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Period: 5000 BCE to
Beginning to Exploration
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1600 BCE
Maya
The Mayans were the most dominant indigenous society in Mesoamerica. The Mayans spoke around 70 different languages and some were bilingual with Spanish.They were polytheistic and were deeply religious. The early Mayans were agricultural and grew corn(maize), beans, and squash. They had a cultural advance where they built pyramid-like buildings and inscribed in stone monuments. During the golden age, the Mayans split into 40 cities and at its peak, the population reached to about two million. -
1200 BCE
Olmec
The Olmecs in the center of the Gulf spread their trade southward. The Olmec culture would be passed on to future Mesopotamian societies. They built monumental sacred complexes and stone sculpture, invented the ball game, and had animal gods. Not much is known of the Olmec society and many details have been debated. They exploited the fertile soil by planting corn and beans. They also gathered palm nuts, turtle, and clams, and traded goods like jade, obsidian, rubber, and polished mirrors. -
500 BCE
Dark Ages
The Dark Ages is a time between the fall of the Roman empire and the Age of Discovery. This time era had a religious superstitious society and feudalism was the preferred political party. The poor were always stuck at the bottom. At this time, the Catholic Church would ignore the Greek and Roman Scientific advances.The Bubonic Plague or Black death thrived at this time which made the lifespan very low for the average person. Crusades between Europeans and Muslims lasted for about 200 years. -
Jan 1, 1300
Aztecs
The Aztecs are believed to derive from the northern tribe of hunter and gatherers called the Aztlan or White lands. They were also called the Tenocha, a name influenced by their capital city known as Tenochtitlan. They spoke Nahuatl, which was the dominant language in Mexico. They grew crops like maize(corn), tomatoes, and potatoes and hunted. They used sophisticated irrigation systems which made their agriculture very advanced. They hand made a calendar that was based on a 365-day solar cycle. -
Jan 1, 1300
Renaissance
Renaissance meaning "Rebirth" in French was a revival of classical values from Rome and Greece. Exploration and discovery of continents followed with the invention of the printing press and advancements in astronomy was a few of the effects the Renaissance had. Famous world-renowned artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael were acknowledged for their intricate style of painting and sculptures. New types of philosophies were developed and spread around Europe. -
Jan 1, 1347
Black Death or Bubonic Plague
The Black Death was a horrific disease taking millions and millions of lives in the old world. It was spread through ships that carried rats and fleas. The name was given by the black boils that secreted pus and blood. The mysterious disease would take one-third of the European population. The people feared for their lives watching their loved ones suffer from chills, vomiting, and diarrhea. People were scared to make clothes to clothes contact making sure they didn't catch the horrific plague. -
Jan 1, 1492
Columbian Exchange
The Columbian Exchange was made possible by Christopher Columbus and his discovery of the New World, the Americas. The main trade or exchange was between crops and diseases. Old world crops like rice, wheat, and turnips made it to the Americas, and crops from the New World such as potatoes, and sweet potatoes crossed the Atlantic to the Old World. Smallpox was introduced to the New World which killed off most of the indigenous people. The Natives got the short end of the stick from the trade. -
Period: to
English Colonial Societies
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Tobacco
Tobacco is the cash crop that made Virginia thrive during its time. John Rolfe, the man that obtained the seeds, planted them around the James River. It formed the base of their economy and formed series of trade around the globe. This further boosted the economy by having buyers across the globe. The profits from Tobacco was used to purchase more slaves to keep the plants growing. The Virginia colonies thrived and the main occupancies were farming. -
Slaves
The first slaves introduced in the Jamestown colonies were used for labor. Since there is also a new thriving plant, tobacco, slavery was in demand for labor for this crop. As the demand for tobacco increased, the demand for slavery increased as well. Slaves weren't only used for farms, they were also used to care for the house. They were not treated the best because of the discrimination and condition worsen as the labor increased. -
Sugar
Sugar was in demand in the colonies because of the lack of the ability to grow it in the Americas. The Carribean islands had sugar cane plantations that developed sugar to trade with the colonies. Sugar was a rare resource to the colonies, so the Carribean islands were a big deal. The sugar trade grew larger as people started to use sugar in their daily diets. -
Mayflower
The Mayflower is a ship that transported the first English Puritans to the Americas. The Puritans are now known as Pilgrims, and they settled in North America in a place they called New England. They also developed the Mayflower Compact that established a democracy in the settlement. Originally the Puritans decided to settle in Virginia but sailed miles North to New England. It carried around 65 people with farm animals. -
