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Period: 5000 BCE to
Beginnings To Exploration
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476
Fall of the Western Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was one of Europe's most legendary empires. The Western Roman Empire (one of two parts of the Roman Empire) suffered many invasions from Barbarian tribes, military treachery, economic conflicts, government corruption, and political instability. The Empire was invaded by barbaric tribes for centuries, but in 476, Germanic leader Odoacer finally led a revolt that overthrew the emperor, thus ending the Western Empire. After, its vast territory was divided among several successors. -
Aug 15, 1096
First Crusade
The Crusades are a series of religious wars. The Christians' goal was to reclaim Jerusalem by driving the Muslim out. However, the First Crusade was the only successful crusade. Initially, it was only a cry for help from the Byzantine emperor to repel the invading Turks, but Pope Urban II called for a crusade and changed the reasoning behind it. It was fought in Anatolia, Palestine, Antioch, and Jerusalem. Many resented Christians afterwards because they sanctioned the religious massacre. -
Jun 1, 1440
Printing Press was invented
Before the printing press, many people did not know how to read and relied on people with higher education (like priests, scholars, etc.) to read to them. However, when the first printing press was invented in the Holy Roman Empire by a German blacksmith named Johannes Gutenberg, it became a cultural revolution and changed everyone's everyday lives. Education became easily accessible through quicker and cheaper printing, which ultimately increased the level of intelligence of the public. -
Aug 3, 1492
Christopher Columbus set sail for his first voyage
The King and Queen of Spain had finally decided to finance Columbus' expedition to find a shorter route to Asia. At this date, Columbus and his crew set sail in three ships: the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. Later in the year, Columbus discovered the Americas, although he never even realized it. He actually landed in the Bahamian Islands, and then he sailed throughout the Caribbean and later returned to Spain, later returning and making a total of four trips back to the New World. -
Oct 31, 1517
95 Theses
On this date, Martin Luther had posted on a church door in Wittenburg, Germany. He wrote against the papacy, publicly resisting the ways of the Catholic church. He criticized the power of the pope and the wealth of the church. He stated that the Bible is the central religious authority & a person's deed does not determine salvation. After this, the Christian religion changed forever. It branched out into many different Protestant divisions. Martin Luther afterwards created the Lutheran church. -
Aug 13, 1521
Conquest of the Aztecs
The Aztec civilization was in Mesoamerica and had flourished for many years before Hernan Cortes came and conquered it. This conquest became a very important part of history of Spanish colonization. There were many factors contributing to the conquest of the Aztecs, including disease, weapons, horses, and allies with other native tribes. After a three-month siege, Spanish forces were able to capture Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec Empire. This victory marked the fall of the Aztec Empire. -
Period: to
English Colonial Societies
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Mayflower Compact
The Pilgrims, fleeing Europe due to its corruption, had received permission to land in Northern Virginia instead landed in Massachusetts due to strong winds and treacherous currents.The pilgrims needed something to bound them together since they were people of different religions. While they waited for the patent, the men aboard the Mayflower decided to sign the Mayflower Compact to maintain order in their society, becoming the first document to establish self-governance in the New World. -
Anne Hutchinson Banished
Anne Hutchinson, a radical Puritan, started a controversy over her antinomian beliefs, which resulted in her being put on trial for heresy. There, she strongly held her position against the Governor, John Winthrop. She brilliantly defended herself, but due to her claim of being directly spoken to by God, she was condemned for teaching and speaking to men in public and their faiths, mainly because she was a woman. She ultimately lost the trial and was banished from the Massachusetts Bay colony. -
Bacon's Rebellion
Bacon's Rebellion was an armed rebellion in Virginia led by Nathaniel Bacon against the rule of William Berkeley. Berkeley had refused to retaliate against the series of Native American attacks on the frontier since he did not believe that starting a war with the natives was the best idea. Bacon neglected Berkeley's opposition and took it upon himself to lead a crusade against the Native enemies. This rebellion resulted in the decrease of indentured servitude and increase of imported slaves. -
Robert de la Salle claims Louisiana for France
Robert de la Salle was a French explorer sent by King Louis XIV to travel south of Canada along the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico. Here, he discovered the Mississippi basin and named it Louisiana for King Louis. He then formed important military, social, and political alliances with the Native American tribes in the upper Mississippi River area, which later helped the French during the 7 Years' War. He was the first European explorer to travel the full length of the Mississippi River. -
English Bill of Rights
This Bill created a separation of powers, limits, excluded Catholics from the monarchy, & protected the basic rights of people. It ensured the superiority of the Parliament over the monarchy, becoming known as a constitutional monarchy. Abolishing the cruelty, fines, and unusual punishment in trials by jury, it was signed by William and Mary Orange once the crown was passed down to them following the Glorious Revolution. It settled the succession of these new rulers when James II was deposed. -
Salem Witch Trials
The Salem Witch Trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions against accused witches in Massachusetts. It began when a minister's daughter began to act bewitched. Their slave, Tituba, was blamed, & she had confessed to it and claimed there were other witches too. Soon, many women were accused of witchcraft. They were hung or thrown into a river. At the end of the trials, dozens were dead. The only way a woman could survive the trials was to admit to witchcraft, even if it wasn't true. -
Act of Union (1707)
