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Jun 15, 1215
The Magna Carta Signed
The Magna Carta 1215
The Magna Carta was a document written by the barons of feudal England and was signed by King John on June 15th of 1215. The document basically laid down the laws of the feudal system and by signing it, John was prevented from misusing his power as king. The document served to inspire future American revolutionaries and influenced both the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. -
The Mayflower Compact Signed
Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact was a set of laws laid down by Settler's traveling to the New World. The Compact separated the settlers from English law and allowed them to govern themselves. It's often regarded as the foundation to the U.S. Constitution. -
The New England Confederation Formed
The Society Of Colonial Wars in the State of Connecticut
The New England Confederation was a board of eight commissioners from Massachusetts, Plymouth, New Haven, and Connecticut, with two from representatives from each colony. The board coordinated the defense of the colonies and helped to end border disputes. -
The French-Indian War
The French and Indian War This marks the start of the war between the French and their Indian allies and the British with the colonists. They were fighting over the land west of the Appalachain Mountains. -
The Albany Plan of Union Announced
Albany Plan of Union
The Albany Plan of Union was announced in June of 1754. It was supposed to be an assembly of elected delegates under royal governor to help the colonies during the French and Indian wars from 1756 to 1753. The ideas used in this Union would be used again in the Constitution. -
Treaty of Paris (1763)
The Treaty of Paris (1763) This was the treaty signed at the end of the French-Indian war, giving the French-owned Quebec and Ohio Valley to England and their portion of New Orleans and the Louisiana territory west of the Mississippi to Spain. -
The Royal Proclamation (1763)
Proclamation of 1763 The King of England issued this procalamtion after the end of the French-Indian war, which prevented the colonists from settling or using any of the land they had fought and died for. Needless to say, this was recieved badly. -
The Sugar Act
The Sugar Act This Act foreced the colonists to by sugar and molasses only from the British. This angered the colonists not because of the price, which was cheaper than the price of the French goods, but because of them being forced to buy certain products. -
The Stamp Act
A summary of the 1765 Stamp Act Another taxation act passed by parliment, requiring the colonists to pay taxes on all forms of papaer goods, whether it be legal documents or playing cards. This angered the colonists because it had been passed without speaking with the colonial legislatures. -
Stamp Act Congress
Stamp Act Congress The Stamp Act Congress was held in New York. It was during this first meeting that the Stamp Act Resolves were made, despite the absence of representatives from certain colonies. -
Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts The Townshend Acts increased taxes on glass, paint, oil, lead, papaer, and tea.This resulted in many of the colonists beginning to boycott English goods altogether. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre The Boston Massacre was not really a massacre at all; after a crowd of angry Bostonions surrounded a lone British sentry, reinforcements were sent to protect him. As the armed British troops tried to fend of the crowd, a shot was fired, quickly followed by more. Five Bostonions were killed. -
Boston Tea Party
Coming of the American Revolution The Boston Tea Party was the result of the British refusing to return there shiploads of tea to England, instead insisting the colonists pay for it. A group of colonists dresssed as Indians borded the ship that night and threw all of the tea into the Boston harbor. -
The First Continental Congress
First Continental Congress Held at Carpenter's Hall in Philidelhpia, the first Continetal Congress consisted of representatives from each of the colonies except for Georgia. It was at this meeting that they formed the Intolerable Acts. -
Congress Meets for the 1st Time
First Continental Congress The first Continental Congress met at Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia. The delegates were selected by the people and each state except Georgia sent some. It was at this meeting that they established their intent as a Congress. -
Patrick Henry "Give Me Liberty"
Patrick Henry's "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" Speech This is a famous quotation taken from the end of Patrick Henry's speech to the Virginia Convention. The speech was meant to inspire the Virginians to form a militia and join the fight. -
Midnight Ride of Paul Revere
The Paul Revere House Paul Revere and William Dawes both set out on the night of April 18th from Charlestown and Boston, going to warn John Hancock and Thomas Jefferson of the coming of the British troops. They were joined by Samuel Prescott outside of Lexington. All three were intercepted by British troops, who arrested Paul Revere outside of Lexington, ending his ride long before Dawes and Prescott. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