Anne Hutchinson
Anne Hutchinson is a mother of fourteen with a strong religious belief who settled in Massachusetts. Her strong religious views posed a threat to Roger Williams. She claimed to have visions where she sees God and speaks to him. She viewed the Bible in a loose perspective and gained many followers through the process. Roger, however, saw it as a way to lose order because the Bible was meant to be "strict". -
English Bill of Rights
The English Bill of Rights was established to create the separation of powers, limit the powers of the king and queen, and promote democratic elections. During the Glorious Revolution, Mary and William of Orange succeeded King James II and accepted the Bill of Rights. The whole act was of the English Parliament to establish certain rights to English citizens. Some of these rights were rights to bear arms or the crown should not mess with the laws. -
Salem Witch Trials
In the town of Salem, women and little girls were accused of witchcraft because of some supernatural encounters. The whole town feared of black magic and Satan worshiping as the little girls acted as if they were possessed. A Native slave was accused of witchcraft because of her background and was later hanged. Women in the town feared of being wrongly prosecuted. Around 20 people were killed, but none of them admitted to being a witch. -
Triangular Trade
The Triangular Trade was a three-way exchange of goods, livestock, diseases, and most importantly slaves. The exchange happened between Africa, the Carribean, Europe, and the Americas. This trade increased the stability of each participant economy. The most important exchange was between America and Britain in which they traded rum for slaves. This increase of demand for slaves also increased the demand for crops to plant. -
Period: to
Colonial American
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Middle Passage
The middle passage is the part of Triangular Trade where slaves are densely packed into ships. These ships were sailed across the Atlantic to the Americas. The conditions on these ships were brutal and some of the slaves died on the ships. The slaves had no privacy because of how close they were. They were chained together and lived skin to skin right next to each other. The ships were too crowed carrying around six hundred slaves. -
The Great Awakening
The First Great Awakening was the Protestant religious revival that was in Europe and America. The movement changed how they viewed Christianity. People started to feel a more personal desire for Jesus Christ which was different from the ritual and sacramentalism ways of the past. Followers felt a deeper sense of spiritualism which encouraged introspection and a stronger connection to the diety. -
George Washington
George Washington was a founding father and the first president of the United States. He was first a soldier that served as Commander-in-chief of the Continental army during the Revolutionary War. To this day he is known as the "father of this country". He played a major role in winning the Revolutionary war by winning against the British. He was very likable which made him the perfect candidate for president. -
Enlightenment
The Age of Enlightenment is a period of time where the monarchy was turned away and scientific explanation and discovery were revived. Science was a major deal with Europeans and it challenged religious beliefs with its factoids. People like Francis Bacon, René Descartes, John Locke and Baruch Spinoza were philosophers in the early time of Enlightenment. People like Thomas Jefferson applied the values into the Declaration of Independence. -
Seven Years War
The Seven Years War or French and Indian War was a fight where Britain was against the French and Spain. The Maritime and Colonial war was won by Britain and showed off their strength. Britain controlled all Maritime battles which weakened both the French and Spain. The war, however, posed a challenge financially which led the British to tax the colonies. Britain was on the brink of bankruptcy and had to relieve the pressure. -
Period: to
Revolutionary War
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Treaty of Paris 1763
The Treaty of Paris 1763 ended the French and Indian or Seven Years War. The French had to give up all of its territories in North America which ended all French threat towards the colonies. This was not the first time they tried to end the war, but they decided to because of the enormous debt racking up. Tension fell as the Treaty was signed, but the Native Americans were still violent towards the colonies. -
Sugar Act
The Sugar Act of 1764 renewed the old Sugar and Molasses Act of 1733. The colonies were rebellious and ignored the act by finding a loophole. Instead of trading with the British, they traded with the French which hurt the British markets. Britain then reduced the rate of the taxes and enforced naval presence to discourage trade with the French, Canary Islands, and Azores. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was made to tax every single piece of printed paper used in the colonies. Colonists were angry because of how often they used paper. The tax was actually a low price to pay, but because of the frequent use of printed paper, the prices were high. The profits were used to send around ten thousand troops to the Appalachian Mountains to protect the colonists. -