Hundreds of years before, Scotland and England had been proposing to unite together. However, suspicion and mistrust from Scotland had prevented that. When thousands of Scots had invested in a poor plan, many families were left bankrupt, and they looked to England to find a financially beneficial solution. The Scottish Parliament voted to become one country with England, and therefore, the Scottish Parliament was hereby dissolved. It led to the creation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain. -
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Colonial America to 1763
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Division of North & South Carolina
Before, North Carolina and South Carolina were one, single province, called the Province of Carolina. It was given by King Charles II to eight men known as the Lords Proprietors. However, in 1712, the proprietors divided the holding between the men. At that time, North and South Carolina had two different and distinct governments. In 1729, they became two separate royal colonies. Right after this split, the each had prospered on its own, showing that it wasn't necessary for them to one colony. -
George Whitfield's Preaching Tour
George Whitfield, an Anglican evangelist-priest, was probably the most famous religious figure of the 18th century. He established his reputation as an eminent preacher of the First Great Awakening during his preaching tour throughout the colonies. He began in Pennsylvania and ended in Savannah, traveling thousands of miles to deliver hundreds of sermons to enormous crowds. It was significant because Whitfield's preaching style was different than how other preachers had delivered their sermons. -
Negro Act
South Carolina had passed the Negro Act which regulating the rules of slavery. It specified that every negro, Indian, mulatto, or mestizo would always be presumed to be a slave. It also stated that the legal status of the mother determined the legal status of the child, not the father, meaning that slave owners could have sex with their slave without worrying about impregnating them. It also prohibited slaves from raising food, earning money, and learning to write, and assembling in groups. -
Ohio Company Chartered
King George II granted the Ohio Company of Virginia, an organization founded by Virginian planters primarily to invest in lands westward of the Appalachian mountains, promoting westward settlement by American colonists. The French had already claimed this land in the previous century, but English fur traders and settlers disregarded this. This royal chartering of the Ohio Company directly challenged the French's claim on the Ohio territory. This became a huge factor in the Seven Year's War. -
Benjamin Franklin Flies Lightning Kite
Benjamin Franklin had wanted to demonstrate the electrical nature of lightning. During a thunderstorm, Franklin flew a kite with a wire attached to it to act like a lightning rod and a metal key. While the kite was in the air, he noticed the hemp string started to stand erect, and when he touched the metal key, he felt a slight spark. His experiment demonstrated the connection between lightning and electricity. After this experiment, he went on to construct a perfect lightning rod invention. -
First Blood of French & Indian War
Fort Duquense was an important landmark during the French and Indian War, located at the heart of the Ohio River Valley and constructed by the French. Because of its strategic location, the British attempted to take the fort and gain control of the Ohio River Valley. On this day, George Washington led his men to attempt to force the French to abandon the site. They found a campsite of Frenchmen and ambushed them, ending the battle with 1 Virginian and 14 Frenchmen dead, sparking the war. -
Jean-Jacques Rousseau published the Social Contract
Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a philosophical enlightened writer who wrote a book called the Social Contract which theorized about the best way to establish a harmonic political community. In this book, Rousseau voiced his views on how the monarchy was not divinely empowered to legislate. He introduced the concept of popular sovereignty, where the people have the all-powerful right. This philosophy eventually affected the way the United States government started to govern themselves, a democracy. -
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The Revolutionary War
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Treaty Of Paris 1763
This was the treaty that ended the French and Indian War, signed in Paris by representatives from Britain, France, Spain, Hanover, and Portugal. Due to this treaty, all of the French possessions east of the Mississippi River (except New Orleans) were given to the British, west of the river was given to the Spanish, and the French were able to regain Martinique, Guadeloupe and St. Lucia. With some disagreeable terms, this treaty ultimately lit the fuse that sparked the American Revolution. -
Boston Massacre
A mob of American colonists gathered to protest British soldiers guarding the Customs House in Boston. The mob was protesting the occupation of British troops in their city who were trying to enforce an unpopular tax passed by the Parliament. They started harassing them, throwing snowballs and other objects. One private was hit, causing him to discharge his rifle at the crowd. Shortly after, other soldiers began firing into the crowd, leading to the deaths of 5 colonists and the injuries of 3. -
Boston Tea Party
When three tea ships, the Dartmouth, the Eleanor, and the Beaver, arrived in the Boston Harbor, colonists demanded that the tea be returned to England. After they refused, a group of colonists (calling themselves the "Sons of Liberty") dressed up as Mohawk Native Americans and boarded the three ships, dumping 342 chests of tea into the harbor. These patriots were protesting the British Parliament's Tea Act, but in doing this, Parliament decided to punish them by passing the Intolerable Acts. -
Intolerable Acts
Also known as the Coercive Acts, these taxes were placed on the colonists as punishment in response to the Boston Tea party. The Coercive Acts were a series of four acts established by the British government, including the Quartering Act. Parliament had passed this in hopes that these would cut off Boston and New England off from the rest of the colonies to prevent a unified resistance to British rule. However, it did quite the opposite, many of the other colonies came to the city's defense. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence is the document that officially declared independence from Britain. Not only did it state that they were going to form a new country, the USA, it was also a call for help for other European countries. It also stated that everyone was entitled to unalienable rights: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Written by Thomas Jefferson and in Philadelphia it was written in June but did not go into effect until July, and the signing was completed in August. -
