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6000 BCE
Tobacco
Tobacco is a plant that natively grows in North and South America. Tobacco has been growing for thousands of years but it was introduced to Christopher Columbus on October 15, 1492 as a gift from the American Indians. There were many purposes for tobacco but it was mainly used for medicinal purposes, at least until the late 1500's. In 1776, during the American Revolutionary War, tobacco helped finance the revolution by serving as a collateral for loans from France. -
1200 BCE
Olmecs
The Olmecs were the earliest known major civilization in Mesoamerica. This civilization is considered the forerunner of all future Mesoamerican cultures. The Olmec civilization was quite mysterious since we do not know what they would call themselves. The name Olmec is Aztec and stands for "rubber people" or "people of the rubber country" which was chosen because they extracted latex from Panama rubber trees to create rubber. These people also held bloodletting rituals or cutting of body parts. -
Period: 300 BCE to
DCUSH
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1069
The Crusades
The Crusades were a series of religious wars between Christians and Muslims which were primarily made to establish control of sites considered holy by both religions. These wars began in the 11th century and went on till about the 14th century. About 2/3 of Christian world had been conquered by the Muslims by the end of the 11th century. The advent of the Protestant Reformation caused the decline in Crusades during the 16th century. -
1347
The Black Death
The Black Death was a transformation in society where 40-50% of Europe's population died due to diseases brought over by 12 ships. When the ships reached the docks, Natives realized that the men aboard were either critically ill or dead. This disease greatly affected the Natives and the men who came over since they were going to use the natives for labor. A merchant society is later formed and a new economy is born. -
Period: 1400 to
Beginnings of Exploration
In the Beginnings of exploration, European explorers went out to find new trading routes. This was a time period where there were advancements in shipbuilding and ocean navigation machines. The fall of Constantinople caused people to go out and find new routes when it was conquered by the Ottomans. This put Europeans in desperate need for trading routes. But way before these journeys, civilizations already existed in these areas. -
1450
Printing Press
The Printing Press is a machine that allowed mass production of printed matter like books, pamphlets, newspaper etc. No one knows who invented the printing press but Johannes Gutenberg replaced wood (original) with metal.The press was developed around the 15th century and revolutionized society. Soon after the creation of the printing press, came a famous book now known world wide called the Bible. An estimated 180 copies were produced, each containing 1,300 pages. -
1492
Columbian Exchange
As Europeans came across the Atlantic, they brought with them crops, animals, and diseases, It was basically the exchange of goods from the Old world to the New. This movement was named After the great explorer Christopher Columbus. Everything was good except for the diseases that were brought to the new world, of course the old world benefited the most from it. -
1517
The Reformation
The Reformation was a separation in Western Christianity and continued by other protestant reformers like John Calvin. It was started by the publication of the 95 Theses in 1517 and lasted up until the end of the 30 years war. Martin Luther was upset with the catholic church for giving indulgences which basically let people pay their way out of sins they have committed. He was excommunicated from England a but that didn't stop him. He then created the protestant reformation. -
1580
Squanto
Tisquantum, more commonly known as Squanto was a Native American Interpreter who was almost sold into slavery but luckily escaped and made it to North America. In 1621, Squanto was taken to the newly founded Pilgrim settlement. Squanto was fluent in English, so building a strong relationship with the Pilgrims was no challenge for him. He introduced them to the fur trade and taught them how to sow and fertilize native crops.This proved to be useful since the seeds they brought failed. -
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English Colonial Societies
The English Colonial Societies were social groups that consisted of three sections. There was the New England Colonies, Middle Colonies, and Southern Colonies. It was similar to a caste system and stressed the fact that the North was more developed than the Middle and South Colonies. When this was established, the plantation owners began migrating to the South while industrial inventors went to the North. -
Headright System
A head-right is a legal grant of land to settlers. The headright system began in Jamestown Virginia as a strive to end labor shortages due to the tobacco economy. The available land wasn't quite enough for the population which resulted in the growth of indentured servitude and slavery. The headright system also served as bait to attract new colonists by being granted one headright for paying their passage to the new world. -
Plymouth Colony
In the fall of 1620, 100 men and women mostly of the English Separatist Church set sail aboard the Mayflower to the new world. Rough seas and storms prevented the ship from reaching its original destination and after 66 days, they reached the shores of cape cod. Come the first winter, over half the settlers fell ill and died due to a disease that swept the new colony. The survivors were introduced to a Native American man named Tisquantum, or Squanto who basically taught them how to survive. -
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Colonial America to 1763
Throughout the years, thanks to Squanto and other leaders, colonists learned how to survive in the wildernes. By the 1700's colonists had developed their own customs and lifestyles and even created their own little towns. Big families were the keys to success during this time period. More family meant more hands to help out with work and the family would finish quicker. The Father was the decision maker in the family and was seen as the head of the house hold. Children didn't have much education -
Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact was a set of rules created to establish a secure government in the new world and ensure a functioning social structure. No one knows who actually wrote the Mayflower Compact but pastor William Brewster is usually given credit. Some of the rules stated that all colonists must remain loyal to the king despite their need for self governance. Colonists would also create one society and work together to further it. -
William Penn
William Penn is commonly known as the man who founded the Province of Pennsylvania, who would later turn into the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. He was an English nobleman, writer, early Quaker and was an early advocate of democracy and religious freedom. Known for his good relations and successful treaties with Native Americans, another famous city called Philadelphia was planned under his direction. Penn also urged for union in the English colonies in what was to become the U.S. -
Navigation Acts
The Navigation Acts were a series of acts passed by parliament to decrease dependence on imported goods by restricting colonial trade to England. These acts stated that goods must be transported on English or Colonial American ships. Although they were based on earlier precedents, they were first enacted in 1651. The system was broadened by the act of 1660, and further developed by Navigation Acts of 1663, 1673, and 1696. -
Salem Witch Trials
The Salem Witch Trials were a series of hearing and persecutions that caused 19 so called "witches" to be hung and many suspects to be imprisoned. Over 100 people were originally accused but only 19 were found guilty. Due to innocent people being reported and on the edge of being condemned, Governor Phips dissolved the court of Oyer and Terminer to make sure no innocent person was punished. -
Steam Power Engines
The Steam Engine was one of the most important (if not the most) inventions of the Industrial Revolution. Steam Engines use the steam from boiling water to drive pistons back and forth, the movement of this piston(s) is used to power a machine. Most engines created stream by heating water with coal. Before steam engines, most factories relied on water, wind, horse, or man power. Both water and wind weren't reliable sources since rivers could dry out and wind wasn't always blowing. -
Act of Union
2 acts of parliament passed in 1707, which unified England and Scotland and created what is now the U.K. New Britain is now an Empire with parliament as the head of it. Each colony still had local control and federal systems still had central authority and local governments which paved the way for modern U.S. systems of government. -
Triangular Trade
The Triangular Trade was a transatlantic slave trade that had 3 stages. In the first stage, ships from Britain left ports like London carrying goods like food and weapons which were later traded for men and women. In the second stage focused on capturing slaves and in the third stage, the slaves were used in the Caribbean Colonies to produce raw goods and send them back to Europe. -
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson born in 1743, is addressed as a founding father of the U.S. and is most known for writing the Declaration of Independence. Before becoming president; Jefferson was a lawyer who studied and practiced law, was also a politician who served as a member of Virginia's legislature etc. Jefferson later became the third president of the U.S. in 1801. His main focus was to reduce the federal budget by moving power back into the hands of the people. He also reduced taxes. -
Salutary Neglect
Salutary Neglect was an unwritten, unofficial policy in practice from about the late 1600's to about the mid 1700's. This allowed North American to be left alone on their own with very little British interference. After the French and Indian war, even though the British didn't win they were left with a great debt.The British decided to en their policy of salutary neglect in the colonies in order to pay off the debt. This was a contributing factor to the start of the civil war. -
7 Years War/ French and Indian War
The Seven Years War was the first war with a truly global area of conflict. Great Britain declared war on France and they battle on many continents like India, North America, Europe, Africa etc. Great Britain succeeded in the fight for overseas territories, gaining the bulk of New France, Spanish Florida, Caribbean islands etc. The war was ended with peace treaties of Paris in 1763. Overall, the battles fought during this war were gruesome, around 900,000 to 1,400,000 people died during the war. -
Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton was either born on January 22, 1757 or 1755. His leadership skills and ability to write stood out to George Washington and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel at just 20 years of age. Hamilton was responsible for writing a draft that led to the Constitution Convention in 1787. He was a supporter of the ratification of the Constitution and also wrote more than half the federalists papers. Hamilton also helped establish the first national bank due to the financial situation. -
Republicanism
Republicanism is the idea of governing a nation as a republic with and emphasis on liberty. Republicanism come from the word republic, which is defined to be a government of laws and not of men. The literature depends on what kind of behavior by the citizens is necessary for the republic to survive and flourish. republicans don't argue on whether or not republicanism is the best form of government, they focus more on the abolition of the monarchy in a particular nation. -
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The American Industrial Revolution
The American Industrial Revolution era was a timer period where the development of technology increased drastically, due to the growing population and need for higher production of products. The North became mostly industrial, the South on the other hand, remained an agricultural based economy. During this time period, America exported a lot of finished good, showing the true power of American economy. -
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The Revolutionary War
