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1500 BCE
Olmecs
The Olmec were the first major civilization in Mexico. They were located around south-central Mexico. The Olmec's population grew greatly during the formative period. They practiced bloodletting rituals and played the Mesoamerican ball game. The Olmec's are mostly know for their artwork, which was called "colossal heads". -
Period: 1500 BCE to
Begginings To Exploration
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1100 BCE
Pueblo(Anasazi)
The Anasazi grew in the dry lands of Southwest America. Their houses were grouped together and the Spanish would later call them "Pueblos". Even with the dry lands, the Anasazi learned how to farm and grew crops like corn, squash, and beans. The Anasazi had many gods represented to them by nature like the Sun God. To this day, no one knows for sure why the Anasazi left their Pueblos. -
400
The Dark Ages
The Dark Ages is considered as the early Medieval period in Europe. After the Roman Empire fell, many kingdoms tried to capture the power over people and their capitals. Besides those struggles, Christianity evolved as a religious movement. There were struggles between Orthodox Christians and Catholics as well, they did not see this time period the same. Because of all these political struggles, people began to have beliefs and ignored all reasoning. -
1500
Columbian Exchange
The Columbian Exchange was the trade between the New and Old World. It was the trade between plants, animals, culture, and new technologies. Those weren't the only things they traded; they also traded diseases unfortunately. Besides that, this trade helped the increase in population in both Worlds. -
1517
Reformation
The Reformation was also know as the Protestant Reformation and began in 1517. The Reformation was a schism from the Catholic Church and was started by Martin Luther. Luther wanted to criticize that the Pope had no authority over purgatory and the Catholic doctrine had no foundation with the bible. The publication made by him called the Ninety-five Thesis continued going until 1648. -
1519
Conquest of The Aztecs
The conquest beginning in February 1519 was very significant to the colonization of the Americas by the Spanish. Cortes arrived in Tenochtitlan in November of 1519, and Montezuma took him in. Later on, Cortes took Montezuma captive and gave up as a gesture. The Spanish accomplished what they wanted in August 13, 1521 when the emperor Cuauhtémoc and Tenochtitlan, which was the capital for the Aztecs. The Spanish were also aided by enemies of the Aztecs, which made conquering easier. -
1534
New France
New France was the name of the new land colonized by France in North America. It all began with the exploration of the Gulf of St Lawrence by Jacques Cartier in 1534. New France was also known as French North American Empire. New France had five colonies and each had their own administration. The five colonies were Canada, Hudson's Bay, Acadia, Newfoundland, and Louisiane. -
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was born in April 25, 1599. Later on in his life, he was elected to run in Parliament in 1628 and 1640. Cromwell was a Puritan who served as deputy commander after the outbreaks of the civil war in 1642. When Charles I died, Cromwell served in the Rump Parliament. He wanted to reform the legal system through the establishment of the Blue Laws. Cromwell also served as "lord protector" of England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland from 1653 until his death in 1658. -
Charter Colonies
Charter Colonies were a colonial government that established in America in the 17th century. Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts Bay were all part of these colonies. The way the Charter Colonies worked was by Britain granting a charter to the colonial governments and establishing rules on how the colonies would be governed. Rhode Island and Connecticut were the ones who granted colonists more political liberty than any other settlements. -
Period: to
English Colonial Societies
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Chesapeake Colonies
The start of the Chesapeake colonies was rough because the first winter, the majority of settlers suffered from diseases and died. Later on, the Chesapeake continued their growth with their main crop as tobacco. This led to the need for slaves in the Southern colonies. Chesapeake colonies also used White indentured servants to grow crops. -
Period: to
Colonial America to 1763
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Slavery
Slavery in Colonial America played a big role in the growth of plantations. The first African slaves were brought in Virginia in 1619, mostly from the Caribbean, not directly from Africa. It is believed that African slaves were mostly used in Caribbean Sugar Colonies that were operated by Britain, France, Spain, and the Dutch Republic. Once slaves arrived to Virginia, they were treated as indentured servants, and some were granted freedom by completing a contract or converting to Christianity. -
Plymouth Colony
The Plymouth Colony was a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts. This colony was founded by the Pilgrims in 1620 who came in the Mayflower. The Pilgrims first arrived here because they decided to separate themselves from the church of England. Since the Pilgrims couldn't settle on the new land out of the blue, they signed the Mayflower Compact in order to be able to explore the new land. Once settled in December 21, 1620, the first few winters were difficult, but they made it through. -
Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution was the overthrow of King James II of England. The overthrow was played in action by a union of English Parliamentarians led by William III, Prince of Orange. The reason why the King was overthrown was because his policies of religious tolerance after 1685 had opposition from others. These people were disturbed by the King's Catholicism and his approximation with France. -
Salem Witch Trials
The Salem Witch Trials began in February 1692 when a group of girls in Salem Village, Massachusetts claimed to be possessed by the devil. They accused local women of witchcraft. When more and more claims were made, a court was put in place to hear the cases. Later on, several women were convicted of being witches and some were hung and others killed dramatically. Throughout the months, many others, including men and children were accused. In September 1692, the public turned against the trials. -
Act of Union
The Act of Union happened in 1707. In this act, the Scottish and English Parliament were united to form the Parliament of Great Britain. Before this act, Scotland and England were separate states with separate legislatures, but had the same monarch. In the year 1707, England and Scotland were "United into One Kingdom by the Name of Great Britain". -
The Enlightenment
The Enlightenment occurred in 1715, and was a period where reason and science began to play a bigger role. People were questioning pre-conceived notions like the Holy Bible. Sir Isaac Newton and John Locke were among the people who played a role in the enlightenment. Above them, was Benjamin Franklin, who was the symbol of American Enlightenment. -
Great Awakening (1st)
The first Great Awakening was a reaction to secularism of the Enlightenment. This awakening changed colonial American Societies. The 1st inter-colonial event was led by George Whitfield, who preached gospel. People had a greater choice in choosing congregations for spiritual needs. During this Great Awakening, ordinary people had a voice, even though it fractured religious order. -
Ohio Company of Virginia
The Ohio Company of Virginia was founded in 1748 by Thomas Lee, and by Lawrence and Augustine Washington. They saw the potential of Ohio to move in to colonize, as well as to block French Expansion. They wanted the Ohio Company to show off the prospecting and trading interests of Virginian investors. Later in 1749, the British Crown granted the company 500,000 acres of land in the Ohio Valley. 200,000 of that land were promised and the other 300,000 were granted if the company was successful. -
Fort William Henry
Fort William Henry belonged to the British and was located at the southern end of Lake George, in the province of NY. The fort was ordered to be constructed in 1755 during the French and Indian War for attacks against the French Fort at Crown Point. This fort was a part of a chain of British/French forts, and was key to the frontiers of NY and New France. Though it was meant to last, the Huron tribes committed atrocities and made the British surrender. -
Period: to
The Revolutionary War
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Treaty of Paris 1763
The Treaty of Paris of 1763 was signed by Great Britain, France, Spain, and Portugal after Great Britain's victory against France and Spain over the Seven Year's War. This treaty ended the Seven Year's War, which is known as the French and Indian War. Britain and France had to return the land they acquired. Besides that, Great Britain did acquire much of the French land. Also, Great Britain was willing to protect Roman Catholicism in the New World. -
Sugar Act
The Sugar Act was also known as the Revenue Act and the American Duties Act. This Act was passed by the Parliament of Great Britain to raise taxes. The bad thing was that it was passed while the colonies had economic depression. Because of this, colonists began protesting the fact of "no taxation without representation." This act also affected the New England ports and made the smuggling of molasses more risky. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre occurred when British soldiers came to control a an angry crowd. There had already been various confrontations between British troops and citizens. In this confrontation, three people were killed, and eight others were hurt. The British soldier Captain Thomas Preston and eight of his men were arrested for manslaughter but were later freed. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a protest performed by the Sons of Liberty. The Sons of Liberty dressed up as Native Americans and got on board in disobedience of the Tea Act. They destroyed an entire shipment of tea. They threw off chests of tea into the Boston Harbor. The British were really angry, and this act escalated towards the American Revolution. -
Virtual Representation
Virtual Representation in the Americas occurred around the year 1774. Virtual Representation was a way the British responded to the First Continental Congress in the colonies. The British had the idea that the members of Parliament had the right to speak for all the British subjects (i.e the colonies), but the colonists rejected this idea. -
Olive Branch Petition
