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Jan 1, 1440
Printing Press
After the Printing Press was invented, society started adapting and including printed literature, which had been a substitute for "traditional oral culture." -
Jun 1, 1500
Protestant Reformation
With the Printing Press gaining popularity, everybody began learning more individually through books. Primarily with Christian and Catholic religions, people started focusing on building their beliefs on books created from the printing press than relying on what was told from an authoritative figure. -
Colonial Years
During colonial times, all around America there were one-room schoolhouses being created. They were immensely upgraded as well as completely taught by only male teachers. School population grew as schooling in America became more popular. -
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a major event for public education in America. The IR attracted many farmers to industrialized cities, caused many immigration waves, and turned universal schooling into a necessity from just a movement. The IR allowed for mass production of food (which was needed for fast population growth) as well as lowered the necessary amount of people to produce the food. -
Apprenticeship
Up to the early 19th century, education was primarily based around the parents' responsibility. Children were taught only necessary skills that were needed for specific jobs/tasks in their everyday life. -
Horace Mann
New England, Beginning of the 19th Century: Horace Mann started a new movement for education. Mann wanted to completely change the system from a family-based system, where it was the family's responsibility to educate their children, to a universal system, where it would be the state's responsibility. -
Lifetime Occupation
Horace Mann had established the first school that was made to prepare teachers. This teacher prep. school was established in Lexington, Massachusetts in the year of 1837. -
Education for Small Children
America's first public kindergarten was opened in Watertown, Wisconsin by Margarethe Shurz. This led to nearly 4,500 kindergartens to be created by 1900. -
Public Colleges and Universities
The first public colleges / universities were established in Michigan and Wisconsin in the early 19th century. The movement to push higher public education facilities didn't greatly expand until 1862, right after the Morill Act was passed.