Thomas Paine "Common Sense"
Before Thomas Paine had published this pamphlet, many colonists had believed they were only aggrieved Britons; however, with the release of this pamphlet, which was originally published anonymously, people's viewpoints had fundamentally changed. It advocated independence for the American colonies and ultimately became one of the most influential pamphlets in American history. This 47-page pamphlet came to sell approximately 500,000 copies, and it had powerfully influenced American opinion. -
Battle of Saratoga
The British had made a plan to divide and conquer to gain control of the Hudson River. However, when the troops attacked the Americans, they were defeated and forced to retreat. This battle was significant because the American victory convinced the French to join the American cause and enter the war as their ally. It also lifted American spirits and gave them hope for winning the war. This battle was the turning point of the American Revolution, turning the war in favor of the Americans. -
Period: to
The Constitutional Era
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Treaty of Paris 1783
This document, signed in Paris by King George II and USA's representatives (including Ben Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay) was the treaty that officially ended the American Revolution. With this, the British finally recognized American independence & also allowed the US to fish in the waters off of Canada. The terms of the treaty set the boundaries of the US, which allowed them to expand westward. Additionally, the US had agreed to return all rights and properties taken from the Loyalists. -
University of Georgia Founded
After the Revolutionary war, American virtue had boosted and people have invested more in educating, resulting in the opening of more schools. Georgia became the first state to charter a state-supported university. The charter was drafted by Abraham Baldwin, the founder and president of the University of Georgia, and was chartered by the Georgia General Assembly. Significantly, the fundamentals of this charter laid the foundation for the future American system of public higher education. -
Shays' Rebellion
Daniel Shays led rebellion by a group of poor farmers who were upset about the high taxes placed on them after the war in Massachusetts. They were struggling to pay their debts, & as a result, they either lost their farm or ended up in jail. The state militia, under the command of Benjamin Lincoln, ultimately put down the rebellion. This rebellion made many realize that the Articles of Confederation was not at all efficient since its central authority was too weak. They eventually abandoned it. -
The Constitutional Convention
Due to the unfortunate disturbance of Shays' Rebellion, delegates gathered in Independence Hall in Philadelphia to discuss the Articles of Confederation & the changes needed to improve the gov't. They debated 2 different plans for reform, the Virginia Plan & the New Jersey Plan. The Connecticut plan became the Great Compromise between the two. During this convention, they began to write the Constitution, the new government for the US, despite the many controversial issues that accompanied it. -
Northwest Ordinance
The Northwest Ordinance was an act of the Confederation Congress which chartered a government for the Northwest territory. It provided a method of administering and admitting new states in that region. It was passed to ensure that the Northwest territory was settled in a peaceful & orderly war. It stated that a territory could only apply to become a state when they had 60,000 people in their population. This is important because it established how future states would apply for admission as well. -
Constitution Signed
On this day, the Constitution was sign, becoming the official law of the land. Written by James Madison, it was signed in Independence Hall, the same place where the Declaration of Independence was written. However, with the Constitution ultimately came the Great Debate, which was the heated argument between Federalists (who supported the Constitution) and Anti-Federalists (who opposed it because they supported less gov't) on whether the Constitution should have a strict or loose interpretation. -
"The Federalist" Published
Also known as the Federalist Papers, this was a total of 85 essays in New York newspapers over the course of 2 years. John Jay, one of the authors of "The Federalist" was himself a federalist and believed that the Constitution should be ratified. He promoted the federalist ideas of the Constitution and why it should be the supreme law of the land, helping convince New Yorkers that it was a good model for a new government, arguing that a stronger central government would protect liberty better. -
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New Republic
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Constitution replaces Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation proved to be too weak and did not really have much authority to do much since it was hastily written during the American Revolution. However, as a better alternative, the Constitution was written but took a while to become ratified by the states since there was much controversy on it. In order for the constitution to pass, nine states were supposed to ratify it, which New Hampshire was. Delaware was the first state to ratify it, with Rhode Island being the last. -
Washington, DC Becomes the Capital
At first, the nation's capital was actually New York. However, it was only temporary and corrupt. Many Southerners also thought that having the capital at New York City would give Northerners too much influence on the national policy. As a result, Hamilton, Jefferson, & Madison met and decided that the national capital would be moved Philadelphia for a decade. The permanent location that was decided became Washington, DC. Jefferson actually became the first president to be inaugurated there. -
First Bank of the United States Opened
Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of Treasury, believed that a central bank was necessary to stabilize currency and improve the nation's economy. It was a depository, made loans, and had private investors. However, this set off constitutionality issues because it made some question whether the bank was constitutional and if the government had too much authority. Washington actually chooses to side with Hamilton and had the bank chartered for a term of twenty years by the US Congress. -