The Olive Branch Petition was a letter written to King George lll by the members of the Second Continental Congress. It was signed by many representatives including those of Rhode Island and Connecticut. The letter was an attempt to avoid war for independence against Britain. The Petition was shipped on boat on July 8th, 1775 and arrived to the King six weeks later. Throughout the years, the Olive Branch Petition has also been named The Second Petition to the King, and The Humble Petition. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was adopted in July 4th, 1776 by the Second Continental Congress. It was written by Thomas Jefferson. The Declaration stated to the king that the 13 colonies were now independent states. This statement made now a new nation called the United States of America. -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga was a turning point for the American Revolution. The British General J. Burgoyne led his troops on September 19th and gained a small victory over the U.S. General Burgoyne attacked once again on October 7th, but was defeated by the Americans. This outcome forced Burgoyne and his troops to retreat. The American's victory was significant and convinced the French to recognize the cause of colonists. -
Period: to
The Constitution
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Constitution of Massachusetts
The Constitution of Massachusetts is the document of Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The author of this document was John Adams. Once written, it was voted upon and was approved on June 15th, 1780. It was until October 25th, of 1780 when this document was effective. This constitution was a model of the US Constitution. -
Articles of Confederation
The first constitution written for the US was the Articles of Confederation. It took a while to take effectiveness because people feared where central authority would take place. These articles stated that the US would be independent and would rely on the Congress as a last resort. The Congress had the power to make treaties, have armed military, and have currency of money. The downfall was that the Congress had no power to impose taxes and regulate commerce. -
Treaty of Paris- 1783
The Treaty of Paris ended the Revolutionary War. It was a negotiation between the United States and Great Britain. This treaty recognized America as independent. The Continental Congress planned to send Adams, Franklin, Jay, Jefferson, and Laurens. -
Shay's Rebellion
Shay's Rebellion was a protest given by farmers because of the raise of taxes. The protest took greatly part in Massachusetts where farmers had bad harvests, experienced economic depression and were close to losing their farms. The rebellion was led by Daniel Shay, who was a former captain in the Continental army. The Rebellion took place but was shut down by state militia. Even though it didn't last for long, it did alarm politicians to either revise or replace the Articles of Confederation. -
The Great Debate
The Great Debate in 1787 was between Federalists and Anti-Federalists. As we know, Federalists favored a strong central government while the Anti-Federalists favored a government that would give power to the states. This Debate was all about these two ideas. Anti-Federalists argued to go back to the structure of the Articles of Confederation. The Federalists on the other hand argued that they didn't need a Bill of Rights. -
Northwest Ordinance
The Northwest Ordinance is also known as the Ordinance of 1787. This was basically an act that the Congress passed to create a Northwestern Territory. This law relied on a strong central government. It would have admission to new states as well. It also had rejection to slavery, which caused a few problems. -
Constitutional Convention
The Constitutional Convention was intended to revise the Articles of Confederation. The actual intention for it was to create a new government instead of fixing the existing one. Some of the people involved were James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington. George Washington was the one elected to take over the Convention. The result of this Convention was that it created the Constitution of the United States. -
Period: to
New Republic
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Election of 1788
The election of 1788 was the first election in the United States. It was ran from December 1788, to January of 1789. This election was conducted using the United States Constitution. The person that was for sure to win was George Washington, who was unanimously elected, later to run one more term. Washington had John Adams to become the first Vice President. -
Enlightenment Ideals on America
The Enlightenment in late 18th century was a way of seeing how to overthrow old authorities. This enlightenment brought a society that thought among rational lines. Much of the population was educated. People were not so caring about religion anymore. There was also a separation between churches and states, and many citizens had more say in problems. -
Whiskey Rebellion
The Whiskey Rebellion was a protest farmers had against taxes imposed on Whiskey. This Rebellion was the first test for the constitution. Whiskey was economically important, and helped farmers earn large profits. When 6,000 farmers/citizens revolted and threatened to attack Pittsburgh, Washington lead an army to shut it down. -
Bank of the United States.