The growing tensions between residents of Great Britain, 13 North American colonies, and the colonial government caused the American Revolution to arise. The confrontation at Lexington and Concord started it all. Colonists were angry at the British for taxing them unfairly. The colonies finally broke free from Great Britain rule through a lot of battlers during this time span which makes it extremely important. -
Treaty of Paris
In The Treaty of Paris, the French gave up all its territories in North American to rid them of any future threats to British colonies which eventually ended the French and Indian war A.K.A The 7 years war. This all happened after France lost many oversea wars and some of its territories to Britain which ultimately led King Louis XV to make peace. The British were interested in ending the war because of the expenses. -
Sugar Act
The Sugar Act was a tax passed by the British to help pay for the expenses of the Seven Years War/ French and Indian War. It placed a tax on sugar and decreased taxes on Molasses (a thick syrup like liquid that was sweet and used as a sweetener) which restricted smuggling. This tax was one of the first taxes to be protested by the Thirteen Colonies. The Sugar Act was ended in 1766 along with the Stamp Act. -
Stamp Act
In 1765, Great Britain placed a tax on all printed materials such as magazines, newspapers and even playing cars known as the Stamp Act. All materials taxed required a stamp in order to show that the tax had been payed. Colonists were infuriated by this leading them to; boycott all British goods, attack officials sent to maintain order, and burn stamps on the street. At a meeting in New York, called the Stamp Act Congress, colonies voted and declared "no taxation without representation". -
Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts were four acts named after Charles Townshend, passed by parliament (British) to implement its authority over colonies through taxation. Taxes were placed on things such as paper products, tea, lead, etc. These taxes were used to pay officials for the hard work they would do. This is relevant and important because these acts were major factors that pushed American Colonists towards revolution. -
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson is most known for being the first "common man" to be president. Before becoming president, he was a lawyer in Tennessee and practice law, he was also seen as a war hero of the war of 1812. The first time Jackson ran for president, he lost to John Quincy Adams but 4 years later he ran again and won. Jackson let his power get to his head and demanded more power than presidents before him. Jackson fought against the national bank, arguing that it hurt the poor and helped the rich. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was an outcome of angry colonists protesting parliament acts such as The Townshend Act and Stamp Act. It started with a minor dispute between Hugh White and a few colonists outside the Custom House, The argument escalated and soon there were 50 colonists at the scene throwing objects at White. Soldiers were sent with arms to keep order, which was a major mistake. Colonists got angrier and began daring the soldiers to shoot. Finally they shot and left a bloody mess everywhere. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a protest against the British for the tax on Tea (Tea Act). Americans had no one to speak for them in British Government and they were frustrated that they had to pay a tax to government but didn't have a say in it. To get even, Samuel Adams along with other people known as the Sons of Liberty, dressed up as Native Americans and climbed aboard ships on the Boston Harbor. They then dumped all the tea into the sea. This made the British pass the Intolerable (Coercive) Acts -
Coercive Acts
The Coercive Acts, also known as the Intolerable Acts were laws passed by the British Parliament against the American Colonies in 1774. these laws were passed to punish colonists for protest like the Boston Tea Party. The Intolerable Acts, along with the Stamp Act and Townshend Acts pushed colonists towards war with Great Britain. The Intolerable Acts got their name from American patriots who felt they could not tolerate such unfair laws. -
Common Sense
Common Sense was a short 50-page pamphlet written in 1776 by Thomas Paine where he argued that America should follow its own destiny and that Independence was the right thing to do. Most colonist still wanted to remain a part of England, despite everything that happened in 1776 until they read this pamphlet. Thomas Paine didn't say anything the colonial leaders didn't already know, but he knew how to back his information up and express it no one else could. -
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The Constitution
The constitution of the United States of America provides important limitations that protect the rights of the United States. It was to establish a government with enough power to act on a more public level. This was one of the most important documents (if not the most) of the United States. Without the constitution, we would not have rights and life would probably be the same as it was a few centuries ago. -
The Declaration of Independence
The colonist main goal in fighting the British was to gain more freedom while still remaining loyal. In June of 1776, congress selected five men (the committee of five) to write the declaration of independence. This was considered treason and the men who drafted The Declaration of Independence could have been executed for their crimes. Although others helped create it, Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft and after reviewing it, they presented it to congress on June 28, 1776. -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga was the first major victory for the continental army, this victory by the Americans was a turning points in the Revolutionary War. The colonists forced the surrender of 6,000 British troops in New York. In 1778, the French joined in the war effort on the patriots side, since it would be in France's best interest to do so. Britain had help from the Germans while the colonists had help from Spain, France, and the Dutch. -
Henry Clay
