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13,000 BCE
The Bering Land Bridge
The Bering Land Bridge was a passage made of ice that connected the Asian and North American continents, specifically Siberia with Alaska. The first mass migration of people into North America started over 15,000 years ago, and was followed by two more mass migrations. It is believed that our ancestors crossed the Bering Strait to follow the migrating animals that were crossing. Since this passage later melted away, these people were secluded from the rest of the world for the next 9,000 years. -
Period: 13,000 BCE to 1492
Beginnings to Exploration
The Americas was first populated by people in 13000 BC from Asia to now Canada through the bering land bridge. These people were Native Americans. Many generations of evolution went on in the Eastern hemisphere with the fall of Rome causing the dark ages and the crusades until the Black Death killed much of Europe. The Reniissance was a rebirth of people and ideas, spreading enlightenment. Christopher Columbus accidently found the Americas and then people from the Eastern Hemisphere came west. -
3500 BCE
Mesoamerica
Mesoamerica refers to the native civilizations that fluorished in North America before the European discovery of the continent in the late 1500s -
700
The Dark Ages
The Dark Ages refers to the time period during the fall of the Western Roman Empire. It was seen as an age of faith rather than enlightenment and had many religious conflicts. The Catholic church dominated during this era. -
1349
The Black Death
During the Middle Ages, the Bubonic pleague spread throughout Europe, killing 50 million people over the span of only three to four years. Many pleaded for forgiveness from god as they thought the pleague was his descendence of wrath. Because praying didn't stop the pleague, faith and religion decreased afterwards. -
1492
Exploration of the New World
Christopher was on a quest to find a shorter route to India to profit on spice trade, but instead discovered the Americas. Border disputes between Portugal and Spain led to the creation of the Treaty of Tordesilla, which created a boundary line of ownership, which later benefited the spanish. -
1492
Columbian Exchange
After the discovery of the Americas, Immigrants came to the New world and discovered new plants and foods and brought them back home. While traveling to the New World they introduced new Animals and brought new diseases as well. It greately impacted both the social and cultural makeup on both sides of the Atlantic -
1519
Conquest of the New World
When Columbus came to the americas, the Aztecs believed he was a god and gave him gold which Columbus brought home. In search of more gold, Spainards came to the new world and accidently, but in their favor, brought small pox, killing 90% of the natives. They then conquered and killed the remaining Natives in the desired areas. -
1562
Slavery in the New World
Africans were brought to the new world from Africa as slaves through the Atlantic Ocean known as the Middle Passage.Africans were sold to americans to work on plantations, and the proucts that were produced from their labor were sold to the UK through the Atlantic Slave Trade. Slaves worked in the southern half of the colonies to pick cotton. Slavery was hated by the slaves and abolitionists in the North. Rebellion and the underground railroad were forms of illegal protests. -
Triangular Trade
The Transatlantic slave trade was the shipment of different products and slaves from the Americas, Europe, and Africa. Africa shipped slaves to the Americas, and gold,spices, ivory, and hardwoods to Europe. Europe shipped guns, cloth, Iron, and beer to Africa, and manufactured goods and luxuries to the Americas. The colonies shipped furs, rice, indigo, tobacco, and sugar to Europe, andrum, gunpowder, iron, and tools to Africa. -
Period: to
Colonial America to 1763
As the Americas became more and more populated through immigration, specifically the Southern Americas, participated in the World wide Triangular Trade, which was the trading of goods,foods, plants, and slaves. Slaves were brought from Africa and sold to the Americas, traveling by boat on the Middle Passage, known as the Atlantic Slave Trade. The world experienced a great sense of enlightenment, with Benjamin Franklin being a main face. Territory disputes occured. -
Chesapeake Colonies
Tobacco was the cash crop of Virginia and Maryland in the Chesapeake Colonies. They had many plantations and little urban development. Jamestown, Virginia needed to attract settlers for labor and so they offered new settlers 50 free acres of land, which is known as the headrights system. At this time period, people relied more on indentured servants rather than slaves. Maryland was founded by George Calvert who creted it as a refugee in America for English Catholics. -
Period: to
English Colonial Socities
With the mass immigration of the people in the Eastern Hemisphere to the new found Americas, Britains in particular traveled and colonited 13 territories. They were split into segments: The New England Colonies, the Chespeake Colonies, Caribbean Colonies, Proprietary Colonies, and Charter Colonies. Inner conflicts occured, but trouble with the British started to become an issue. -
New England Colonies