Townshend Act
The Townshend Act taxed glass, lead, paints, paper and tea in the colonies. These taxes were thought to help pay the expenses in the colonies, but most of the colonists saw it as an abuse of power. Parliament repealed the Townshend Act to appease the colonists and used it as a truce. They did, however, keep the tax on tea which enraged colonists and led to boycotts and the Boston Tea Party. -
Boston Massacre
As the British army marched down in Boston, Massachusetts, and angry mob appeared to disrupt their path. The army halted as they were being assaulted both verbally and physically when they fired upon the mob and killed 5 colonists. The British were frowned upon as people used propaganda to over exaggerate what happened. The British responded by retracting their taxes to calm the colonies down. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a group of people, the Sons of Liberty, that trespassed a British ship that imported tea to the colonies. The Sons of Liberty dressed up as Indians with face paint to confuse those who witnessed the scandal. The group of people boarded the ship and tossed 342 chests of tea overboard. The British responded with the Coercive Acts which brought the two sides closer to war. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was written to declare and explain independence from Britain. The author of the Declaration of Independence was Thomas Jefferson in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776. The document also asked for help from other countries like the France. It created temporary allies with the French which in the end, ended the war with the battle of York Town. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was a rushed constitution written in the time of war. It was weak in many areas and resulted in many issues. The Articles could not allow the government to levy taxes and regulate commerce. The AOC did give congress the power to make treaties and alliances, maintain armed forces and coin money. There were more negatives than positives with the AOC so they had to replace it with an entirely new document. -
Great Debate
The Great Debate was an argument between the two parties, the Federalists and Anti-Federalists. Federalist James Madison presented the Bill of Rights to protect the natural rights of citizens and give power to the States. The Amendments would lessen the power of the Federal Government, which was the purpose of the Federalists. Alexander Hamilton and Madison debated over the need of the Bill of Rights and whether it was necessary. -
Period: to
The Constitution
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Problems with the British
After the defeat of the British in the Revolutionary war, Britain and the colonies still had tension. For instance, British soldiers would not leave the colonies until the colonies would pay and return personal property of the loyalists. They also promised the British other compromises, but still would not live up to all of them. These on going conflicts with the British would lead to another war proving the colonies as a mature country. -
Shay's Rebellion
Shay's Rebellion was a revolt in Massachusetts by a group of angry farmers. Their protests were fueled with rage through the taxes and judgement for debt. These issues caused the poor farmers in the south to lose their farms because of the high taxes and bad harvests. Everyone turned to the AOC as it took way too long for the government to handle the problems. The United States Constitutional convention ratified the Constitution which replaced the AOC. -
Three Branches
The Three Branches that runs our government today are the Legislative, Judicial, and Executive branch. They all keep each other in check by using a system called checks and balances. This keeps each branch equal to each other, without having the one powerful branch. The Judicial branch deals with supreme court. The Legislative branch deals with Congress. The Executive branch deals with the President of the United States. -
Constitutional Convention
In 1787, the founding fathers met up in Philadelphia to replace the Articles of Confederation in order to keep the United States from falling apart. They ended up gutting the AOC entirely and wrote the Constitution. The Constitution gave the congress the power to levy taxes which resolved many problems. It also introduced the Bill of Rights which gave the States and citizens more rights to balance with the government. -
North Ordinance
Congress enacts the North West Ordinance to structure the new settlements in the Northwest Territory and created new policies for newer states to abide. Virginia ceded its extensive land claims to Congress which led other states to follow its act. Thomas Jefferson plan effectively acquired new states westward. Ten new states erected as the plan was confirmed. -
Period: to
New Republic
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Election of 1788
The Election of 1788 was the first United States election for the President of the United States. George Washington was one of the nominees, but everyone knew he would win with a land slide. George was not only a likable person, but he was a key role in winning the Revolutionary War. He was the Commander-in-Chief of the army and was the first President of the United States. The Election was predestined. -
Whiskey Rebellion
