and establishing a new form of government, the debate between whether or not slaves should count as one vote or not was controversial. The North believed that slaves should not be counted as a vote because they are not citizens. However, the South believed they should. Because of this, both sides agreed to a 3/5 Compromise. The compromise stated that every 5 slaves counted as 3 votes. -
The Great Debate against Federalists v. Anti-Federalists
The Great Debate was problematic between the two political parties. The Federalists supported the Constitution, believed all the power should be held in the central government, opposed the Bill of Rights, believed that the checks and balances is used to preserve the government. On the other hand, the Anti-Federalists believed that their should be a loose central government, states' rights, supported the bill of rights, and believed the people should be informed. In the end the Federalists won. -
The Virginia Plan was created
James Madison created the Virginia Plan and presented it to the Constitutional Congress in hopes to aid in the resolution of a better government than the Articles of Confederation secured. The Virginia Plan, or Campbell Plan, explained that there would be a two house legislature consisting of the lower house and the upper house. All would be decided by population based representatives. However, the plan didn't work out because it was in favor to the larger states. -
Election of 1788
The Election of 1788 was the first presidential election in the United States. The two men running for the president were George Washington and John Adams. Ultimately George Washington ended up winning by a landslide because Americans viewed him as a god-like figure. Since he led the American Revolution, he was everyone's choice. Because George Washington didn't have a running mate to take the vice president position, John Adams ended up being the VP because he was in second place. -
The Federalists and Anti-Federalists parties were created
In the efforts to building up the United States, Americans began splitting into two major parties. The Federalists and the Anti-Federalists. The Federalists, led by Alexander Hamilton, one of the founding fathers, believed in a strong central government, class divisions, he catered to the rich because that's where the money was, and loyally followed Washington. On the other hand, the Anti-Federalists, led by Thomas Jefferson, were against all things Federalists. -
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The New Republic
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The Bill of Rights were ratified
James Madison and the Anti-Federalists believed that the central government had too much power and that the people should have more freedom. Because of this, James Madison drafted and wrote the Bill of Rights to be submitted to Congress. The Bill of Rights was meant to guarantee citizens and people their individual rights and liberties. Within the Bill of Rights were ten amendments. Ideas from the American Revolution and Virginia's Declaration of Rights helped the Anti-Federalists write it. -
The Cotton Gin was invented
The Cotton Gin, invented by Eli Whitney, greatly impacted the South' economy. The Cotton Gin is a simple machine that separates the cotton from the seeds. This greatly altered history in the South because cotton was its main crop and source of money. The Cotton Gin allowed plantation owners to purchase more slaves to run and overlook the functionality of the Cotton Gin. The Cotton Gin contributed to the spread of slavery across the South in states like Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. -
The Whiskey Rebellion began
After the American Revolution, the United States was in a massive amount of debt. In order to relieve the country of his money drainage, Treasury Secretary, Alexander Hamilton, proposed that there should be a tax on whiskey in order to decrease the debt since whiskey and alcohol became very popular. President George Washington had doubts over the tax, but brought it to Congress and they passed it. The tax angered the farmers in Kentucky and Pennsylvania and caused them to revolt. -
Jay's Treaty was signed
Jay's Treaty, written by John Jay, was a treaty signed by the United States and Great Britain. After the American Revolution, the Americans still had problems with the British because British exports were coming into the United States while the British refused American exports. Also, the British were still occupying the forts that they were supposed to vacate after the treaty of Paris 1783. In efforts to resolve the issue, John Jay drafted the treaty and gave Britain more rights. -
The XYZ Affairs
Jay's Treaty between the United States and France caused problems. The French limited its trade with the United States and the French seized American ships. Because of this, there was a tension-filled relationship between the United States and the French. In an effort to reconcile, the United States sent three men to France to negotiate with French diplomats for concessions. However, after being ignored, the United States, under the presidency of John Adams, declared an undeclared naval war. -