Henry Clay was a U.S. Representative who also served as a Secretary of State. Clay was a member of the Jeffersonian-Republican while supporting the emancipation of slaves and opposing the Alien and Sedition Act. Clay was also known as a "war hawk" who vocally pushed the confrontation against the British. In 1831, Clay became the leader of the Republican Party known as the Whig Party, their goal was to take Jackson out of office. Clay attempted to become president many times but never did. -
Massachusetts Constitution
The Massachusetts Constitution, often called the oldest still-governing written constitution in the world. It consists of four parts: a preamble of course, a declaration of rights, a brief description of the framework of government, and articles of amendment. This constitution was a model and as an "idol" for the Constitution of the United States. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was basically the first Constitution of the United States. They were written because the colonies needed some type of government, they needed to make laws that all states would agree to follow. The Articles of Confederation were first drafted by a committee of thirteen men, the primary author however, was John Dickinson. The Articles had many flaws like; no power to raise money through taxes, no national court system, no way to enforce laws passed by Congress etc. -
Charles Grandison Finney
Charles Grandison Finney, also known as The Father of Modern Revivalism was a famous leader in the Second Great Awakening. Finney was best known as an innovative revivalist, most active between 1825-35. His innovations included having women pray in public meetings, a place where those thinking about becoming Christians could come to receive prayers etc. He was also involved with the abolitionist movement and denounced slavery from the pulpit. Charles died in 1875 at age 82. -
Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren was most known for being an astute politician. He became a key player in New York state politics and also helped start a famous political tool called the Spoils System. Van Buren ran for president in the election of 1836 and won, becoming the 8th president of the U.S. A few months after he became president, the stock market crashed, people lost their jobs, and companies went out of business, Martin couldn't do much to help. This horrible crisis was known as the panic of 1837. -
Treaty of Paris (1783
The Treaty of Paris was the official peace treaty between Britain and The United States that ended the Revolutionary War. It was signed in 1783 but wasn't ratified by congress until 1774. The major points of this war were that Britain finally recognized the Thirteen Colonies to be free and independent states. Second, the boundaries of the United States allowed for western expansion. Even after the British surrendered at Yorktown, it still took a while for the treaty to be signed and ratified. -
Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor was the 12th president of the United States and was most famous for his victories in the Mexican-American War. Taylor first started off as a lieutenant in the army and quickly rose in ranks. He commanded the U.S. forces during the war which was fought over the annexation of Texas. His victories made him a war hero and people even began comparing him to George Washington and Andrew Jackson. Taylor was neutral, he was a slave owner but thought slavery shouldn't be allowed. -
Shays Rebellion
The economic crisis caused by the Revolutionary War debts led to a high poll tax being introduced. Gold and Silver were scarce and there was an abundance of paper money which caused it to go down in value. Farmers in Massachusetts could not sell their crops to pay for their taxes, which cost them their land. Some were even thrown in debtors prison. Many protested against this unfair rule which led to a rebellion led by Daniel Shays called Shays Rebellion which lasted about a year. -
Legislative Branch
The Legislative Branch is also known as the congress and is made up of 2 parts; the House of Representatives and the Senate. This branch is responsible for writing and voting for laws. There are about 435 total representatives in the house, the amount of representatives for each state depends on its population. The Senate has about 100 members with each state having 2. Besides writing laws,this branch is also in charge of making an annual budget for the government and charging citizens for it. -
Executive Branch
The Executive Branch of the U.S. government is made up of the President, VP, and the cabinet. It is mainly in charge of applying and enforcing laws passed by congress, which is also known as the Legislative Branch. Separation of Powers was enforced to make sure that no one branch was too powerful. President is in charge of vetoing or passing laws made by congress, VP is to be prepared to take over if anything happens to the president, and the cabinet is made up of 15 different departments. -
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The New Republic
The New Republic era was a time where the United States expanded west (manifest destiny) which brought the middle class to Americans Industrialization played a major role when it came to the inlfux of factories and farms. There were many conflicts internationally and only in the United States. Many of the conflicts were causes and influences of the civil War. The Civil War negatively affected economically and physically. -
Judicial Branch
The Judicial Branch of the government is made up of courts and judges. Federal judges are appointed by the president, not the people. The highest court in the United States is the Supreme Court, the supreme court gets about 7,500 cases but only 150 of those are accepted. The Constitution states that everyone has the right to a fair trial, the Bill of rights adds to this guaranteeing other rights such as a speedy trial. -
The Second Great Awakening
The Second Great Awakening was the second religious revival in U.S. history which consisted of several kinds of activity. It started in New York, but later spread to New England and the Midwest. It led to other religious movements such as Abolition and Temperance Movement. The Temperance Movement, believed that alcohol and the consumption of it was not good for society. Abolition, was the movement that wanted to end slavery. People like Harriet Stowe and William Garrison wrote books about it. -