Bill of Rights added to Constitution
The Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments of the Constitution, written by James Madison and supported by the Anti-Federalists. These amendments guaranteed the individual rights and liberties of the people. It was written in response to the calls from several states for greater constitutional protection for individual liberties. It lists specific prohibitions on government power. It satisfied the Anti-Federalists opposition of the constitution. It was based off the English Bill of Rights. -
Whiskey Rebellion
This rebellion started when Hamilton pushed for the federal government to establish a tax on whiskey to help repay the debt from the Revolutionary War. Pennsylvania and Kentucky farmers immediately began to protest the tax. Inevitably, violence broke out and continued to escalate until Washington personally leads an army that puts down the rebellion. This rebellion was significant because it was the first domestic test of the new republic, and it showed how strong the new government is. -
Jay's Treaty
John Jay, the author of "The Federalist," wrote this treaty in attempt to get the British to agree to vacating the forts that they were occupying. However, this caused the Republicans to become outraged since they perceived that Federalists were pro-Britain and Republicans were pro-France. This treaty was mainly to relieve post-war tension between Britain and the United States, but it didn't really have much impact on anything. It didn't even stop the British from impressing American sailors. -
Washington's Farewell Address
Washington's Farewell Address was a letter Washington gave to the public after he retired from office. It wasn't given orally, but printed in newspapers for everyone to read. He focused mainly on domestic problems but stressed that the United States should avoid future conflicts by not forming any permanent alliances with foreign countries. He also stated that two terms of presidency was enough. This document was rejected by the Republicans because they favored the alliance with France. -
XYZ Affair
When the US made the Jay Treaty with Britain, France was highly unsatisfied because of this and seized US merchant ships in retaliation. As a result, newly-elected President John Adams had attempted to peacefully settle the dispute by sending 3 men to negotiate a treaty with the French. France had sent 3 unknown diplomats (called "XYZ") to negotiate bribes. Afterwards, the US and the French went into an undeclared naval war. Because of this event, a navy department was created for the US. -
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Age of Jefferson
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Lewis and Clark Expedition
After the Louisiana Purchase from the French, Jefferson will send his secretary, Meriwether Lewis, to lead an expedition to explore the American interior to the Pacific Northwest. He & his best friend, William Clark will start from St. Louis & sail up the Missouri River. They encounter a Native girl, Sacagawea, who assists them for the remainder of the trip. They negotiated treaties with natives, informed traders & settlers of US acquisition, & acquired information about the plains Indians. -
Embargo Act of 1807
This was a law passed by Congress forbidding all exportation of goods from the United States. Britain and France had been continuously harassing the U.S. and seizing U.S. ship's and men. The U.S. was not prepared to fight in a war, so Pres. Jefferson hoped to weaken Britain and France by stopping trade. The Embargo Act ended up hurting the United States' economy more than theirs. It was repealed in 1809. The Embargo Act helped to revive the Federalists. It eventually led to the War of 1812. -
The Star-Spangled Banner Written
Francis Scott Key had went to Baltimore to negotiate the release of his friend who had been taken prisoner. During this time, Key witnessed the bombardment Fort McHenry by the British during the War of 1812. Inspired by the sight of a lone US flag still waving in the air at daybreak, Key later wrote a poem after the battle (a US victory) was over about the whole experience he had. The poem was printed in newspapers and eventually made into a song that turned into the national anthem of the US. -
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The American Industrial Revolution
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Rush-Bagot Treaty
The Rush-Bagot Treaty was a treaty between the US & Britain that limited weapons for both sides. It was also an agreement to limit naval power on the Great Lakes & Lake Champlain, where many British arrangements & forts still remained. It set the 49th Parallel which became the boundary between the US & Canada. The British will then formally allow fishing in that region, & they will agree to jointly occupy Oregon territory. It improved the relations between the US & Britain after the War of 1812. -
McCulloch v. Maryland
This case started when Maryland tried to place a tax on the Second Bank of the United States. However, McCulloch appealed to SCOTUS because they refused to pay the tax, claiming that a state cannot tax a federal bank. Chief Justice John Marshall wrote the unanimous opinion of the court. The statement overall ruled that placing a tax on the bank was unconstitutional and void. This became a landmark supreme court case, giving the federal gov't implied powers that the states cannot take place of. -
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Cultural Changes
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Missouri Compromise
It started with the Missouri Crisis when Missouri applies for admission as a slave state. The North was against it & the South was for it. As a compromise, the Missouri Compromise was passed, which set up a balance between slave & free states. It drew an imaginary line at the 36*30* latitude, meaning that the states above would be free & below would be slave. However, it was only a temporary solution because slavery would have to be dealt with eventually. This only guaranteed future conflict. -
Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine was the policy stated by President Monroe that opposed further European colonization of and interference with independent nations in the Western Hemisphere. Mexico had just won their independence from Spain, which resulted in the eventual crumble of the Spanish Empire. The US saw this as a chance to gain influence over these new areas, so President Monroe declared to Europe that they were no longer allowed to intervene in Latin America in case Spain wanted to reclaim Mexico. -
