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Period: 2000 BCE to
Beginnings to Exploration
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1400 BCE
Human Sacrifice
Human sacrifice was an old ritual performed by the Mayans as paid respect to their gods. Many times, the Maya empire would perform these rituals in order for their civilizations to flourish and feared that if they didn't spill blood their lives would perish. These beliefs were largely supported by their people in honor of the gods and were never thought to be questioned otherwise there would be consequences. -
800 BCE
Eastern Woodlands People
The Eastern Woodland people were a tribe located in Eastern North America. This tribe was known for being connected to nature and being seasonal migrants. They were one of the most popular tribes in the early ages and believed in giving back to their environment after taking from it. -
700
The Dark Ages
The dark ages were a crooked time for Europe. Many people were in starvation and crime flourished through the streets. People didn't feel safe in their homes and many others died of epidemic disease. This time was both wicked and deadly for people and resulted in many acts of violence. -
1150
Adobe Houses
Adobe houses were constructed largely by the Pueblo people and were made to keep the intense heat outside of homes. Adobe houses were usually relatively close and stacked upon one another to fit as many people as possible. These type of home are still used today, however, they are modernized to accommodate air conditioning. You can find these types of homes in modern day New Mexico and Arizona, just to name a few. -
1347
The Black Death
The black plague, otherwise known as the black death, was a deadly disease that spread throughout Europe killing millions of people. The disease was so widely distributed due to the compact civilizations people lived in. As many people died from this disease, Europe faced many conflicts in shortages of population and keeping people safe from infection. -
1492
The Columbian Exchange
The Columbian Exchange was a trading system that flourished in the Atlantic Ocean primarily consisting of the new world and Europe. Along with many different foods and vegetables, major diseases were also spread. The Columbian Exchange was the largest contributor to new world colonization and the spread of various goods that were never once imagined in other places. Such as tomatoes in Europe. -
1500
The Renaissance
The Renaissance was a time of artistic acceptance and technological advancements. Leonardo da Vinci was a popular figure in this time period due to his famous painting such as the "Mona Lisa." In this time, many new discoveries were made and various inventors were praised for their scientific work. In fact, the theories made in the Renaissance, by Sir Issac Newton, are learned today in not only U.S. History classrooms, but in Physics. -
Roanoke Colony
The Roanoke Colony is known today as a famous unsolved mystery. When it was first established, its leader, John White needed to return to England for supplies and surprisingly returned to find that his colony was deserted. After searching for clues the only thing that was found was the carving "Croatoan" in nearby trees. This left many people in fear, and began the creation of various theories. Some people blamed on it on an Indian raid and others on food shortage. -
Period: to
English Colonial Societies
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Tobacco
Over 1 million pounds of tobacco were exported to England by 1630 making it the number one cash crop primarily in the Chesapeake colonies. This was the result of a large demand for the crop in foreign countries, therefore making the colonies dependable by others. As the tobacco crop flourished in the rich soil, so did the amount of colonist moving in the Chesapeake to own plantations and get rich off this crop. -
Indentured Servants
Indentured servants were contracted workers that lived hard lives in order to enter the new world. Their work was viewed as a form of payment to live in the colonies. They usually worked for masters from 4-7 years and were also clothed and fed by their employers. As time continues, we will see how indentured servants become useless and unpopularized after lives begin to become sold for the same types of labor. -
Cecil Calvert
Cecil inherited his father George Calvert's power and became the proprietor and required settlers to have provisions. Due to his ruling, the Chesapeake colonies were eventually taken over by Protestants and Catholicism was banned. Although Cecil Calvert, largely contributed to the new world, he wasn't well remembered as a prosperous leader. -
Atlantic Slave Trade
The Atlantic Slave Trade involved inter-African slaves and was a new source of labor for many people in the Americas. The countries involved in the Atlantic Slave Trade were Spain, Portugal, and Holland. They each largely contributed and promoted this new source of labor. This event also marks the beginning of a new era that would result in segregation, mistreatment, and rebellion. -
Navigation Acts
The Navigation Acts required limited Dutch trade with English colonies and forced all goods to be transported on English or Colonial ships. This caused many issues for the two counties since a lack of freedom was given when involving the trade system. This would later spark various other acts that would block trade ports and force goods to be paced through certain routes and canals. -