100 English men and women members of the English Separatist Church set sail for the New World on the Mayflower. They landed on the shores of Cape Cod, present-day Massachusetts. Two months later they anchored at Plymouth Rock. This became the first permanent settlement of Europeans in New England. John Winthrop helped found the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The Standard of Living of New England is high, with people living into their 60's and less than 10% infant mortality. -
Navigation Acts
British economy was based on mercantilism, which aimed to use the American colonies to raise British state power and finances. The Navigation Acts was a series of laws passed by the British Parliament that restricted colonial trade. However, they created hostility among the American colonists and contributed significantly to the American Revolution. -
The Enlightenment
The Enlightenment emphasized reason and scientific discoveries in the new and old world. Benjamin Franklin, a british colonist, printer, publisher, and scientist, embodied Enlightenment ideals. Rationalism, empiricism, progressivism, and cosmopolitanism dominated the peoples thoughts during this time. It also led to the founding of Georgia, a place created in hopes for the "worthy poor" of England to start anew. -
Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution was a bloodless overthrow of King James II, and replacing him with William and Mary of Orange-Nassau. The significance of the overthrow of King James II was that it caused a great change in the distribution of power in the British constitution. The monarchy accepted more restrictions from Parliament, and all future monarchs would have to abide by the rules of Parliament. -
Salem Witch Trials
The Salem With Trials were in colonial Massachusetts. Over 200 people were acused of witchcraft, and 20 were executed. The colony eventually admitted it was a mistake and compensated the families of those convicted. The trials are regarded as a time of paranoia and injustice, and continues to captivate people even after 300 years. -
Carribean Colonies
Sugar was the most important crop in the Carribean, making Barbados the riches of the English colonies for 100 years. Many Africans were taken and forced to work on Carribean plantations as slaves. This greately increased the ratio of slaves to free men. -
Act of Union (1707)
England and Scotland distrusted each other for fear of betrayel from the Scotish or being swallowed up by England. By the late 1690s however, the Scotish invested in a plan to unite the two great oceans, but it left them in financial ruin, and in need of uniting with the UK. The Act of Union was put into effect, and Scotland and England became one. country. -
Colonial Economies
In the Colonies, each region has its own methods and form that their economy is based on. The New England colonies is not good for crops, and has good shipping routes so they make money from shipping, fishing, and manufacturing. The Southern colonies make their money from agriculture, specifically with the upper south growing tobacco and the lower south growing rice. The Mid-Atlantic had a mix of both economies. -
The Great Awakening
The Great Awakening allowed the colonists to realize that religious power should not be in the hands of the Church of England. It was a time of spiritual, and Protestant reneual in the 1800s. Johnathan Edwards was a preacher at Enfield, Connecticut during the most intense point of the Great Awakening. George Whitfield was also a preacher in England during this time. He came to preach throughout America over 350 times. Samuel Davies preached mainly for the Lord of Virginia again during this time. -
Seven Years War
The Seven Years War was started because of a dispute over territory between the French and the English. The Algonquins sided with the French and the Iroquois sided with the British and the colonists. Colonist disliked the amount of control the the British had and imposed on them, and so they started rebelling, eventually leading to the American Revolution. The war ended with the Treaty of Paris 1763, and the French agreeing to give their colonial territories to Britain. -
Acts of Parliament
After the Seven Years War, Britain was left with great debt, and to repay that, parliament placed Acts on the colonists. Britain felt as if the colonists should pay for them because of Britains protection during the war. The acts included the Stamp Act, the Declaratory Act, the Townshend Act, the Coercive Acts, and the Prohibitory Act. Colonists felt that the taxes were unnecessary and unfair, which encouraged them to revolt in the Boston Tea Party, and later the American Revolution. -
Enlightenment Ideals on America in the 1700s
Enlightenment in the thirteen colonies led to the American Revolution. Scientific reasoning, religious tolerance, and the restoration of literature and the arts prompted the growth of American republican virtue. Founding fathers Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and George Washington fought for religious freedom, creating a country of religous tolerance. Science, industrial technology, and political philosophy saw a consensus on a "pursuit of happiness". -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a riot towards British soldiers that ended with five colonists dead. Colonists were fustrated with the Townshend Acts which forced them to pay taxes on everyday items, and so they would revolt by attacking British customs officials who were there to enforce the Acts. Paul Revere created a piece that was used as the most effective war porpaganda in American history that made the British appear to be the evil aggressers. -