The Whiskey Rebellion was the first issue that tested how effective the Constitution would be. Angry farmers that brewed whiskey were angry with the fact that the government is taxing their product. They banded together to rebel in Western Philadelphia where they were met with George Washington and the army of about 10,000 men. George's quick thinking and power to give direct orders proved that the Constitution is a solid document. -
Bank of United States
Alexander Hamilton, Federalist and creator of the First Bank of the United States, proposed to fund a national bank to regulate funds, serve as a repository for federal funds, and as the government’s fiscal agent. Although it seemed like a good idea, Anti-Federalists at the time thought that it gave the government too much power. They stated that no where in the constitution did it say that a Bank of the United States was constitutional. -
Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights was introduced by James Madison during the writing of the Constitution. James proposed to give the States official power to create any reasonable law and man given rights to citizens. They also gave basic rights like free of speech, which is the right to express your opinions without having repercussions. The right to bear arms gave the people a way to protect him or herself with a gun. -
Pickney's Treaty
Pickney's Treaty was a resolution that gave the United States its wanted recognition of the United States' border of the Mississippi and the 31st parallel. The 31st parallel is the Spanish's northern border of Florida. Spain also gave the United States permission to deposit goods at New Orleans. This was the main target of the Washington administration. This and Jay;s treaty gave United States a definite border. -
Jay's Treaty
Jay's Treaty or the Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation was a treaty between Great Britain and the United States. The British agreed to leave the colonies and stop conflict from rising between the two countries. Anti-Federalists were angry about this treaty because it was seen as an exploit of the government's power. -
Election of 1796
John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were neck and neck in the Election of 1796. This was the first election that elected the President and Vice President from opposing tickets. Although John Adams won by three electoral votes, Thomas Jefferson received the opportunity to be the Vice President as he was the running mate. The election was brutal as each side of the party attacked each other verbally. -
Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase is the biggest expansion of land in american history. France needed to pay off the debt from a recent war and asked the United States for sixty-eight million Francs for land westward. The United States took the offer which expanded their land by two times. Each acre of land was around three cents. This expansion gave Manifest Destiny a reality. -
Lewis and Clark
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led a famous expedition named the Lewis and Clark expedition to the new purchased land. President Jefferson assigned Lewis and Clark to explore the west and map the geography. Being an expert explorer, Lewis brought Clark to help him navigate the lands and draw a detailed map. Lewis and Clark endured illnesses and starvation while collecting different types of pants and animals. -
Period: to
The Age of Jefferson
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Technological Advances
The Technological Advances during this was due to the Industrial Revolution. The war of 1812 gave it a slight nudge into the right direction as industries created more weapons. For the first time steamboats and steam-powered railroads were used during the war. This encouraged more steam-powered technology in the near future. New types of products made specifically for convenience were popular during the war times. -
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a battle between the United States and Great Britain and its respected allies. This war was fought because of British naval oppression on the American sails men. They took Americans as workers on British ships and restricted U.S trade. The U.S first restricted trade with France and Britain, but then realized that it hurts themselves rather than their enemies. -
Panic of 1819
After the war of 1812, the economy stopped booming and eventually dropped as debt started pilling up with no where to go. Banks throughout the U.S failed and mortgages foreclosed causing people to lose homes and personal property. This was the first economic depression that made a huge impact. Merchants started buying and building houses which got them into a large pile of debt. -
Period: to
Age of Jackson
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Period: to
Early Industrial Revolution
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Francis Scott Key
Francis Scott Key an American Lawyer, and poet was born in Frederick County, Maryland. During the War of 1812, Francis witnessed the battle of Fort Henry and wrote the famous song "The Star Spangled Banner". It was, however, no a song in the beginning, but a poem inspired by Francis' experience. This poem was turned to a song now filled with controversy because of its subtle racism. -
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Westward Migration
