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12,600 BCE
The Bering Land Bridge
People crossed from East Asia through the Bering Land Bridge into North America in order to survive. Animals migrated to Beringia from Asia in search for food too. Furthermore, people followed and depended on animals for food and clothing. Over time, there was a shortage of animals as people greatly relied on them. In the end, the Bering land bridge eventually disappeared under the water as people remained in North America. -
1800 BCE
Maya
The Maya Indians settled in the rain forests of the Yucatan Peninsula are probably the best-known of the classical civilizations of Mesoamerica. They are mostly known for their skilled workers since they built palaces, temples, and pyramids. Furthermore, the cities were connected with roads that ran through the rain forests of the Yucatan Peninsula. Also, each city had its own ruling family and most of the time never got along. They are most known for developing the writing system too. -
1200 BCE
Aztecs
The Aztecs settled down in the Valley of Mexico. They adapted to their environment quickly by building canoes to fish and hunt. After a while of living in this region, they soon began conquering other tribes by forcing them to pay. Furthermore, it is important to know that main reason they received so much hate was because they believed in human sacrifice. Eventually, the Spanish took over region by conquering the Aztec by bringing guns, horses and diseases. -
400 BCE
Olmecs
The Olmecs are located in a civilization living in the tropical lowlands of south-central Mexico. This is important because they were the first civilization to evolve Mesoamerica. The Olmecs built large religious emblems of their gods and rulers.They grew foods such as squash, beans, sweet potatoes and tomatoes. Furthermore, they practiced religion by sacrifice, cave rituals, and pilgrimages. -
Period: 1350 to
Beginnings of Exploration
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Apr 10, 1350
The Black Death
The Black Death was one of the most threatening diseases in the 14th century but originally started in the 1200's in Central Asia. It was a plague that spread by the bite of infected rat fleas. People often died within 12 hours of being bitten. It killed up to half of the population in some countries. This event is important to know because we are able to prevent this in the future. -
Jan 22, 1492
The Colombian Exchange
The Colombian Exchange was an exchange of goods between the New and Old Worlds. It was a wide spread of food such as plants, animals, culture, and diseases. It transformed European and Native American ways of life. The Colombian Exchange also consists of the slave trade which is also known as the middle passage. -
Dec 11, 1500
The Triangular Trade
The triangular trade was a trading system of general goods during the 16th-19th century between Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Slaves were traded too and resulted in many deaths since disease, starvation, and injuries were all factors. Diseases were caused from poor conditions during the Middle Passage. Not only were slaves shipped but the American traders filled the ship for England with raw materials such as cotton, tobacco, coffee, and sugar to complete the triangular trade. -
Period: to
English Colonial Societies
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The Chesapeake Colonies
The Chesapeake Colonies consist of Maryland and Virginia and located in British America and Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake was wealthy from cultivation of tobacco. Virginia and Maryland consist of large plantations and little urban development. Their religion consisted of Puritans, Quakers, and Catholics which made up the majority of the population. Disease was common in the Chesapeake colonies therefore the death rate was higher. -
John Smith
John Smith was an English adventurer and explorer. He was born in 1579 or 1580 in Lincolnshire, England. He is well known for his role in the exploration of the New World. He led expeditions exploring Chesapeake Bay and the New England coast. Furthermore, he found Jamestown, Virginia which was England's first permanent colony in America. He also led expeditions to explore the New England coast. -
The Headright System
The headright system was created in 1618 in Jamestown, Virginia. It was used as a way in order to attract new settlers to the region and address the labor shortage. People who paid there way to Virginia received 50 acres of land. Since tobacco was very popular among the colonists, more people were needed to work. The headright system led to the establishment of large plantains based on cash crops. It was also an expansion of the thirteen British colonies in North America. -
Anne Hutchinson
Anne Hutchinson was born on July 1561 in Alford, Lincolnshire, England. She was known as one of the early colonists of the Massachusetts and Rhode Island Colonies. She joined the congregation of John Cotton but eventually came together due to her different ideas and wish to allow freedom of thought. She was arrested and placed into custody at the house of the marshal. She was also thought of violating the fifth commandment. The court found her guilty of heresy and she was condemned. -
John Winthrop
John Winthrop is best known for his leadership and the first to govern the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He was born on January 12, 1587 in Edwardstone, Suffolk, England. He led a large group of Puritans from England and was one of the chief founders of New England. He was also an English lawyer from a rich landowning family. Furthermore, he was involved in developing the Cambridge Agreement allowing the immigration of Puritans. He also planned to develop a religion based government. -
Roger Williams
Roger Williams was born in 1603 in London, England. He became a minister after leaving Cambridge. Over time, his views on religion changed to separating the Church of England. He believed that individuals should have total religious freedom. He also believed that the government should be separate from religion. Massachusetts ordered that Williams be expelled from the colony for spreading "new and dangerous opinions." He and his followers also established the city of Providence. -