Second Great Awakening
The Second Great Awakening began in the 1800 and picked up in 1820. The Second Great Wakening emphasized religious romanticism and aestheticism.There were many emotional and supernatural beliefs uprising. Many people began rejecting secularism and deism. Instead, they looked to morality for a sense of direction. At this time, religion was being revitalized and based on free will, alcohol consumption began decreasing because it was at an all time high, and education started getting more strict. -
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The Age of Jefferson
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The Louisiana Purchase Treaty is signed
When Thomas Jefferson became president, his first priority was to obtain the Louisiana territory from Napoleon and the French. He believed the United States should have the southeast territory because it doubled the size of the country and allowed for a nation of farmers like he wanted the US to be. Afraid that Napoleon would back out of the offer, Jefferson purchased the Louisiana territory before amending the Constitution. He purchased the land 3 cents per acre, or in total $15 million. -
The 12th Amendment was passed
After the election of 1800, Thomas Jefferson will win against John Adams. Usually after the president is chosen, the first runner up becomes vice president. However due to the many conflicts between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, the creation of the 12th Amendment began. The 12th Amendment explained that the president an vice president will now have different voting ballots through the electoral college. It was written and proposed to Congress on December 9, 1803 and ratified on June 15, 1804. -
James Madison's Presidency begins
After Thomas Jefferson's presidency ends, James Madison is elected the 4th president of the United States. Upon entering his role, James Madison inherited all of the debt Thomas Jefferson collected from the Embargo Act of 1807. Because the Embargo Act hurt the economy, it became the biggest problem James Madison faced during his term. The South and the Northeast were affected the most from it because the act deprived them from international goods. In conclusion, the US enters the War of 1812. -
The War of 1812 began
The War of 1812 involved both the US' and Great Britain's naval powers. The war began on June 18, 1812 and ended on February 18, 1815. The war broke out because Britain tried restricting American trade, British navy caused impressment on American seamen, and British blocked Americans from expanding its territory. Because of this, many Americans wanted to go to war with Great Britain. In the end the war was a draw, no diplomatic issues were solved, and the only losers were the Native Americans. -
Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner
Francis Scott Key is an American lawyer and poet who wrote the Star Spangled Banner, later to be the United State's National Anthem. During the War of 1812, on September 12, 1814, in the battle of Baltimore at Fort McHenry, Key was captured by British troops and kept on a ship. Watching the battle through a porthole, he saw the American flag flying and knew that the United States gained a victory in Fort McHenry. His view of the flying US' flag inspired him to write the Star Spangled Banner. -
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The American Industrial Revolution
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Rush-Bagot Treaty is signed
After the War of 1812, both Great British and the United States had naval ships occupying the Great Lakes in the northeast. Because the United States was still a developing country, it wanted to avoid and war with Britain. On the other hand, Britain didn't want to start another war with the United States either. In mutual agreement, both countries, represented by US' Richard Rush and Britain's Charles Bagot, both nations agreed to limit weapons, allow fishing, and jointly occupied Oregon. -
The Missouri Compromise is passed
When Missouri entered the United States, it applied to be a slave state. However, the Northern states were against its admission because it would tip the scale in the South's direction - which is why the South was in favor of the admission. As a resolution to created balance between slave states and free states, Henry Clay suggested the Missouri Compromise. Any state above the 36* 30* latitude would be a free state and any state below it would be a slave state. It was only a temporary solution. -
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Cultural Changes
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Election of 1824
In the Election of 1824, John Quincy Adams was elected the 6th president of the United States. The four candidates were John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, William Crawford, and Henry Clay -
