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Massacre at Mystic
The Massacre at Mystic was a 1637 attack during the Pequot War where English settlers and their allies killed many Pequot villagers. It significantly weakened the Pequot tribe and shifted power dynamics in the region. -
The Scalp Act
The Scalp Act of 1749 offered bounties for Native American scalps in Pennsylvania, encouraging settlers to kill them. It highlights the brutal policies and tensions of the time. -
The 3/5ths Compromise
The 3/5ths Compromise was an agreement during the 1787 Constitutional Convention where each enslaved person would be counted as three-fifths of a person for taxation and representation purposes. It's important because it affected political power in Congress and highlighted the deep divisions over slavery in the United States. -
Slave Trade Ends in the United States
The United States officially ended the transatlantic slave trade in 1808, following a law passed by Congress in 1807. This is important because it marked a significant step towards the abolition of slavery, although it did not end the practice of slavery itself within the country. It also reflected growing opposition to the inhumane treatment of enslaved people. -
Battle of Tippecanoe
The Battle of Tippecanoe was fought on November 7, 1811, between American forces led by Governor William Henry Harrison and Native American warriors associated with Shawnee leader Tecumseh. It's important because it weakened Native American resistance in the Northwest Territory and was a precursor to the War of 1812. -
The Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise, enacted in 1820, allowed Missouri to enter the Union as a slave state and Maine as a free state. It also established a line (36°30' parallel) dividing future free and slave territories. It's important because it temporarily eased tensions between the North and South over slavery but foreshadowed future conflicts. -
The Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive Slave Act, passed in 1850, required that escaped enslaved people be returned to their enslavers even if they were found in a free state. It's important because it increased tensions between the North and South, leading to greater division and contributing to the onset of the Civil War. -
Trail of Tears
The trail of Tears was forced relocation of Native American tribes to lands west of the Mississippi in the 1830s, resulting in thousands of deaths. It's a tragic example of U.S. goverment oppression. -
Indian Removal Act
The Indian Removal Act of 1830 authorized the forced relocation of Native American tribes to lands west of the Mississippi River. It's important because it led to the Trail of tears and the suffering and death of thousands of Native Americans. -
Nat Turner Rebellion
The Nat Turner Rebellion, in 1831, was a slave uprising led by Nat Turner in Virginia. It's important because it intensified the national debate over slavery and led to harsher laws against enslaved people and free African Americans. -
Battle of Little Bighorn
The Battle of Little Bighorn, in 1876, was a conflict between the U.S. Army and Native American tribes, including the Lakota Sioux and Cheyenne. It's important because it was a significant victory for the Native Americans and highlighted the resistance against U.S. expansion into their territories. -
Dred Scott Decision
The Dred Scott decision, made by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1857, ruled that African Americans, whether enslaved or free, could not be American citizens and had no standing to sue in federal court. It's important because it intensified national tensions over slavery and pushed the country closer to the Civil War. -
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln, declared that all enslaved people in Confederate-held territory were to be set free. It's important because it fundamentally changed the character of the Civil War, making the abolition of slavery a central goal of the Union war effort and paving the way for the eventual abolition of slavery across the United States with the 13th Amendment. -
13th Amendment
The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. It's important because it legally ended slavery in the United States, ensuring that no person could be held in bondage, and marked a significant step toward civil rights and equality. -
14th Amendment
The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution grants citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States and guarantees equal protection under the law. It's important because it extended civil rights and legal protections to all citizens, including formerly enslaved people, and laid the foundation for many landmark civil rights decisions. -
15th Amendment
The 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits the federal government and states from denying a citizen the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude. It's important because it aimed to ensure that African American men had the right to vote, marking a significant step toward achieving racial equality in the voting process. -
Battle of Wounded Knee
The Battle of Wounded Knee was a massacre that occurred in 1890, where U.S. Army troops killed hundreds of Lakota Sioux men, women, and children. It's important because it marked the end of the Indian Wars and is often seen as a symbol of the harsh and violent treatment of Native Americans by the U.S. government. -
Plessy vs. Ferguson
Plessy v. Ferguson was a landmark 1896 U.S. Supreme Court case that upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the "separate but equal" doctrine. It's important because it legitimized state laws establishing racial segregation and led to widespread discrimination and inequality for African Americans, which persisted until the Civil Rights Movement challenged and overturned these practices.