Boston Tea Party
To pay for the war debt of the Seven Years War in Britain, Parliament passed many acts on the colonists, one including the Tea Act. This Act allowed the British East India Company Tea to monopolize the tea market, which angered the colonists. In revolt, Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty dressed as Mohawk Indians and threw over 92,000 lbs of tea on a British ship into the Boston Harbor. As punishment, British parliament passed the Coercive Acts in 1774, pushing both sides closer to war. -
1st Continental Congress
In response to the passing of the Coercive Acts, the colonnists had their first Continental Congress at Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia. Delegates from the colonis gathered to consider a united American resistance to the British, and elected Virginian Peyton Randolph as the first president of Congress. Patrick Henry, one of the delegates at the convention, spoke the famous quote, "...give me liverty or give me death!" at the Virginia Convention in Richmond. -
Virtual Representation
Salutary Neglect was a British Crown policy of avoiding strict enforcement of parliamentary laws meant to keep American colonies obedient to England. Colonists felt their rights were being violated because they didnt have representatives that they elected to Parliament. They started to think about governing themselves through Autonomous Governance. -
Dunmore's Emancipation Proclamation
Dunmore's Proclamation was a document by royal governor John Murray, fourth Earl of Dunmore. To prevent patriartic colonists from forming larger armies and revolting, Murray created a porclamation that gave freedom to slaves of patriot sympathizers if they were to fight for the British. He assumed that huge numbers of slaves would rise up against their masters, however less did than he expected. The ones that did, did so in desire for their freedom, not to avenge themselves. -
The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence is a document stating American identity, seperate from Britain, and although it is not legally binding, it is powerful. Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft, and the founding fathers made eighty-six changes to it later. On July 1st the Continental Congress met in Philadelphia, and on the 2nd they voted in favor for independence. They Declaration was officially signed on "Independence Day" July 4th, 1776. -
American Virtue in the late 1700s
Post- Revolutionary America celebrated ideals of Republicanism, and were very patriotic of their new nation. Children and citizens recieved proper education and knew politics. Religion was not as important, and their was a clear seperation from church and state. There was national debt, and people started buying things on credit. Their furniture, architecture, and other luxeries replaced british style for democratic symbolism. -
Massachusetts Constitution
The 1780 Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, drafted by John Adams, ideas are based off of his pamphlet "Thoughts on Government," and a Declaration of Rights modeled on the bill of rights. It ended the legislative centered government that started after the Coercive Acts. The constitution is the oldest functioning constitution in the world, and served as a model for the US Constitution. The Massachusetts Constitution became effective on October 25, 1780. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was the first constitution of the United States. However, due to the very weak federal government that it allowed, it was non functional, and had to be replaced. The central government under the Articles would not be able to pass taxes or regulate commerce. In 1787 a Constitutional Convention was held in Philidelphia to end the Articles of Confederation and create new federal laws. -
Treaty of Paris of 1783
The 1783 Treaty of Paris ended the American Revolutionary War, and recognized America of its independence. John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay conducted the Continental Congress to negotiate the treaty after the American-French victory at Yorktown. The preliminary articles of peace were signed in late 1782, with the final treaty being signed on September 3, 1783. -
Shay's Rebellion
Shay's Rebellion was a series of protests by American farmers who were against tax collections from 1786 through 1787. The rebellion began in Massachusetts with the harassment of local merchants and lawyers who supported the state government. Later, they tried to capture the federal arsenal at Springfield. The riots never seriously threatened the government, however it did show how the Articles of Confederation was not strong enough to stop it, and greatly needed to be reformed. -
Constitutional Convention
The Constitutional Convention of 1787 was to revise the Articles of Confederation, but ended up producting the U.S. Constitution. The great Compromise compined ideas from the Virginia and New Jersey Plan. Federal government was split into a three- tier system, checks and balances, to make sure one couldn't take over another. They are Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. Federalist supported the Constitution and a strong central government, and Anti- federalist opposed both. -
Northwest Ordinance