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Age of Jackson
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Election of 1824
There was no picked successor after President Monroe's term, so there was a total of 4 candidates: John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson (who won the popular vote), William Crawford, and Henry Clay. Adams (Republican) was chosen by the House of Representatives which left Jackson angry and bitter since it was corrupt due to Clay and Adams' plan to get Adams elected. During Adams' presidency, he has many gaffes during his term, causing Jackson to personally attack him during the next campaign. -
Completion of the Erie Canal
New York legislators became interested in building the canal across New York since shipping goods west was a costly thing. There was no railroad yet, so the ship would have to go all around just to reach its destination. But when Governor Clinton proposed to build a canal that connected the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean through the Hudson River, it became a big deal. Settlers migrated into western New York and other surrounding states due to the cheap and quick form of transportation. -
Sing Sing Prison Opened
Sing Sing Prison is a correctional facility located in Ossining, New York. This prison was the first to follow the "Auburn System" in which prisoners were confined to solitary cells at night and worked silently in labor groups during the day. This system was gradually adopted as the primary system for prisons in the United States. This prison is also famous for its infamous "Death House" where hundreds of executions by electrocution took place, becoming one of the most haunted prisons in the US. -
Death of Rachel Jackson
Rachel Jackson was the wife of a known American soldier, Andrew Jackson, who was also running for president. During his campaign, many of the candidates started to personally attack each other as womanizers. Some even attacked Jackson's wife, accusing her of living with him before they were married & while she was still "married" to another man since her divorce was not yet finalized. But right before Jackson's inauguration, Rachel died & Jackson blamed her death on the attacks of Clay & Adams. -
Andrew Jackson Becomes President
Andrew Jackson, a hero from the Battle of New Orleans, was the leader of a new Democratic party, liked by westerners since he represented the "common man." During his campaign for presidency, he got called a jackass, which later become the mascot for the democratic party. Nicknamed "Old Hickory," Jackson's name was everywhere & with great campaigning, Jackson won overwhelmingly. His term consisted of the spoils system, many different scandals, the nullification crisis, & the Trail of Tears. -
First Police Force in America
Due to the rapid urban growth in the North caused by the urban industry, there were many immigrants causing racial tensions, political discourses, religious conflicts, and the issue of crowding. Since people were so close to each other, the tensions needed to be dealt with, resulting in the first American police force in Boston, Massachusetts. The city had founded a Watch Organization and later replaced it with the Boston Police Department of 250 officers who carried around 14-inch clubs. -
Webster-Haynes Debate
An argument between Daniel Webster and Robert Hayne, about the issue states' rights versus national power. Webster said that Hayne was a challenge to the integrity of the Union, denying that the states could judge the Constitution. Hayne responded with a defense of the theory of nullification. Webster then spent two full afternoons delievering what became known as his "Second Reply to Hayne." He concluded with the ringing appeal: "Liberty and Union, now and for ever, one and inseparable." -
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Founded
This was the newer religious movement founded by Joseph Smith, who had a vision of God & Jesus & later became a prophet. He deciphered the book of the Mormons from Golden Tablets that he claims was given to him by an angel. They believe that they're one of the lost tribes of Israel, This religion appealed to farmers, traders, & people who didn't do well in the new market economy. After John Smith's murder, Brigham Young took over and relocated to Utah to get away from the federal government. -
Indian Removal Act of 1830
Jackson pushed a new piece of legislation through both houses of Congress, which was the Indian Removal Act. This gave the president power to negotiate removal treaties with Indian tribes living east of the Mississippi. Under the treaties, Indians gave up their lands east of the Mississippi in exchange for the ones in the west. However, many refused to leave, but ultimately, the Jackson administration removed 46,000 natives from the land, opening 25 million acres of land for white settlement. -
Nat Turner's Rebellion
This was the bloodiest, deadliest slave rebellion in American history. Nat Turner, a very religious slave, saw a solar eclipse & interpreted it as a sign from God to revolt against whites. 60 to 80 slaves gathered & began to kill many whites, resulting in the deaths of about 50 whites. The rebellion was eventually put down by the militia and some state/federal troops, resulting in the further restriction of slaves' limits. Northerners views this as heroic while Southerners viewed it as horrific. -
Tariff Act of 1832
It was a protectionist tariff in the United States. Enacted under Andrew Jackson's presidency, it was largely written by former President John Quincy Adams.. It reduced the existing tariffs to fix the conflict created by the tariff of 1828, but it was still deemed unsatisfactory by some in the South, especially South Carolina. South Carolinian opposition to this tariff caused the Nullification Crisis. As a result of this crisis, the 1832 Tariff was replaced by the Compromise Tariff of 1833. -
Nullification Crisis
The Nullification Crisis was a sectional crisis during the Jackson's term created by South Carolina's 1832 Ordinance of Nullification. South Carolina declared that the tariff acts were unconstitutional & refused to pay taxes on goods they didn't produce. The Compromise Tariff of 1833 relieved this crisis, but afterwards, some Southerners started to question whether Jackson & the democrats represented southern interests. South Carolina became very united but isolated from the rest of the country. -
American Anti-Slavery Society Founded
