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Period: to
American Revolution - Civil War
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First American Flag Created
Betsy Ross created the first American flag. Her flag would be the outline for the flag as we know it today. -
Signing of Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was a document that listed grievences to the King and announced the splitting of the colonies from the mother country. This document is important to America because it made the colonies of America free and independent from Great Britain. -
First US Bank
The First Bank of the United States was needed because the government had a debt from the Revolutionary War, and each state had a different form of currency -
Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase is when the US bought 828,000 square miles of Frances land. This is important to the US because it makes up 15 of its states today. -
Indian Removal Act
This act allowed Indians to live only where congress approved of. This was important, because the US could use their land. -
Texas Annexation
The independent Republic of Texas (1836-1845) is annexed to the United States. The territory of Texas extended north to 42 degrees north (into modern Wyoming) due to a secret treaty between Mexico and Texas. -
Oregon Territory
Joint occupation by United States andGreat Britain 1818-1846. Oregon Territory is ceded to the U.S. from Britain following an 1818 joint claim on the territory (which resulted in the phrase "Fifty-Four Forty or Fight!"). The Treaty of Oregon establishes the boundary at 49 degrees north. -
Mexican Cession
President James K. Polk had promised to fulfill the "Manifest Destiny" before he left office, even if it meant going to war. With the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. In exchange for $15 million, the Mexican government under Santa Anna gave away 1/2 of their land. -
Fugitive slave Act
Created a force of federal commissioners empowered to pursue fugitive slaves in any state and return them to their owners. No statute of limitations applied, so that even those slaves who had been free for many years could be (and were) returned -
Uncle Tom's Cabin is Published
Changed forever how Americans viewed slavery, the system that treated people as property. It demanded that the United States deliver on the promise of freedom and equality, awaken the abolition movement and contributed to the outbreak of the Civil War. -
Dred Scott Decision
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Secession of States
South Carolina secedes from the Union. Followed within two months by Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas. -
Lincoln's Inauguration
Lincoln became the 16th president of the United States. His speech was a very important one because tries to reassure southern states, announcing that he does not intend to interfere with the institution of slavery. -
President Lincoln's Assas
President Lincoln was assassinated while at Ford's Theatre by John Wilkes Booth. He was in the Presidential Box. This is important, because it was the first president assassination in American history.
