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Period: 10,000 BCE to
Beginnings to Exploration
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1000 BCE
The Olmecs
The Olmecs were the first advanced civilization in the Americas and carried a rich culture as well as a mathematical history. They're responsible for the long count calendar, the concept of "zero," and participated in cultural customs such as blood letting, building religious pyramids, and also partook in the brutal, bloody Mesoamerican ballgame. The Olmecs will have declined by 350 B.C. -
1000 BCE
Caste System
The Caste System was a structure of social stratification used by many early Native American Societies. Early classes generally include 3 standings; the upper Caste consisted of rulers, nobles, and priests, the middle included businessmen, merchants, and soldiers, and at the bottom of the pyramid, the farmers and slaves. Societies were rigidly divided into classes that determined each citizen's education level, profession, and overall standard of life. -
500 BCE
The Mayan
The Mayans were present from 2000 B.C until 1500 A.D. They continued the customs of bloodletting, partaking in the Mesoamerican ballgame and use of the long count calendar. They also advanced the process of human sacrifice. In addition, they will be the civilization responsible for the caste system and use of hieroglyphs. -
1350
The Black Death
The Black Death, the infestation of the Bubonic Plague was one of the most tragic events in European history. This epidemic transformed European society, and as a result of it, annihilated almost half of Europe's population. The outcome of the pandemic was a shortage of labor, which encouraged the merchant society to form and rid of the Feudal System. In turn, Europe's economy has transformed to become more modern and the aristocracy's power to be compromised . -
1500
The Columbian Exchange
The Columbian Exchange, named after Christopher Columbus was the transfer of goods from the Old World to the New including plants, animals, culture, technology, and ideas. Although both counterparts received and sent commodities, it mostly benefited the Old World. In the process of exchange, many diseases such as smallpox carried from the Old World into the New wiped out a vast population of Native Americans since they had no built immunity towards European diseases. -
The Roanoke Colony
The Roanoke Colony, infamously known as the Lost Colony, was founded in 1858 on the grounds of present-day North Carolina. John White, governor of the colony left to England to fetch supplies but when he and his men returned, there were no signs of the colonists they had left behind besides the word "Croatoan" carved into a tree's bark. To add to the mystery, there were also no signs of violence. -
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English Colonial Societies
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The Headright System
Introduced in 1618, the Headright System was put into place in order to attract new settlers to the land of Jamestown, Virginia. In reward for being a new settler in Virginia, they received fifty whole acres of land. Through the introduction of this system, Jamestown's population was no longer in decline and the labor shortage was relieved. -
Tobacco
Tobacco was an imperative cash crop for the colonies. Although there was not much profit early on, as time passed it became one of the most influential factors towards the colonies' economy. Since there was a demand for cheap labor to cultivate the land, indentured servants were present to tend crops for about 5 years. Since many people from England couldn't afford to come over, they took on indentured servitude as a way to help get a kick start on their new lives in the Americas. -
Nathaniel Bacon
Nathaniel Bacon was a citizen of the Virginia colony, most well known as the leader of Bacon's Rebellion. Bacon was born in Cambridge, but moved to Jamestown in 1673. In the year of 1676, Bacon asked for approval from Berkeley to raise a militia so that he could keep the colony's frontier peaceful. Berkeley ended up refusing, but Nathaniel went ahead anyway, and was accused of treason. As a result, a battle between the two broke out and Bacon would eventually burn Jamestown down 1676. -
Robert De La Salle
Robert De La Salle was a French explorer of the late 17th century. He explored the region from the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico, and the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada. From exploration of the Mississippi region he established New Orleans and named the land mass (Louisiana) after his king, Louis the XIV. -
William Penn
William Penn was a Quaker who sought to create a place of religious refuge for his fellow Quakers who faced persecution in England. Since the king was indebted to Penn from past favors, he granted Penn the land west of New Jersey to create his Quaker safe-haven. With this land, he started a proprietary colony by the name of Pennsylvania. Eventually, they would follow a Limited-Republican style of government in which solely men were enabled to vote for law and regulations. -
Proprietary Colonies
Proprietary Colonies were a form of British Colonies typically located in North America or the Caribbeans. Colonies such as New York or Pennsylvania were granted full rights to self government to either a single person or group by the British monarch, King Charles II. Proprietary colonies were used as a reward in place for Britain's allies as well as to bring attention towards Britain. -
Indentured Servitude
Indentured servitude was a system put in place in order to meet the labor shortages of tobacco cultivation as well as an opportunity to get into the New World. Unlike slavery, indentured servants were paid for their labor intensive work. The contract of an indentured servant typically lasted 4-7 years, and upon completion of their time, it was customary for their employer to supply them with tools and clothing. Many used this to help pay for their new lives in the New World. -