Lower South
The lower south, much different from the upper south, began as a colony of colony and evolved from a frontier settlement with rice being its main cash crop. With so much rice to be produced, over 2/3 of the population was strictly slaves and many of them lived under the task system, which allows them to take a break after hard work. Unlike the upper south, this region preserved African culture and was the foundation of a very similar task system in Georgia. -
Upper South
The upper south was different from the lower south in many ways, one of those being the way indentured servants were replaced with slaves and the primary focus on tobacco plantations above everything else. This along with the difficulty for African culture to be preserved caused many difficulties for the slaves in this area, however they were treated much more fairly than those in the south. -
Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution was led by James II, which wanted a Spanish style colonial government. Some major results of the glorious revolution include the dominion of New England, new taxes, reapplication for land deeds, and most importantly the desire to make allies between England and Catholic France. -
Salem Witch Trials
As fear rampaged throughout Salem many girls began acting strange and as many described "sinister." Many were accused of witchcraft and the first trial began with the minister's daughter who was showing attributions of the devil. In order to test if the women being accused were actually witches, they were placed in water because only a real witch would float. -
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Colonial America
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Triangular Trade
With many changes in the 18th century, there was a huge expansion in commerce and The Triangular Trade is a perfect example of this transformation. One of the biggest benefits of Triangular Trade was the ability for people to gain access to luxury goods. The sole fact, that people were able to focus on luxury goods, proves that times were becoming simpler in the colonies, and people were able to no longer worry about survival, but instead textiles and jewelry. -
Georgia / The Enlightenment
Named after King George II of England, Georgia was established originally a penal colony for prisoners and the poor to receive rehabilitation in a "pure" environment. However, Georgia was more largely viewed as a buffer colony and later changed having administrative groups and importing various slaves. -
French and Indian War
The French and Indian war begins due to England, France, and Spain fighting each other for territory. Along with them fighting over land, the British and the colonist desired land out west. This caused both sides to revolt against one another. Sadly, the French had a very strong army, as they were more modernized than the Indians, and dramatically killed many of the native people. -
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The Revolutionary War
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Revenue Act
The Revenue Act, otherwise known as the Sugar Act, was an act passed in 1764 which taxed sugar. Many colonists were angered with this tax and resisted, along with voicing their displeasure they challenged the revenue act using petitions. Along with being upset, they fought against parliament and would later fight back using the phrase "no taxation without representation." -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre occurred after a crowd of Bostonians crowded into a street and began harassing British soldiers due to their anger with various taxes. Not surprisingly, the soldiers began shooting into the crowd and many panicked. One man named Paul Revere was astonished by the event and created a fictional account of the events that occurred making the event seem farther serious than it actually was. This representation can now be used as example for American propoganda. -
Coercive Acts
The Coercive Acts, otherwise known as the Intolerable Acts, occurred when British Parliament made the decision to close the Port of Boston as a result of the Boston Tea Party. Along with this, they also did away with the Massachusetts colonial charter. These acts were a way of the British saying, "we are no longer going to tolerate these colonies." -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party is one of the most significant events in history and is widely known by many Americans. However, the real story behind the Boston Tea Party occurred when a group of drunk Bostonians decided to dress as Indians and dump over tea into the Boston harbor. This story will forever be told in the educational system and would spark anger in the British. -
Battle of Lexington & Concord
As the British were concerned, the Americans seized military supplies and warned other of the British coming. One of the major battles, The Battle of Lexington, famously known as the battle with the "shot heard round the world," was a major battle in the result of the American Revolution. -
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson, known as one of the founding fathers of the United States of America, believed in a decentralized government and a nation of farmers versus Alexander Hamilton's nation of bankers and money systems. Along with this, Thomas Jefferson was viewed as the primary leader of the Republican party and was followed by many. Despite all of this, Thomas Jefferson is famously known for writing the Declaration of Independence in 1776. -