The Ordinance of 1787 was adopted by the Confederation Congress on July 13, 1787. The Northwest Ordinance established an official government for Northwest territory, as well as created a process for admitting new states to the Union. Each new state added to the Union was promissed to be equal to the original thirteen colony states. The new territories that were added also outlawed slavery, as well as protected civil liberties. -
Election of 1788
The Election of 1788 was the first presidential election in the US. George Washington, a former general and comander-in-chied of the colonial armies during the American Revoution, was the unanimous vote. John Adams was his Vice- President. Washington was againunanimously re-elected in 1792, but chose to retire after two terms. The first cabnit included John Jay, secretary of Foreign Affairs and State, Alexander Hamilton, secretary of Treasury, and Henry Knox and Edmund Randolph. -
Capital Site
Choosing an area for the capital to be was not an easy decision. The original idea to place the capital in New York Citywas shot down because at the time the city was very corrupt. Instead, on July 16, 1790, Congress declared the city of Washington in the District of Columbia, the permanent capital of the United States. A French engineer, Pierre-Charles L'Enfant designed the capital to not be crowded with buildings, and be a beautiful area with parks where people could walk and relax. -
Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments of the U.S. Constitution. James Madison was the author of the Bill of Rights, and it lists specific prohibitions on governent power. Anti- Federalists felt that the Bill of Rights was necessary to secure individual liberty.The rights include freddom of speech, right to bear arms, no quarting of troops, no illegal search and seizures, freedom to not persecute ones self, right to a speedy public trial, trial by jury, no excessive bail, etc. -
Bank of the United States
The first national bank of the United States served as a respository for federal funds by Alexander Hamilton. The bank was in chagege of commercial business and acting for the government. State banks were upset by the national banks restriction on economic development and others were against the fact that two thirds of the bank stock was held by British interests.They prevented the renewal of the charter in 1811, and thus the first national bank of the United States went out of operation. -
Whiskey Rebellion
During George Washingtons presidency Congress placed a tax on Whiskey to lessen the federal deficit. Farmers in Pennsylvania grew crops to turn into Whiskey, so the tax became a problem because less people bought whiskey from the price increase. 6,000 angry farmers burned the revenue inspector's house down, and it wasnt until George Washington and 13,000 troops came that they stoped protesting. The Whiskey Rebellion ending proved that the Constitution could stop attempts at government overthrow. -
Technological benefits of War of 1812
To keep up with new enemy tactics and war embargo, innovation dramatically increased. Firearms, steam engines, agriculture, and mass production changed the world forever, and people were able to buy more things, creating a middle class. The Cotton Gin specifically had a great affect on the Southern economy. It was created by Eli Whitney and allowed slaves to produce 50x the amount of cotton as before. Slavery went from a downfall to skyrocketting in profits. -
Election of 1796
At the end of George Washingtons term, he gave a farewell address where he urged Americans to avoid alliances with other nations. During the election of 1796, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams competed in the first contested presidential election to be the second president of the US. Jefferson recieved more votes, but due to not being liked, John Adams won. -
Adam's Presidency
John Adams was presiedent from March 4, 1797 through March 4, 1801. During his presidency a series of diplomatic events between the US and France, known as the XYZ Affair, started the undeclared war Quasi- War. In preperation for the war Congress passed the Alien and Sedition Acts in 1798 which made it harder for imigrants to become citizens and banned writings that went against the government. Peace was finally resolved with the Treaty of Mortefontaine in 1800. -
Immigration
American citizens who lived in rural areas, as well as European Immogrants were the main population boom sources. The Irish immigrated to America due to the potato famine and the Germans immigrated to America because of poor harvists and political turmoil in their home country. Scandanavians and British came for economic opportunities. The germans and scandinavians went to the Midwest and North. The Irish moved to the inner city slums (ghetto) -
Free-Black Communities
Free Black American Citizens mostly resited in the North & the Mid-West, as it was a safe haven from slavery. However, the North was actually known to be more racist and prejudice in general compared to Southerners, and many free-blacks wer treated unfairely and harshly. They competed for jobs with immigrants. -
Slavery
The cotton gin created a large boom in slavery and the southern economy. The lower south had the largest amount of plantations where slaves would work. Slaves were raised as Christian, and worked wither inside or on fields. Runaway slaves were punished harshly, however many still tried. Nat Turners Rebellion created a spark that inspired others to stand up and fight. Free-black communities were in northern and mid-western states and faced even harder discrimination than they did in the south. -
Second Great Awakening