all on the democratic-republic side. Jackson won the popular vote and had majority of the the electoral college votes, but Adams won and was the successor of James Monroe. This election is notable because of the corrupt bargain in the House. Clay supported Adams causing Adams to win instead of Jackson. -
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The Age of Jackson
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Election of 1828
The Election of 1828 was significant because it was the first messy presidential campaigning in the United States. The two candidates were John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson. Both Adams and Jackson both ran mud slinging campaigns. Jackson accused Adams of misusing public funds for gambling. On the other hand, Adams was accused of murder and adultery. Jackson's wife, Rachel, was a divorcee and her divorce was not completely finalized before she married Jackson. In the end, Andrew Jackson won. -
Temperance Movement
During the 1830's during the Second Great Awakening, temperance was at an all time high. Before, alcohol consumption was at an all time high and was consumed all day every day. Men were the primary purchasers of alcohol. But after the Second Great Awakening and women's reform, alcohol consumption dramatically decreased and people began abstaining themselves and building a high temperance to it. This led to some states even banning the consumption of alcohol and the 18th amendment. -
The Telegraph was invented
Samuel Morse, an American painter, invented the first single-wire telegraph system between the 1830s an 1840s. The telegraph was used as a form of long-distance communication. By pushing the operator key down to complete the electrical circuit, the electrical signal the travels through the wire between two stations to the receiving end. The telegraph helped shape and revolutionize society by allowing people to communicate faster instead of having to travel to a location to send a message. -
Free Black Communities
In the North and Midwest, free black communities began forming in the free states. There are areas where the free blacks resided away from discrimination they faced in the North. Even though the North was against slavery, they still viewed blacks negatively. Segregation was active in the North which is why the free black communities formed - in order to escape discrimination and prejudice. Along with their skin color, blacks were disliked because they competed with jobs with the immigrants. -
The Railroad had come to the United States
After the invention of the railroad, steamboats were being replaced because railroads ran faster. The railroad was invented by George Stephenson in Great Britain. He applied the steam technology and created the first successful railroad. The United States purchased these railroads and it was being largely imported to America. Railroad tracks were laid to connect coast to the internal cities. On July 2, 1831, the Dewitt Clinton locomotive made its first test run of the Mohawk and Hudson Railroad. -
Nature and the creation of Parks
During the Second Great Awakening, parks and cemeteries were a new, popular idea. People used began building them outside of big cities as a way to getaway from the fast-paced life that the city offers without having to travel far. Following the increase of parks, there was a rural cemetery movement in 1831. Cemeteries were built because before the dead were just buried outside of churches on small plots. In an attempt to separate the living from the dead, the creation of cemeteries were built. -
Nat Turner's Rebellion began
Nat Turner's Rebellion, or the Southampton Insurrection, was led by Nat Turner, a slave from Virginia. Believing that God spoke to him and instructed him to free slaves from bondage, he began revolting. First, he killed his owner and their family. Turner and his followers traveled throughout Southampton killing white men, women, and children. Overtime, more followers joined the revolt. In the end, Turner and his followers were hung. The event is notable for being the most notable slave revolt. -
Nullification Crisis
During Jackson's presidency, he ran into issues with South Carolina. South Carolina created the Nullification Ordinance in November 1832. The ordinance met and declared that the federal tariff of 1828 and 1832 over the import taxes were unconstitutional and South Carolina didn't want to pay the tax. The tariffs were hurting the southern agriculture. Because of this issue, Vice President John C. Calhoun resigned from office. Henry Clay resolves the issue by crated the Compromise Tariff of 1833. -
Election of 1832
The Election of 1832 was Andrew Jackson's second term in office. His opponents were Henry Clay from the National Republican party and William Wirt from the Anti-Masonic party. Wirt was the first candidate to start nomination conventions and party platforms. The Election of 1832 was based around the Second Bank of the United States. Jackson hated it because the bank favored the wealthy as he was a "common man". On the other hand, Clay supported the bank because fulfilled the idea of one currency. -
The American Anti-Slavery Society (AASS)
