-
Jun 15, 1215
The signing of the Magna Carta
The Magna Carta was signed by King John of England. The purpose of the contract is to limit the power of the Kings in England. -
Mayflower Compact
This was signed on the Mayflower, itself, by many people while being anchored in Proviencetown Bay. It was signed so the Mayflower didn't have to land so north, in Massachusetts. -
Formation of the New England Confederation
Made up by different states after the Pequot war. They split it up into 12 articles of confederation, and then they split many New England states into four different colonies, having their own territory, making it easier to rule over certain places. -
French and Indian War Begins
Also known as the Seven Years war, the French and Indian war was started because the Americans wanted to keep people out of certain parts of the US. -
Albany Plan announced
Proposed by Ben Franklin in Albany, New York, 1754. It was thought up, because it's thought that under one government, everyone should have defense and have general ideas. Used after the Revolutionary war. -
Treaty of Paris
Was signed by many countries including, Britain, Portugal, France and Spain. This was an agreement was saying that they were not going to fight. It was made possible because of the British victory. -
Royal Proclamation
This said that no one could settle further than the Appalachains. Also, the taxes and trade were changed beyond that point. -
Stamp Act
Direct taxation from British Parliamant to the British colonies of the US. Required everything to be printed on certain paper that was stamped by Britain. -
Sugar Act
Stated that the prices of sugar and other household goods should increase because of the trade and labor of the product. -
Patrick Henry, "Give Me Liberty"
A quote that he said during his speech to the Virginia Convention. His speech was trying to convince them to send the Virginia troops to the Revolutionary war. -
Articles of Confederation signed
This was created to secure freedom and rights. Including all 13 states, this was a contract that said at least 9 of the 13 states had to agree on something for it to happen. -
Newburgh Conspiracy
This conspiracy was formed because the American army was sick of putting time into war, without receiving pay. This was a problem with Congress, and they eventually got 5 years of pay. -
Treaty of Paris
This was signed in Paris, and it stated that US war now has independence. Among the 9 articles, there are statements in which they give fishing rights and territorial boundaries in the US. -
Spain closes Mississippi River
The Spanish closed the Mississippi river because it was harder for the American farmers and merchants to travel and sell goods. This was to cut down trade so the Spanih had advantages. This happened in 1784. -
Land Ordinance of 1785
Taxes did not pay enough to the government, so Congres thought of other ways to gain money. Then, they developed Land Ordinance, the selling of land to get money. They split land into lots and sold it. -
Ordinance of Religious Freedom
This ordinance is stating that there is a seperation of chruch and state. Meaning, just because your one religion doesn't mean you cannot be a part of the state or school as a whole. Written by Thomas Jefferson. -
Shays' Rebellion
An uprising in MA, named after Daniel Shays (an American veteran). This was started because of financial issues that weren't dealt with. A militia broke out and defeated private armies. -
Annapolis Convention
A meeting between 12 delegates from 5 different states. They had to talk about who was more in power, and tried to bring the more independent government closer to the non-independent government. -
Constitutional Convention opens
This is pretty much the revision of the Constitution itself. It has many compromises and more rights for the people on it. It was created by the Congress, with the help of the Articles of Confederation. -
Constitution sent to the States for ratification
This took nearly three years, because Congress sent the Constitution to every state so that they could ratify it. Some say, that this even helped form the government! -
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
This was an ordinance over the territory of the Ohio river, in which the congress got posession of. This was only to keep everything organized and in line. -
The agreement of the Great Compromise
This can also be called the Connecticut compromise, because in 1787, James Madison said that there will be a bicameral legislature, and the people can vote for the House of Reps, but not the Senate. (Roger Sherman of Connecticut took part in this too). -
Anti- Federalist articles appear
This was when the states sent back what they wanted from the Constitution, some of the anti- federalists said that it wasn't fair that there was no Bill of Rights, and no freedom of speech. Then, legislative compromised. -
Delaware Ratifies
When Delaware ratified, it symbolized the ending of the ratifications because it was the 13th state to ratify. As a unanimous vote, they voted yes to changing the articles of confederation forever. -
Massachusetts Ratifies
As the sixth state to ratify, Massachusetts' was also the first state to reply with changes that they'd like to see. They felt really strongly about the people voting, and the states being fair in representation. -
New Hampshire Ratifies
The ninth state to ratify the constitution, which obviously makes the constitution official. They also said that they would like it if the Congress never rebelled against the people. -
Federalist papers appear
This is the outcome of the anti-federalist papers. These state that people have freedom of speech and say that the legislative will still have power, just not all the say. (Also known as the Bill of Rights). -
George Washington is elected