Lexington and Concord This marks the offical start of the American Revolution. This battle is famously known for its "Shot Heard 'Round the World," although who fired the first shot is unknown. The Patriots won, leaving the British with over 300 causalties, making the British forces retreat to Boston. -
Fort Ticonderoga
Fort Ticonderoga Fort Ticonderoga was captured by colonial troops on May 10th of 1775. The troops beat out the small gorup of British soldiers, looted their belongings, and then brought the canons to Boston to help fortify their forces. -
The Second Continental Congress
Second Continental Congress During this second meeting of the Congress, the Olive Branch Treaty was formed. The treaty asked for more rights and freedoms, but not for independence. In fact, many of the delegates did not yet believe independence was necessary or a good idea. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
Bunker Hill The Battle of Bunker Hill took place primarily on Breed's Hill, a hill near Bunker Hill. The battle was ultimately won by the British, although causalties were so many on both sides that it was as if Britain had lost. -
"Common Sense" Published
Thomas Paine, Common Sense
"Common Sense" was an artical written by Thomas Paine, an active revoltutionary writer. In this particular creation, Paine describes the trials that those in Boston have to go through because of the British soldiers and condems any Patriot unwillingly to fight if it gets too hard, inspiring pride in the colonists that read it. -
British Evacuate Boston
Massachusetts Historical Society The British evactuation of Boston marks the end of what had been an eleven month siege on the British in Boston by the colonial army. Throughtout the siege, the Britsh had maintained control of the Hharbor, but were running low on supplies. This is a major victory for the colonists. -
Declaration of Independence Announced
Independence Hall After voting in secret to approve the Declaration of Independence on July 4, the Congress kept the Declaration under wraps for 4 more days. On July 8, it was read behind Independence Hall to the crowd that had gathered. -
"The Crisis" is Published
December 23, 1776 "The Crisis" by revolutionary writer Thomas Paine is a long essay concerning the war. It serves to bring together Patriots from across the colonies and inspire them to keep fighting, and conveying the tone and outlook of the war to those for generations to come. -
Washington Captures Trenton
Chronicle of the Revolution Washington captured trenton at the end of the battle on December 26. The battle consisted mainly of the colonist forces versus the Hessians, who were German mercenaries hired by the British. Washington's troops surprised the Hessians the day after Christmas, and were able to win the battle. -
British Defeated at Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga This battle was a major turning point in the war. The Battle had been going on since the 19th of September beofre the British were finally defeated in October. This is also what persuaded the French to join the side of the colonists in the battle. -
Winter at Valley Forge, PA
History: Valley Forge The colonist forces camped out at valley forge from December of 1777 to summer of 1778. It was a long and cruel winter, resulting in many deaths and much sickness. However, the colonists were able to use this time to train properly in the ways of British warfare. -
Defeat of the Serapis
John Paul Jones On the night of September 3, John Paul Jones lead his crew to a victory against the British ship Serapis. Durning this battle, John Paul famously said "I have not yet begun to fight" in response to the taunting of a British captain. -
Benedict Arnold's Plans are Discovered
Benedict Arnold Benedict Arnold had been feeding information the British in excahnge for money for a while. When he was placed in charge of the fort at West Point, NY, he offered to surrendor it to the British for a large sum of money. He was discovered, but managed to escape to England. -
The Articles of the Confederation Signed
Articles of Confederation: March 1, 1781
The Articles of the Confederation were the first forms of a central government after the American Revolution. The Articles left the central government without the power to regulate taxes or commerce between states, and therefore they were eventually changed. They did serve to pave the way for the Constitution in 1789. -
Cornwallis Surrender
Chronicles of the Revolution After a month long siege of Yorktown, VA, Lord Cornwallis, a leader of the Biritsh army held up in the town, was forced to surrender to the colonist forces. This ends the battles of the revolution. -
The Treaty of Paris Signed
The Avalon Project The Treaty of Paris ended the American Revolutionary war. The Treaty was signed between the U.S., Britain, Spain, and the Netherlands, dividing up the remaining land in North America. America greatly benefited form this treaty because it had the largest claim, and therefore recieved most of the trade and was able to become stronger. -