The First Bank of The United states was chartered in 1791. It was a form of depository, and capable of making loans. It was meant to supposedly stabilize currency and the economy, as viewed by Hamilton. This Bank set off Constitutional issues, which questioned whether the government had too much power. In the end, Washington sided with Hamilton, and the bank was chartered. -
Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights are (as we all know) the first 10 amendments to the US Constitution. The Bill of Rights highlights freedoms/rights, and limitation of power among the government (Congress). In June 1789, Madison introduced 9 amendments, but only 7 were passed. Later, Congress approved 12 articles, but only 3-12 were ratified on December 15th, 1791. -
Election of 1796
In the election of 1796, Washington had his Farewell Address. He said 2 terms was it, and advised the US to avoid conflict, and have only temporary alliances. The election was between John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson. In the end, John Adams wins the election. Jefferson being second place, he got the Vice President part. -
Kentucky Resolutions
The Kentucky Resolutions was the idea of Thomas Jefferson. The resolutions said that States could nullify unconstitutional laws. Doing this, states argued for their rights. This was the foundation of States' Rights. Even thought the resolutions were written secretly, Jefferson had the consent of James Madison. -
Election of 1800
The election of 1800 marked the end of the naval war. It also caused a division among Federalists, and Adams was seen as weak, which divided the party. Jefferson ties with Burr, but Jefferson still wins. The reason why is because of the deal struck by Hamilton. Hamilton persuaded the House to vote for Jefferson, as long as Jefferson didn't undo any Federalists' policies. -
Revivalism
Revivalism happened around the year 1800. It was a series of Christian meetings that also influenced the leaders of the second great awakening. Among those leaders was Charles Grandison Finney. Revivalism stated that the Market Revolution was bad and had a belief in free will. -
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Cultural Changes
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Age of Jefferson
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Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was achieved primarily by Thomas Jefferson. He bought the Louisiana Territory from the French. This gain of land doubled the size of the U.S. After this, the Lewis and Clark Expedition happened. Both men along with a group of people sailed up the Missouri River and negotiated treaties with the Natives. They used a woman named Sacagawea for translation, and it went successfully. -
Hamilton v.s. Burr
The duel between Hamilton and Burr happened at 7 a.m. in July 11th, 1804. Both of these men hated each other at this point. When it was time for Hamilton to shoot, he purposely shot in the air. Then, Burr shot Hamilton, directly in the stomach, but the shot directed next to his spine. Hamilton was severely injured, and was taken back to New York. Hamilton died the next day, while Burr was accused of murder. -
War of 1812
Before the war of 1812, the British still had the strongest navy. America use a new land-based strategy, but are defeated by the British. Then the British take D.C and burn the White house in revenge for Montreal. In this war, Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner. The Americans' Navy defeat the British at the Great Lakes. The Battle of New Orleans ended the War of 1812. The commander that led to defeat the British was Andrew Jackson. In the end, the war didn't solve any issues. -
Period: to
The American Industrial Revolution
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Adams-Onis Treaty
The Adams-Onis Treaty was a treaty negotiated between the U.S and Spain. This treaty ceded Florida to the U.S. and also was able to define the boundary between America and New Spain. The Adams-Onis Treaty also settled a border problem between the two and marked a victory for the United States' diplomacy. The treaty didn't last for long because Spain signed another treaty acknowledging the independence of Mexico. -
Panic of 1819
The Panic of 1819 was the first major financial crisis experienced in the U.S.. The Panic of 1819 was caused by the transition from colonies, to becoming an independent country with its own economy. The economy was made up of financial/industrial condition of the central bank policy. This made it vulnerable to boom and bust cycles. The Panic of 1819 was one of the worst recessions in U.S. History. -
Mormons
Mormons were around the years of the 1820's and attended the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. A very important man was Joseph Smith. He founded some golden tablets in 1823 that had ancient language writing. The writings only he could see, and believed Native Americans were one of the lost tribes from Israel. -