The Second Great Awakening happened in America after the Revolutionary War. It was another religious revival, trading the old beliefs of England for new American values. Led by Charles Grandison Finney who believed in predestiney, however God still cared about what people did during their lives, and they can ask for God;s salvation. -
Andrew Johnson Administration
Johnson, the vice president at the time, became the new president of the United States after the assasination of Abraham Lincoln. He greately opposed succession as he was a bantant racist and promoted a leanient policy for the Souths readmission to the Union. All they had to do was give an oath, return all property, and renounce succession and ratify the 13th amendement. High-ranking Confederates were pardoned and their property restored. most states failed to follow the terms. -
The Temperance Movement
The Temperance Movement was an organized movement mostly by movement for the abstinence of alcohol in the 18th and early 19th centuries. The main reason for women with children wanting to support and lead this movement was because many had endured relentless pain and drama from their husbands who would come home drunk and beat them. The movement ended with the 18th Amendment to the Constitution. -
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was seen as a second war of independence from the eyes of the Americans. It brought a large sense of patriatism for the country and its people. Many Americans wanted the war even though the British Nevy was still very powerful. in 1813 Americans took a land-based strategy, however the British beat back Americans from Canada. As well as burned the White House in 1814 in revenge for Americans burining the Canadian Capital. The war ended in a draw. -
Changes in Agriculture
During the American Industrial Revolution, agricultural inventions allowed for the mass production and distrubution of food and procusts such as cotton. Jethro Wood invented a cast-iron moldboard plow. Alfred Clark invented the Crank Curn which converted milk into butter. And lastly, Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin which produced cotton, a cash crop, at 50x the speed, greately influincing the southern economy. -
Florida
The United States wanted to take Florida from Spain. To do so, Andrew Jackson attacked Florida Seminoles and captured spanish forts. the attacks ended with the Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819 where Spain agreed to cede Florida to the United States, and recognized the United States' claim to Lousianna. -
McCulloh v. Maryland
One of the greatest and wellknown Supreme Court Cases was McCulloh v. Maryland. The case gave federal government implied powers, which means that States could not take place of federal government. The case led the South to more radical views and beliefs about states rights. It was a question on which government would be more powerful, state or federal? -
Panic of 1819
Worse than the Great Depression, The Panic of 1819 was a collapsing of the economy that left many jobless, homeless, and hungry. An economic boom occured after the War of 1812, however agriculture prices collapsed in 1819, and banks failed. Most likely due to conservative credit policies by the Second Bank of the United States. Prosperity did not return untl 1824 -
Missouri Crisis
The State of Missouri applied for admission as a slave state, however Northern states were against the admission because of the political imbalance it would cause, in favor of the South. The Missouri Compromise was an agreement to balance out the number of slave states that were admitted with free states. For every one slave state their must be one free state. States above 36 degrees longitude 30 degrees latitude were free, and states below were free. It was created in mind to be temporary. -
Temperance Movement
The Temperance Movement in the 1800 through early 1900s was a mostly women led organization in effort to stop men from drinking. The main reason for doing so was to stop intoxicated husbands from coming home and abusing their wives. Many temperance advocates idealy wanted people to completely forsake alcohol, but settles for convincing people to reduce their alcohol consumption. -
Monroe Doctrine
In the December of 1832, James Monroe created the Monroe Doctrine which became a cornerstone of American foreign policy. John Quinct Adams played a very large role in creating the declaration. The Declaration stated that ".. The American continents ... are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European powers." -
Election of 1824
The past president hadnt picked a successor, so 4 canadates ran; John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, William crawford, and Henry Clay. Jacskon won the popular vote, but Adams was chosen through a deal known as the corrupt bargain.Jackson was angry and bitter, as he felt that it was unfair, and both men agressively tried to make the other look bad, however most of what Jackson said was untrue. -
Revivalism
The Father of Modern Revivalism, and a minister and leader in the Second Great Awakening, Finney was a revivalist in the 1830s. His, and other leaders message promoted social reformation ideas, like the abolition of slaverym and civil rights for women and free blacks. -
Architecture
Greek Revival gained populatiry during the 1830s after British Influence stoped after the War of 1812. The style represented the rejection of British ideals and an expression of Americas triuphany sense of destiny. Churches, banks, town halls, and people homes were influenced by Greek architeture, usually being painted white with heavy cornices resembling the gable-fronted house. -