Newburgh Conspiracy
George Washington and the Newburgh Conspiracy
The Newburgh Conspiracy was a threat of rebellion from the soldiers towards the end of the revolutionary war. The soldiers threatened to either abandon their posts if the war continued or take up arms against citizens if the war was ended unless they were paid and given rest. -
Spain Closes the Mississippi River
The Spanish-American Frontier
The Spanish closed the Mississippi River to all ships that were not Spanish in an attempt to slow down the development of the American West, specifically the development in the Mississippi Valley. This was resolved with Pinckney's treaty, which clarified the boundires of Florida and U.S. territory and stopped disputes between the two. -
The Land Ordinance of 1785
The Land Ordinance of 1785
The Land Ordinance of 1785 was the government's regulation of schooling in the Western territory. It set aside certain funds for public schools and separated religion from the state for the first time. -
Ordinance of Religious Freedom
Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom
Written by Thomas jefferson, the Ordinance of Religious Freedom was passed in Virgina allowing freedom of religion amoung its citizens. This also separated church and state. -
Shays' Rebellion
Shays' Rebellion
Shays' Rebellion consisted of many farmers who protested the confiscation of their farms by the government because they couldn't pay incredibly high taxes. Led by the former revolutionary war general Daniel Shays, the farmers took up arms and closed courts. The rebellion was squashed, although it did help to eventually solve the economic problems. -
The Annapolis Convention
Avalon Project
The Annapolis Convention was a meeting of 12 representatives from new jersy, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Virgina in order to ammend the weak Articles of the Confederation. However, they weren't able to do anyhting because some of the representatives from other states did not arrive. -
The Constitutional Convention Opens
The Constitutional Convention of 1787 in Philadelphia
The Convention consisted of many arguments as to how the country should be structered, which included the presentations of the Virgina Plan, The new Jersey Plan, and the Hamilton Plan. This convention was the forming of our entire government as we know it today. -
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787
The Northwest Ordinance, 1787
The Northwest Ordinance was established to allow new states to enter the Union of the United States. The four main points authroized a provisional government, provided a method for making new governments, guarenteed a Bill of Rights and prohibition of slavery in all teritories, and gave a way to survey and outline lands so that they could be sold to settlers. -
The Great Compromise is Agreed To
U.S. Senate
The Great Comprimise took place during the Constitutional Convention. It set down the rules for the legislature and voting in Congress, and it was agreed that there should be a bicameral legislature, proportional voting in the House of Representatives, and equal voting in the Senate. -
Constitution Sent for Ratification
Ratification of the Constitution
This is the day the Congress agreed on the constitution and sent it out to the states to have it ratified by each of them, as the constitution could only take affect if all 15 states agreed to it. -
Anti-Federalist Papers Appear
Chronology of the Pro- and Anti-Federalist Papers The Anti-Federalists were aginst the formation of a strong central government because they feared tyranny. More specifically, the felt that the constitution did not protect the rights of the citizen and wanted a bill of rights. -
Federalist Papers Appear
Chronology of the Pro- and Anti-Federalist Papers The Federalist believed in the formation of a strong central government and believed that even without a bill of rights the citizens would be protected. They felt that without the strong central power, the country would be a mess. James madison was a major player in ths group. -
Delaware Ratifies
Ratification of the Constitution At this point Delaware agreed to the constitution with a unanimous vote. -
Massachusetts Ratifies
Ratification of the Constitution Massachusetts ratifies the Constitution with a vote of 187 over 168. -
New Hampshire Ratifies Constitution
Ratification of the Constitution At this point New Hampshire agrees to the constitution with a vote of 57 against 47. -
George Washington Elected
Papers of George Washington After New Hampshire ratified the constitution, Congress began to work on an Electoral Ordinance which would allow states to choose electors who would vote for the future President. After the constitution was fully ratififed, the vote took place. George Washington was then inaugurated on this date. -
Bill of Rights is sent for Ratification