Triangular Trade
The Triangular trade was a system of exchange between three continents; England to Africa, Africa to the Americas, and the Americas back to England. Trade occurring between the three lands exchanged three different types of commodities: raw materials, manufactured products, and slaves. Raw materials such as sugar, tobacco, rice, and cotton were from the colonies, manufactured products such as guns, clothes, and beads were from England, and slaves came from West Africa. -
Act of Union
The Act of Union would result in the newborn United Kingdom of Great Britain. Both the parliament of England and parliament of Scotland passed an act that would unite the two separate states. Even though both the Kingdom of Scotland and England shared the same monarch since 1603, it wasn't until the early 1700s that both establishments were willing to submit. This federal government would eventually pave the way for American government. -
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Colonial America to 1763
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Northern Slavery
Although it wasn't rare to find slaves in the North, there were communities of free slaves since slavery wasn't as vital as it was compared to the South where labor-intensive workers were needed. Instead, Northern slaves often worked as domestic servants, field hands on small farms, and metal workers. Although majority of Northerners did not support slavery, few actually took action to abolish it and most were bystanders who did nothing to help the cause. -
The Enlightenment
The Enlightenment was a philosophical and intellectual movement that took place in Europe's 18th century. There was a shift from the religious mindset towards the reasoning of sciences. Before the Enlightenment had taken place, science was looked down upon as superstition, but became normalized through this movement. In turn, religion and its practices were being put into question by enlightenment thinkers, some influential ones being Benjamin Franklin, Isaac Newton, and John Locke. -
The Great Awakening
The Great Awakening was Europe and British America's reactions towards the secularism that had taken place due to the Enlightenment. John Edwards, a leader and advocate of the Great Awakening said "People are like spiders hanging over a pit of damnation." Many people at the time were scared into religion. In Colonial American Society, the first inter-colonial event took place; the gospel preachings of George Whitfield. The Great Awakening gave people a voice and fractured religious order. -
Native American Revivals
Native American Revivals took place during the First Great Awakening, a time where religion was once again flourishing. Due to the widespread Christian and Catholic belief, many Natives used Jesus Christ as a symbol and incorporated him into their regular beliefs. Their revival was also an effort to return to their way of life prior to contact with Europeans who stripped their foundations away. It was also a movement against the indulgence of alcohol since many had addiction problems. -
Seven Years War / French and Indian War
The Seven Years War, more commonly known as the French and Indian War, was the outcome of growing tensions in North America between the French and British powers. Both of these nations' colonists and officials sought to expand their territory but would interfere with one another over land disputes. Eventually, the conflict would result in Great Britain's victory and be resolved with the Treaty of Paris 1763. -
Treaty of Paris 1763
The Treaty of Paris brought an official end to the French and Indian War. After a British victory, France was driven away from its territories in mainland North America, resulting in the French presence quickly fading away. Since the French were no longer in control of their previously owned land, this allowed for British expansion. Despite Great Britain's victory, not all outcomes of the war were positive; Britain left the war with massive debt. -
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The Revolutionary War 1763
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The Stamp Act
As a result of Britain being put into massive debt by the French and Indian War, British Parliament decided to impose taxes on the colonies. The Stamp Act was one of the many taxes put into place after the war, and forced colonists to all have stamps on any and every legal document. The colonists retaliated with the Stamp Act Congress, which would be the first time the colonists got together to resolve a conflict. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre, also referred to as the Incident on King Street by the British, was a violent outburst between Bostonians and British Soldiers. The conflict began with patriot Bostonians hurling rocks at stationed soldiers, to which they retorted by open fire. While only about 5 people were killed, Paul Revere's fictitious account of it created great rapid fire outrage between the colonies; this was one of the earliest examples of American Propaganda. -
Boston Tea Party
Enraged by the new taxes imposed on the colonists by Great Britain in an effort to pay back loans, a drunk group of Bostonians later identified as Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty would dump 240 chests of tea into the Boston Harbor as an act of protest. This act of defiance would later result in the passage of the punitive Coercive Acts in 1774 as well as pushing the colonists closer to declaring independence from great Britain. -
Common Sense
Common sense was a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine to advocate for American Independence from Great Britain. The pamphlet convinced its audience to rethink the Monarchy and to push towards a more Democratic representative government. His writings appealed to the common man in the colonies as well as changed their views on the monarchy. This was the first source of widespread writing that openly supported leaving Great Britain. -
