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Samuel Slater Makes Manufacturing Equipment
Slater built his first manufacturing equipment at some point this year. He stated " "If I do not make as good yarn, as they do in England, I will have nothing for my services, but will throw the whole of what I have attempted over the bridge." This began the American Industrial Revolution, -
Cotton Gin Patented
Whitney invented the cotton gin this year, applying for the patent on the above date. He expected that his invention would reduce the need for slaves, but it did just the opposite. In addition to drastically increasing cotton production, it once again solidified the place of slavery in the South. -
Interchangeable Parts
This year, Whitney built ten muskets using identical and interchangeable parts. He disassembled the guns, mixed the parts up, and reassembled them before Congress, demonstrating their efficiency. This would soon become the norm in manufacturing. -
First Steam Boats in U.S.
Robert Fulton built his steam boats in America for the first ime in this year. This changed wather travel as distances could be traveled much quicker, having big implications for the economy. -
Embargo Act of 1807
Passed by Thomas Jefferson and his administration, this embargo prohibited outside trade in an effort to get Britin and France to respect America's status as a country. It backfired because Europe just didn't care, and the American economy suffered as a result. -
Cumberland Road
Construction on the Cumberland Road began this year. Spanning four states, this road was the biggest in America for a little while. It facilitated western expansion as well as helped in the movement of goods. -
Erie Canal Construction
Construction began on the Erie Canal on this day. Called "Clinton's Big Ditch," this was the most impressive feat of engineering in the world in its day. The canal cut across New York State, making the transportation of goods/people much quicker and cutting custs by as much as 95%. -
Austin Granted Settlement in Texas
The first 300 families settled in Texas, provided that they were Catholic, and they agreed to be Mexicanized. These provisions were ignored. -
Election of 1824
This election involved Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, and William H. Crawford. This was a highly contested election, as Adams and Jackson were both very popular. -
"Corrupt Bargain"
With no candidate receiving 51% of the electoral votes, the decision of the presidency went to the House. Henry Clay, who was Speaker of the House, used his influence to get Adams elected in return for the job of Secretary of State. Jackson and his supporters decried this as a "Corrupt Bargain," which it sort of was. -
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Quincy Adams' Presidency
Adams was the first "minority" president, meaning he got less than half of the vote. He was a bit of a misfit in the White House, as his party thought he was too moderate, his nationalist views were out of place in a sectionalist Washington, and he didn't take firm stances on issues that the public cared about (like Indian removal). He was a competent politician and administrator at a time when that simply wasn't enough. -
First Railroad in America
This year, the first railroad opened up in the U.S., marking a new era in economics and the migration of peoples. Farmers could now transpor their crops in a fraction of the time it took before. Railroads also facilitated westward expansion, bringing with it jobs, resources, and other valuable things. -
Tariff of 1828
Also known as the "Tariff of Abominations," this tax greatly raised rates from those of 1824. The South was greatly displeased, as they saw this as favoritism for the North because they had industry and the South didn't. This beacome a great source of tension in the coming Jackson Presidency. -
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Nullififcation Crisis
"Nullies" in South Carolina, along with V.P. John C. Calhoun, got together in the South Carolina state legislature and declared that any tariff that seemed to favor the northern economy was unconstitutional. Needless to say, this caused some quite large tensions between Pres. Jackson and South Carolina. This could have led to a civil war if the situation were not diffused by a compromise Tariff of 1833 brokered by Henry Clay. -
"Exposition and Protest"
Written by V.P. John C. Calhoun, this document announced his support for the "nullies" in South Carolina who supported nullifying the tariffs that they deemed unconstitutional. Calhoun was way out of line here and was really not helping matters. -
Election of 1828
In a second shootout between Jackson and Quincy Adams, Jackson emerged victorious this time, getting a solid majority. This election was very personal. Jackson was portrayed as a man of the people, whereas Adams was made out to be a stuffy elitist. This electtion marked the intensification of political partisanship. -
Rachel Jackson Dies
This was a very hard thing for Andrew Jackson to endure because he was very attached to his wife. He wrote "Heaven will be no heaven to me if I do not meet my wife there." -
Inaugeration of President Jackson
This marked the beginning of one of the most important periods in the history of our great nation. After Jackson was inaugerated he instituted the "spoils system" wherein he got rid of many of the existing executive officials and brought in his own people. Another notable phenomenon that went on soon after was the Eaton Affair, which consumed much of Jackson's first two years in office and fragmented his cabinet. -
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Jackson Presidency!
Jackson's Presidency was marked by freedom, bullets, gold, glory, and swag. -
Indian Removal Act
This act allowed Jackson to "negotiate" with tribes on the subject of moving them west of the Misssissippi River. This act was supported by white southerners but condemned by Native peoples and some white people. -
Cherokee Nation v. Georgia Decision
The court declined to rule on this case, saying that because the Cherokee nation is not a "foreign" nation in the sense of the Constitution, it does not have the authority to rule on the subject. Although the court did say that Indians have rights, to which Jackson said "John Marshall has made his decision; now let him enforce it." -
Trail of Tears Begins
The Trail of Tears started with the Choctaw nation, and were followed by the rest of the Five Civivlized Tribes. They all had to march over 15,000 miles. Roughly 30 - 35% of those involved died on the way to Oklahoma. -
Lincoln Works at a General Store
Lincoln worked at a general store at this time. -
Jackson Vetoes Recharter of B.U.S.