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Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine written by President James Monroe, stated that the United States' foreign policy is Manifest Destiny. Monroe was a big believer in Manifest Destiny which is the belief that the country should be coast to coast. This Doctrine gave reasons why we should believe in Manifest Destiny. -
Agricultural Advances
At this time, textile mills were very popular in producing a large amount of cotton. The South is advancing in agriculture as new inventions are being developed. Meanwhile, the south is growing sugar cane, a phenomenon that could not take place a few years before. They used to rely on the Caribbean islands to export their sugar, but the south found a way. -
Election of 1824
In the Election of 1824, John Quincy Adams was against Andrew Jackson which resulted in a tie. Congress then decided that the tie should be handled by the House of Representatives. In the end, John Quincy Adams won which left Andrew Jackson furious. Jackson believed that John and Henry Clay were partnered up to make sure Jackson didn't win. He thought that John bargained with Henry to get more votes. -
Second Great Awakening
The Second Great Awakening was a religious revival during the early 19th century that grew quickly around the Baptist and Methodist congregations. It showed Romanticism with emotions and enthusiasm. It was a more super-natural based ideal rather than having a rational and Enlightenment deism. This awakening gave the rise of the millennial age which had millions converting to the idea. -
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Cultural Change
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Immigration
At this time, people from around the world heard about this great country that has opportunities. This gave people hope to immigrate to the United States to have a better life. People like the Irish came because of the famous potato famine that wiped out around a million people. Other people came because of how free the United States was. Everyone felt like they have been given a second chance. -
Election of 1828
The Election of 1828 was a huge victory for President Andrew Jackson. Andrew was going against John Quincy Adams for the second time and won by a land slide. This election marked the change from the First Party system to the Second Party system. This party system is still used today and on in the future. Jackson appealed to the common man by promising to fight for them. Doing so showed how likable he really is. -
Jackson Administration
As Jackson came into office, he chose his administration by using the spoils system. This means that the president will chose anyone he wants to work for him no matter his/her experience. His administration had many scandals because of their lack of experience, but he did achieve what he promised. For the next years, the common man with rise to the top. Jackson's appeal helped everyone especially the poor. -
Transportation Advances
The advancement in transportation revolutionized trade. Trading was now easier, cheaper, and most importantly a lot faster. People used railroads to transport goods across the country. The economy started to rise as everyone started to use these new transportation systems. Steamboats are now able to go against currents making travelling by river a lot easier. -
Mormons
The Mormons are a group of people found by Joseph Smith. He said that he found the Church of Jesus Christ and that an angel led him to it. As the society grew they established that moderation, saving, hard work, and risk-taking is a part of their life. Joseph later died as a martyr and Brigham Young was his successor. He moved the Mormons to Salt Lake City, Utah to flee discrimination. -
Native Americans
Native Americans were always being pushed away from their land by bribery or plain discrimination. The government started to "legally" move them to Oklahoma in reservation camps. The government took their land for white men to live or farm. This event is called the trail of tears and many Natives died during this trip. This transition was known as the trail of tears because of how sad it was. -
Nat Turner's Rebellion
Nat Turner's Rebellion was an inspirational protest against slavery. Nat Turner, a very religious man thought that the solar eclipse was a sign from God to rebel against the white men. He took leadership and led a group of people to kill their owners in their sleep. Nat, however, was stopped a few days later and hung with his fellow followers. Although Nat failed to retake the city, he did get a point across to the North. -
Labor Changes
People started working in local mills as the Industrial revolution starts to take off. Single women moved to textile mills of Waltham, Lowell and Lawrence, Massachusetts to earn a higher wage than other jobs. Employers started to look at how little kids could provide a service to the mills. With their small hands, the kids could reach into tight spaces, but in the end a lot of kids got hurt. -
Election of 1832
The Election of 1832 was a brutal campaign with Andrew Jackson going for a second term and Henry Clay. Henry Clay's approach to this campaign was like Jackson's campaign in the Election of 1828. Henry tried to appeal to the common man and tried to sabotage Jackson by forcing him to veto the Second Bank of America. Jackson, however, still won by sweet talking the crowd. -
Farming Communities