New National Bank
The first National Bank of the U.S. was chartered for twenty years by U.S. Congress from 1791 to 1811 in order to handle the crazy war debt and establish a stable form of currency. The bank bill stated that a bank of the U.S. should be granted limited rights in order to manage the finance, to acquire loans from federal government in case of emergency. The National Mint was then established by the Coinage Act and also established a silver dollar as the unit of money. -
Whiskey Rebellion
To help pay the national debt, Alexander Hamilton proposed a tax in 1791 that gave the federal government permission to collect taxes on distilled whiskey. The government set up a system of local tax inspectors and collection officers to collect this tax. The Whiskey rebellion was an uprising in western Pennsylvania that challenged federal taxation in the states. This rebellion was the first major conflict George Washington had to deal with as U.S. president. -
The Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights is the first 10 amendments of the U.S. Constitution, it was created to insure certain freedoms and rights to the citizens of America. Many delegates of the states did not want to sign the Constitution without a Bill of Rights included. Ratifying the Constitution became an issue and as a result, James Madison wrote 12 amendments and presented them to Congress in 1789, however, only ten of them were passed and made part of the constitution on December 15, 1791. -
Cotton Gin
The Cotton Gin was created by Eli Whitney and led to the mass production of cotton. Its main and only purpose was to separate the cotton from the seeds. It uses a combination of of a wire screen and small wire hooks to pull cotton through, while brushes removed loose cotton lint to prevent jams. This machine revolutionized the cotton industry in the South and demanded the use of slaves to use the machine. Although this was less work for slaves, more were required to work the machine. -
Lucretia Coffin Mott
Lucretia Mott was a spokeswoman for women's rights in the United States. She was also and abolitionist and spoke on ending slavery in the U.S. She was one of the leaders of the anti-slavery movement in Philadelphia. Mott joined with a woman named Elizabeth Cady Stanton to organize the first meeting where the topic was the equal treatment of women. There they developed a document called the Declaration of Sentiments, which listen how and why women should be treated and have the same rights as men -
James K. Polk
James K Polk was the 11th president of the United States and was most known for expanding the territory of the United States. Polk's main goal as president was to extend the borders of the U.S. to the Pacific Ocean. He also granted Texas statehood, which infuriated the Mexican government and it wasn't long until all hell broke loose. Polk decided not to run for a second term as president since he felt he had accomplished his main goal in extending the border. -
Pinckney's Treaty
Pinckney's Treaty, also known as the Treaty of San Lorenzo was a treaty between Spain and the U.S. that defined the boundaries of the U.S with Spanish colonies and fixed up he southern boundary at 31 N. Thomas Pinckney negotiated the treaty for the U.S. and Don Manuel de Godoy represented Spain. It granted United States citizens free navigation of the Mississippi River through Spanish territory and the privilege to live tax-free. -
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The Age of Jefferson
The Age of Jefferson was a period of time where Jefferson came into office which passed from one party to another. Jefferson promised to govern based on a decentralized government like the founding fathers wanted it to be. This presidential campaign was different because it was a peaceful transition, unlike in the past, where transititons in office were due to deaths or inherited succession. -
Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase in 1803, was the largest purchase of an acquired by the U.S. doubling the size of the country. The Louisiana territory was about 828,000 and cost them $15 million which is about $233 million in today's money. The Louisiana purchase extended from the Mississippi River in the east to the Rocky Mountains in the west. The U.S. was growing rapidly and needed more land to plant crops. Leaders in the U.S. were against the purchase because they thought it would bring problems. -
12th Amendment
The 12th Amendment was a change made to the U.S. Constitution that put the Electoral College in control of electing the president and vp. The Electoral College is a group of people that represent the 50 states. Each state has a set number of electoral votes, which depend on the population of the state. In addition, the amendment incorporated a Habitation Clause, which did not allow an elector to cast both votes for candidates who represented or lived in the electors home state. -
Joseph Smith
When Joseph Smith was 17 years old, he was supposedly visited by an angel and told about an old book written on gold plates buried in a hill. He translated the wording on these plates and created The Book of Mormon. In 1830 he established The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormon Church. Smith said God wanted him to be a prophet and teach other people things he learned from him. People didn't always agree with things Smith taught like the right to have many wives. -
Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee was an American officer best known as the commander of the Confederacy in the Civil War. Robert Lee had a distinguished military career that lasted over 32 years. He commanded the marines that were sent to crush John Browns raid in Harpers Ferry. Lee was always outnumbered when he faced Union forces, but he snatched victory on numerous occasions. Ulysses S. Grant decided to hunt down his army in 1864 and they ended up surrendering on April 9, 1865 at the Appomattox Court House. -
Embargo Act of 1807