Sir Isaac Newton
Sir Isaac Newton was born on January 1, 1643 in Woolsthorpe, England. He is best known for his work on gravity and defining the three laws of motion and universal gravitation. In addition, he invented the reflecting telescope which the majority of people use. He studied many classic philosophers and astronomers such as Aritstotle, Copernicus, Johannes Kepler, and Rene Descartes. It is said that he got his inspiration for gravity when he saw an apple fall from a tree on his farm. -
Quakers
The Quakers lived during the 1600s, in England. They believed that everyone could directly talk to God without needing a priest or minister. They were arrested or sent to jail for having a different belief than the rest of the people. People from all over Europe poured into this community since they had religious freedom. Quakers were peaceful people and both men and women had the right to speak up. They tried to help the poor and worked for women's and Native American rights. -
John Locke
John Locke was born on August 29, 1632 in Wrington, United Kingdom. He grew up between the supporters of the king and parliament. He was an English philosopher and political theorist. He believed that human beings are born with certain ideas. Furthermore, he was very important to the writers of the American Declaration of Independence and Constitution. For instance, he said that all people had basic right: the right to life, to own property, and to revolt against unjust governments. -
The Renaissance
The word "Renaissance" means "rebirth." It was a period of time form the 14th to the 17th century in Europe and started in Florence, Italy and to other city-states. A big part of the Renaissance was a cultural movement called humanism. It was a philosophy that all people should strive to be educated and be involved in classical arts, literature, and science. -
Period: to
Colonial America to 1763
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Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin was a statesman and inventor. He is best known for being one the founding fathers of the United States. He excelled in science, inventing, politics, and writing. He was one of the five members of the Declaration of Independence and had an influence on it. He was an Ambassador to France too. He helped out the Treaty of Paris which got the French army on the side of the Americans and helped to turn the tide of the war. He also led to the invention of the lighting rod. -
Roads
Before the Industrial Revolution there were very few roads and were even in bad conditions too. They were muddy, flooded easily, and were filled with boulders. As a result made traveling very difficult and dangerous. It all changed in 1817, when Congress authorized he construction of the National Road, also known as the Cumberland Road. This road extended from Maryland to the Ohio River at Wheeling, Virginia. This was the first road to cross the Application Mountains into the territory. -
The Great Awakeniig
The Great Awakening was a religious revivals in the North American British colonies during the 17th and 18th Centuries. During the Great Awakening, many colonists found a new meaning in religion. It occurred in parts of the British colonies in North America in the mid- 1700's. The Great Awakening had a strong influence on colonial and U.S. religion, culture, and politics. It also sparked by the tour of an English evangelical minister called George Whitefield. -
Period: to
The Revolutionary War 1763-1783
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The Stamp Act
The stamp act was a tax put on the American colonies by the British in 1765. They had to pay a tax on all sorts of printed materials such as newspapers, magazines and legal documents. During the French and Indian War, the British government felt that the colonies should help pay for the British troops in the Americas. The taxes for the Stamp Act had to be paid for with British money and they would not take colonial paper money. John Adams, furture president of the United States -
Declaratory Act
The Declaratory Act was a law that said Parliament had the right to govern and tax colonies. The Act took place on March 18, 1766. This law was enacted partly to save, but to clearly state the position of the British crown. Colonial leaders were mad at this and this was just what they had feared. In addition, the Declaratory Act was the British response to the repeal the Stamp Act. The Act was passed by the British parliament to affirm its power to legislate for the colonies too. -
Adam Smith
Adam Smith was baptized on June 16, 1723 in Kirkcaldy, Scotland. He is best known for developing the theory of the free market system and writing The Wealth of Nations. He established a book that became the foundation of modern economics. He described many economic ideas in the Wealth of Nations such as division of labor, gross domestic product and invisible hand. In addition, he became the first Scotsman to appear on an English banknote in 2007. -
The Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts placed a tax on glass, paint, oil, lead, paper, and tea. It was a series of taxes and laws imposed on the colonist. The Act, by Charles Townshend and was passed by the English Parliament shortly after the repeal of the Stamp Act. The Act was a part of British acts passed and relating to the British American colonies in North America. Overall, the Americans were not against the taxes, they wanted to pay the local government where they were represented. -
The Coercive Acts
The Coercive Acts, also known as the Intolerable Acts, was a series of laws relating to Britian's colonies in North America and passed by the British Parliament in 1774. Four acts were issued in direct response to the Boston Tea Party of December 1773. The British thought the acts would help to maintain control in America, but they had the opposite effect causing many people to firmly join the side of the rebels. Many people felt these acts took away some of their basic freedom too. -
Patrick Henry
Patrick Henry was born on May 29, 1736 in Hanover Couty, Virginia. He is best known as one of the founding fathers of the United States and his speech, "Give me liberty, or give me death." He was a gifted speaker known for his speeches and strong support for revolution against the British. He was against the Constitution because he was concerned that the office of the president would become a monarchy. He was elected governor of Virginia again in 1796, but declined. -