Farming communities had different types of farmers, but they were mostly made up of slaves. Yeomen farmers were at the top of the farming communities. They own parts of the farm and works hard with the ideal American virtue in mind. Another farmer is a tenant farmer. They rent the lands to farm on and are right before slaves. Slaves were doing most of the heavy lifting and worked the hardest conditions. -
Siege of Bexar
The Siege of Bexar or Battle of the Alamo was a stand that the Texans took to delay the Spanish's march towards Texas. The battle lasted for 13 days as the Mexicans slowly sieges towards the Alamo. The Texans supplies started to run low as Santa Anna slowly picked up people. At night Santa Anna went for the last attack and invaded the Alamo. The Texans were overwhelmed by numbers and lost the fight. -
Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith is the founder of the Mormonism and the Church of Mormon. It was believed that Joseph received a sign from God and led him to the Church of Mormons. Joseph also wrote the book of Mormon and attracted tens of thousands of followers interested in the religion. He wrote scriptures on cosmology, family structures, and political organization. His views were what the Mormons after him followed. -
Davy Crockett
Davy Crockett is one of the most famous man in American history. He received his fame from being a congressman, Alamo defender, and frontiersman. His death in the Alamo was historic as he was one of the last to fall. He has served in past militias being a great aim and surviving the battles just until the Alamo. His bravery and fame sculpted him to be a national legend as his stories were exaggerated in a play. -
Sam Houston
Sam Houston, the lawyer and congressman that moved to Texas to resolve the problems with the Mexican government became the Commander-in-Chief of the local army. He defeated Santa Anna in the Battle of Saratoga and was voted for president of Texas in 1836. He then became a senator as Texas became a state in 1845. His achievements made Texas what it is today and was rewarded with a city named after him. -
Election of 1836
The Election of 1836 was a major defeat for the Whig party. Martin Van Buren, the elected President was the Vice President Andrew Jackson during his presidency. He was was seen as a highly skilled politician and was unanimously nominated to be the party's presidential candidate. Although he was expected to be a great president, his term was a let down as he had many scandals. -
Stephen F Austin
Stephen F Austin also known as the "Father of Texas" brought the original 300 families from the United States to Texas. His success on the doubted decision brought him fame. He moved the 300 families after inheriting the land from his father's death. Austin was well respected and his name was known across the lands. Austin often argued with the Mexican government leading to the Texas Revolution. He now has a city named after him. -
Temperance Movement
The Temperance Movement was a protest against alcohol intake by a group of people. Women were the most passionate about this movement because of how their husbands treat them after getting drunk. They would fear getting abused and assaulted physically and verbally. The movement wanted full abstinence from alcoholic beverages and the demand for a more responsible act. It critic the intoxicated by shaming them. -
John C Calhoun
John C Calhoun was a congressman from South Carolina. He was a spokesman for the slave plantation system of the South. He helped establish the Second Bank of the United States and served as vice president and secretary of state. He led the United States to war with Great Britain and wrote bills to establish railroads and canals throughout the United States. He also ran for president, but lost bitterly. -
Election of 1840
A Whig named William H. Harrison won against Martin Van Buren on his second term. The votes were very close, but because of the unification of the Whig party, Van Buren did not stand a chance. William's title of "war hero" also gave him another advantage. At the time, he was the oldest president to be elected. His early death gave John Tyler the role of being president. -
Communication Advances
On May 24, 1844 the first message on the telegraph was sent and revolutionized how we communicated throughout history. The telegraph was used to send quick messages in emergent situations, most commonly the military. Soldiers communicate with each other by tapping a button with a certain pattern that spells out words letter by letter. This is called Morse code. -
Election 1844
In the Election of 1844, James K Polk ran against Henry Clay for the president of the United States. James won because of his choice in annexing Texas, and this gave him a huge advantage especially since Henry went against that idea. James also went for the idea of Manifest Destiny were further put him in the lead. James appealed to the people that wanted to expand westward, which is most of the population and took the election with a win. -
Manifest Destiny
Manifest Destiny was the belief that the United States need for expansion from coast to coast is justified and God-given. This belief sped up the act of westward expansion. It encouraged the removal of Native Americans and the war against Mexico. John L. O’Sullivan was the first person to use the phrase "Manifest Destiny" in an article about the annexation of Texas. -
Mexican American War