The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was drafted by Thomas Jefferson and signed by the founding fathers to declare American Independence from the powers of Great Britain. The document itself was completed on the 2nd of July at the Second Continental Congress meeting that took place in Philadelphia, but wasn't signed until July 4th. The document itself was a declaration of war against Great Britain as well as a cry for help from other nations. -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga marked the turning point of the American Revolution. Its Patriot victory boosted colonist morale as well as convinced potential allies such as France that winning against the British power wasn't impossible. The significance of this victory was that it paved the way for future support to believe it would be in their best interest to help the colonists fight the British power. -
Massachusetts Constitution
The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts was approved on the 15th of June, 1780 and was effective October 25, 1780. It was written by John Adams, and served as a model for the Constitution of the United States of America which was drafted 7 years following its establishment. It had four sections; a preamble, declaration of rights, description of the framework of government, and articles of amendment. -
American Virtue
Following the Revolutionary war against Britain, American virtue had started to evolve. Free from the monarchy, their sense of government had shifted. The death of the monarchy transformed into the birth of Republicanism. Formations of individual state constitutions came up in an effort of self authority and education also became a new focus. Children beginning their education early on and carrying it throughout their adolescence became popularized -
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The Constitution
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Articles of Confederation
After the United States of America had declared its independence, the Articles of Confederation were put into place since the early nation needed a form of regulation. It was an agreement between the first 13 original states that served as America's first constitution. Although created November 15 1777, it had no power until it was ratified March 1, 1781. The Articles had many restrictions and proved to create a weak central government later tested by Shay's Rebellion. -
Treaty of Paris 1783
On September 3, 1783, King George III of Great Britain signed the Treaty of Paris 1783 which officially brought an end to the American Revolutionary War. The document itself set boundaries for the the British Empire and America in the United States, establish fishing rights, restoration of property, and release prisoners of war, expand westward, and allow America to establish trading relations with whoever they please. -
Shay's Rebellion
Shay's Rebellion occurred the August of 1786 to the September of 1787 and served as the a test for the Articles of Confederation. A young Daniel Shay would lead a multitude of angered farmers rebelling against the state and local enforcement of tax collection and judgement for debt. The cause of the rebellion would be farmers losing lands from high taxes. This insurrection exposed the weakness of the Articles and its inability to take control of its citizens. -
Northwest Ordinance
The Northwest Ordinance, otherwise known as The Ordinance from 1787 was passed by congress on July 13, 1787. This act of the Congress of the Confederation created the Northwest Territory for the United States and set a standard for state admission. It was America's way of responding to its citizens' push to expand westward. In addition, westward expansion would be responsible for tense relations with Great Britain, Spain, and Native Americans. -
Virginia Plan
The Virginia Plan was drafted by James Madison and presented to the Constitutional Convention on May 29, 1787. It proposed to create a strong central government with three branches which would keep the other in check. These three were the legislative, executive, and judicial. It also suggested a two house legislature; an upper and lower house. The lower house would be voted by the people, and the upper house would he voted by the lower house. -
The Three Branches
The United States government is comprised of three branches; the executive, legislative, and judicial. The legislative makes laws, which then gets transferred to the executive branch with the option to either veto the law or sign it. Then if the law is approved, the judiciary branch whether the law is constitutional. The reason why this system is effective is because they follow a check and balance system meaning each branch keeps the other in check to prevent corruption. -
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New Republic
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The First Bank of the United States
The First Bank of the United States was proposed by Alexander Hamilton in order to regulate and distribute federal funds. Hamilton believed that the creation of a national bank would result in the stabilization and improvement of the United States' wealth. Although the bank was profitable and well managed, many citizens felt it constrained economic development. Through this bank, citizens were enabled to deposit and make loans. -
Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights was created in September 25, 1798 by James Madison, but wasn't ratified until December 15, 1791. The writing itself was the first ten amendments added to the United States constitution. It added guidelines for the personal freedoms, rights of the citizens and government limitation in multiple proceedings such as judicial. An example of its statements include: freedom of religion, speech, and press, the right to bear arms, and a right to a fair and speedy trial. -