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was passed by the 16th U.S. Congress. The Compromise classified Maine as a free state, while Missouri as a slave state. The reason why is because it helped maintain the balance between the North and South. The compromise created an imaginary line 36 & 30 parallel. President Monroe signed the law formulation on April 6th 1820. -
Second Great Awakening
The Second Great Awakening took place shortly after 1820. In this Awakening, education changed. It changed in the way that schools started assigning grades to students, provided textbooks and instructions, and also began taking attendance like we do today. There were also labor issues, along with fear of increasing taxes. The Mentally Ill began getting their own prisons, isolating them from others. Prisons transformed into Penitentiaries as well. -
Railroads
Railroads were introduced to the Industrial Revolution around the year 1821. As everyone knows, the railroads had a huge impact on the Industrial revolution. Railroads allowed faster, and cheaper transportation for goods coming from factories. They also helped businesses get more business, which made them grow even more. Railroads helped people migrate into cities as well, giving opportunity to find better jobs. -
Temperance movement
The temperance movement happened around the 1820's. This movement was conducted by women to ban the consumption of alcohol. The Alcohol consumption at the time was very high. People drank all day, really. This movement did reduce the consumption of alcohol. It even caused some states to ban alcohol. -
Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine was a policy created by the U.S.. This Doctrine was against European colonialism. All it meant was that if European nations tried to gain land in North or South America, it would be viewed as disrespectful. The Monroe Doctrine also stated that the U.S. would not try to take any European lands either. -
Texas
Stephen F. Austin came to Texas around the 1820's. Before settling, there were some conditions that needed to be followed, like becoming Catholics, learning Spanish, and to get rid of slaves. These were all imposed by the Mexicans. Later on, whites outnumbered Hispanics almost 5 to 1. Texians disobeyed Mexican laws since they were so far away. Texas decided to separate from Mexico and a man named Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna became a dictator and decided to send forces north to fight, but loses. -
Trappers
Trappers were mostly active in the early 1820's and 30's. They were mountain men who hunted for animals to take part in the fur trade. They used traps to get the job done, but still had obstacles along the way. They were highly skilled, and gained huge profits. Unfortunately, there was decline since Beavers were hunted massively almost to extinction. Trappers lost their jobs also when there were fashion changes. -
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Age of Jackson
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Election of 1824
The Election of 1824 was won by John Quincy Adams. This election was the only one decided by the House of Representatives. The reason why is because neither Adams nor Jackson gained the majority of the electoral vote. This election was also the only one where the president lost the popular vote. The Election of 1824 is also known to be a corrupt bargain. -
Waltham System
The Waltham System was created between the years 1820-1830. It was used in centralized factories where young girls and women worked. This system had a large labor force for mass production. Around this same time, women began to start earning more since they learned trade. The con was that they had to work long hours, and had to support bad conditions in the labor area. -
Age of the Common Man
The Age of the Common Man began during the presidency of Andrew Jackson. The Age of the Common Man would continue going through the following decade. This Age is known to be when white men had the ability to be elected to government office. It was also driven by the fact that almost all white men could vote. -
Election of 1828
The Election of 1828 was competed by John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson, once again. It was the first Modern Election in the U.S.. In this election, Jackson had a new strategy by showing his humble origins, and his Democratic values. This election had personal attacks, with each of the running candidates calling each other womanizers. In the end, Jackson wins the election with the vote of the common man. -
Nat Turner's Rebellion
Nat Turner's Slave Rebellion happened in August of 1831. The rebellion was led by Nat Turner himself. He and around 60 slaves were able to kill 50 white people. Northerners viewed this uprising as heroic while the South had the opposite view. Nat Turner's Slave Rebellion is considered the Largest Slave Uprising in American History. -
