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Battle of Lexington & Concord
The Battle of Lexington & Concord was the start of the Revolutionary War. The battle in Lexington was short, but important because that's where it started. The battle of Concord was when British panned to search for weapons, but Americans knew what they were doing. They attacked the British and they retreated. But by the time they reached Boston, they lost 73 men.
This is important to US History because it was one of the first battles of Revolutionary War. -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga were 2 battles between the British and the Americans. The British general wanted to split the American colonies to defeat them, but his planned failed and his army got surrounded by the Americans and surrendered. These series of battles weakened the British forces and because of their surrender, it was the the turning point of the Revolutionary War. -
Battle of Yorktown
The Battle of Yorktown is where conflict with British and American armies continued. Because American troops surrounded British armies in Yorktown, they surrendered and the British government were considering a peace treaty. This is important to US History because it ended the Revolutionary War thanks to the British surrendering. -
Northwest Ordinance
The Northwest Ordinance was adopted on July 13, 1787 by the Second Continental Congress. They chartered the government for the Northwest Territory and provided a method for new states from the territory to the Union. It also created a system of government for the Northwest Territory. It is important to US History because it was the first major act of Congress that was added to the United States and that banned slavery. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
The Alien and Sedition Acts were a series of 4 bills that were passed into law by President John Adams in 1798. These laws made it harder for immigrants to vote and become citizens. It also limited freedom of speech and of the press. Because they feared of a French invasion, Adams made preparations for war with France. This is important to US History because it restricted the occupations of foreign residents in the country and remains controversial to this day. -
Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions were political statements that were drafted in 1798. These were passed by the legislatures of Kentucky and Virginia as a protest against the Alien and Sedition Acts. The Virginia and Kentucky legislatures thought that The Alien and Sedition Acts were unconstitutional. It soon became known as the "Principle of '98". It was authored by Thomas Jefferson. This is important to US History because states now have the power to nullify unconstitutional federal laws. -
The Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was the acquisition of the Louisiana territory. France transferred authority over that section to the United States. The purchase created an opening for westward expansion, intensified conflict with Native Americans, and questioned whether or not the new territories should be free or slave states. This is important to US History because the Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the United States. -
Marbury v. Madison
The Marbury v. Madison case made it so American courts have the power to take down laws, statues, and government actions that violate the US Constitution. It was written by Chief Justice John Marshall. The decision helped the process of making the Supreme Court a separate branch of government. It also had the power to void acts of Congress that were in conflict with the Constitution. This is important to US History because it established of principle of judicial review. -
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was a compromise that focused on how slavery would be dealt with in the United States. Congress was attempting to preserve the balance of power between free and slave states. They also wanted to resolve any sectional or political conflict by the request of Missouri. This made Missouri a salve state and Maine a free state. This is important to US History because it was key in the development of new states and the expandment of the United States. -
Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine is a US foreign policy that was established by John Marshall. This doctrine states that if any outside political powers tried to interfere in the north and south, it would be regarded as a hostile act against the United States. It warned European powers to not interfere in the affairs of the Western Hemisphere. This is important to US History because it was the most significant amendment of the original doctrine. -
Nullification Crisis
The Nullification Crisis was the conflict between South Carolina and the federal government of the United States. Nullification is the suspension by a state of the federal law. During 1832, South Carolina adopted the Ordinance of Nullification and threatened to withdraw if the federal government tried to collect said tariff duties. This is important to US History because without it, the issue with protective tariffs would not have been addressed. -
Texas Annexation
The Texas Annexation was the annexation of the Republic of Texas into the United States. It was admitted to the Union as the 28th state in 1845. Mexico wanted to keep Texas, but President Van Buren feared it would start a war and did not want to add a new state to the Union that was okay with slavery. In 1845, Texas got annexed which led to a war with Mexico. This is important to US History because the war helped cause the Civil War because of the issues of slavery. -
The Oregon Treaty
The Oregon Treaty is a treaty between the United States of America and the United Kingdom that was officially signed on June 15, 1846. The reasoning for this treaty was to settle boundary dispute. The United States of America received the territory south of the parallel and the United Kingdom received the land north of the 49th parallel (including Vancouver Island). This is important to US History because both the US and Britain settled their boundary dispute. -
Mexican Cession (Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo)
The Mexican Cession is the southwestern region of the United States that Mexico ceded in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848 after the Mexican American War. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was a peace treaty between the United States and Mexico that officially ended the Mexican war. This is important to US History because it established the Mexican-United States border at Texas on the Rio Grande River. -
Kansas Nebraska Act
The Kansas Nebraska Act allowed people in the Kansas and Nebraska territory to decide for themselves whether they wanted to allow slavery within their borders. It was passed by the US Congress in 1854. This is important to US History because it repealed the Missouri Compromise which did not allow slavery in the 36'30 latitude north of the territory. -
Battle of Bull Run
The Battle of Bull Run was the first crucial on land battle of the Civil War. It was also known as the first battle of Manassas and took place in Virginia. The second battle ended with the Confederates being victorious over the Union Army of Virginia. This is important to US History because it was the first land based battle. -
Battle of Fort Sumter
The Battle of Fort Sumter was the first battle of the American Civil War. This took place at the entrance of the harbor in Charleston, South Carolina. Major Robert Anderson surrendered the fort over to the Southern army and to General Beauregard so the bombardment of the fort would stop. This is important to US History because it is now a historically significant place where the first battle of the Civil War began. -
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam was a crucial event in the American Civil War between the Union and the Confederacy. This stopped the Confederates advances on Maryland with the purpose of obtaining military supplies. It was also called the Battle of Sharpsburg and took place in Maryland. This is important to US History because it was the bloodiest day in American history. -
The Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was a presidential proclamation issued by Abraham Lincoln, the President at the time. The Proclamation stated that all people held as slaves within the rebellious state are now free and will remain free. This is important to US History because it lead the way to complete abolition of slavery in the United States. -
Gettysburg Address
The Gettysburg Address is the speech President Abraham Lincoln conveyed in Pennsylvania during the Civil War. It was to dedicate Soldiers National Cemetery who died during the Battle of Gettysburg. This is important to US History because it is now one of the most famous speeches with an impact in the United States. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
The Plessy v. Ferguson was a landmark that was decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. It is known as the "separate but equal" doctrine and upheld its constitutionality of the segregation of race. As long as the segregated facilities are equal in quality, it will remain to uphold its constitutionality. This is important to US History because without it, there wouldn't be segregation laws for public facilities.