Whiskey Rebellion
The Whiskey Rebellion was a farmer protest against a newly imposed whiskey tax in 1791. It served as the first real test on the powers of the Constitution. In an effort to help debt from the Revolutionary War, congress imposed a tax on homemade whiskey which effected small Pennsylvanian and Kentucky farmers who relied on whiskey sale as a stable source of income. However, the rebellion was quickly put down by George Washington, proving the constitution's strength. -
Cotton Gin
Eli White at the ripe age of 29 would invent and patent the Cotton Gin in the year of 1794. The cotton gin was a big innovation, as it was able to mechanically separate seeds from raw cotton picked in the South. With its appearance in history, the demand for slaves quickly began to rocket as the supply for labor wasn't efficient anymore. This innovation would help boost the American Economy and promoted the move for industrialization. -
Jay's Treaty
Designed by Alexander Hamilton, Jay's Treaty would be the document which resolves any lasting tension or issue following the Revolutionary War. On November 19, 1794, the treaty was signed and then submitted to the United States Senate for consent. The treaty was not ratified until the following year's June. The content itself consisted of: ten years of peaceful trade between the U.S and Britain and withdrawal of British units from forts in the Northwest. -
Two Forms of Competing Government
In the late 18th century emerged two forms of competing government; the Federalist and Democrat-Republican party. Each had their own interpretation with strictness of the constitution and differing views on how the United States government should be run. The Federalists, led by Alexander Hamilton, wanted a loose constriction regarding the constitution as well as a strong central government. On the other hand, the Democrat-Republicans run by Jefferson and Madison were on the opposite spectrum. -
Washington's Farewell Address
George Washington's Farewell address was a letter written to his "friends and citizens" at the end of his second term right before he retired to his home in Mount Vernon, Virginia. In his speech, he gave advice to the new government and those following his legacy. He recommended that no U.S president should run for more than two terms to avoid democracy, and to avoid as many conflicts as possible by not forming any permanent alliances. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
The Alien and Sedition Acts, signed by John Adams in 1798, was created in favor of the Federalists to limit the powers of the Democratic-Republican Party. The Acts were four bills that made it harder for immigrants to become citizens, made it easier for the government to deport immigrants, and made it unlawful for anyone to speak down on the U.S government or the President. These acts would later be denounced by the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions. -
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The Age of Jefferson
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Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was a large step toward manifest destiny for the United States. During the presidency of Thomas Jefferson, he would buy land from the French in 1803, which would more than double the size of America. The U.S spent over 11 million dollars for 828,000 square miles of land, at around 3 cents an acre. A few years later, Thomas will have sent two explorers, namely Lewis and Clark to start their expedition in this foreign land. -
Hamilton vs. Burr
The illegal duel between Hamilton and Burr, would occur July 11, 1804. Alexander Hamilton was the former Secretary of Treasure, and Aaron Burr was the current Vice President. A gun bearing face-off between two men would consequentially leave Alexander to be fatally wounded, and eventually killed. Burr, winner of the duel, became an outlaw and ostracized by society, putting an end to his political career indefinitely. -
War of 1812
The War of 1812 between Great Britain and the United States occurred when Britain refused to treat America as its own entity. Instead, the British did not surrender western forts as stated in the Treaty of Paris, impressed American soldiers, disrupted American trade with France, and provided arms to Natives attacking the States. In return, America would attack the Canadian capitol; sparking the war. The Treaty of Ghent eventually ceases fire, and many called it a "second war of independence." -
Battle of New Orleans
The Battle of New Orleans was a series of encounters between the States and the British, and was the last battle to the War of 1812. For the American side, the army consisted of pirates, slaves, and farmers under the great leadership of Andrew Jackson who would lead them to victory. The war lasted 12 days; January 6-18, and was resolved by the Treaty of Ghent signed December 24, 1814 and ratified February 1815. -
Waltham System
The Waltham System, sometimes referred to as the Waltham-Lowell System, was a scheme for labor and textile production in a multitude of mills. The labor workforce in these mills included mostly women, as they were cheaper to hire than men. Many females took on this responsibility as a mean to help their families with low income. Although they made more income than if they worked at home, the conditions were terrible; they had long hours and dangerous demands. -
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The American Industrial Revolution
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McCulloch vs. Maryland
McCulloch vs. Maryland would monumental case by the Supreme Court of the United States. The predicament occurred when Maryland decided to impose a new tax on all banks non chartered in state which McCulloch, a banker, deemed unlawful. In the end, victory sided with McCullough; the Supreme Court ruled Maryland's new tax to be targeting the Bank of the United States. Long term, this case established the Constitution gives Congress implied powers, and States may not override the Federal power. -