Age of the Common Man
Andrew Jackson became the first United States president who grew up like the common man. His presidency started a new era for the working class people to vote, whether or not they owned land. Many debates over issues such as slavery, Native Americans, moving west, and balancing power between executive and legislative went on during this time. -
Election of 1828
Andrew Jacksons new strategy to make sure he wins the presidency was to personally attack Adams as a womanizer, and Adam attacked Jackson equally as awful by critisizing and name calling Jackson's wife Rachael who had been married before Jackson. People would call Jackson a Jackass, so he decided to embrass the name calling, and created the donkey as the symbol for Democrats. -
Changes in Communication
During the American Industrial Revolution, new communication inventions were created that helped military bases contact one another, provided easy communication to other countries, and allowed everyday people to hear current news. The Telegraph transmitted messges to other countries such as Britain with Morse Code, a systamatical order of beeps. The telegraph was invented by Samuel Morse in the 1830s -
Growing Cities
Urban growth in the North started to dramatically increase. People flocked to cities. The first slums (ghetto) were created where people of minorities lived in animinety. Ghetto apartments allowed for multiple families to live in. The first working-class neighboorhoods were also created. There was a large segregation amongst the two types of neighborhoods based on class. Cities became huge and mass transportation for the citizens was needed. -
Changes in Transportation
During the American Industrial Revolution, inventions created to provide faster modes of transportation allowed for the mass production and distrubution of products. Modern Roads were created during this time, as well as Steamboats which are even faster than the boats used today, Canals such as the Erie Cannal of 1820 and the Panama Cannal, and Railroads. All which allowed for faster, and therefor cheaper transportation. -
Election of 1832
During the election of 1832 there were the thre parties. Jacksons Democratic Party, Henry Clays National Republicans, and William Wirts Anti-Masonic Party. Jackson wanted to get rid of the Bank of the United States, and Clay thinks that he can use the issue to win the election. Jackson appealed to the common men with his Bank Veto Speech and destroyed Clay in the election. -
Anti-Abolitionism
John C. Calhoun, South Carolinas leading proponent of slavery, gave a speech in 1838 declaring that slavery was not in fact a moral evil, but a blessing to both peoples, especially African Americans. Thomas R Dew wrote a pamplet in 1832 after Nat Turners rebellion describing the Virginia legislature debate. -
Election of 1836
Martin Van Buren won the election of 136, barely winning against the Whigs. He inherited the bad economy when he was elected into office, and so the Panic of 1837 happened while he was President. The Panic of 1837 was even worse than the great depression. Buren, also known as Old Kinderhook, was given the nickname Martin Van Ruin. -
Election of 1840
Martin Van Buren ran for re-election in 1840 against General William Henry Harrison, a Whig. Whigs spread nasty umors about Van Buren being a womanizer in order to persuade women to influence their husbands to vote for them. So, Harrison won by a landslide. However, he was only in office for one month and John Tyler, the Vice President, becomes the new President of the United States. -
Western Frontier
In 1803, after Thomas Jefferson Purchased Lousiana from the French, America owned a great amount of territory that it had still not yet explored. Native Americans still lived and claimed that land as their own, however americans believed because of Manefest Destiney it was their right to keep moving West. Native Americans would hunt and kill beaver pelts to trade them with Americans for weapons and other manufactred goods. -
Manifest Destiny
Manifest Destiney was the American belief that it was their destiny to expand the United States from the East coast to the West coast. Going further and further into Native territory increased tensions and eventually led to their death and suffering. The Oregon Trail was a route that settlers took in the 1840s and 50s to the west. -
Mexican American War
The Mexican American War was caused over border disputes between Mexico and James K. Polk who believed in manifest destiny. In the end, Mexico had lost about one third of its lands, including presend day California, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, and Nevada. Texas didnt gain its independence until 1836. In the Election of 1844 Deocratic candidate James K Polk won against the Whig candidate Henry Clay. -
Slavery
The Wilmot Proviso proposed to create a law banning slavery in all territory that was acquired from the Mexican American War. -
Battles
In 1846, problems had already occured between America and Mexico, and continued until 1847. During the Mexican-American War, dozens of battles occured, 38,000 soldiers died manly from diseases in the camps. The first Battle was The Battle of Palo Alto. The Mexican-American War ended with U.S. troops entering Mexico City in 1848. The Most remembered Battles were Palo Alto, Veracruz, San Pasqualm and the troops in Mexico City. -