The purpose of the Embargo Act of 1807 was to stop France and Britain, who were at war by restricting American trade. The goal was to introduce a non-violent resistance to the British and French interference of of U.S. merchant ships, thought to have carried war materials and other goods to their enemies. Thomas Jefferson was the U.S. president when the Embargo Act was passed. The British used a system of Impressment, which was basically kidnapping for government service. -
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States and was most known for the freeing all slaves throughout the nation. A major problem for Lincoln was the Civil War, which began just a month after Lincoln took office. Lincoln faced all kinds of opposition during the war but he sent an army from the northern states and managed to hold the country together. On January 1, 1863, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which was an order that freed the slaves in Confederate States. -
Harriet Beecher Stowe
Harriet Beecher Stowe had little to no knowledge on slavery when she was younger. She moved to Ohio, where Kentucky was just across the river where slavery was legal. She began to see how poorly slaves were treated. She wrote a story in 1851 to help people in the North understand better realities of slavery known as Uncle Tom's Cabin. This book became a bestseller worldwide and caused many to join the abolitionist movement just from reading the book. This was a major cause of the Civil War. -
The War of 1812
There were several events that lead to the War of 1812, beginning with the war between France and U.K. The U.K. didn't want the U.S. trading with France so they placed trade restrictions on them. The U.K. also used a system of impressment with sailor and forced them to join the Royal Navy. On June 18th, 1812, the U.S. attacked the British colony of Canada which led to the loss of Detroit. The Battle of New Orleans ended the war by forcing British troops out of Louisiana three years later. -
Battle of New Orleans
The Battle of New Orleans was the last major battle of the War of 1812 between the Americans and the British. The British attacked New Orleans expecting to take control of the port city. Andrew Jackson and U.S. forces held them off and defeated them. The U.S. won a conclusive victory and managed to push the British out of Louisiana. Hypothetically, if the British had been in control of the key port of New Orleans, they would've used this to get additional concessions from the United States. -
Second Bank of the United States
The Second Bank was created 5 years afer the First Bank went out of existence and lasted until 1836. The war of 1812 came soon after the first bank was shut down, so the need to establish a Second National Bank arose quickly. The government needed to pay its war debts and create a successful environment by providing money/credit to industrialists. The legality of the bank was upheld in the 1819 SCOTUS case, McCulloch v. Maryland which declared to void any law opposing federal laws. -
Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass was born in Talbot County, his mother was a slave and he did not know who his father was. He chose February 14th to celebrate his birthday and guessed that he was born in 1818. During his childhood, his mother died when he was only 10 years old. In 1838, Douglass escaped and arrived in New York as free man. Douglass began to speak at meetings about his experiences as a slave. He became famous but moved to Britain to avoid being captured but continued to spread his story -
Panic of 1819
The Panic of 1819 was the first major financial crisis in the U.S. featuring; unemployment, bank failures, mortgages were foreclosed, forcing people out of their farms and land etc.This marked the end of the economic expansion after the war of 1812. The primary cause of this panic was likely the credit compress instituted by the directors of the Second Bank of the U.S. All regions of the country were impacted and prosperity did not return until 1824 -
Iron Plow
Invented by Jethro Wood, the Iron Plow is a simple machine that is pulled across the ground by a human or animal. When dragged across the ground, the plow creates to lines of dirt by lifting it up. Ground that has been plowed is looser, which makes it a good place for farmers to grow food. This invention accelerated the development of American agriculture because before it was invented, people would have to use a hand-held digging stick to loosen up to soil and plant their seeds. -
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was a settlement reached between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions in Congress.In the early 1800's, Missouri was still a territory. This compromise admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a non-slave state to keep the balance. The idea of the Missouri Compromise, which limited slavery above Missouri's southern border, was supported by Henry Clay. Also, the compromise began the conflict over the spread of slavery which led to the American Civil War. -
Lowell Mills
One major change of the Industrial Revolution was that for the first time, women began working jobs outside of their homes. One of the first factories in the U.S.to start hiring women were the Lowell textile mills in Massachusetts. One of the reasons factory owners hired women was because they were cheaper, they could pay them less. Women made about half of what a man made for doing the same job. Back in the day, people thought men should make more money since they provided everything. -
Harriet Tubman
Hariet Tubman was a slave born either in 1820 or 1821. Her birth name was Araminta Ross, but she took her mother's name when she was thirteen. During this time, slaves would escape and use the Underground Railroad which were just safe homes to get to the Northern U.S. where slavery was outlawed. She became famous as a railroad conductor, helping other slaves escape like Moses. Tubman's bravery and service didn't end there, she also helped as a nurse, spy and a rescuer during the Civil War. -
Clara Barton
Clara Barton was a Civil War nurse, educator and compassionate. Clara was only 10 when the civil war began, yet she began collecting supplies, clothing and food for the Union soldiers. She became famous and popular among soldiers for her helping and was nicknamed "Angel of Battlefield". After the end of the civil war she ran the Office of Missing Soldiers where she helped find missing and dead Union soldiers. -