Missouri Compromise
With Missouri's newly found statehood, Northern and Southern tensions were rising. Missouri would be admitted as a slave state, giving the South more power. To resolve this problem, the United States Congress admissions the two-part compromise, granting Maine as a free state to balance Missouri entering as a slave state. The compromise also created an invisible line at 36 30 degrees and stated each state above the line was free, and each below was slave. This fix would only last temporarily. -
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Cultural Changes
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Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine was a policy that opposed European colonialism in The Americas. It was written by James Madison in 1823, and sent to the British for approval. Since Spanish Empires were failing, the United States wanted to take advantage of their situation and take control of their faulty lands. But in order to do so, they needed the British out of their path. The document declared they could no longer meddle with Latin America so American powers could expand. -
Election of 1824
The election of 1824 held four presidential candidates; Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams, William Crawford, and Henry Clay. In the end, Jackson got the popular vote since he represented the "common man" who could relate to the people. However, victory went to John Quincy Adams, who garnered the votes of the electoral college. From this result, Jackson was bitter and called it the "corrupt bargain." -
The Corrupt Bargain
The Corrupt Bargain was Jackson's name for the election of 1824 where Andrew Jackson won the popular vote but his presidency was stolen from him by John Quincy Adams who had the vote of the electoral college. It was a popular belief that Adams had convinced Henry Clay, Speaker of the House of Representatives, to get him votes and in turn, he would reward Clay with the position of Secretary of State. -
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Age of Jackson
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Free Black Communities
While the South had terrible treatment of African Americans, the very few who were able to buy their freedom had small communities. Although they weren't participants in the labor intensive work field, they were still under much scrutiny and examination by their white counterparts. Some locations of these communities are: Baltimore, New Orleans, and Memphis. In these communities, they were in a safer environment and given more economic opportunity. -
Temperance Movement
Temperance was the act of abstaining from alcohol. Many American's views shifted during the change of American culture. The Temperance Movement was a movement to get Americans to stop indulging on alcohol. This movement was largely run by women who had alcoholic husbands that abused them when drunk. Through the constant protests and propaganda against alcohol, America's alcohol consumption levels drastically lowered. -
The Election of 1828
The Election of 1828 was a rematch between Andrew Jackson and John Quincy Adams who lost the popular vote, but gained presidency by the vote of the electoral college. Since Jackson was still bitter of his lost to Adams in 1824, he changed his strategies to assure his victory as President. Young Hickory, as people would call Jackson, implemented the use of his humble origins, military career, and democratic value. In addition, this was the start of personal attack between candidates. -
Revivalism
Revivalism was a product of the Second Great Awakening's aftermath where religion arose once again. With the movement of revivalism, people started to once again believe in free will. They believed in everyone having their own choice in picking beliefs best suited for themselves. Also, the preaching in common areas such as street corners was also brought into light. Even newspapers started to become a platform for the facilitating of these new ideals. -
Mormons
Mormonism is a religion founded by Joseph Smith. The Mormon community are member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Joseph was said to have a holy encounter; he found a golden tablet in his yard which was written in an ancient, foreign language only he could understand. He believed the Natives were holy people and one of the three lost tribes of Israel. -
Nullification Crisis
The Nullification Crisis sparked after Congress raised the Tariff Tax of 1832. This resulted in a confrontation between South Carolina and the Federal Government. Since one of the taxes were n textiles, which put a large indentation on Southern agriculture and farmers, South Carolina threatened secession after denouncing the Tariff as unconstitutional. To end the Crisis, Congress passed the Compromise Tariff of 1833 to satisy both sides. -
Defunding the Bank
On September 10, 1833, President Andrew Jackson announces the Second Bank of the United States to be officially shut down. While Henry Clay approved of a national bank, Jackson despised it. He resented its lack of funding towards westward expansion and its political and economic power, as well as the lack of oversight from congress on its dealings. After its end, citizens started to rely back onto state banks. -
The Whig Party
The Whig Party was formed with the intent to challenge the Democrats, Jackson's campaign. The Whigs believed in the power of the U.S Congress over the Presidency and was also a fan of economic protectionism to help manufacturing and banking. It supporters consisted of entrepreneurs, planters, reformers, and the urban middle class. On the opposite spectrum, farmers and unskilled workers saw no appeal. Their name was after the American Whigs who helped fight for independence. -
Trail of Tears