This group was an organization of abolitionists that formed a society to work together and abolish slavery, founded by William Lloyd Garrison and other abolitionists. They wanted the blacks to be free and have racial equality & to stop the use of slavery & abuse of slaves. They argued for no union with with slaveholders until they repented for their sins by freeing their slaves. It was divided between abolitionists who favored immediate emancipation & those who supported gradual emancipation. -
Battle of San Jacinto
The Battle of San Jacinto was a surprise attack by Texas forces, led by Sam Houston, on Mexican dictator Santa Ana's camp. Santa Ana's men were surprised and overrun in twenty minutes. Santa Ana was taken prisoner and signed an armistice securing Texas independence. The battle ended with 1500 Mexicans dead, 1,000 captured and only 4 Texan deaths. It was a Texan's victory in the last battle of the Texas Revolution. It was this battle where the famous battle cry "Remember the Alamo!" came from. -
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Westward Expansion
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Lowell Mills Opened
The Lowell Mills were centralized factories (mills) that employed women to work, especially young, single women. They offered supervision for the women at all times and lodging so that they could stay near their work, which was located in Lowell, Massachusetts. Here, the Waltham-Lowell system was established, which enabled the women to work in a large labor force for the industry with more earnings. They went by choice, but to their dismay, they had to work long hours in bad work conditions. -
Invention of the Telegraph
Before the telegraph, long distance messages could only travel as fast as the horse or ship that carried them. Messages could take weeks to travel across the country or to Europe. But with his invention, Samuel Morse revolutionized long-distance communication, while even creating his own code. This machine used electric pulses to send messages and was very important during the Civil War and other important events since it was able to send military messages with less time and cheaper expenses. -
Death of Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith, the leader and founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, and his brother were in jail while awaiting for their trial. An angry, armed mob of about 200 men came into the jail and killed his brother first, then shot Smith as he attempted to escape out from the second-story window, falling to his death. After the death of the two brothers, there was a little crisis on who was going to succeed the Church. After, a schism in the religion occurred and most began to follow Brigham Young -
Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven"
Edgar Allan Poe was one of the most important and influential American writers of the 19th century. He was the first author to try to make a professional living as a writer. He believed the world contained much pain and horror and evoked images of individuals rising above the narrow confines of intellect and exploring the deeper world of the spirit and emotions. His book "The Raven" is what established Poe as a major and controversial literary figure who wrote primarily sad and macabre works. -
Manifest Destiny
The Manifest Destiny (first used by John L. O'Sullivan) is the belief and attitude that the United States was destined to expand so that it would own all territory between the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans. This attitude fueled western settlement, native american removal, and war with Mexico. They believed that they had the God-given right to take the land from whoever owned it. Some Americans were opposed it because other nations had already claimed it and it would be too large to govern. -
Texas Annexed into Union
When Texas seceded from Mexico, they declared their independence in response to Mexican abolition of slavery. It remained its own republic for about a decade until it applied for admission into the Union. However, there was much debate between the democrats and the whigs over the issue of it being a slave or free state. Under the presidency of James K. Polk, Texas was finally annexed into the Union as the 28th state. It also came in as a slave state, coming along with future inevitable problems. -
Zachary Taylor was Attacked (Battle of Palo-Alto)
Zachary Taylor had risen to some national prominence as an army officer in the War of 1812 and in campaigns against Seminole Indians in the 1830s. President James K. Polk ordered him to lead a 3,500-man army into Texas to secure that newly annexed state, and as tensions between the United States and Mexico mounted, ordered him to establish a fortified base near the Rio Grande. During this, a Mexican dispatch attacked Taylor, resulting in Polk asking for a declaration of war against Mexico. -
Irish Immigration to the US
a devastating fungus destroyed Ireland's potato crop. During these years, starvation and related diseases claimed as many as a million lives, while perhaps twice that number of Irish immigrated, many of them to the US. They were even accounted for more than half of all immigrants in the 1840s. These immigrants often were met with discrimination, with Americans accusing them of stealing their jobs. Many Americans today can consider themselves to be of Irish ancestry due to this mass immigration. -
Wilmot Proviso Introduced
The Wilmot Proviso was a bill proposed after the Mexican War that stated that neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall ever exist in any territory gained from Mexico. It was never passed through both houses but it transformed the debate of slavery. This bill was mainly by the free-soil party, which was basically the antislavery party founded to keep slavery out of western territories. They wanted to keep slavery where it already existed, which is why they supported Wilmot Proviso so much. -
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Sectionalism
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Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo
Following the defeat of the Mexican army and the fall of Mexico City, the Mexican government surrendered and a treaty was negotiated, the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, ending the Mexican-American War in favor of the US. The war had begun almost two years earlier in May 1846 over a territorial dispute involving Texas. The treaty added an additional half a million square miles to the US territory. Mexico also gave up all claims to Texas and recognized the Rio Grande as America's southern boundary. -
Seneca Falls Convention