The Prohibitory Act
The Prohibitory Act allowed the blockade and seizure of American ships and trade. It cut off all the trade between the colonies and England.. The Prohibitory Act declared British intention coerce Americans into submission, embargo on American goods, and American ships seized. It also drove Continental Congress closer to decision for independence. It became known as the American Revolutionary War or to the British, the American War of Independence. -
Thomas Paine
Thomas Paine was born on January 29, 1737 in Theftfor, Norfolk, Great Britain and died on June 8, 1809 in New York City. He is best known for being one of the founding fathers of the United States and author of the Common Sense. Through his writing Thomas Paine had convinced many decided people to become patriots therefore sometimes called the father of the American Revolution. Furthermore, he nearly died of typhoid fever on his first trip to America. He was also an inventor too. -
Period: to
The Constitution
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Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton was born on the island of Nevis on January 11, 1757. He started the Federalist Party and was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. George Washington even appointed Hamilton as the first United States Secretary of the Treasury on September 11,1789. Furthermore, he took the lead in the funding of the states' debts by the federal government as well as the establishment of the bank and his vision included a strong central government led by a executive branch. -
Shay's Rebellion
Shay's Rebellion is a series of protests in 1786 and 1787. The rebellion was lead by Daniel Shays, a Revolutionary War veteran and a farmer living in Massachusetts. Four thousand people took part in this event. Shay's Rebellion took place because the rural population believed the richer merchant population was imposing unfair economic terms on them. Daniel Shays and some of the other soldiers began to protest against unfair terms when they realized that none of them could pay. -
Virginia plan
The Virginia plan was written by James Madison. It represented the desires of the larger states and said that the number of representatives to Congress should be based on the state's population. It made a impact since it proposed a strong central government from three branches. These three branches are the legislative, executive, and judicial. It was also a proposal by Virginia delegates for a legislative branch. The document is essential because it created the idea of representation. -
New Jersey plan
The New Jersey plan was written by William Paterson from New Jersey. It represented the smaller states and said that each states and said that each sate should have the same number of representatives. It was one option as to how the United States would be governed. It called for each state to have one vote in Congress instead of the number of votes being based on population. Furthermore, the Virginia plan advocated two legislative houses of which membership would be based on population. -
Northwest Ordinance
The Northwest Ordinance was a land agreement of 1787 that created the Northwest Territory and was an act of the Congress under the Articles of Confederation. It was a way to divide and govern the Northwest Territory and described how new states could enter the Union. It enabled the United States to expand into the Great Lakes area. The states created from the Northwest Territory included Illinois, India, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Furthermore, eventually adopted the Constitution. -
Connecticut Plan
The Connecticut Plan, also known as the Great Compromise of 1787, was an agreement that large an small states reached during the Constitutional Convention of 1787. The larger state believed that representation should be based on the contribution each state made to the nation and smaller states believed that the only fair plan was one of equal representation. It was also proposed by Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth, Connecticut's delegates to the Constitutional Convention. -
Steamboat
John Fitch built four more steamboats, but they were expensive to build therefore were unsuccessful. But from 1787 to the 1830s, steamboats were improved. In 1804, John Stevens built a steamboat with a new high-pressure steam engine. Many people attempted to improve steamboats so that they could carry passengers and cargo. As a result, Robert Fulton was the first to accomplish this. It was used as methods of transportation in canals and other navigable waterways and to promote trade. -
Federalists
Federalists supported a more centralized national government and saw a need for it to have some power over the states if the country was going to be unified. Some of these federalists include Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton and George Washington. In addition, the Federalist felt that Constitution was open for interpretation and believed that the Constitution gave the central government too much power. Furthermore, the federalist wanted a stronger government and executive branch. -
Period: to
New Republic
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George Washington
George Washington was the first president of the United States through the years 1789-1797. He is known for leading the Continental Army in victory over the British in the American Revolution. He was also the first president of the United States and helped to define what the role of the president would be going forward. He was essential during this period because helped build and guide the formation of the actual US Government from the words of the Constitution. -
Second Great Awakening
The second great awakening was a protestant religious revival during the early 19th century. It was extremely important as it led to the establishment of reform movements to address injustices and alleviate suffering such as the Temperance Movement, the Women's suffrage movement and the abolitionist movement. It came a half century after the First Great Awakening and consisted of renewed personal salvation experienced in revival meetings. After 1820, membership rose rapidly among Baptist. -
Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights are the first 10 amendments to the United States Constitution. The idea was to insure certain freedoms and rights to the citizens. It also put limits on what the government could do and control. Many of the freedoms include freedom of religion, speech, assembly, the right to bear arms, unreasonable search and seizure of your home, the right to speedy trial, and more. The Bill of Rights was based on several previous documents such as the English Bill of Rights. -
The Cotton Gin
Eli Whitney changed history in the southern United States with the invention of the cotton gin. It helped many southern plantation owners become rich off their cotton crops however it also increased the demand for slaves. Since the seeds had to be removed by hand, many plantation owners in the South had stopped growing cotton. The cotton gin could clean more cotton in a few hours than a number of workers could have in a day. The cotton gin's impact on slavery led to the Civil War. -
Jay's Treaty
Jay's Treaty was negotiated by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Jay and singed between the United States and Great Britain on November 19,1794. It was called 'Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation, Between His Britannic Majesty and the United States of America'. Furthermore, the Treaty angered many in the Democratic Republican Party. But in one problem that resulted was that Jay pressed but could not get Britain to agree to was a cessation of the impressment of soldiers too. -
Pinckney's Treaty
The Pinckney Treaty was signed by the United States and Spain on October 27, 1795, to end a dispute between the two countries over land settlement and Mississippi River trade. It established intentions of friendship between the United States and Spain. It also defined the boundaries of the United States with the Spanish colonies and guaranteed the United States navigation rights on the Mississippi River. Pinckney's Treaty gave the United States control of the Mississippi River too. -
John Adams
John Adams was the 2nd President of the United States. He is most known for being one of the founding fathers and fought for American Independence. He also had strong feelings that colonies were not being treated fairly and should become independent from Britain. Adams first served as Vice president under George Washington. He barely won over Thomas Jefferson in 1797 when Washington stepped down. His one main goal accomplishment was keeping the U.S. out of war with France. -
The Iron Plow
The iron plow was invented by Jethro Wood. His invention accelerated development of American agriculture in the antebellum period. The plow was extremely useful in farming as it helped prepare the soil for the growing of plants.Originally, animals were used loosen up the soil. During the development of the plow, Wood corresponded with Thomas Jefferson, who had been working on an improvement to the plow. John Deere gave further improvement to the iron plow after Wood pasted away -
Alien and Sedition Acts
The Alien and Sedition Acts was passed on 1798 under.The Alien Act authorized the President to deport any alien considered dangerous while the Sedition Act made it a crime to publish false writing against government. It was also passed by Federalists Congress. The first three acts were about immigration while the fourth act made it illegal to publish bad things about the government. As a result, many people did not like them because they felt that they violated the first amendment. -
Period: to
The age of Jefferson
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Embargo Act
The embargo act was a law passed by Congress and signed by President Thomas Jefferson on December 22, 1807. This law stopped all ships from trading between America and any other country. The goal was to get Britain and France, who were against each other at the time, to stop restricting American trade. The Act caused people to suffer and ended in 1809. It has led an effect on us today by agricultural prices and earnings falling. Shipping-related industries were devastated. -
John C. Calhoun
John C. Calhoun was a candidate for the presidency in the 1824 election since Electoral College elected Calhoun for vice president. He served under John Quincy Adams and continued under Andrew Jackson, who went against Adams in the election of 1828. Calhoun joined with Henry Clay in working out the Compromise Tariff. By then he had resigned form the vice presidency and had been elected a senator from South Carolina. He became secretary of War of 1817 under President James Monroe too. -
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was fought between the United States and the United Kingdom. Several events led up to the war against France and the armies of Napoleon. They ad placed trade restrictions on the United States, not wanting them to trade with France. The United Kingdom supported Native American tribes in an effort to prevent the United States from expanding west. The President of the U.S. during the war was James Madison. It has affected us today since the U.S. suffered costly defeats. -
Francis Scott Key
Francis Scott Key was a lawyer and poet but was mostly known after authoring America's national anthem- the Star-Spangled Banner. He witnessed the twenty-five hour bombardment of Fort McHenry from a British troop ship. Furthermore, he had boarded the ship to negotiate the release of an American civilian imprisoned by the British, and had been detained aboard as the bombardment. He wrote a poem about his experience which was soon published and became known as the Star-Spangled Banner. -
Period: to
The American Industrial Revolution
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Battle of New Orleans
The final major battle of the War of 1812 was the Battle of New Orleans. It took place in New Orleans on the east bank of the Mississippi River. The British attacked New Orleans hoping to take control of the port city. They were held off and defeated by U.S. forces led by Andrew Jackson. Andrew Jackson led a small, poorly equipped force to a decisive American victory against British troops in the Battle of New Orleans. The U.S.won and forced the British out of Louisiana. -