Middle Passage
The Middle Passage was the slave trade route in which more than 10% of slaves came directly to mainland North America. Along with these statistics, more than 10% of the slaves aboard ships for transportation died during the voyage. It is even said that before the slaves were bought they were "conditioned" for physical labor in order to prepare them for the hard work to come. -
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The Constitution
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Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederations were viewed as weak by many people due to their lack of ordinance. This caused many people to revolt against the U.S. government leaving George Washington to put down the rebellion. Some of the biggest things that angered many Americans about the Articles of Confederation were the ignorance of central government authority and the sole fact that Congress couldn't get anything done. -
Battle of Yorktown
The Battle of Yorktown was the last major battle, ending the American Revolutionary War. In the Battle of Yorktown, the French contribute largely by joining the American side. Together they joined their forces causing the British to surrender and claiming independence for the American colonies. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris, which occurred in 1783, will officially end the Revolutionary War and recognize the United States as an independent and sovereign nation. Along with this, the treaty also granted fishing rights to the United States, established the Northern border with British North America/Canada, and restore loyalist properties. -
American Virtue
American virtue widely celebrated ideals of Republicanism and involved everyday ordinary citizens. Along with this, Americans focused on educating their citizens and developing state constitutions. American virtue can be seen as a form of patriotism and the feeling of independence for the United States. -
Shay's Rebellion
Shay's Rebellion occurred due to a post-war recession which was bad for everyone and caused many farms to be seized causing a huge amount of food shortage for many people. Many farmers including one named Daniel Shay, began a series of protests against state and local enforcement on tax collections. -
Slaves (3/5 Compromise)
One of the issues towards the movement for the constitution involved how to count slaves. This was an issue due to the divisions between north and south states. The north was anti-slavery while the south was pro. This led to the U.S. government having to create a compromise known as the 3/5 in order to count slaves against state population. -
The Great Debate
The Great Debate was a series of protests and debated led by the Federalist party in an attempt to ratify the Constitution since they largely supported it. They argued their perspective largely and defended the constitution like it was their own baby. They cared very deeply for having their way and believed in a strong central government. -
Northwest Ordinance
The Northwest Ordinance was a law passed by the U.S. government on July 13th, 1787 which provided a method for adding new states to the Union from territories. They involved governors and legislatures which rejected slavery. This governance ultimately fell under the Articles of Confederation and later split the states into the Middle West. -
Election of 1788
The election of 1788 was the first election in American history. George Washington won this election since he was viewed as a god-like figure and was liked by many. Another thing that made him a perfect candidate was his non-belief in parties. People looked up to Washington and believed that he could lead them into a strong nation. -
Federalist
The Federalist, led by Alexander Hamilton, believed in a strong all-powerful central government and supported the Constitution. They believed that checks and balances could preserve the government and opposed the Bill of Rights. One famous man known as John Jay wrote a book known as "The Federalist," which is used in the modern supreme court. The book involved federalist ideas and debates as to why a strong central government can hold up the union. -
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The New Republic
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The American Industrial Revolution
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Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton is today famously known as one of the founding fathers of the United States of America. He believed in a strong central government in hopes to control order and supposed class divisions along with catering to the rich and had a strong influence over George Washington. Along with this he was the leader of the Federalist party and was well respected and envied by many. -
Bank of the United States
The Bank of the United States was established as a depository and made loans to various people. The primary purpose of the Bank of the United States was to stabilize currency and economy and support private investors. However, there were various conflicts which came along with the opening of the bank. Many wondered if it was constitutional and if the government was being given too much authortity. -
Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights was famous due to its guarantee of individual rights and liberties to every individual in the Congress of the United States. The Bill of Rights was largely supported by the anti-Federalist party which fought towards a weak central government. However, this caused many problems as the Federalist party did not support it and argued against its policies. -
Whiskey Rebellion
The Whiskey Rebellion was the first test of the U.S. Constitution and occurred after a taxation was set on whiskey which earned large amounts of profit. The tax angered many Pennsylvania & Kentucky farmers as they revolted refusing to pay the high tax. In fact, over 6,000 of them threaten to attack Pittsburg and Washington leads an army proving to everyone that the new U.S. Constitution is not one to be reconned with. -
Cotton Gin
The Cotton Gin, invented by Eli Whitney in 1783, revolutionized the production of cotton by speeding up a once long complicated process. This invention was very important to America since it was it's number one export. Overall meaning that the more production of cotton in short times would mean more money for the United States. Along with improving the U.S. economy, it caused slaves to be in high demand ultimately raising their value. -
Washington's Farewell Address
Washington's Farwell Address was written by George Washington in which he described his undesire to run for a third term. This made people aware that presidents shouldn't hold office for more than 2 terms at once. Along with this, he asked for the U.S. to avoid conflicts and never form permanent alliances with foreign countries. -
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The Age of Jefferson
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Hamilton VS. Burr
The Hamilton VS. Burr duel was a battle fought between two American politicians which ended badly. In this duel, Burr shoots Hamilton causing him to die overnight. After this duel, many people were angry at Burr and he became a fugitive for his crime. This crime, in fact, ended his entire political career, which some say, is exactly what Hamilton wanted. -
Embargo Act of 1807
The Embargo Act of 1807 was a law passed by the United States Congress which prohibited American ships from trading in all foreign ports and was signed by President Thomas Jefferson. This act caused a variety of conflicts and gave the U.S. a sense of power over their citizens. -
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was based on a conflict between the United States, the United Kingdom, and many of their other respective allies. This war was primarily fought in attempts to restrict United States trade. This, however, didn't stop the U.S. from trading and becoming the successful nation it is. -
Free-Black Communities
Since free southern blacks continued to live under the rule of slavery, they were unable to travel freely like other blacks in the north. The lack of travel for the southern blacks made it difficult for them to build sustainable communities and meet for religious rituals. These free-black communities didn't last for long since many whites were against the idea of blacks meeting together possibly theorizing ideas to overcome them. -
McCulloch VS. Maryland
The McCulloch VS. Maryland court system is one of the first and most important Supreme Court cases in regards to federal authority. This court case involved a very important topic, in which the Congress had implied powers which gave them the power to establish a national bank. This today is known as one of the most important cases in United States history. -
Panic of 1819
The Panic of 1819 was the first major financial crisis during peacetime in the United States that was followed by a general collapse of the American economy lasting all the way till 1821. As said by its title. many people were in panic as the economy began to struggle and people began to question the United States's survival. -
Mass Production
Mass production in the Age of Jefferson drastically changed labor-intensive jobs which would once take longer to accomplish up until technological advancements. In mass production, goods were produced easier with the creating of various inventions causing factories to open through the United States, also bringing forward a feeling of independence. -
Nature / Creation of Parks
As Americans transitioned into the modern world, they began to build national parks in honor of fallen soldiers and generals who had died in the past. Not only did these parks serve as memorials, but they focused on the preservation of nature and promoted social interaction. Even today. parks are being constructed for people to get away from city life and relax in a place of nature. Modern day examples of this could be Houston's Discovery Green and New York City's Central Park. -
Greek Revival
The Greek Revival Style began with the creation of public buildings and other pieces of architecture in Philadelphia in 1820. As the architecture became popularized in communities, homes began construction in the Greek style and could be later found in many American neighborhoods. This type of architecture can be largely found in the East coast and in many parts of the south. -
Abolitionist