Election of 1832
The Election of 1832 was between Jackson and Clay. Jackson was part of the Democratic Party, while Clay was part of the National Republicans. There was talk of a second Bank of the U.S., but Jackson hated it. Clay on the other hand thought the bank would help him win the election. Jackson gave his veto speech and laid out the vision for the American Democracy. In the end, Jackson wins over Clay in the presidential election. -
Nullification Crisis
The Nullification Crisis happened while Jackson was still president. It was a sectional crisis that involved confrontations between South Carolina and the government. Congress had raised the import taxes which later imposed the Tariff Act of 1832. It imposed taxes on things like clothing as well. South Carolina was greatly affected and hurt southern agriculture -
Shakers
The Shakers had been around a while, but their highpoint was around the 1830's. Shakers were known to be celibates, and communistic. They believed in equality among sexes. Shakers rejected domesticity and believed in having no private property. They didn't believe in marriage or procreation. -
First Police Forces
One of the early modern police forces was created in Philadelphia. The police force was intended to patrol for 24 hours. Later, in 1838, the Boston Police force was established. They had a day police and night watch to keep people safe. Forces like these were used to keep order and were headed by police chiefs. -
Anti-Slavery Movement
The Anti-Slavery Movement was an abolitionist organization founded in 1833. It was founded by William Lloyd Garrison who was making an effort to free slaves. The movement for a while had been publishing abolitionists materials like newspapers, and hosted meetings as well. They wanted to free slaves gradually to Africa like Liberia. -
Yeoman Farmers
Yeoman farmers were active between the years 1830-1840. Yeoman farmers relied on planters to help with their farms, while others resented planters. Even though they were in the South, 75 percent of Yeoman farmers did not own slaves. Later on, these Yeoman farmers formed Southern militias. They used these militias to catch runaway slaves, and had guard against slave rebellions. -
Election of 1836
The Election of 1836 was between Martin Van Buren and four Whig Party candidates. Van Buren barely won the election against the four running Whigs. The bad thing about his victory is that he inherited the bad economy. The bad economy led to the Panic of 1837, which Van Buren was blamed for. -
The Iron Plow
The Iron/Steel plow was invented by John Deere in 1837. This invention made things easier for farmers since it was made of steel. Since the steel was polished, the dirt didn't stick on the plow. Deere then sold around 100 plows by 1842, and 400 of them by 1843. His invention was also nicknamed grasshopper plows because the plow was able to cut through grass easily just like a grass hopper. -
The Telegraph
The Electric Telegraph was invented in 1837 by Samuel Morse. It was a huge innovation for the industrial revolution. It was the first form of long distance communication. The invention of the Telegraph allowed businesses to grow even more. The reason why is because the telegraph delivered sent messages almost instantly. -
Election of 1840
The Election of 1840 was ran between Van Buren and General William Harrison. Harrison was part of the Whig Party, and the Whigs began spreading rumors about Van Buren, which had a great effect on the election. Van Buren was part of the Democrats, who favored states rights. Harrison who was part of the Whigs supported a strong central government. In the end, Harrison wins, but only made it a month and John Tyler who was VP becomes president. -
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Westward Expansion
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Mexican American War
The Mexican American War was fought form 1846 to 1848. There were some border disputes that needed to be fixed, so Polk asks for a declaration of war. Americans then march from Kansas to California to fight. California then declares independence from Mexico, and causes Mexico to lose more land. The Battles of Veracruz and Palo-Alto were American Victories. The Battle of San Pasqual was for the Mexicans. In the end, the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo settled the border dispute. -
Wilmot Proviso
The Wilmot Proviso happened in 1846. It was a proposal to ban slavery in the territories acquired from Mexico. This was a political firestorm, but was also defeated in Congress. In the end, the Democrats and Whigs split into pro-slavery and free-soil factions. -
Great Migration