The Enlightenment
The Enlightenment was an intellectual and philosophical movement which controlled the world of ideas in Europe during the 18th century. It included many ideals like liberty, progress, tolerance, fraternity, constitutional government and separation of church and state. Furthermore, The Enlightenment led directly to the American Revolutionary War and influenced the Industrial Revolution. In addition, these ideas were very influential in the Constitution of the United States. -
John Tyler
John Tyler was the 10th president of the United States. He is most known for being the fist president to sever without being elected to office. He served nearly an entire term of four years after President William Henry Harrison died just 32 days after taking office. When Tyler became president, he did not agree with the Whig party. As a result, he kicked them out of the party and all but one of the cabinet members resigned. They even tried to impeach him saying that he misused his veto power. -
Era of Good Feelings
The Era of Good Feelings was a period strong in nationalism and economic growth. It took place on July 7, 1817. James Monroe was involved since it took place during his presidency because of the political cooperation from one-party politics and the aftermath of the War of 1812. The era saw a collapse with the federalists party therefore president James Monroe strove to eliminate parties from national politics. As a result, there was only one political party an no partisan conflicts. -
Panic of 1819
The Panic of 1819 was a crisis in financial and economic conditions following the War of 1812. It is said to be the first economic depression. It was caused by the number of banks in the United States to double between 1812-1819. The banks were unregulated and began to issue massive amounts of bank notes and failed. Mortgages were foreclosed, forcing people out of their homes and farms. Falling prices also impaired agriculture and manufacturing. All regions of the country were impacted. -
Temperance movement
Throughout the early 1900s, there was a movement called the temperance movement. It tried to stop people from drinking alcohol. People who joined this movement believed alcohol was a leading cause in the destruction of families. During World War I, President Woodrow Wilson put an end to the manufacture of alcoholic drinks in order to ration grain that was needed for food. This gave the temperance movement a lot of momentum and on January 29, 1919, the 18th Amendment was ratified. -
Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith was an American religious leader and founder of Mormonism and the Latter Day Saint movement. The religious group the Mormons was formed by Joseph Smith in New York. However, the Mormons were persecuted wherever they went. But when Joseph Smith was killed by an angry mob in Illinois in 1884, the Mormons decided they needed a new place to live. They choose Utah because there were so few people living there. By the time of his death, he had attracted tens of thousand of followers. -
Stephen F. Austin
Stephen F. Austin was called the "Father of Texas" because he brought more than 300 families to Texas before it was an American state and is the founder of Texas. When he traveled to Spanish to Texas he led the second successful colonization of the region by urging these people to revolt against Mexican rule and served as secretary of state of the Republic of Texas. He established the first Anglo-American colony in the Tejas province of Mexico and saw it grow into an independent Republic. -
Period: to
Age of Jackson
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Charles Grandison Finney
Charles Grandison Finney was an American minister and leader in the Second Great Awakening in the United States. He is also known as the Father of Modern Revivalism. Finney promoted and marketed the revivals and believed all faithful individuals had to act. His religious views led him to promote social reforms. He was involved with social reforms especially the abolitionist movement too. Furthermore, the movement was strongly believed in equal education for women and African Americans. -
Period: to
Cultural Changes
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Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the 7th president of the United States. He is most known for being considered the first "common man" to become president and known as a hero from the War of 1812. He also made changes to the way the presidency was run. Furthermore, even though he lost against John Quincy Adams, he ran again and became president. After becoming president, many attacked him in many personal ways including attacks on his wife, Rachel. He was also the only president to have been a prisoner at war. -
Canals
Canals were man-made rivers and needed for the Industrial Revolution which created heavy produce that needed to be moved. Acts of Parliament were passed for the constitution of many canals. They were essential as the Industrial Revolution demanded an economic and reliable way to transport goods in large quantities. Canals were used as a transport by inland waterways in navigable rivers. Many inland waterways were useful in irrigation, water supply, and generation of hydroelectric power. -
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams was the 6th president of the United States. He was most known for being the son of Founding Father and 2nd President of the United States. John Adams ran against war hero Andrew Jackson and Congressman Henry Clay. Eventually, Adams won the vote in the House but many people were angry and said he won due to corruption. A few years after being president, Adams was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. He is the only president to be Congressman after being president. -
Railroads
Railroads were a major factor during the first civil war. The advances in developing the railroad helped to increase safety and efficiency in coal mines since before they were created, coal mining was extremely dangerous. Railroads was essential since it made transportation easier, helped deliver manufactured goods and foods. Cost of products also decreased because of railroads. Population also increased because foods was available in a large variety at a low cost. -