Henry Clay and Daniel Webster ensured that the bill to recharter the Bank of the United States passed in Congress. Jackson vetoed it. His reasoning was that the Bank was a private institution, and therefore not accountable to the people. For this reason, Jackson said, it could be used to better a select pwerful few who had access to the bank. After this victory, Jackson proceeded to dismantle the B.U.S., putting money into "pet banks" that were loyal to his party. Biddle wasn't happy. -
Tariff of 1832
This was lower than the Tariff of Abominations, but not lower enough. South Carolina was still incensed. This caused the Nullification Crisis, where South Carolina threatened to nullify the tariff. But more on that later. -
Election of 1832
This election was the first time a third party ran, the Anti-Masonic Party. This election also saw the first use of conventions to nominate candidates. Jackson won handily, with an electoral vote score of 219 to 49. -
Tariff of 1833
Brokered by Henry Clay, this tariff helped to prevent a civil war. It lowered taxes on imported goods to a level that South Carolina was agreeable to. -
Force Bill
A bill passed by Jackson and friends to make sure South Carolina paid their taxes. The Bill stated that the president had the power to use military force if the government of South Carolina did not comply. Jackson threatened to go down there himself and personally hang the governor. -
Founding of Whig Party
The Whig Party didn't have a real platform. Rather, they were just a collection of everyone that was opposed to Jackson and His Democratic Party. they were a merger of the National Republican Party and the Anti-Masonic Party. -
Steve Austin Goes to Mexico City
He went there to negotiate for a little more freedom, and was clapped in irons for his trouble by Santa Anna. -
Mechanical Reaper Patented
Cyrus McCormick patented his hore-drawn mecanical reaper in this year. This machine made the preparation of harvested crops much easier. -
Assassination Attempt
This was the first known incident of someone trying to assassinate a sitting president. A man, Richard Lawrence, who believed he was Richard III of England went up to Pres. Jackson with a pistol, took aim, and fired. The gun misfired. He produced a second pistol and tried again. This one misfired as well. Some say that Pres. Jackson proceeded to brain the would-be assassin with his cane. Afterwards, the two pistols were tested a number of times. There was nothing wrong with them. -
Treaty of New Echota
This treaty signed by the Cherokee ceded all Cherokee land in the southeast and provided that they move west ot the Indian land. -
Battle of the Alamo Begins
This famous battle, of which there were no survivors, served as a rallying cry for the Texans fighting for their independence. This was really the only battle that they lost. -
Battle of San Jacinto
Houston's troops cought Santa Anna off guard, so 900 Texans were able to defeat 1300 Mexican troops. This battle forced Santa Anna to sign a treaty which cut Texas off at the Rio Grande and gave it to the Texans. -
Treaty of Velasco
This treaty was put before Santa Anna and he was forced to sign it at gunpoint. Texas finally had their freedom and whatnot. -
Texas Declares Independence form Mexico
Texas Declared Independence, which started a war with Mexico. -
Election of 1836
This election was between Martin Van Burin, Jackson's V.P., and William Henry Harrison, a war hero. Van Burin won because Jackson threw his support at his vice president. People really like Jackson. -
Panic of 1837
This economic panic was caused by rampant overspeculation on infrastructure and slaves, on the questionable funds of wildcat banks. -
Steel Plow
John Deere invented the steel plow during this year. The use of steel was a huge advancement, making the machine more durable and more efficient. This was very helpful for farmers. -
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Van Buren Presidency
Van Buren was elected only because he was Jackson's hand-picked successor. But the Whigs made his tenure difficult, as he inherited Jackson's enemies. Van Buren was intelligent and well-educated, but he lacked Jackson's energy and essence, which is why we think of him as mediocre today. -
10 Hour Workday for Federal Employees
Pres. Van Buren instituted this regulation which, as far as I'm concerned, was the first regulation of its kind in the United States. -
Election of 1840
This election was between William Henry Harrison (log cabins and hard cider) and Martin Van Burin. Harrison won fairly easily along with his running mate, John Tyler. This election solidified the two-party system. -
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Harrison Presidency
He only lasted 32 days in office because he cought pnuemonia giving a long inaugural address. This was the shortest presidential tenure in U.S. History. -
Commonwealth v. Hunt
This case of the Massachusetts state supreme court ruled that Unions were legal. This landmark decision opened up the way for organized labor in the future. -
Telegraph in the U.S.
Samuel Morse invented the telegraph independently in this year. This, along with his Morse Code revolutionized communication, making it much much faster. Barack Obama calls this the invention of the internet. -
American Party Forms
The know-nothing Party was a pollitical party that was based on anti-immigration sentiments. There were quite a lot of immigrants coming in, so white people that were already here got jealous. -
Andrew Jackson Dies
Andrew Jackson Documentary
Andrew Jackson died this day. He said, "My only two regrets in life are that I did not hang Calhoun and shoot Clay." -
Sewing Machine
Elias Howe got his sewing machine patented. His machine used a lockstitch pattern and had the eye of the needle at the point. This invention made it possible to mass-produce clothes and meant expansion for the economy. -
Transatlantic Cable
The first message sent by the Transatlantic Cable was sent on this day. It was laid by Cyrus Field, and Europ and America were linked by telegraphy from then on. -
Pony Express
The Pony Express was a mail service where delivery men rode on horseback across the country to deliver mail. They could go from coast to coast in as little as ten days. It shut down after 18 months because it hemhoraged money.