The American Anti-Slavery Society, also referred to as AASS, was an abolitionist society that led to the abolish of slavery. The society was founded in 1833, by William Lloyd Garrison, a prominent American abolitionist, journalist, and social reformer. The organization met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and allowed the admission of women and African Americans. Their ultimate goal was to end slavery. However, despite allowing African Americans to attend, white men did not view them as equals. -
Battle of Goliad
On October 9, 1835, the second battle of the Texas Revolutionary War began. This battle was called the Battle of Goliad because it was fought at a fort near Goliad, Presidio La Bahia,the halfway point between the large Garrison of Mexican soldiers and the Texas port of Copano. Texas settlers began attacking the Mexican Army when General Cos was gone in order to cut off their supply route from Mexico. Because of the unexpected attacked, General Cos and the Mexican army were forced to surrender. -
The Invention of the Iron Plow
The first steel iron plow was invented by John Deere in 1837. John Deere was a failed blacksmith in Vermont, but succeeded as an agriculture tool manufacturer in Illinois. He and his company invented the iron plow in order to aid in agriculture. The iron plow is used to turn and break up the soil in order to plant crops. It also helps control weeds, retain moisture in the soil, and provide nutrients to make the soil more fertile. The iron plow was mass produced and used around the United States. -
Panic of 1837
During Martin van Buren's presidency, the United States went through the Panic of 1837. Inheriting a bad economy from President Jackson, along with the passing of the Specie Circular, an economic downturn was inevitable. Specie Circular, issued by President Jackson on July 11, 1836, stopped land speculation and the printing of money. The Specie Circulation caused many state banks to collapse as a result of it. Because of the Panic of 1837, Martin van Buren was nicknamed "Martin van Ruin". -
The Trail of Tears start
In 1838 and 1839, as part of Andrew Jackson's Indian removal policy, the Cherokee nation was forced to give up its lands east of the Mississippi River and to migrate. The Cherokee people called this journey the "Trail of Tears," because of their suffering and devastation. The migrants faced hunger, disease, and exhaustion on the way. Over 4,000 Cherokees died. The significance of the Trail of Tears, referred to as the removal period, is that the Cherokee people suffered from forced removal. -
Old Cities vs. New Cities
In the United State in the North, urbanization was growing rapidly. People began moving to big cities for job opportunities. With the invention of mass transportation, it allowed for the population trend in the North to increase. Old cities like New York, Europe, and the rest of the United States began becoming unpopular. Americans began moving to the new cities like Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Chicago, and St. Louis. All the new cities were near water which factored in the population explosion. -
Immigration in the 1840s
As the North was booming with urbanization, the population began to increase rapidly. Along with Americans moving from smaller cities to the new ones, people from other countries began migrating to the US. A massive increase in European immigrants came to the United States in the 1840s. Irish immigrants came because the potato famine caused an economic depression, Germans migrated due to poor harvest and political turmoil, and Scandinavians and British came in search of economic opportunities. -
Election of 1840
In the Election of 1840, there were two candidates running for the United States presidency: Martin van Buren, supporting the Democratic party, and William Henry Harrison, supporting the Whigs party. Throughout the entire campaigning, Harrison lied about being wealthy and made Americans believe that he was raised as a common man. Harrison and the Whigs were "womanizers" in the sense that they would talk up women into having their husbands vote for him. As a result, Harrison won by a landslide. -
Greek Revivalism in America
Similar to the American Virtue after the American Revolution, Greek culture returned to America. As the Second Great Awakening came to an end, Americans began expressing Greek culture again. Towns began building buildings based on Greek ideas and designs. Furniture began looking more like products purchased from Greece. Towns like Syracuse, Ithaca, and Troy were rich with Greek culture, history, amphitheaters, and architecture. These cities celebrated Greek revivalism again in the United States. -
Manifest Destiny
Manifest Destiny is the notion of the country being a continental nation. This was the peoples' way of explaining why they should expand westward. The idea was suggested by the Jacksonian Democracy for a white people future west of the United States and American's belief that Native Americans were extinct. People began migrating to the west to Oregon in search of new opportunities. This was referred to as the Great Migration, consisting of overland trails ranging from five to six months. -