Suffrage
The Seneca Falls Convention was the first womens rights convention in the united states. Almost 200 women were in the conference, including organizers Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. On July 19, the women read the "Declaration of Sentiments and Grievances." which listed detailed injustices that women in America face. On the second day, the declaration was adopted and signed. The Seneca Falls Convention is known as the begginning of womens suffrage in America. -
California Gold Rush
Gold nugets were discovered in 1848 in the Sacramento Valley, creating a humongus surge of imigration, shaping America as we know it today. Gold miners from all over came to San Francisco in search of easy money. In the end, around two billion dollars worth of gold was extracted from California during the Gold Rush, with a significant peak in 1852 -
Gringo
The term Gringo which refferes to white people, originated during the Mexican American War. When American soldiers marched through Mexican territory, they overhears them singing, and a main verse started with "Green grows...". Although it is not officially proven that this is exaclty how the term originated, the term "Gringo" appeared after the end of the war. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidlgo
The signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo officially ended the Mexcan American War on February 2, 1848. The war lasted for almost two years before America won. The treaty declared that the United States would gai over 500,000 swuare miles of Mexicos territory, including present day Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah,and Wyoming. The Rio Grande became the official border between Mexico and Texas -
Period: to
Sectionalism
Northern and Southern states were at an all time high in tension and difference in political views. Elections became a very big deal to the different Partys, and when Abraham Lincoln was inducted into office everyone new that big chages were going to occur since he was an abolitionist. -
Slavery
Henry Clays Compromise made California a free state, divided New Mexico in two, and settles the Texas border. The Compromise of 1850 had 5 separate bills including the fugitive slave act. Peronal liberty laws polarized the country even more. Neutral states were forced to pick sides. Uncle Toms Cabin showed what slavery is like and provided a new perspective, while Aunt Philis Cabin was Pro-slavery propaganda. -
Election of 1852
Franklin Pierce, Democrat, won the presidential election of 1852. He was a member of Young America. He competed in the election against Winfield Scott, Wig, who lost. Scott allied with antislavery Whigs, however the Whig party started to fall apart. Northerns opposed southern expansion due to slavery due to slavery, while southerners opposed northern expansion due to potential outlawing of slavery. -
Republicans
Abraham Lincoln was apart of the republican party. During his election, he won because the Democratic party was divided, making his win the first time the regional party won. He was a very lenient man, as he was a president. Being as his approach to end slavery was very moderate, he had few political enemies. They were abolitionists, and there party was made up off Free-soilers, Whigs, and Anti-Slavery Democrats. -
Nativists
Nativists blames immigrants for Americas problems, so he was completely against the immigration of poor Catholics from Germany and Ireland, because he believed they scpecifically were the main cause. The became the Know Nothings or other wise reffered to as the American Party. They were a secret organization thats only purpose was to find ways to restrict immigrants. However, the party dissolved by the year 1860. -
North
The Northern States had a greater population, more industrialization from factories and had slightly more railroads than the Southern states. Northerns were abolitionits who were fighting to end slavery. However a disadvantage of the north was there bad leaders and there lack of morale from previous losses. -
South
The Southern states had many disadvantages that made them likely to lose the war quickly, however there excelent military leadership allowed them to last as long as they did. The Southerners hoped to gain Britain as an ally, however since Europe ended slavery, if the war were to officially be about slavery, they wouldnt be able to help. -
Neutral States
During the American Civil War, there were five border states that were slave states that didn;t declare secession from the union or join the Confederacy. Missouri, Kentucky, delaware, and Maryland never declared secession, even after the Battle of Fort Sumter. There were both pro-Union and pro-Confederate governments in the states, and Lincoln allowed them to divide. -
Leaders
The Leader of the Army of the Polomac in the North was George McClellan, and Ulysses S. Grant lead the North in capting much of the Southern territory. Robert E. Lee was a very succesful military general that led the south through the war. Most generals in the North were not very trained or successful as leaders, but had the supplies and men necessary in order to do damage. Robert E. Lee however had many victories with very few resources as the South had not nearly as much compared to the South. -
International
