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Battle of Lexington and Concord
The "shot heard around the world"at Lexington and Concord officially starts the war between the colonists and the British army. This is the starting point of the Revolutionary War. -
Battle of Saratoga
This battle was the key turning point of the war. It signaled to the French that the colonists had a chance to win the war. -
Battle of Yorktown
The American victory at the Battle of Yorktown led to the discussion of the British surrender. British surrender at Yorktown and fighting of the American Revolution ceases. -
Northwest Ordinance
Led to the greatest challenge of democracy and the South became increasingly determined to maintain slavery. it also added 5 states. -
Alien & Sedition Acts
The Alien Act restricted the activities of foreign residents in the US and their attempts at citizenship. The Sedition Act restricted freedom of speech in the United States. This violated the the 1st amendment. -
Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
The legislature in Kentucky and Virginia took the position that the Alien and Sedition acts were infringing upon state rights. These states were attempting to nullity or supercede a federal law. The controversy over state's rights will continue to fester throughout the next 60 years. -
Louisiana Purchase
The purchase occurred because Napoleon needed money to finance the French Revolution. Jefferson pursued the purchase despite misgivings over the constitutionality of the purchase. It set the precedent for future land acquisitions. -
Mabury v. Madison
This is one of the key court cases under the Marshall Court. It established the judicial review. It also increased the power of the federal government. -
Missouri Compromise
It admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state. Drew the line for the expansion of slavery at 36 degrees / 30 degrees. -
Monroe Doctrine
President James Monroe passes the Monroe Doctrine to warn European countries not to recolonize Latin America. This threat was depended on the British navy. The Monroe Doctrine was used as a reason for future presidents' involvement in Latin America affairs which will ultimately lead to resentment. -
Nullification Crisis
The federal government passed very high protective tariff, which angered the South, John C. Calhoun attempted to nullify the tariff stating South Carolina wouldn't pay. Andrew Jackson wanted to maintain that the federal government was stronger than that of the states. -
Texas Annexation
Americans in the Mexican territory of Texas declared independence from Mexico outlawed slavery. The US acquired the Republic of Texas through annexation 9 years after American born declared and won independence from Mexico. This process help us acquire Texas. -
Oregon Treaty
Spanish claim to the territory ended after the Adams-Onis treaty was signed. Conflict between the Americans and the British led to the negotiations of a British-American border. Negotiations led to the Oregon Treaty of 1846 granting US control south of the 49th parallel. -
Mexican Cession
Mexican Cession contained territories that made most of up most the the rest of the Southwestern United States which the US acquired after the Mexican-American War. It also completed Manifest Destiny by giving Americans control of the land from the Atlantic to the Pacific. -
Compromise of 1850
It introduced the principle of popular sovereignty to decide the slave question. California is admitted as a free state. Sale of slaves but not slavery was prohibited in the capital. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Both sides sent supporters to sway the votes. With both pro and anti slavery supporters to sway voting, things turned violent and became known as Bleeding Kansas. -
Bleeding Kansas
It was a series of violent civil confrontations in the United States. This led to the emergence of the Republic Party. -
Emancipation Proclamation
The emancipation proclamation was a presidential proclamation and issued by the United States. It changed the legal status of more than 3.5 million enslaved African Americans.