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Westward Expansion
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Election of 1844
The Election of 1844 was centered around the expansion of the United States. The candidate that won was Tyler James K. Polk (Democrat) against Henry Clay (Whig) and James Birney (Liberty Party). Polk centered his campaign around expansion (annex Texas, settle Oregon border, settle Mexican border) while Clay was against expansion. The Whig party had broken into 2, the Northern and the Southern. The Northern Whigs changed their name to the "Liberty Party" and nominated Birney as their candidate. -
Battle of Palo Alto
The Battle of Palo Alto was the first major battle in the Mexican-American War. The battle started on May 8, 1846, north of the Rio Grande River. President Polk sent a small American army, led by General Zachary Taylor, to the area to secure Texas' land. However, they were attacked by a Mexican scouting party led by General Mariano Aristo. The American's defeated the Mexican Army by using "flying artillery". This battle helped give acknowledgment to Taylor and later led to his presidency. -
Brigham Young led Mormons to Salt Lake Valley
Brigham Young was the second leader of the Mormons (after the death of Joseph Smith), the leader in the Latter Day Saints Movements until his death, the first governor of the Utah territory, and the founder of the University of Utah and the Brigham young University. Young led the Mormons to Salt Lake Valley, the town he found. Because of his position as leader of the Mormons and the Mass Mormon Migration West strategy, he was able to spread Mormonism, the telegraph, and the railroads to Utah. -
Election of 1848
The Election of 1848 had three candidates in the running: Lewis Cass (Democratic), known as the "Father of Popular Sovereignty"; Zachary Taylor (Whigs), a military Mexican war veteran, a Southern slave holder, and war hero in the Mexican-American War; and Martin van Buren (Free-Soil Party). In the end, Zachary Taylor won, being the 12th president of the United States. He was a no party man, his views were unknown, and he campaigned for pro-slavery in the south and Wilmot-Proviso in the north. -
California Gold Rush
In 1848, James W. Marshall found gold in Coloma, California. As news spread throughout America, thousands of people migrated to the west in search of gold. These people were referred to as the forty-niners. Small towns began turning into cities and by 1852, the population of California had exponentially increased. In 1852, mining began making gold easier to find and resulted in industrialization. By 1854, Chinese migrants came to California and worked in the worst mines and faced racism. -
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Sectionalism
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Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed on February 2, 1848 after the US won the war against Mexico. The treaty favored the United States because they won the war. In the treaty, it was said that about half of Mexico's land was now United States territory. The treaty added an additional 525,000 square miles to the United States territory (present-day Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming). In return, the US agreed to pay Mexico $15,000,000 for the land acquired. -
Seneca Falls Convention met for the first time
On July 19, 1848 to July 20, 1848, the Seneca Falls Convention met, in Seneca Falls, New York, for the first time to discuss the rights of women. It was co-founded by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott in 1848. 300 women and 40 men were a part of the organization. The Seneca Falls Convention met to discuss their common interest in women's rights. There they wrote the Declaration of Sentiments, a writing that addressed a wide range of women's concerns, focused on the right to vote. -
Shakers
The Shakers were a religious group established in small Utopian communities ranging from Maine to Kentucky. Shakers practiced celibacy, had a communistic viewpoint in politics, believed all sexes were equals, rejected the belief that women were made for housework, believed there was no such thing as private private, and didn't believe in marriage or procreation. Because they didn't believe in producing offspring, they relied solely on converting others as their way of expanding Shakerism. -
The Compromise of 1850 was passed
The Compromise of 1850 consists of five bills. The five bills were: California enters as a free state, New Mexico and Utah will decide whether they are a free state or slave state based on popular sovereignty, Texas relinquishes its disputed land in the west, the federal government will take over Texas' revolutionary war debt, and lastly, slave trade will be banned in Washington D.C. However, shortly after the compromise came the Fugitive Slave Act, a law requiring the return of runaway slaves. -
Election of 1852