Bill of Rights: Primary Documents of American History Congress, having now decided on a Bill of Rights, sent out the bill to be ratified by each of the states. However, it did not go exactly as planned, as a few states didn't want to ratify. -
The Bill of Rights is Ratified
Bill of Rights and Later Amendments The Bill of Rights in offically ratified, and the Constitution is complete for the time being. -
Virgina & Kentucky Resolutions
Bill of Rights Institute The Virgina & Kentucky resolutions were written by James Madison and Thomas Jefferson in secret as a response to the Alien and Sedition Acts. The Resolutions allowed the states to decide whether laws not specified by the federal government were constitutional. -
The Hartford Convention
Introduction for Teachers The Hartford Convention was called by the Massachusetts legislature during the war of 1812. Representatives from all over New England came to call of reforms to the U.S. Constitution. They wanted the presidency to be one four-year term, roating which states the President came from, and wanted the declaration of war to require a 2/3 majority in Congress. -
Missouri Compromise
Missouri Compromise To preserve the balance between free states and slave states in the Union, the Missouri Compromise allowed Missouri to enter the Union as a slave state and allowed Maine to separate from Massachusetts and enter as a free state. This also established the the 36-30 latitude line, with the exception of Missouri itself, divided the north and south, all states south of the line allowing slavery. -
Tariff of Abominations
Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives The purpose of the Tariff of Abominations was to protect New England's products from competition with foreign products, but the resulting tax hurt the south's cotton exports. Approving this bill was what sealed Quincy Adams' loss to Andrew Jackson in the 1828 presidential election. -
South Carolina Tries to Nullify
The South Carolina Nullification In response to the 1828 tariff, South Carolina looked to John C Calhoun, then vice president, to solve the problem. Calhoun came up with the Nullification bill, which allowed the states to nullify any federal law within its borders as long as they deemed it to be unconstitutional. So on November 24th of 1832, the Tariff no longer existed within South Carolina's borders. -
Abolition of Slavery Act
British Abolition Act
The British abolished slavery in England at this time, long before the U.S. even became serious about the issue. -
Texas Declares Independence
The Border
Texas delcared it independence from Mexico on March 2nd, 1836, in response to new laws that had been passed. There were many resulting battles, but ultimately Texas was free and joined the Union. -
James K. Polk is Elected
James K. Polk Is Elected 11th President James K. Polk was a democrate who strongly supported western expansion. He intended to be president for one term only, and so he was quick to begin his plans. During his presidency, he achieved much in the way of western expansion. -
Wilmot's Proviso
Wilmot Proviso - Ohio History Central David Wilmot, a Democratic member of the House of Representatives, did not believe slavery should spread to any of the land won in the Mexican war. Wilmot put together Wimot's Proviso, which would prevent any of the land won from having slavery. Unfortunatly, it did not pass. -
Mexican War
The U.S.-Mexican War The Mexican war took place from 1846-1848, between the U.S. and Mexico. The war began over an argument between Texas, who wanted independence from Mexico, and Mexico. Using that as an excuse, the U.S. initiated a war with Mexico in order to get California, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico. The U.S. won. -
Fugitive Slave Law enacted
Fugitive Slave Act - 1850 The Fugitive Slave Law was passed as part of the Compromise of 1850. It said that any slave found in the north would be brought back to the south without a trial. This meant that any black person in the north could be accused of being an escaped slave and would not be able to defend themselves. -
California Enters the Union
Slavery and the Admission of CaliforniaCalifornia was admitted to the Union as a free state as part of five bills in the Compromise of 1850. The idea of the compromise was to please the southern slaves states even though California would throw the balance of slave/free states in the Congress. The other bills passed included a tougher fugitive slave law, popular soveringty in Utah and New Mexico Territory, and banned slave trade in Washington D.C. -
Publication of Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin: Aspects of the Publishing History Uncle Tom's Cabin was a book written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Stowe lived in Ohio, and had seen the horros of slavery. She wrote and published the book to show northerners who may have been neutral on the issue of slavery the horrors it held. The book served its purpose and swayed almost all the north to the anti-slavery side. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act passed