The Great Migration happened around the 1840's. People migrating to the West used the Overland trail. They usually took five to six months to make it all the way through. Among the people migrating were Mormons, who were excluded from societies. They formed different communities in the Midwest. One of the leaders, Joseph Smith was later killed in jail by an angry mob. Brigham Young, another leader wanted to get away and settled in Salt Lake Valley, Utah. -
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Sectionalism
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Seneca Falls Convention
The Seneca Falls Convention was held in New York in 1848. This Convention was conducted by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott. The Seneca Falls Convention also launched the woman suffrage movement. There were close or over 300 men and women who attended this convention. The media, who was primarily men, had a negative aspect and coverage of this convention. -
Election of 1848
The Election of 1848 took place in November 7th, 1848. The election was between Lewis Cass and Zachary Taylor. Lewis Cass represented the Democrats while Zachary Taylor represented the Whigs. In the end, Zachary Taylor took home the win for the Whigs. -
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush happened around the late 1840's. Gold was found in California and thousands of people migrate towards the gold. There were 200 thousand people by 1852. Gold was easy to find at first and mining began in 1852. -
Popular Sovereignty
The idea of popular sovereignty happened around the year of 1850. This idea was basically a proposal to let states to choose their own path. Their own path meaning whether or not they chose to be a free or a slave state. Popular Sovereignty was also placed in the Compromise of 1850 and also in the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854. -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 introduced five separate bills. California entered as a free state. New Mexico and Utah decided whether or not they were going to have slavery. Texas gave up disputed Western land and the federal government took over Texas' debt. The last bill was that slavery was banned in Washington D.C.. -
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was a route that was used to help runaway slaves escape. The Underground railroad reached its peak by 1850, when supposedly, 100,000 slaves had escaped. Abolitionists in the North helped these slaves escape. They used safe houses as checkpoints to avoid being captured. Among these Abolitionists was Harriet Tubman. She helped 100,000 slaves escape, risking her own life every time. -
Election of 1852
The Election of 1852 was battled between Franklin Pierce and Winfield Scott. Pierce was part of the Democratic Party and Scott was part of the Whig Party. There was extreme polarization between the Whigs. This election also marked the end of the Whig Party itself. In the end, Franklin Pierce ended up winning. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed in 1854. It was introduced by Stephen Douglas. The Act allowed Nebraska and Kansas to choose whether or not they would allow slavery. Southerners were afraid of 2 new free slaves because it would give more power to the North. The imaginary line of 36/30 was then repealed because of this Act. -
Election of 1860
In the election of 1860, Democrats were greatly divided. Abraham Lincoln was running as a Republican. He had very few political enemies, and also had a moderate approach to slavery. In the end, Lincoln wins because of the division among Democrats. For the first time ever, the regional party had won. -
Grant's Western Campaign
Grant's Western Campaign happened around the year 1861. Ulysses S. Grant seized Confederate strongholds and the Rail-Road too. This helped the Union gain control over most of Tennessee and Kentucky. Grant also captured most of the Mississippi River after the Battle of Vicksburg. Union forces were able to capture New Orleans. This Western Campaign deprived the South of its largest city and financing. -
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American Civil War
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Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh was fought in April of 1862 taken place in Tennessee. The Union commanded by Grant were camping near a river, but were attacked surprisingly by the Confederates commanded by General Johnston. During the confrontation, General Johnston was mortally wounded. During nighttime, Grant received reinforcements from other Union forces. This allowed them to counterattack the Confederates, and push them back. -
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam was fought close to Sharpsburg, Maryland and Antietam Creek. This battle is the bloodiest in U.S. history for it only happened in a single-day. Robert E. Lee and George B. McClellan fought against each other. Lee leading the Confederates and McClellan the Union. In this battle, the Union took home a Quasi Victory. McClellan still wasn't able to defeat the Army of North Virginia. -