From 1838 through 1839, President Andrew Jackson enacted the Indian Removal Act of 1830 which authorized Jackson to give Natives land west of the Mississippi in exchange for the land they currently reside on. They were forced on a long journey westward where many perished due to the harsh winter, hunger, disease, and exhaustion. The trail to their "new home" was deemed the "Trail of Tears." -
Telegraph
From the 1830s and 1840s, Samuel Morse would have invented the telegraph, a new form of communication. Different telegraphs would transmit electrical signals to one another via a wire laid between stations. The language used to communicate with one another would be later deemed the "Morse Code," after its inventor. This new innovation was a tremendous help in warfare, as different grounds were effectively and quickly able to communicate with one another. -
Tenant Farmers
Tenant farmers were farmers who rented land to use for crop cultivation. Often times, the tenant farmer had to give the landlord a percentage of his earnings. Tenant farming is an old agricultural production system that's still around today. In the 1800s, many tenant farmers had a terrible standing regarding the social ladder; even though some made substantial money, they were looked down upon. The terms of which the landlord and tenant farmer varied with each pairing. -
The Second Great Awakening
The Second Great Awakening, the successor of the first, was a period of revival in education and improving the prison systems. To America, the rise of educating the next generation became a focus. New factors would be brought into education such as a grading system, textbooks, supplies, improved instruction, and a stricter attendance policy was now put into play. Higher levels such as college or universities were now also encouraged. As for prisons, a penitentiary system would be set up. -
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Westward Expansion
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Suffrage
In the early 1840s, the movement towards women's suffrage was gaining a lot of momentum. It was now standard for women to work in cities away from their homes and societies like the New York Female Reform Society was a large advocate for women's education and led women away from a life of prostitution. Conventions like the one in Seneca Falls would also make a first appearance, advancing the movement for women's suffrage. -
Manifest Destiny
Manifest Destiny was the idea that the United States was destined to expand from coast to coast, sea to shining sea, making all actions in the process justified. The drive towards Manifest Destiny fueled the movement for western settlement, removal of the Native Americans, and declaring war with Mexico. The movement had many supporters such as James K. Polk. -
Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglas was a former slave that later became a national leader for the abolitionist movement in the North, specifically, Massachusetts and New York. Through his speeches and autobiographies, he inspired many to rise up for the cause against slavery. His books were also as influential, giving insight on his experiences as a slave. Douglas would be considered a renowned activist, and his books, American classics. -
Bringham Young
Brigham Young was one of the multitude of Mormons negatively impacted from westward expansion in search for Manifest Destiny. After a fellow Mormon, namely Joseph Smith was killed by an angry mob in his jail, Brigham and his group of Mormons relocated to the Salt Lake Valley to escape persecution. There, they were free to practice their beliefs without physical consequence. He also started the of polygamy within his group. -
Mexican-American War
The Mexican American War had sparked because of the United States' annexation of Texas. Mexico still believed Texas was a part of their own territory. President James K. Polk was such a huge advocate for manifest destiny, he was willing to put up the fight to gain Texas. Some major battles include: Palo-Alto, San Pasqual, Vera Cruz, and Mexico City. The war ended with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in an American vistory, and the U.S gained a third of Mexican territory. -
The Battle of Palo Alto
The first major battle of the Mexican American war would be the Battle of Palo Alto. The battle started May 8, 1846 north of the Rio Grande River and was led by general Zachary Taylor. He was effectively able to lead his outnumbered army into victory against General Mariano's troop, making him a war hero and pushed him forward as the 12th President of the United States. -
Wilmot Proviso
The Wilmot Proviso was first proposed in the House of Representatives in an effort to ban slavery in new territories gained from the Mexican American War. A lot of political debate arose, but was never passed by Congress due to the volume of conflict. This caused the spit of the Democratic and Whig party into pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions. -
California Gold Rush
After James Marshall had discovered gold in the grounds of California on January 24, 1848, mounds of people were beginning to migrate in hopes of making it rich. 200,000 people will have settled by end of the year 1852. Industrial mining will also make a prominent appearance in 1852 as well, causing supporter industries to follow up with them. During the time of the rush, Chinese people had also start to migrate. Many immigrants worked in terrible, dangerous positions and often faced racism. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo brought an end to two years of fighting the Mexican American War. With the war ending in American victory, the United States gained around 525,000 square miles of land. In addition, Mexico gave up all claims to Texas and recognized the Rio Grade River as a border between themselves and America. With the new annexation of Texas, issues of slavery soon arise. -
The Free Soil Party