Those against slavery, widely known as abolitionists, fought for black rights prior to the American civil war and faced many conflicts as they received punishments for helping African slaves escape plantations and become free. Overall, they were largely concentrated in the northern Union as they didn't depend on slaves to meet their economic demands, unlike the south. -
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Cultural Changes
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Iron Plow
The Iron Plow, invented by Jethro Wood, involved various replaceable parts and flourished towards the development of American agriculture. This tool made it easier for crops to be planted and grown, causing the production of goods to exceed what they had normally been. Inventions like this sparked industrialization and made people richer easier. -
Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine was the United States policy which opposed European colonialism on American territory beginning in the year of 1823. Although this caused many conflicts for people throughout Europe, it made it simpler for the U.S. to expand and not have to worry about their land being taken or conquered by European nations. -
Changes in Transportation
Many changes in transportation affected the modernization of the United States beginning with the building of roads through stones, building railroads for trade, and canals for easier trade in between large cities. In modern times, transportation is also vital for success as people travel through airplanes to discuss foreign trade and can now take jets across the country in hours. -
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The Age of Jackson
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Second Great Awakening
The Second Great Awakening was a religious revival protest which occurred in the early 19th century in the U.S. Throughout this protest, many Baptist and Methodist preachers led the movement and promoted people to express their religious views. This is a perfect representation of America and how open it is to a variety of religions and ultimately freedom. -
Telegraph
The telegraph, invented by Samuel Morse, in the 1830's revolutionalized long distance communication later playing a huge role in the American Civil War. Along with the creating of the Telegraph, Samuel Morse created a series of codes in order for individuals to communicate to one another. -
Yeoman Farmers
Small landowners, primarily in the South, farmed on their own land and usually didn't own slaves. They resembled the American dream by remaining pure and not having slaves working their land. These people were mainly poor and didn't have the time to stress over slavery since their survival was dependent on their own labor. -
Whig Party
The Whig Party was a political party popularized in the 19th century in the United States. They primarily believed in the supremacy of Congress over the president and favored modernization, banking, and economic protectionism. This party eventually breaks off later in history and is replaced by the Republican party. -
Mormons
The Mormons were also known as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Their religion was founded by a man which claimed he could read holy written text on two golden plates he found on his land. However, Mormons were largely discriminated and decided to leave their land and move west in order to find a place where they could freely practice their religion. -
Nat Turner's Rebellion
Nat Turner's Rebellion, led by Nat Turner, was a slave rebellion where many blacks were fighting for freedom. In this astonishing event, many whites were murdered and their homes were rampaged. The rebellion didn't last very long as word got out and a militia of around 200 men killed a majority of the slaves. As a result of this revolt, Congress would pass a series of laws preventing slaves from being able to read or write, therefore causing them to be uneducated and unable to revolt. -
Spoils System
The Spoils System, also known as the patronage system, was the practice in which the political party winning an election would reward its campaign workers by appointing them to government positions. This system was also highly bias and didn't give people outside the system an opportunity to work in government positions. -
Nullification Crisis
The Nullification Crisis was a confrontation between South Carolina and the Federal Government. The outcome of the Nullification Crisis was in favor of the government in which they developed the doctrine and caused a huge crisis in the United States. Many people were affected by this crisis and resulted during the presidency of Andrew Jackson -
Tariff Act of 1832
The Tariff Act of 1832 was a tariff in the United States under Andrew Jackson's presidency but was written primarily by former President John Quincy Adams. The Act was meant to reduce the existing tariffs but was still deemed unsatisfactory many people in the South. -
Anti-Abolitionism
Anti-abolitionists were a group of individuals who were against getting rid of slavery. In attempts to protect their views, they went as far as attacking aboloshionist homes and businesses. -
Stephen F. Austin
Stephen F. Austin, born November 3rd in the year of 1793, is today famously known as the "father of Texas." He became well known by leading the second and most successful colonization. Throughout his life, he had many more successes and is today named after a well known university in Texas. -