The Mexican American War was the first war that the United States fought in foreign land. James K Polk and the idea of Manifest Destiny wanted the border of the Rio Grande. The battles were mostly a American victory as one-third of the Mexican territory was gone. The states that were given to the United States were nearly all of present-day California, Utah, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico. -
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Sectionalism
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California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush was the biggest migration in United States history. The discovery of gold in California sparked hope for everyone in the nation. A lot of people wanted fortune and fame from the gold. Around 300,000 people traveled to California, but very few made a fortune from the opportunity. The miners overall mined around 750,000 pounds of gold at the end of rush. Around 2 billion dollars worth of gold was extracted. -
Seneca Falls Convention
The Seneca Falls Convention in New York was a women's rights convention with around 200 women attending it. Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton planned the convention and they are both abolitionists. The Declaration of Sentiments and Grievances was drafted and was based on the Declaration of Independence which stated that they believe that they are equal to men and men are equal to them. -
Election of 1848
James K Polk did not want to run for a second term and didn't deal with the slavery issue. Lewis Cass, the Democrat in the election, proposed the idea of popular sovereignty meaning the people should decide. The Whigs nominated Zachary Taylor, a war hero, but also an inexperience man in the political race. The Free-Soil-Party nominated Martin Van Buren who blew off Cass, but was not enough to beat Zachary Taylor. -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 had five laws passed surrounding an underlying issue, slavery. The five laws passed consisted of the Fugitive Slave and the slave trade in Washington, D.C., was abolished. Furthermore, California entered the Union as a free state and a territorial government was created in Utah. A border for Texas and New Mexico was also discussed and established. -
Zach Taylor
Zachary Taylor served in the army for 48 years and commanded troops in the War of 1812, Seminole Wars, and Black Hawk War. After the Mexican and American war, he became a war hero and was elected for president in 1848 because of his extreme achievements. Zachary fought for the freedom of slavery as he wanted California to be a free state. In 1850, Zachary Taylor died from a sudden illness. . -
Charles Grandison Finney
Charles Grandison Finney was a leader in the Second Great Awakening and was an American Presbyterian minister. He ran the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. He is also known as the "Father of Modern Revivalism" and was an advocate for Christianity and a religious writer. The religious views he believed in gave him passion to fight for abolition and education for women and slaves. -
Election of 1852
The Election of 1852 was the seventeenth quadrennial election held. The Election was pretty similar to the Election of 1844 having a Whig succeeding a president war hero who has died. For the democratic party, they nominated Winfield Scott, and for the Whig party, they nominated Franklin pierce. Again the Whig party lost with a poor planned strategy. After Franklin's win, the Whig party began to collapse. -
Bleeding Kansas
The time in which violence surrounded Kansas because of the debate on whether Kansas should be a slave state or not. The 1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act replaced the Missouri Compromise and people swarmed Kansas. Anti-Slavery and Pro-slavery people came in to try to convince what the state should or should not be. Violent events like the raid of Harper Ferry by John Brown gave the name "Bleed Kansas". -
Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman left her husband and family to free the enslaved. “Mah people mus’ go free" she said as she fled to help out with the Underground Railroad freeing hundreds of slaves including her family. There was a bounty on her head for forty-thousand dollars and was believed that God was on her side keeping her safe from capture. She never lost a fugitive and never left one behind. -
Election of 1860
This election solely revolved around the issue of slavery. Lincoln, the republican showed promise as he was very likable and honest man. He was put up against John Breckinridge, the Democratic party's nominee. Lincoln won becoming the 16th President of the United States. His leadership skills were tested as the conflicts were tearing states and families apart. These issues were, however, handle maturely by Lincoln. -
North's Condition
The North had a larger population than the South. This gives them number advantage meaning more soldiers and more workers to do other jobs. The North's industrialized society posed a great deal supplying them with "limitless" supplies. Not only that, but their naval presence blocks imports and exports stopping them from making a profit. Their only disability was their poor leadership and training. -
South's Condition