He took his oath in New York city on April 30, 1789. He did the best that he could and led the armies greatly. It was hard for him in the end though because, he was unable to do many things, because of old age. -
Bill of Rights sent for ratification
A group of amendments sent to each state to be looked over and each state could say if they would like some changes. This took nearly 2 years to do. -
Bill of Rights ratified
It took a little over 2 years to get them all ratified. On December 15, 1791, all ten amendments had been ratified. It was not until May of 1992, that the 27th one was ratified. -
Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions written
when New England's opposition to the war reached the point where secession from the United States was discussed. -
Hartford Convention meets
an agreement that opened and closed many states to slavery, primarily the Western region of the United States. -
Tariff of Abominations passed
a protective tariff passed by Congress in order to protect the Northern region’s industry. -
Abolition of Slavery Act
an act abolishing slavery throughout the British empire. -
James Polk elected
got elected because he wanted the expansion of slavery which was appealing to the South. -
Mexican war
a war between Mexico and America over the Texas territory. Lasted 2 years. -
Wilmot Proviso
A major event leading into the Civil war that would have ended slavery in the Mexican area. -
Fugitive Slave Law enacted
a four year confrontation between the slave states and the non-slave states. -
Publication of Uncle Tom's cabin
a book about abolitionists that got translated into many languages and was the second best selling book after the bible. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act passed
created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska, opening new lands for settlement, and had the effect of repealing the Missouri Compromise of 1820 by allowing settlers in those territories. -
Formation of the Republican party
founded by the expansion of anti-slavery supports and generally effects the American conservation. -
Lecompton Constitution
document written in response to the anti-slavery position. Written by many slave owners saying they have to right to settle and have slaves. -
Pottawatomie Creek
John Brown and a group of people raided and killed many people due to the spread of slavery. -
Dred Scott decision announced
six of the ten justices agreed that Dred Scott should not be considered a slave. -
Lincoln Douglas Debates
A series of seven debates for the overall vote of Illinois. -
Raid of Harper's ferry
John Brown tried to start an armed revolt by seizing the US Arsenal because he did not like the idea of slavery. -
Election of 1860
Many democrats had different ideas about different things which made them split up causing the Republican party to become stronger. -
South Carolina secedes
The state of South Carolina left the United States because they did not agree with the fugitive slave law. -
Virginia secedes
The convention called to act for the state during the secession crisis opened on February 13, 1861, after seven seceding states had formed the Confederacy on February 4. -
Attack on Fort Sumter
bombardment of Fort Sumter of Charleston, South Carolina that started the American Civil War. -
Surrender at Vicksburg
Pemberton sent a note to Grant, who, as at Fort Donelson, first demanded unconditional surrender. But Grant reconsidered, not wanting to feed 30,000 hungry Confederates in Union prison camps, and offered to parole all prisoners. -
1st battle of the Bull Run
It was the first major land battle of the American Civil War -
Lincoln's frist inauguration
Happened the eve of the Civil war. -
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was a major battle in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. -
2nd battle of Bull Run
Confederate troops broke into Union supply depot and threatened to cut of communication which started a battle which was part of the Civil war. -
Battle of Antietam
It was the first major battle in the American Civil War to take place on Northern soil. It was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, with about 23,000 casualties. -
Battle of Fredericksburg
between General Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia and the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Ambrose E. Burnside. One of the most one sided battles. -
Emancipation Proclamation
it proclaimed the freedom of slaves in the ten states then in rebellion, thus applying to 3.1 million of the 4 million slaves in the U.S. at that time. -
Battle of Chancellorsville
in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, near the village of Chancellorsville. Two related battles were fought nearby on May 3 in the vicinity of Fredericksburg. -
Battle of Gettysburg
In Pennsylvania, the battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War, it is often described as the war's turning point. -
Battle of Fort Wagner
on Morris Island in Charleston harbor during the American Civil War. An attempt by the Union Army to capture Fort Wagner was ended. -
Atlanta burned to the ground
in preparation of the Union Army's march to Savannah, Sherman ordered for Atlanta to be burned to the ground, sparing only the city's churches and hospitals. -
Sherman set out for sea
Sherman and his troops set out to Savannah, GA harbor. -
Sherman reached Savannah
Sherman’s troops ended their march to the sea by landing at Savannah’s port. -
Lincoln's second inauguration
Lincoln got treated very harshly and seemed extremely sad because of it. -
Surrender at Appomattox
General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia before it surrendered to the Union Army under Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, and one of the last battles of the American Civil War -
Missouri Compromise
an agreement that opened and closed many states to slavery, primarily the Western region of the United States.