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson, otherwise largely known as the leader of the common man, played a huge part in the development of the United States. Along with serving as 7th President of the United States of America, he was also a part of the Democratic-Republican party. -
Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren, also known as OK or Old Kinderhook, was widely known a largely unlike politician. Some in fact referred to him as "Martin Van Ruin" and do to his unpopularity he was not elected to a second term as president. -
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Westward Expansion
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Election of 1844
In the election of 1844, James K. Polk defeated Whig candidate Henry Clay. Around this time, the annexation of Texas was opposed and James Polk became famously known for his role as president. -
Manifest Destiny
Manifest Destiny was the term used for the sense of American expansion. Those who promoted Manifest Destiny believed that America was destined to extend from coast to coast. This idea of expansion helped fuel western settlements and later benefited America with the discovery of gold in California. -
Battle of Palo Alto
The Battle of Palo Alto was the first major battle in the Mexican-American war and was led by General Zachary Taylor. With his command, he was able to lead his army and defeat Mexico. His victory would recognize him as a war hero and would later cause him to be elected as the 12th president of the United States. -
Wilmot Proviso
Wilmot Proviso was the act which hoped to ban slave states from expanding southwest into the new conquered land. As the south planned to move their ideas and plantations into the west, America faced a problem since the Union did not want them to be declared slave states but instead free. -
Brigham Young
Brigham Young was known as the second leader of the Mormons and led the Latter Day Saints Movement. He would be their leader up until his death before leading them to Salt Lake City, which he founded. -
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush can be defined by its name. It was simply the rush to California in search of gold. Thousands of miners traveled to Northern California after rumors of gold discovered at Sutter's Mill. This discovery was very important since gold came along with extreme wealth and was in high demand. -
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Sectionalism
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Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo marked the official ending of the Mexican-American war and established the Texas/Mexican border as the Rio Grande. Along with this, the United States gained a majority of land out west, two of the many being Colorado and Nevada. This battle is still important to this day since this border is still used and affects immigration regulations in the modern day. -
Seneca Falls Convention
The Seneca Falls Convention was the first women's rights convention where things from social, civil, and religious conflicts, and the rights of women were discussed. As analyzed from its title, this convention took place in Seneca Falls, New York in 1848 and would come to attract women from all around to in the future hold more National Women's Conventions. -
Trail of Tears
The Trail of Tears was a forced removal act of Native Americans from their homeland to an area designated for them by the United States government. The Trail of Tears is so widely known since many Natives died on their way to the new land and others were sad over the loss of their homes. -
Fire-Eaters
The Fire-Eaters were a group of radical pro-slavery Southerners who believed in the separation of the South from the United States in order to keep their wishes to keep slavery. As this later occurred, largely due to the influences of the fire-eaters, established the Confederate States of America. -
The Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was a secretive series of homes and stops organized by people who helped African slaves of all ages escape slavery in hopes to reach north and become free. The railroads were mainly used before the beginning of the Civil War and the people who were involved were primarily northerners. Along this trail, slaves were provided shelter, food, and water so they could survive their long voyage. -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 would consist of five laws which largely affected the United States. The compromise occurred due to California wanting to join the U.S. as a free state, which greatly affected the balance upsetting the south. This compromise would cause the fugitive slave act to be amended. -
Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive Slave Act was the series of laws which allowed the capturing and returning of runaway slaves in all states of the U.S. but primarily the Union. Along with this, many northern whites became cautious in helping slaves since they feared recieving punishment for their actions. -
Henry Clay
Henry Clay, born April 22nd in the year of 1777, was a member of the Whig Party along with others such as Martin Van Buren. Clay was famously known as the "Great Pacificator," due to his contributions to domestic policies. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin was a novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe in attempts to show northerners the harsh conditions in which slaves lived in the south. It featured the awful conditions and whippings slaves would have to live with on a daily basis. The book became so popular in the north that is was one of the best sellers. In response, the southerners released a similar book, Aunt Phillis's Cabin, to try and convince northerners that slaves lived in perfect conditions and wanted to be slaves. -