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant is most known for being the leader/ general of the Union troops during the civil war. Grant led the Union army against Robert E. Lee in Virginia where they battled for over a year, with Lee eventually surrendering at the Appomattox Courthouse. Grants popularity skyrocketed after the civil war and he won the presidential election of 1868. Many of the people in this ad ministration are crooks and stole from the government. Many people lost jobs due to the stock market crash. -
Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine declared against foreign colonization in the Americas and wanted the U.S. to remain neutral in European wars. it was made because many countries had just gained independence from Europe and Madison was afraid that they would come back and try to establish power in the Americas. When Monroe gave his speech, the United States was a young country. He knew he would not be able to follow what he said but he said it anyway. The Monroe Doctrines impact didn't come right after. -
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Age of Jackson
The Jacksonian Era or Age of Jackson was basically a period where he showed the most significant influence on everyone. Jackson got right down to business and accomplished many great things. He made changes to broaden the situation in politics This period was important as there was a drastic/significant change. -
Telegraph
The telegraph is a device that uses electricity to send coded messages through wires. It was mostly used for emergency long distance communication since sending a letter could take days. Invented by Samuel Morse, the telegraph system was designed to use a code of long and short pulses of electric currents representing different letters called Morse code. These signals obviously needed wires and people needed to communicate across continents so a cable extending from Europe to U.S. was laid. -
Trail of Tears
The Trail of Tears was the removal of Native Americans from their homelands into Indian territory in Oklahoma. This process lasted about 8 years starting with the Indian Removal Act passed by Congress in 1830. Followed by the removal of the Choctaw in 1831 and ending with the removal of the Cherokee in 1838. It took these Natives several months to get to Oklahoma and many died from disease, starvation, and harsh weathers. Much of the land they were promised in Oklahoma was soon taken from them. -
Cherokee Nation v. Georgia
This court case is important to U.S. History, it laid the foundation for the legal status of Native Americans. The Cherokee Nation argued that because it was an independent nation, the U.S. could not control it or impose laws on their land. SCOTUS, said that the Cherokee Nation was not a state, therefore it did not possess original jurisdiction and was dependent on the U.S. Georgia was passing very cruel laws to this Nation; they deprived the Cherokee's from receiving basic human rights -
Abolitionist Movement
The Abolitionist Movement was a political push for the immediate liberation of all slaves and racial discrimination and segregation. This movement became increasingly important in Northern churches, which contributed to the regional hostility between the North and the South, leading up to the Civil War. In early 1831, Garrison published his newspaper, "The Liberator" which was supported mainly by free African-Americans who always played a major role in the movement. -
Nullification Crisis
In the Nullification Crisis, South Carolina voided a tax passed by the U.S. government to benefit trade in the northern states. Had this tariff been successful, it provisions would have greatly affected South Carolina's economy. The debate grew on how South Carolina was able to repeal a federal law. Soon enough president Andrew Jackson ordered troops to S.C. ports. As a result, S.C. repealed the act of nullifying federal law and both sides of the debated claimed to have won. -
Spoils System
This system was a method of appointing officials to the U.S. government based on political connections instead of impersonal measures of quality. This name originated from the phrase "to the victor go the spoils". The system didn't end until 1883 with the passage of the Pendleton Act, which introduced the concept of a separate government and civil service. This separation was made stronger with the Hatch Act which prohibited federal employees from engaging in political activities. -
The Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail was a route that people took when migrating to the westernmost part of the United States. Hundreds of thousands of people traveled westward on the trail between 1841 and 1869. This trail began in Missouri, stretched for around 2,000 miles through six different states including Kansas, Wyoming, Idaho etc. Along the way, travelers encountered rough terrain like the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada Mountains. Records show that Native Americans helped travelers along the way. -
Manifest Destiny
Manifest Destiny was the idea that the U.S. had a God-given right to conquer any part of North America. The U.S was determined to rule all of North America, however, some areas were already populated by Native American that had always lived there. The government convinced some tribes to sign treaties, agreeing to leave their lands. Other tribes like the Cherokee refused to leave their homes and were forced to walk to Oklahoma. Because so many people died, it became known as the Trail of Tears. -
Mexican American War
The Mexican American War was a war fought over Texas between the U.S. and Mexico that lasted about 2 years. Texas joined the U.S. as the 28th state but didn't like it. There was a major disagreement on the border placement. The Mexican army was led by Santa Anna while U.S. forces were led By Zachary Taylor. At the Battle of Buena Vista 5,000 American troops held off 14,000 Mexican troops and succeeded. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo settled the border at the Rio Grande. -
Seneca Falls Convention
The Seneca Falls was originally known as the Woman's Rights Convention that fought for the civil, social, and religious rights of women. The five women that organized the Seneca Falls Convention were also part of the abolitionist movement, which wanted to end racial discrimination and free slaves. Next came a list of 11 resolutions that demanded women be treated as men's equal which was dumb considering they did the same job, and got payed less -