The Free-Soil Party was a short term political party that was created in New York. The party's main goal was to get go against the expansion of slavery into western territory. It existed during the election of 1848, and their candidate was Martin Van Buren who went against Zachary Taylor of the Whigs, and Lewiss Cass of the Democrats. This election would have resulted in Taylor's victory. They also sometimes worked on eradicating laws violating the freedom of African Americans. -
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Sectionalism
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Yeoman Farmers
Yeoman Farmers were farmers who owned their own plots of land, and carried a social status laying in between a Planter and Tenant farmer. The wealth and size of land for each farmer varied a great amount. Some relied on Planters as their source of income while others were independent and resented planters for their high social standing. Many Yeoman farmers would come together and form groups that caught runaway slaves. Although they were farmers, 75% of them didn't own a single slave. -
The Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive Slave act was a part of the Compromise of 1850 between North and South and was one of the most controversial laws in the 19th century. It created jobs for people to hunt down runaway slaves who had fled North. These fugitives will have been denied a right to trial and immediately returned to their previous masters. The act also laid out harsh punishments towards anyone who tries to help runaway slaves. -
Lowell Mills
The Lowell Mills were a multitude of mills that operated in Lowell, Massachusetts during the 19th and 20th centuries. The depression in 1834 meant the wages of solely a husband working was no longer sufficient. To resolve this common problem, many families sent their mothers and young daughters to work in the industry. By 1850, majority of the Lowell Mills' workers were poor immigrants. Bringing women into the Mills contributed to the normalization of women into the workforce and other jobs. -
Literature
In an effort to make people understand what life was with slavery, authors such as Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of Uncle Tom's Cabin would give the reader an inside perspective on slavery in the south. However, Beecher wasn't the only author using literature to be an influence; Mary Henderson Eastman would write "Aunt Phillis's Cabin" as a response to Beecher's novel, and showing a more gentle side with slavery. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
This act was created due to the argument whether Kansas and Nebraska should be admissioned a slave or free state. Prior to this, Southerners wanted to abolish the current standing Missouri Compromise and didn't want another free state. They also wanted the transcontinental railroad to run through the South and not North. Stephen Douglas introduced the bill which repealed the 35 30 and concluded that Kansas would be a slave state, and Nebraska would be free. -
John Brown's Raid
On October 16, 1859, John Brown leads a rather small amount of people to Harper's Ferry in Virginia in an effort to start a slave rebellion in the South. He would try to seize federal weaponry to give to the slaves to fight for their freedom. He would eventually be caught by Robert E. Lee, and his hope for slaves to come to his rescue was faulty. Even so, media coverage would start an even bigger revolution than his actual act of rebellion. -
Industrialization vs Agriculture
The industrialization versus agriculture differentiation was defined between the North and South. The North had much more factories, steam engines, and railroads. Due to this, more immigrants settled North than they did in the South, creating a plentiful source of labor. The South, on the other hand, was less industrialized. Most of their economy came from the production of cash crops such as cotton. Due to its harsh cultivation, slaves were needed as an intensive labor force. -
Confederate States of America
As the nation was going through a divide, the differences between the North and South states were more prominent; and so the Confederate States of America formed. Its members were the Southern states that agreed with slavery. And soon after, they will declare their independence from the Union and refuse to go back to join the rest of the states. They wanted to be left alone and not messed with. These new states captured all federal property, leaving only two forts behind untouched. -
First Bull Run (Manassas)
The Battle of Bull Run was the first major battle of the Civil War, and initiated by the Union. The Army of the Potomac, made of approximately 30,000 Union troops will march South to the Confederate state beyond Centreville led by General Irvin McDowell. Although they were the initiators, they soon faced a humiliating defeat once the South had easily beat them. The Union troops then fled to the Union's state capital, Washington D.C. -
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The Civil War
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Women at Work
Since most of the working male population were busy fighting in the Civil War, their absence gave way to new roles for women. They replaced traditionally male-dominated professions such as teaching, nursing, and civil service jobs. Women even took on the responsibilities of managing stores, farms and plantations. Women of notoriety, such as Clara Barton rose among this time. She started the American Red Cross to help wounded soldiers, regardless of what side they fought for. -
Twenty Negro Law
The Twenty Negro Law is legislation enacted by the Confederate Congress during the Civil War. The law allowed white men to be exempted from military service if he owned twenty+ slaves. This was a rsponse to President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. The law addressed the Confederate's fear of slave rebellion due to so many white men being absent from home as they were busy fighting in the Confederate army. Many poor Southern white men opposed the law since they didn't own any slaves. -