The Election of 1852 consisted of two candidates: Frankin Pierce as a democrat and Young America and Winfield Scott as a Whig. In the end, Pierce won the election and presidency because the Whig party fell apart. The Whig party collapsed because the strain of the Kansas-Nebraska Act pushed northern and southern members toward joining different parties. Northerners opposed south's expansion due to slavery, while the south opposed north's expansion due to its potential outlawing of slavery. -
Industrialization vs. Agriculture
In the North, industrialization increased dramatically due to steam engines. With the migration of immigrants, they will take over and provide the north cheap labor. Cities in the north began growing and populated at an exponential rate. Northerners began relying heavily on railroads and on agriculture for their economy. On the other hand, the south has small industrialized areas in the north. Cotton was the south's #1 money source. Southerners also believed that slavery was necessity. -
The Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed
With the addition of Kansas and Nebraska to the United States, the south was scared that with 2 more free states, the north would be too powerful. Because of this, southerners wanted to repeal the Missouri Compromise, stating that any territory above the 36* 30* latitude was a free state and anything below it was a slave state. As a result, Douglas introduced the Kansas-Nebraska Act. The bill states that Kansas will come into the US as a slave state and Nebraska will enter as a free state. -
John Brown and followers raid Harper's Ferry
John Brown, a white abolitionist, believed that God spoke to him to destroy slavery. His plan was to invade the south and start a slave revolt against southern whites. Brown and his followers traveled to Harper's Ferry, Virginia, in 1859 to take control of the town and raid its federal arsenal. There he planned to find followers to join his revolt. However, General Robert E. Lee and his navy were outside of the arsenal and defeated Brown. John Brown and his followers were tried and hung. -
Election of 1860
The Election of 1860 consisted of three candidates: Abraham Lincoln, a congressmen from Illinois, standing for the Republicans, John C. Breckenridge, vice president of the United States, as the official Democratic candidate, and John Bell, a senator from Tennessee, as the unofficial Democratic candidate. Because the democratic party was divided during the election, Abraham Lincoln and the republican party won. Abraham Lincoln is the 16th president of the US and is known for emancipating slavery -
Neutral/Border States in the Civil War
The border/neutral states, Missouri, Kentucky, West Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware stayed neutral throughout the entire war. President Lincoln allowed these states to keep their slaves and stay in the Union because he was afraid that alienating them with the emancipation of slavery would drive them away and cause them to join the Confederacy. Also, the border states were an asset and crucial in Lincoln's defeat because they provided him with political and military support throughout the war. -
The Civil War: North
During the Civil War, the North had a great advantage because they had populations that were around 22 million people. Their industrialization was much more advanced because they had a lot more factories. They also had more money: $1.5 billion worth of industry. The north manufactured 97% of weapons, 94% of clothing, and 90% of shoes and boots. Along with industrialization, they had more railroad tracks: 22,000 miles of track. They believed they were fighting to uphold the Constitution. -
The Civil War: South
Different from the Union, the Confederacy only had 5.5 million white people and 3.5 million slaves. They were underdeveloped in industrialization compared to the North. With only 18,000 factories, $155 million worth of industry, and 3% of the US' manufactured weapons. Unlike the Union, the south only had 9,000 miles of railroad tracks. The only thing that the Confederate army had that the Union army did not was a great history of competent military leaders: Robert E. Lee for the Civil War. -
Slaves in the Civil War
During the Civil War, slaves began fleeing to the north for liberation and freedom. In the north, northerners took slaves in as contraband and instead of returning them back to the South, the Union Army decided to use them as laborers for wages and later in 1862, soldiers in the war. Lincoln tried convincing Americans that the war was about preserving the Union and it was over state issues. However, later in the war, the reason behind the Civil War was clear - it was all about slavery. -
Women in the Civil War
During the Civil War, as men started going to fight in the war, women began taking over men's positions. Instead of doing the regular housework, women were given traditional male dominated positions. Women began taking over teaching positions, managing stores, and plantations in the South. Women will now be nurses and began working in the army. For example, Clara Barton organized a relief agency - the American Red Cross. Women even began disguising themselves as men in order to fight in the war. -