The Seneca Falls Convention was the first women's rights convention. The meeting took place in Seneca Falls, New York to discuss the rights of women. They wrote the Declaration of Sentiments, which, among other things, addressed a wide range of women's concerns and tried to get women the right to vote. This convention was called for by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott, which caused the official start of the Women's Rights Movement which was an organized effort for equal rights for women. -
Zachary Taylor Inaugurated
The election of 1848 was with Lewis Cass (democrat), Martin Van Buren (free-soiler), and Zachary Taylor. Taylor, who campaigned as a whig, was a Mexican-American war general and was a slave owner. He was technically a no-party man because he was very pragmatic. His views were mostly unknown since he did some dishonest campaigning. He campaigned in the North for Wilmot-Proviso and in the South as pro-slavery. Taylor won easily, but within 16 months of his presidency, he passed away from cholera. -
Henry David Thoreau's "Civil Disobedience"
Henry David Thoreau was an American essayist, poet, and practical philosopher. Thoreau had an encounter with the law for which he spent a night in jail after refusing to pay a poll tax. This experience led him to write one of his best-known and most influential essays, "Civil Disobedience." He made a strong case for acting on one's individual conscience and not blindly following laws and government policy. His ideal has later been followed by many other activist leaders, like Gandhi or MLK. -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was a series of laws passed by the U.S. Congress. The compromise was created when new land was added to the United States after the Mexican War. The northern free states and the southern slave states argued over whether the new land would allow slavery or not. It consisted of 5 separate bills which instated the Fugitive Slave Act, banned slave trade in DC, admitted California as a free state, split up the Texas territory, and instated popular sovereignty New Mexico & Utah. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin Published
Uncle Tom's Cabin was a novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe about the fugitive slave laws. It intensified the feelings of the abolitionists in the North, becoming quite popular with the public, selling about 300,000 copies in the first year. It appealed to the emotions of most northerners, encouraging them to be against the moral evil of slavery. Southerners felt attacked by this and defended their position on the slavery issue, publishing Aunt Phillis' Cabin to show it wasn't all that bad. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
With the admission of two new territories, Southerners were afraid two new free states which could tip the balance of the free & slave states in the US. As a result, Southerners wanted to abolish the Missouri Compromise since both Kansas and Nebraska were north of the 36*30* latitude. They also wanted the Transcontinental Railroad to run through the South, not the North. The bill was then introduced by Stephen F. Douglas, which repealed the 36*30* line & made Kansas slave & Nebraska free. -
Dred Scott vs. Sanford Case
The Dred Scott case was a supreme court case and was one of the most controversial events preceding the American Civil War. Scott argued that since he was a slave who had lived with his owner in a free state before returning to the slave state of Missouri that his time spent in these locations entitled him to emancipation. However, Chief Justice Taney ruled that slaves aren't citizens therefore they cannot sue or petition for their freedom. This decision further heightened North-South tensions. -
John Brown's Raid on Harper's Ferry
An armed band of abolitionists, led by John Brown, targeted the U.S. military arsenal at Harper's Ferry, intending to be the first stage in an elaborate plan to start a slave rebellion. Some of his men rounded up a handful of hostages. By the following day Brown & his men were surrounded. Brown was wounded & captured, while 10 of his men were killed, including two of his sons. Brown & his raiders were tried & hung, but he was viewed as a martyr to the North after & helped the abolitionist cause. -
South Carolina Secedes From the Union
After Lincoln's election, the South became very upset & held secessionist rallies across the South. They were afraid that he would pass some law to free their slaves, so they decided to secede from the Union, meeting in Charleston for a convention where almost everyone voted for secession. They signed the Ordinances of Secession & became the 1st state to secede from the Union, doing this to preserve their way of life that was based on slavery, saying that states' rights allowed them to secede. -
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The Civil War
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Abraham Lincoln Inauguration Date
Abraham Lincoln becomes the 16th president of the United States. In his inauguration speech. Lincoln extended an olive branch to the South but also made it clear that he intended to enforce federal laws in the states that seceded. By the time Lincoln arrived in Washington, DC for his inauguration, the threat of war hung heavy in the air. In his inaugural address, Lincoln promised not to interfere with the institution of slavery to steer clear of war. However, 6 weeks later, the Civil War began. -
First Battle of Bull Run
On this day, Union & Confederate armies clashed near Manassas Junction, Virginia in the 1st major land battle of the Civil War. The engagement began when Union troops marched from the federal capital in Washington, DC to strike a Confederate force along a small river known as Bull Run. The battle ended with a Confederate victory that gave the South a surge of confidence & shocked many in the North, who realized the war would not be won as easily as they had hoped. Union troops fled to DC. -
Trent Affair
The Trent Affair was a diplomatic incident in 1861 during the American Civil War that threatened a war between the United States and the United Kingdom. The Confederates had sent diplomats to Europe, but the USS San Jacinto intercepted the RMS Trent. This offended the United Kingdom, so they demanded an official apology. As a result, Lincoln released the Confederate diplomats. To ensure that the Confederates won't gain an ally, Lincoln sent US diplomats and secured British and French neutrality. -
The First Southern Draft