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was born on April 27th in the year 1822. He is famously known for his involvements in many American wars such as the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War. Throughout the battle, he would lead the Union and succeed in many battles defeating the south. -
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The Civil War
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Clara Barton
Clara Barton was the first woman to influence the battlefield in U.S. history. She began as a nurse to assist soldiers that were badly wounded and later became the founder of the American Red Cross. -
1st Bull Run
The First Battle of Bull Run was on fought on July 21st, 1861. The first battle would be won by the Confederates due to the lack of positioning by the Union. Although both sides were not very well trained, the south had an advantage due to their strong leadership. -
Trent Affair
The Trent Affair was an incident which occurred during the American Civil War which threatened a war between the U.S. and the U.K. Luckily, the United Kingdom did not declare a war and asked for an apology after the incident. This was benefical for the U.S. since they wouldn't be able to handle a war with the U.K. along with their already existant civil war. -
The North
In the American Civil War, the north had many advantages. Some of those included larger populations, industrialization, and railroads. A larger population meant the north could have a bigger military and the railroads could easily transport these men from and to the war zone. Along with these advantages, the north strongly believed in upholding the Union. However, unlike the south, the north had terrible leaders and morale. -
The South
During the American Civil War, the South had an advantage in their amazing leadership, which the North badly lacked. Throughout the duration of the war, the southerners compared themselves to American colonists and the tensions they had with the redcoats. Along with this, they hoped to gain alliance from the British but faced many problems. Some of these problems included their lack of navy, money, and supplies. These problems largely came due to the blockade of ports by the Union. -
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Reconstruction
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Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg was recognized as the turning point of the war and was a huge Union victory. Along with being a Union victory, it was the largest battle ever to be fought in North America. This battle would lead to a variety of deaths. -
Freemen's Movement
Freemen's Movement was a time where many former slaves began to wonder and explore the land they had never been able to see before. After being enslaved for many years, blacks had no where to go and needed to become economically independent. They began looking for labor intensive jobs as they lacked a primary education and many wondered off in search of loved ones which had been lost during sales. -
Freedman's Bureau
After slavery was abolished with the 13th amendment passed by Abraham Lincoln, many blacks were left wondering about the U.S. with nowhere to go. Due to this issue, Freedman's Bureau was established to help blacks get on their feet by providing them with shelter, food, and basic education. -
13th Amendment
The 13th Amendment of the Constitution declared that "neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for a crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States. Although this amendment ended slavery, this didn't stop the southerners from enslaving blacks of their human rights by treating them horribly. -
Ku Klux Klan (KKK)
The Ku Klux Klan was founded in the year of 1865 and would extend into almost every southern states and become a way for white southerners to resist political and economic equality for blacks. In order to express their revolts, the KKK would attack, shoot, and bomb black schools, churches, and other public places along with private homes. -
Black Codes
The Black Codes is the popularized name given to various regulations passed by Southern slave states. The primary purpose of the Black Codes was to preserve slavery and were established due to the concern over labor and controlled movement of slaves. This was an issue since slavery had given away the free labor system. -
Enforcement Acts
The Enforcement Acts consisted of three bills passed by the United States Congress. The acts were primarily criminal codes which protected blacks rights to vote, hold office, serve as juries, and recieve equal protection of laws. -
Jim Crow
The Jim Crow laws were a series of regulations enacted by southern states beginning in the 1800's. These laws would legalize segregation between blacks and whites forcing them to be separated by attending different bathrooms, schools, churches, and many more. The Jim Crow laws gave whites what they most desired, which was to be kept separate from blacks. They would no longer have to worry about blacks entering their communities and eating at their local restaurants. Not so free after all.