The Kansas-Nebraska Act The Kansas-Nebraska Act was brought about when the territores of kansas and nebraska wanted to enter the Union. The north argued that the states should both be free as they were north of the 36-30 line, but Stephen Douglas came up with the idea of popular soveringty in order to please both of the north and south. As a result, southerners swarmed to Kansas to try and swing the vote to slavery. -
"Border Ruffians" Attack Lawrence
The Sack of Lawrence
The border ruffians were a group of pro-slavery southerners who would cross the border into Kansas to cause trouble or illegally vote on slavery issues. On May 21st of 1856, the border ruffians attacked the newly formed town of anti-slavery northerners called lawrence in a group of about 800, destroying the town. -
Charles Sumner attacked
Mass Moments: Sumner Attacked in U.S. Senate
A few days earlier, Charles Sumner had given an impassioned speech to the senate about the need to abolish slavery, using language that offended southerners and calling out another senator. On May 22, that senator, Preston Brooks, beat him viciously with a cane. Sumner never fully recovered, but was regarded as a hero in the north, and Brooks a hero to the south. -
Pottawatomie Creek
John Brown and the Pottawatomie Killings
John Brown and a group of Free State volunteers murdered five men along the Pottawatomie Creek on the night of May 24, 1856. The men they killed were pro-slavery, although none of them owned slaves themselves. All of John Brown's men escaped except for his two sons, who were released later. The got away with the killings. -
Formation of the Republican Party
The Origins of the Republican Party The Republican party was formed as a response to the Kansas-Nebraska Act, as it was felt that a new party representing northern beliefs was required. So the Rebublican party began to form, announcing it's offical formation at it's first nomination meeting on June 17th, 1856. -
Dred Scott Case Closed
Dred Scott V. Sandford
The Dred Scott v. Sandford case was between the slave Dred Scott and his owner, Mr. Sanford. The case had made its way up to the supreme courts, which ruled that slaves did not count as citizens, but property, and therefore Scott had no right ot freedom. It also declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional and the Congress had no right to prohibit slavery in those territories. -
Lecompton Constitution passed
Lecompton Constitution
The Lecompton Constitution was the second constitution drafted for the Kansas territories, and was written by pro-slavery men. It allowed for slavery in Kansas, said only men in the U.S. could vote, and said that free blacks could not live in Kansas. It was ultimatley rejected. -
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
The Lincoln-Douglas Debates
The Lincoln-Douglas debates were debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas for the position of Illinois's two U.S. Senators. Lincoln was republican and wanted to contain the spread of slavery, whereas Douglas was for popular soveringty and never gave his opinion on slavery. Lincoln wound up winning. -
Raid at Harper's Ferry
John Brown's Harpers Ferry Raid
The Harper's Ferry raid was lead by John Brown and his group of Free State volunteers. On the night of October 16th, they rode into Harper's Ferry. They siezed the federal arsenal and armoury with some hostages. Their plan was to inspire slaves to rebel and to arm them. Robert E. Lee came in with his marines two days later and stopped the raid. Brown was put on trial and hung. -
Democrats Split in 1860
The Election of 1860
In April of 1860, the democrats met to pick a canadite for the presidential election. They were divided; the northerns supported Douglas, but the southerners didn't like the idea of a state being able to ban slavery. So northern democrates chose to support Douglas and the southern democrats had Breckenridge, neither of which won. -
Formation of the Constitutional Union Party
Constitutional Union PartyThe Constitutional Union Party was formed on the beliefs that the country should stop fighting over the issue of slavery and be one again. They met on May 9th of 1860 and chose John Bell to run for president for them. Their beliefs were seen as childish, as most thought that slavery could not be ignored. The dissolved before the civil war. -
Abraham Lincoln Announces Plans for Reconstruction
<a href='http://www.arcofhistory.org/U.S.../Reconstruction%20Plans.pdf' >Lincoln Reconstruction</a
President Abraham Lincoln announced his plans for reconstruction in 1863, which was a merciful and forgiving plan. It was incredibly kind to those states that had "rebelled" during the war. -
Wade-Davis Bill Vetoed
Our Documents - Wade-Davis Bill
The Wade-Davis Bill was a stricter plan for Reconstruction, written by the Radical Republicans, which was passed by Congress. However, President Lincoln vetoed the Bill because he believed that a more forgiving plan for reconstruction would be better. -
Lincoln's Re-Eelection
Lincoln on Re-election
The Presidential election of 1864 elected President Lincoln for his second term in office with Democrat Andrew Johnson as his Vice-President. -
Formation of Freedman's Bureau