Nullification crisis
The Nullification Crisis was a struggle between some states and Andrew Jackson. The states didn't want to pay the protective tariff that Jackson wanted, and states claimed the right to "nullify." This meant that the states didn't have to pay the tariff. It would have meant that the states would have had the authority over the federal government in a basic economic matter like the tariff. The states withdrew their objection to the tariff because of the compromise bill introduced. -
Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail is one the most important events in American History since it was one the main overland migration routes on the North American continent. The trail was branched off from it toward Utah and California. The Organ Trail was laid down by traders and fur trappers and could only be traveled by horseback or on foot. It was used by people in search of gold or land to farm. They were motivated by difficult economic times and diseases since it was in the Midwest around 1837. -
Sam Houston
Sam Houston was best known for being the leader of the Texas Revolution. He was a politician and governor of Texas. In 1813, Sam joined the U.S. army to fight in the War of 1812. After the War, he worked for the government as an intermediary with the Cherokee in Tennessee. Houston was also elected the first President of Texas in 1836. He was significant since he helped Texas become part of the united States. He also served as a U.S. Senator from Texas and then Governor of Texas. -
Battle of San Jacinito
The Battle of San Jacinto was a battle of the Texas Revolution. It was led by general Sam Houston. The army defeated general Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna's Mexican army in a fight that lasted only 18 minutes! The casualties were 630 Mexicans killed and 730 taken to prison. Only nine out of ten Texans were killed or wounded. The public and private treaties of Velasco were signed by David G. Burnet and Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna during the Battle of San Jacinto. -
Henry Clay
Henry Clay was Secretary of State by President John Quincy Adams. He was a Whig political leader known for his efforts to keep the U.S. one nation despite controversy among slaves. Henry Clay, the Whig Party, John C. Calhoun, and John Quincy Adams established the American System, which was a plan to strengthen and unify the nation. Clay was an unsuccessful candidate in three elections, running first in 1824, then as a national republican in 1832, and lastly as a Whig which took place in 1844. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg took place on July 1-3, 1836 in and near the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. It was one of the most important battles of the Civil War for the North. Robert E. Lee had invaded the North and was trying to defeat the Union Army. However, the Union Army held him off and sent him retreating. On the first day, the confederates outnumbered the Union the first day. By the second, the armies from both sides were now at full force.This was a major turning point in the war. -
William Henry Harrison's
William Henry was the 9th president of the United States. He is most known for being the first president to die in office as well as for serving the shortest term of any president. In 1801, he became Governor of the Northwest Territory after being nominated for the job by President John Adams. His job was to help settlers move into the new lands and then protect them form the Native Americans. When war broke out with the British in the War of 1812, Harrison became a general in the army. -
Trail of Tears
Andrew Jackson created the Indian removal policy that forced Native Americans to move from their homelands in the Southern United States to Indian Territory in Oklahoma. It took several years for the removal of the Native Americans. Around 17,000 Choctaw people were forced to march to Oklahoma. It is estimated at least 3,000 died on the journey. People from the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Musogee, and Seminole tribes were marched at gunpoint across hundreds of miles to reservations. -
Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass is best known as a former slave who became an ad visor to the presidents. He was an abolitionist, civil rights activist, and writer. In Massachusetts, Douglas met with people who were against slavery and were abolitionists. He spoke out and believed in equal rights of all people and was in support for women's right to vote. During the Civil War, he fought for the rights of black soldiers. President Lincoln also got along with him since he belied in equal pay and treatment. -
Period: to
Westward Expansion
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Lowell mills
The Lowell mills was one of the first factories to hire women. These women became known as "Mills Girls" or "Lowell Girls". These women took the opportunity in order to get away from the farm and make money for themselves. They lived in large boarding houses with other women too. They worked long hours and the rooms were often crowded. Many jobs were needed as the Civil War took place. The Lowell women had their own monthly publication where they wrote articles, poems, and stories. -
Manifest Destiny
Manifest Destiny was a widely belief in the United States that its settlers were destined to expand across North America. Special virtues of the American people and their institutions were part of the Manifest Destiny. The Manifest Destiny made the United States grow larger and become much wealthier. It was the idea that God had destined the US to spread out across the continent of North America. This led to the westward migration and helped lead to the expansion of US territory. -
Period: to
Sectionalism
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California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush took place between 1848 to 1855. During this time, over 300,000 people rushed to California to find gold. Gold was first discovered in California by James Marshall. Supplies for a miner included a mining pan, a shovel, and a pick for mining. They also needed food and living supplies for survival. Whenever gold was discovered in a new place, miners would move in and make camps. These camps would be called Boomtowns. Eventually, they turned into ghost towns. -
Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman is best known as a leader in the underground railroad. She was a nurse and civil rights activist. Harriett escaped in 1849 to risk her life and freedom to help others. Since the Fugitive Slave Act was passed, it became harder for slaves to escape but Harriet still decided to help others escape. She became a famous underground railroad conductor. In addition, she helped during the Civil War and nurse injured soldiers. She also spoke out on equal rights for blacks and women. -
Zachary Taylor
Zachary Tayor is most known for his long military career and his victories in the Mexican-American War. He was the 12th president of the U.S. but has never been elected to public office. In the War of 1812, he defended Fort Harrison from an attack by the Indian chief. He commanded the U.S. forces in several battles during the Mexican War. He was nominated by the Whig party and many Southerns voted for him since he was a fellow slave owner. Northerns voted for him because he was a war hero. -
Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive Slave Act was passed in 1850. This made it a law that runaway slaves found in free states had to be returned to their owners in the south. It also made it more difficult for the Underground Railroad. Slaves needed to be transported all the way to Canada in order to be safe from being captured again. The law was passed by the United States Congress on September 18, 1850, as part of the Compromise of 1850 between Southern slave holding interests and northern free-soldiers. -
Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce was the 14th president of the U.S. He is most known for being a handsome young president whose policies helped push the United States into Civil War. The Democratic Party nominated him for president in 1852. He helped reopen the slavery issue with the Kansas-Nebraska Act and supported the Kansas-Nebraska Act which put an end to the Missouri Compromise and allowed new states to decide whether they would permit slavery or not. This angered northerns which resulted in the Civil War. -
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States. He is most known for leading the country during the American Civil War. His leadership in the North helped the country stay strong and defeat the South keeping the country united. He also believed in the freedom for slaves throughout the nation. He won the election of 1860 and became president in March of 1861. He issued the Emancipation Proclamation which freed slaves in the Confederate States. -
Kansas Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed on May 30, 1854. It was passed by the U.S. and allowed people in the territories of Kansas and Nebraska to decide for themselves whether or not to allow slavery within their borders. The Act repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820 which prohibited slavery north of latitude 36`30. Senator Stephen Douglas introduced the bill which divided the land. He also argued for popular sovereignty, which would allow the settlers to decide if slavery would be legal there. -
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The Civil War
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Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis is best known for leading the Southern United States during the Civil War. He began his military career in 1824 and served in the army until 1835. He also began his political career after spending years working on his plantation. In 1845, he was elected to the US House of Representatives and became well known for his powerful speeches and strong beliefs in states' rights. He served under Zachary Taylor and became famous for his leadership skills in battle during war too. -
Trent Affair
The Trent Affair was a diplomatic crisis that occurred in 1861 during the American Civil War that threatened a war between the United States and the United Kingdom. A U.S. Navvy officer, Captain Charles Wikes, seized form the neutral British ship Trent two Confederate commissioners, James Murray Mason and John Slidell. Both were seeking the support of England and France for the cause of the Confederacy. It brought the Union near to another war with the British during the American Civil War. -
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh was fought between the Union and the Confederacy during the Civil War. It was fought over two days from April 6 to April 7 in 1862. It took place in southwestern Tennessee and was the first major battle to take place in the western theater of war. Ulysses S. Grant and Don Carlos Buell were the Union army leaders. The Battle of Shiloh was the costliest battle in terms of casualties and deaths in history. On April 6, the confederates won the day, but not the battle. -
Conscription Act
The Conscription Act was passed by congress on April 16, 1862 and produced the first wartime draft of U.S. citizens in American history. It was a registration of all males between the ages of 18 and 35 to be drafted into military service and were liable for three year term of service. In addition, it was the first draft in American history. The confederacy was the first to enact mandatory military service therefore a draft was needed since there was poor planning of the confederate government. -
The Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was an order given on January 1, 1863 by Abraham Lincoln to free the slaves. It had some limitations. It only freed slaves in the Confederate States that were not under Union control. There were some area and borer states were slavery was still legal but were part of the union. However, the Emancipation Proclamation did eventually set many slave free and made clear that future slaves would be set free. It also allowed for black men to fight in eh union army. -
Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee is best known for commanding the Confederate Army of Virginia during the civil War. Lee's first encounter with combat and war took place during the Mexican-American War. He was also promoted to colonel due to his efforts during the war. When the Civil War began in 1861, he was offered command of the Union army by Lincoln. He left the United States army since he thought that he could not fight against his home state and became General of the Confederate Army of Virginia. -