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The Civil War
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Battle of Gettysburg began
The battle of Gettysburg was the turning point of the civil war and lasted 3 days - ranging from July 1, 1863 to July 3, 1863. The battle took place in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. General Robert E. Lee led the Confederate army. Major General George Gordon led the Union army. The Battle of Gettysburg is the turning point of the war because it was the first battle that the Union won in the Civil War. Between 46,000 and 51,000 soldiers from both armies were casualties in the three-day battle. -
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Reconstruction
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40 Acres and a Mule
The Forty Acres and a Mule plan refers to a promise made in the United States by Union General William Tecumseh Sherman for agrarian reform from former enslaved black farmers. It would follow a series of conversations between Edwin M. Stanton, Charles Sumner, and Thaddeus Stevens. and followed the disruptions to the institution of slavery provoked by the American Civil War. African Americans who were freed would legally be able to claim 40 acres of land and a mule after the Civil War ended. -
The Thirteenth Amendment in the Freedom Amendments (13, 14, 15) is passed
During the Reconstruction era, after Abraham Lincoln emancipated slavery, he began passing amendments considered the "freedom amendments". The freedom amendments are the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth amendment. The thirteenth amendment, passed in 1865, is the abolishment of slavery. The fourteenth amendment, passed in 1868, gives the right for any person born in the United States to be a citizen. The fifteenth amendment, passed in 1870, granted African American men the right to vote. -
Abraham Lincoln is assassinated
Originally, Booth and his associates plotted to kidnap the President Abraham Lincoln and take him to Richmond, the Confederate capital. However the plan fell through. Lincoln was assassinated on April 14, 1865 by John Wilkes Booth, a famous actor and Confederate sympathizer, assassinated President Abraham Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. The attack happened five days after General Robert E. Lee surrendered to the Union at Appomattox Court House, Virginia that ended the Civil War. -
The Ku Klux Klan formed
The Ku Klux Klan, better known as the KKK, was formed on December 24, 1865, in Pulaski, Tennessee. The KKK originated in Tennessee in 1865 and spread to all the southern states by 1870. The KKK was created as a way for white southerners who resisted the Republican Party's Reconstruction-era policies to wreck havoc and violence (like shooting, bombing, and attacking schools with African Americans students with the goal of killing and death) towards whites and African American Republican leaders. -
Election of 1868
The Election of 1868 was between Ulysses S. Grant (Republican) and Horatio Seymour (Democrat). Grant ran for office as a way to Reconstruct the broken country. Due to his popularity during the war, he won by a landslide. Throughout his presidency, he was the center of many scandals due to not being anal about his government. Despite the scandals, he was able to semi-reconstruct the US by creating schools, jobs, etc. to free blacks which would then be taken away due to white supremacy. -
Panic of 1873
The Panic of 1873 was another financial crisis that triggered a depression in Europe and North America. It lasted from 1873 to 1879. The panic and subsequent depression would have several underlying causes to the economy in the United States. Throughout America, many people would lose their homes and jobs. Along with losing their basic necessities, people could not find a way to make an income However, as America picked back up in industrialization, the Panic of 1873 soon came to an end. -
Compromise of 1877
The Compromise of 1877 was an informal, unwritten deal that settled the intensely disputed 1876 U.S presidential election. The compromise resulted in the US government taking the last troops from the South, ending the Reconstruction Era. Because of this compromise, Hayes (Republican) became president of the US, but was only given the position if he did what the Democrats wanted. The Compromise also lessened the North’s help on free blacks because the Southerners would not listen to their rules. -
Jim Crow Laws
The Jim Crow laws were statutes enacted by Southern States and municipalities, beginning in the 1880's. The Jim Crow Laws legalized segregation between African Americans and whites. The name is believed to be derived from a character in a popular minstrel song, "Jump Jim Crow". Beginning in the late 1870's, Southern states would no longer have to deal with African Americans going to the same restaurants, schools, and churches anymore because they would create separate places for blacks to go to.