The South had many issues revolving with their supplies and demands. Their problems were too severe to adapt to. They were handicapped with their lower population and their economic level. People were starving as the war proceeded because they had no where to get food or money from. They did, however have a great military leader, Robert E Lee. His strategies and training gave the South a fighting chance and if there were not any handicaps, the South would have won. -
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Civil War
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1st Bull Run
The first major land battle was the 1st Bull Run. It took place in Manassas Junction, Virginia and was a confederate victory. Although the confederate was out-numbered, the Unions poor training and leadership skills had no match. The confederate sent the Union running and was a very inspiring battle. This battle showed that the South would not be taken down so easily, and that the North would lose if they did not change anything. -
Ulysses S Grant
Ulysses S Grant was the Unions best commander in the Civil War. His strategies and planning gave the Union the victory against the Confederacy and is considered the Union's saving grace. His excellence was well received and was elected 18th president in the 1868 election. Grant focused on Reconstruction of the South during his presidency and tried to protect of the freed black people. -
2nd Bull Run
This battle was a fight of the minds as Robert's strategy showed how much better he is than the Union. Henry Halleck, the new commander of the Union army was ordered to unite the army and plan an offensive attack against the South. Robert planned ahead and split up his army to flank the Union. The battle was fierce as the Confederate pressured against the Union. Although there were many casualties, the Union lost again. -
Robert E Lee
Robert E Lee was the Confederacy's commander in the Civil War. His presence is the reason why the South stayed in the war for such a long time. His great leadership and excellence in training gave the South such an advantage that if they had the supplies needed, they would have won the war. Robert's name is very popular in the South and lives on as the South's treasure. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg gave the Union hope for winning and ending the war. It was the major turning point that the Union was hoping for for such a long time. The two sides clashed in Gettysburg Pennsylvania as Robert's troops were being slaughtered. The battle lasted for 3 days as Robert's command for an invasion of the North turns South. -
John Wilkes Booth
John Wilkes Booth is known for his assassination of president Abraham Lincoln. His occupancy was an actor and was very successful, but will forever be referenced as the man that killed Lincoln. He first planned to kidnap Lincoln to force him to release confederate soldiers, but then killed him in the midst of a play on April 14, 1865. He ran away to be later caught and killed after 12 days. -
Election of 1866
During this time in the Election of 1866, it was the early era of Reconstruction. The presidencies debated whether reconstruction was necessary in the South or not. There were three running mates that were against each other. Schuyler Colfax, a Republican, Samuel Marshall, a Democrat, and Nathaniel Boyden, a Conservative. Schuyler Colfax won the election and stopped reconstruction. -
Period: to
Reconstruction
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Ku Klux Klan
The Ku Klux Klan or the KKK was the White's resistance against the freedom of black people. Violence against the black people were one of the few things they did. Congress tried to get rid of the KKK and stop their white supremacy across the South. They involve themselves in activities such as burning crosses and staging rallies, parades and marches denouncing immigrants, Catholics, Jews, blacks and organized labor -
Election of 1868
The Election of 1868 would take place right after the Civil War. The Nominees were Ulysses S Grant, a Republican, and Horatio Seymour, a Democrat. Ulysses S Grant had a great advantage because of his massive victories in the Civil War. He was a war hero that saved the Union and was a very honest man. After he won the election, his main focus was Reconstruction in the South. -
Panic 1873
The Panic of 1873 was the first global depression caused by the industrial capital. The stock market was poorly handle and the government could not get control of the money. Stock markets crashed and they were all busts. The little amount of money now was a problem to their economy. The United States backed up their currency with precious metals like gold and silver to try to rebuild the economy. -
Election of 1876
This election was during the Grant-era corruption and the public tried to nominate possible presidential candidates they could trust. Democrats turned to Samuel J. Tilden, and the Republicans chose Rutherford B. Hayes. The Nation was suspenseful hoping they made the right choice to save the Nation. Samuel J. Tilden won the election by 1 electoral vote. -
Jim Crow
Jim Crow is slang for a black person. Jim Crow Laws referred to the laws used to segregate black and whites in the South after the Compromise of 1877. Southern states had no carpetbaggers and freedmen in office. Laws were created that separated blacks from white schools and buses. Anyone thought to have colour would be discriminated and segregated like the rest of the blacks. The supreme court however said that states could not prohibit segregation on common carriers, like trains.