Wade-Davis Bill
The Wade-Davis Bill was a bill proposed of the Reconstruction of the South written by two Radical Republicans, Senator Benjamin Wade of Ohio and Representative Henry Winter Davis of Maryland. It required that 50 percent of a state's white males take a loyalty oath to be readmitted to the Union. The Wade-Davis Bill was also important for national and congressional power. It was sponsored by radical Republican senators Benjamin F. Wade and Henry W. Davis. -
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Reconstuction
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13th Amendment
The Thirteenth Amendment made slavery illegal in the United States and was adopted as part of the Constitution on December 6, 1865. The amendment still allows for slavery as a punishment for a crime and allows for people to be prosecuted for forcing someone to work against their free will. The 13th Amendment was created because the president and fellow Republicans knew that the Emancipation Proclamation might be viewed as a temporary war and not outlaw slavery once the Civil War ended. -
14th amendment
The fourteenth Amendment was adopted on July 9, 1868. The amendment address citizenship right and equal protection of the laws and was proposed in response to insures related to former slaves after the American Civil War. It granted citizenship to "all persons born or naturalized in the United States," which included former slaves recently freed after the civil war. It took effect in 1868 and provides that no state shall deny to any person its jurisdiction "the equal protection of the laws". -
Enforcement Acts
The Enforcement Acts were three bills passed by the United States Congress between 1870 and 1871. They were criminal codes which protected African-Americans' right to vote, to hole office, to serve on juries, and receive equal protection of laws. The laws also allowed the federal government to intervene when states did not act to protect these rights. The lives of all newly freed slaves, political, and economic rights were being threatened there led to the creation of the Enforcement Acts. -
15th amendement
The 15th amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits the federal and state governments from denying a citizen the right to vote based on that citizen's "race, color, or previous condition of servitude". The Constitution granted African American men the right to vote. It \ was important because it gave African Americans the right to vote and also allowed the most African Americans in history to be elected into public office. It was passed by Congress on February 26, 1869. -
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th president of the United States. He is most known for being the lead general of the Union troops of Tennessee during the American Civil War.He easily won the election in 1868. He also claimed early victories at Fort Henry and Fort Donelson. After winning major victories at Shiloh and Vicksburg, Grant was promoted by president Lincoln to lead the entire Union Army. He also led the Army of the Potomac into several battles against Confederate General Robert E. Lee. -
Rutherford B. Hayes
Rutherford B. Hayes was the 19th president of the United States. He was known for winning one of the closest presidential election and for trying to reform the government as well as ending the Era of Reconstruction in the south. When he was elected president in 1876, it was one of the closest elections between Samuel Tilden. He spent much of his efforts trying to protect the rights of people of all citizens in the southern states however the democratic majority congress disagreed. -
Clara Barton
Clara Barton was best known for the founder of the American Red Cross. She fought for the rights of women to be treated equally in the work place since she got fired at one point. It is said that she even got Abraham Lincoln on her side. Clara and her sister traveled from battle to battle in order to care for the soldiers health. She became known as the "Angel of the Battlefield" since many soldiers were comfored by her presence. She foudned the American Red Cross on May 21, 1881 too. -
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Elizabeth Cady Stanton is best known as a leader in the fight for women's suffrage. She believed strongly in the rights of all individuals regardless of race or gender. In 1850, Elizabeth and other women held the first women's rights convention in New York. She presented an important document called the Declaration of sentiments. This document was modeled after the Declaration of Independence that said that women and men were created equal and should be treated the same under the law. -
Spoils System
The spoils system is a practice in which a political party gives government jobs to supporters, friends, or relatives. Andrew Jackson introduced the spoils system after winning the 1828 presidential election. The spoil system was a policy of removing political opponents. Jackson's political opponents had a very different interpretation than him as they considered his method to be corrupt. The spoils system was criticized for decades, but eventually led to reforming it was a violent act. -
Three-tier system
The three-tier system is a system of distributing alcoholic beverages that was set up in the United States. It includes producers, distributors, and retailers. The system only allows that producers can sell their products only to wholesale distributors who then sell to retailers, and only retailers may sell to consumers. Products include brewers, wine markers, distillers and importers. -
Jim Crow
Jim Crow laws were laws in the South based on race. They enforced segregation between white people and black people in public places such as schools, restrooms, and restaurants. It also made it hard for black people to vote. Many of them were enforced until the Civil Rights Act of 1964. African-Americans began to protest and fight the Jim Crow laws in the 1900's. Jim Crow laws were made illegal with the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