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was fought from April 6 through April 7, 1862, and was one of the major early battles of the American Civil War. The battle would begin with the Confederates surprising Union Forces under the leadership of Ulysses S. Grant in Southwestern Tennessee. The battle would result in Union victory and retreat of the Confederate due to the Confederates' lack of being able to hold their position. -
Neutral States
The Border states, also known as the Neutral States, were not part of either the Union or Confederate. They were the states of: Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland, and Delaware. Both Southern and Northern States tried to persuade the states to join their side through different methods; the South agreed to help industrialize them by using them to produce their weaponry whereas the North gave the border states easy access to Midwest Rivers and allowed them to keep their slaves during the Civil War. -
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was issued January 1 during Abraham Lincoln's presidency and the nation's third year in the Civil War. It declared over 3 million slaves free. The proclamation would also stop Great Britain from joining the Civil War as an ally of the Confederate side. Although these states' slaves will soon be set free, the bordering, neutral states will be allowed to keep their slaves. -
Lincoln's 10% Plan
December 8th of 1863, Abraham Lincoln issued his ten percent plan, otherwise known as the Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction. This was one of Lincoln's plans for reuniting the Union. It allowed Southern states to be readmitted into the Union, so long as ten percent their supporters swear an allegiance to the Union. Later, the Radical Republicans would pass the Wade-Davis Bill to counter the ten percent plan. It would required fifty percent to swear the Union oath. -
Lincoln's Assassination
Abraham Lincoln a president of the United States that passed due to an assassination just days before the end of the Civil War. He attended the play "Our American Cousin" at Ford's Theater, five days after the Appomattox Courthouse. The man responsible for the assassination is named John Wilkes Booth. He was a successful actor and a fierce supporter of the Confederate. Lincoln was able to survive the night after getting shot, but died the following day. Booth was found 12 days later and killed. -
40 Acres and a Mule
The Forty Acres and a Mule plan refers to a promise made for agrarian reform for former enslaved black farmers by Union General William Sherman. It would follow a series of conversations between Edwin M. Stanton, Charles Sumner, and Thaddeus Stevens and disruptions to the institution of Slavery sparked by the American Civil War. Those who were freed would legally be able to claim 40 acres of land and a mule after the end of the war. -
13th Amendment
The 13th Amendment declared that "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duty convicted, shall exist within the United States." The 13th Amendment of the Constitution was passed to abolish slavery in the United States, and would be ratified on December 6, 1965. Although, the amendment would have a negative effect on the South; they would come up with different ways to persecute African Americans. -
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Reconstruction
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Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was born April 27, 1822 in Point Pleasant, Ohio. He went to school in Westpoint but was not in the top of his class. He would grow to be apart of and be a leader for many American wars such as the Mexican-American War and the Civil War. During the Civil War, he led the Union Army in numerous battles that resulted in American victory. Grant would also be elected as President in 1868 with his primary focus on Reconstruction and the reuniting the North and South. -
White Resistance
During the era of Reconstruction, many white citizens who disagreed with the freedom of black people would try different methods to harass and intimidate them. Some even went as far as to form groups bonding over the hate towards other races such as the Ku Klux Klan, or KKK. Some of their actions included capturing innocent black people and hanging them in public areas for everyone to observe. Eventually, the government will pass the Enforcement Acts to protect their rights. -
Sharecroppers
The system known as sharecropping will develop directly after the Civil War due to the demand of labor by white farmers. Farmers would allow former slaves to rent parts of their land in exchange for a portion of their crops as rent. While it may seem like a good deal, many renters would set up the exchange in a way where the black laborers are never able to repay their rent usually resulting in their working for the renter for life; reminiscent to slavery. -
Jim Crow
Jim Crow wasn't an actual person, but a fictional character. He was played by a white actor and portrayed in a very dunce-y way. As the show gained even more notoriety, so did the use of the term "Jim Crow" which was used as a derogatory term towards African Americans. The Jim Crow Laws were also named after this. These laws were created to restrict the rights of African Americans and legalized segregation between white and black people. -
Panic of 1873
The Panic of 1873 was a financial crisis that resulted in a depression across Europe and North America lasting from 1873 to 1879. The panic and its sub-sequential depression's underlying cause would be due to the post-Civil War inflation. Throughout America, many people will have lost their homes, jobs, and could not find a way to settle these predicaments. Despite the panic, this will end with America getting back into industrialization.