The Confederacy started this draft because they had no choice. Its territory was being attacked by overwhelming numbers, & the armies needed men to fill the ranks. It was very unpopular in the South because it was viewed as a usurpation of the rights of individuals by the central government, one of the reasons the South went to war in the first place. However, they had the Twenty Negro Law, where if you had 20 or more slaves, then you'd be exempt from the draft, which upset the poor Southerners. -
Emancipation Proclamation
This was a presidential proclamation and executive order issued by President Abraham Lincoln. This was a universal emancipation, which freed all the slaves in the Confederate territory. The South could've kept their slaves if they had just rejoined the Union by January 1. But they didn't so Lincoln had no choice. This also gave the war a different narrative about slavery, which meant that the British couldn't join the South's side. Only the border states were allowed to keep their slaves. -
Gettysburg Address
Months after the Battle of Gettysburg, Lincoln delivers his most famous speech in the town of Gettysburg. The main purpose of the speech was to encourage people to take action in improving the nation, honor those who does in the Battle of Gettysburg, & reuniting the north and south. In it, he invoked the principles of human equality & connected the sacrifices of the Civil War with the desire for “a new birth of freedom,” as well as the preservation of the Union & its ideal of self-government. -
Wade-Davis Bill Passed
This bill was made by radical republicans passed to punish the Confederates and destroy the slave society. This bill proposed that in order for the state to be readmitted into the Union, the majority of the white males in that state must swear loyalty to the Union. Also, former confederate volunteers could not vote or hold office, and the Confederate officers would be stripped of their citizenship. However, Lincoln refused to sign this bill and vetoed it because he thought it was too harsh. -
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Reconstruction
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40 Acres and a Mule
This slogan was created in 1864 and 1865 when the federal government settled nearly 10,000 black families on abandoned plantation land that was taken by Union forces, often times receiving a single mule for their property. It was an attempt to give the black families a new start. Former slaves were allowed to own or rent land to farm & saw this as a symbol for independence and freedom. However, this land would eventually be given back to its original white owners due to unfair high rent prices. -
13th Amendment Was Passed
The 13th amendment in the US Constitution was the official abolition of slavery in the US. It states that slavery is not allowed in any state or territory under the government of the US. It recognized the right of all Americans to life, liberty, & the pursuit of happiness. This was when Lincoln and radical republicans finally reached common ground in this matter. In response, the south used the Black Codes to try to get around it, limiting civil rights & economic opportunities for blacks. -
Battle of Appomattox Court House
The Battle of Appomattox Court House was the last real battle of the war, ending with a Union victory and the surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee to Union General Ulysses S. Grant. Due to a siege at Petersburg and Richmond, Lee's army was starved and was forced to retreat. Lee formally surrendered and Grant generously pardoned all officers and men due to the surrender. The result of the battle, which lasted only a few hours, effectively brought the four-year Civil War to an end. -
Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln attended a play with his wife at Ford's Theater five days after the Appomattox Courthouse. John Wilkes Booth, a famous actor & Confederate sympathizer, & his co-conspirators believed the assassination of Lincoln, VP Andrew Johnson & Secretary of State William H. Seward would throw the U.S. government into disarray. Booth slipped into Lincoln's private box & fired his .44-caliber pistol into the back of Lincoln’s head. Lincoln lived through the night but eventually died the next day. -
Ku Klux Klan Founded
The Ku Klux Klan, with its long history of violence, is the most infamous - and oldest - of American hate groups, founded by soldiers from the Confederate Army in six southern states. They often did lynching, bombed houses, intimidated people, and assassinated opponents (such as the leaders of the Civil Rights Movement). The purpose of the KKK was to maintain slavery, gain revenge for the loss of the Civil War against the northern states, and to make sure Black Americans would not become equal. -
Ulysses S. Grant Inauguration
Ulysses S. Grant, the leading Union general that commanded the victorious Union army during the American Civil War, was eventually made the 18th president of the United States. A primary focus of Grant’s administration was Reconstruction, and he worked to reconcile the North and South while also attempting to protect the civil rights of newly freed black slaves. While Grant was personally honest, some of his associates were corrupt and his administration was tarnished by various scandals. -
First Transcontinental Railroad Opened
Americans had been dreaming of building a nationwide railroad for a long time. They wanted a railroad that finally connected the east with the west, but disagreements between the North & South over where the line should be had postponed its constructions. However, after the Civil War, the decision had been made. After six years of construction, the railroad was finally finished & it enabled the American conquest and settlement of the West, making it cheaper to travel in a short amount of time. -
Black Friday Scandal
The US financial sector descended into chaos after rebel speculators attempted to corner the nation’s gold market. The robber barons hoped to make a mint by driving the price of gold into the stratosphere, and to help pull it off, they built a network of corruption that extended from Wall Street and the New York City government all the way to the family of President Grant. The conspiracy finally unraveled on what became known as “Black Friday" and dragged the US economy to the brink of disaster. -
Inauguration of Rutherford B. Hayes
During the election of 1876, Samuel Tilden (Democrat) and Rutherford Hayes (Republican) campaigned against each other and needed to face the issues of corruption, reconstruction, and the economy. The popular vote went to Tilden, but the electoral votes were unclear. However, with the Compromise of 1877, Hayes will be given all the electoral votes if he agreed to end Reconstruction. This compromise also removed federal troops from the South and began the total suppression for southern blacks.