Fugitive Slave Act 1850
The Fugitive Slave Act was a contentious part of the Compromise of 1850. Any law official was required to arrest suspected runaways, for those who captured runaways would get bonuses or even promotions.They each received $10 if the special commissioner decided to send the fugitive back to slavery, but only $5 if it was freed. Anyone who provided food or shelter to a runaway was subject to 6 months in prison and a $1,000 fine. This act caused Northern states to pass personal liberty laws. -
Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas was a war on the Kansas-Missouri border. It started off with the Kansas Nebraska Act (1854) and lasted into the Civil War. It was fought over the issue of slavery and was a forerunner of future events in the Civil War. "Bleeding Kansas" was a term used to describe the violence happening in Kansas territory during the 1850's. The distinct groups fought for power in Kansas which were; pro-slavery (those who supported it) Abolitionist (those against) and free-staters (neutral). -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act was a law written by Stephen A. Douglas that brought slavery back to the United States. It led to violence in Kansas where people would fight to the death over the issue of slavery. The south were in no hurry to allow a Nebraska territory because the land was on 36 30 parallel which was where slavery had been outlawed by the Missouri Compromise. Douglas proposed Kansas as a new southern state, inclined to support slavery. -
Fort Sumter
The Battle of Sumter was the first battle of the civil war and lasted about 2 days. The South bombarded Fort Sumter from all sides, there were several forts surrounding the harbor. Once Anderson realized he couldn't hold them off, he surrendered the fort to the Southern Army. Now that the Civil War had begun, Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteer soldiers. At the time, Lincoln thought it would be a short war but it ended up lasting 4 years with over 2 million men fighting as part of the Union -
Twenty Negro Law
The Twenty Negro Law, also known as the Twenty Slave Law was a legislation enacted by Confederate Congress. It stated that any man with twenty slaves was exempted from Confederate military service. This law was a reaction to the Emancipation Proclamation passed by Abraham Lincoln, addressed three weeks earlier encouraging people to own slaves. Due to many white men fighting in the war and being absent from home, Confederates feared a slave rebellion. -
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was an order by Abraham Lincoln to free the slaves. Not all of slaves were set free, as it only freed the slaves in the Confederate States that weren't under Union control. However, millions of slaves were eventually set free and it was made clear that slavery would not exist in the near future. This Proclamation was an executive order so it wasn't a Constitutional law but it did pave the way for the Thirteenth Amendment. -
Battle of Vicksburg
The city of Vicksburg was the last major port on the Mississippi River held by the South. If the North managed to take it down, they would cut the Confederacy's supply lines to the west, isolating rebel states. Grant attempted to break into the city by overwhelming them with his army. It was a failure. Grant decided to siege them and wait until they ran out of food. He would bomb them constantly making it impossible to walk the streets safely. After two months, the Confederacy surrendered. -
Battle of Gettysburg
In the Battle of Gettysburg, Robert E. Lee invaded the North and attempted to defeat the Union Army. However, the Union forces held him off and sent him retreating, this was a major turning point in the war. This battle was the deadliest of the war as there were 46,000 casualties and about 8,000 deaths. Lincoln was disappointed that the Union did not pursue the Confederacy, as they could have ended the war that day. After the war Lincoln gave a 2 minute speech now known as the Gettysburg Address -
Appomattox Courthouse
General Robert E. Lee surrendered to the Union at Appomattox, signaling the end of the war. Union Army marched through Virginia pushing the Confederate forces back. Lee abandoned the capitol of Richmond and retreated in hopes of uniting with Confederate troops. The Union cut off their retreat and surrounded them at Appomattox. The Confederacy was low on supplies and many soldiers were deserting. Confederate soldiers had to turn in their weapons but were allowed to return back home. -
Lincoln's Assassination
Lincoln's assassination was one of the last events in the Civil War which happened on Good Friday. John Wilkes Booth was Lincolns killer, he was an actor and Confederate supporter. Lincoln was laughing at the punch line of the play when he was shot in the back of the head and was mortally wounded. An actress named Katherine Evans said president Lincoln was unconscious with his chin on his chest and his eyes closed but a smile on his face. He died the next morning still with a smile on his face. -
13th Amendment
The 13th Amendment stated that slavery nor involuntary servitude shall exist in the U.S The fight to end slavery in the U.S. began in the 1700's. Rhode Island was the first state to abolish slavery in 1776, followed by Vermont and then Pennsylvania. The 13th Amendment was introduced to the states for ratification on February 15, 1865. However, it didn't become part of the constitution until December 6, 1865 when Georgia ratified it since it needed three fourths of the states' approval. -
The Great Migration
The Great Migration was a flow from 1916 to 1970 of about 6 million African American migrants from the farmlands in the South to the cities of the industrialized north. The WWI draft caused a shortage of labor in the northern factories. The main reasons African Americans left the south were to escape racism and seek jobs in industrial cities. Southern blacks were forced to make a living working the land due to black codes and the sharecropping system, which offered little economically wise.