The Trent Affair of 1861 was when the diploments that were sent to Europe by Confederayes were stoped and captured by the USS San Jacinto. Britain felt that was unjust and demanded an apology. Lincoln agreed to release the diplomats and he sent his own to secure British and French neutrality. The Northern Cotton embargo but pressure on the French and British industry to petition their governments. -
The War
The Battle of Bull Run 1861 Virginia was the first major battle of the war. 30,000 Union troops marched south, but fleed to D.C. when they were humiliated by their defeat. General Robert E. Lee defeated the Union again at the Second Battle of Bull Run. Robert El. Lee was heading North when battle broke out in Gettysburg which became the turning point of the war for the Union. Abraham Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address, and the Union starts to overwhelming defeat the South. -
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The Civil War
The American Civil War was fought between the Northern and Southern States who had opposing views on ways the economy should be ra, and states rights. However, the main reason that the Civil War was fought over was whether or not Slavery should be legal. The Northern States completely over Powered the Southern States, and slowly but surely the Union won the war. Slavery had officially been abolished in the nation. -
Plans
Lincoln created a plan for reconstruction after the war. His Lincoln 10% Plan was very lenient, pardoning Southerners except for officers and officials. Southerners would also have to take an oath and apply for Federal recognition and form new state governments. Another option for reconstruction was the Wade-Davis Bill idea which was meant to punish southers. It would destroy slave society, officers were stripped of their citizenship, and states had to prove their commitment to the Union. -
New South
The old south was bult on agriculture and slavery, the new south was built around oppression and segregation. After the Civil War African American representation in government plummited. There was an economic boom with industrialization, urbanization, and new railroads. Taxes were cut and less was spend on social programs and public education. Southers tried to justify their loss in the war and made propaganda that still lasts today to make confederate soldiers look like brave heros. -
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Reconstruction
The Reconstruction period was after the end of the American Civil War, and new political policies had to be followed. South made a complete economic dependency change, going from agriculture to industry like the North. Suppression of Black People was high in both the south and the noth as racism was very previlant. Government policies and plans helped African American become a part of society and acquired education. -
Lincoln Assassination
The sixteenth president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, was attenting a play at Ford's Theater when he was shot from behind by John Wilkked Booth. Lincoln was shot only 5 days after the Appomattox Courthouse. He survived the shot, but eventually died the next day from the damage. The Funeral procession attracted millions of people who took the railroad track on route to Illinois. -
Former Slaves
Freedmens Bureau was a relief agency led by the North in the South. Many former slaves wander about the south looking for family members and other loved ones. Many had to flock to the cities for low paying, and labor intesive jobs. 40 Acres & a Mule fored planters to abandom their land, and former slaves were allowed to own or rend land to farm. This gave them the feeling of new independence and freedom. Education was given to all former slaves, regardless of age to teach them to be literate. -
Grant Administration
The Reconstruction abruptly ends with the Grant administration scandals such as the bribes for the completion of the Union Paacific Railroad, kickbacks from distillers tring to avoid taxes, and when he comered the gold market. The Panic of 1873 occured while he was in office, forcing him to stop waisting his days lounging about. The economy plumits until 1877, and people stop caring as much about African american politics during this time. Democrats were voted into office in 1874 -
Life for Whites Reconstruction South
Southern Republicans were a mix of former slaves, white southerners, and carpetbaggers. Carpetbaggers were northerner who moved to the south for economic opportunity. Scalawags where whites that were considered traitors by the other Southerners. They gained money by manipulating black voters. Former slaves made up 80% of the southern party. There was corruption in the south, however not nearly as bad as was in the North. -
Nature
While all of America was going through cultural and industrial changes, all of the new buildings and roads they had created seemed to overpower nature. To combat this, they created parks inside of cities to give people that space still soley natural. Cemeteries were created in todays modern days, mostly grass with just tombstones in front of the body underground. -
Election of 1876
The Election of 1876 was between Samuel Tilden, the Democrat, and Rutherford Hayes, the Republican. Both canidates were unliked, but people chose 'the less of the two evils'. The popular vote went to Tilden, and the Electoral votes were unclear. The Compromise of 1877 gives Hayes all the electoral votes as long as he agress to end Reconstruction. He removed federal troops from the South and began the total suppression for southern blacks.