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was given by Lincoln on January 1st, 1863. This document would help free slaves from their masters. Lincoln said that slaves would be free unless the rebellion ended by January 1st, 1863. The Proclamation stopped Britain from entering the war in favor of the South. In this Proclamation, Lincoln allowed the border states to keep their slaves. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg was fought on July 1st 1863 and ended two days later on July 3rd. This battle is considered the most important in the American Civil War. General Robert E. Lee led his troops of Northern Virginia to Pennsylvania in June 1863. The Confederates stumbled upon the Union's Army which was led by General George G. Meade at Gettysburg. Both the Confederates and the Union Army fought bravely, but at the end, Lee and his troops had to retreat with a loss. -
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Reconstruction
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40 Acres & a Mule
Forty Acres and A Mule was given by Union General William Sherman to former slaved black farmers as a promise. This promise followed up to several meetings. These former slaves were told that they deserved to own the land they had worked on as slaves. Freedmen hoped to claim 40 acres and mule once the war ended. Land was distributed, but unfortunately was claimed back to their original owners. -
Freedom Amendments
The Freedom Amendments greatly benefited African Americans. The thirteenth amendment was passed in January of 1865. This amendment officially ended slavery. It was also pretty unusual because the amendments before had nothing to do with slavery. The fourteenth amendment protected the rights and the people themselves who were former slaves. The fifteenth amendment granted African American men to vote as well. These Amendments for sure impacted the whole U.S.. -
Appomattox Court House
Appomattox Court House was the place where Robert E. Lee surrenders to Ulysses S. Grant. This little house is placed in Appomattox County, Virginia. Lee and Grant met and Lee signed a document. This meeting officially ended the Civil War. -
Lincoln's Assassination
Lincoln's Assassination didn't happen that quickly. Lincoln was attending a play at Ford's Theater. This happening five days after Appomattox Courthouse John Wikes Booth, an actor, went up to the President's Booth and shoots Lincoln. Lincoln was greatly hurt and was taken to a place to rest. The next day, unfortunately, he died. -
Election of 1866
The Election of 1866 wasn't for presidents, it was for the Senates. The Elections witnessed the Republican Party get two seats in the U.S. Senate. The reason why is because some Southern States were beginning to get readmitted during reconstruction. This caused the Republicans to be a majority which explains why they gained the seats. -
Election of 1868
The election of 1868 was between Ulysses S. Grant and Horatio Seymour. Grant represented the Republican party, and Seymour the Democratic. This election was the first presidential election during the reconstruction period. President Johnson, the former VP of Lincoln, was not popular enough to receive vote to run for president. Between Grant and Seymour, Grant was more popular due to his activity in the civil war. In the end, Grant won the election, winning one for the Republicans. -
Panic of 1873
The panic of 1873 wasn't just an impact on the U.S., but also on the world. The panic of 1873 was the first global depression due to industrial capitalism. This panic began with boom and bust cycles in the economic system. The reason why the panic happened is because industrial capitalism is conducted by a series of capitals and investments. There wasn't much of productivity around 1873, so a crash happened. -
Compromise of 1877
The Compromise of 1877 was a deal that settled the Presidential election of 1876. The odd thing was that it wasn't formally written, better yet, not even written. The U.S. government took out the last troops that were in the South, and also formally ended the reconstruction era. The Compromise helped Republican Hayes remove troops who would help the Republican state governments survive. Since the House at the time was filled mostly with republicans, the compromise helped take effect immediately. -
Jim Crow
Jim Crow were laws that executed racial segregation in the South. These laws were enacted by white Democratic-dominated state legislatures. The Jim Crow laws demanded racial segregation in the states who were formally Confederates. These laws also expanded towards public education and transportation like railroad cars. Unlike white segregations, Black segregations were underfunded.