African American Records: Freedmen's Bureau
The Freedmen's Bureau, otherwise known as the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands, was established by the government after the Civil war. It's purpose was to protect and relocate the millions of freed slaves and whites who were displaced by war damage. -
President Andrew Johnson Announces Reconstruction Plan
Reconstruction Plans
Andrew Johnson, having stepped into the Presidential office after Lincoln's assassination, announced his plan for Reconstruction. His plans required much more than Lincoln's and forgave none of the Confederate officials. -
Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln Papers: Lincoln Assassination
President Abraham Lincoln went to Ford's Theater on the night of April 14th, 1865. While enjoying the theater's production of Our American Cousin, John Wilkes Booth crept into the Presidential Booth and shot Lincoln in the back of the head. Lincoln died the next morning. -
Mississippi Black Codes
An Ex-Slave Remembers
The Black Codes were laws put into action after the Civil war to limit and restrict the rights of freed slaves. They required any black person to be working for a white person or former owner, they forbid them from having any sort of weapons, etc. They were harsh and some considered it slavery in disguise. -
Ratification of the 13th Amendment
13th Amendment ratified
The 13th Amendment officially outlawed and ended all slavery in the United States. Georgia was the last State to ratify, and when it did, the 13th Amendment came into effect. -
Ku Klux Klan created
Ku Klux Klan Founded
On the Christmas eve of 1865, the Ku Klux Klan was formed in Pulaski, Tennessee, as a social club for Confederate veterans. It evolved into a terrorist organization bent on scaring freed slaves and their supporters from excersizing their political rights. -
Civil Rights Act of 1866
American Experience Reconstruction
The Civil Rights Act of 1866 granted equal rights to all male citizens of the United States, regardless of race or color. This meant eligible black men were able to vote, run for office, and anything else they wanted to do. -
Reconstruction Acts Enacted
History Engine
The Fisrt Reconstruction Act, or the Military Reconstruction Act, was passed on March 2nd of 1867. It split the Southern States into five military districts, each of which was under the supervision of one Northern general. Andrew Johnson once again vetoed the bill, but it was passed anyway. -
President Andrew Johnson is Impeached
The Impeachment of Andrew Johnson
After all the fighting between Congress and Andrew Johnson, they finally were able to impeach him for violating the Tenure of Office Act, passe dthe year before specifically to get him to violate. Although he was impeahced, he was never punished. -
Ratification of the 14th Amendment
14th Amendment to the Constitution
The 14th Amendment to the Constitution granted citizenship to "all persons born or naturalized in the Unted States," which made former slaves citizens, and as such, gave them the rights of an American citizen. -
Ulysses S. Grant elected President
Uylsses S. Grant
Uylsses S. Grant, the Nrothern general who had been responsible for the end of the Civil War, was elected President in the first election held after the end of the civil war. He was a Republican canidate, and his being in office gave the Republicans the power to do whatever they wanted in the way of Reconstruction. -
Ratification fo the 15th Amendment
15th Amendment to the Constituion
The 15th Amendment was ratified on the 3rd of February in 1870. It protected the rights of American citizens, specifically those of former slaves. "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude." -
Hiram Revels elected to Senate
senate stuff
Hiram Revels was the first bkack man elected into the Senate. He was elected from the state of Mississippi on a vote of 81 to 15. Unfortunately, he was opposed upon arival. There was a vote taken by the senate, and he was voted into the Senate 48 to 8, with only Democrats voting against him. -
Ku Klux Klan Act Enacted
Black Americans in Congress
The Ku Klux Klan Acts were a series of Acts oassed in an attempt to combat the terrorist group known as the Ku Klux Klan. The acts forbide anyone from preventing someone from voting due to race or color, and even went as far as to give the President the option to suspend Haebes Corpus for Ku Klux Klan memebers. -
Freedman's Bureau Abolished
Freedmen's Bureau
The Freedmen's Bureau was one of the least popular parts of the Reconstruction efforts. As a result, it was disbanded and it's duties were given to the war department. The Secretary of War soon abolished the Bureau and its duties entirely. -
Civil Rights Act of 1875
Civil Rights Act of 1875
The Civil Rights Act of 1875 was meant to help former slaves, who were being denied entry to public places because they were black. The Act said they could not be denied access to public places based on race or color, but the Act was later declared unconstitutional. -
Rutherford B. Hayes elected President
Rutherford B. Hayes
The Presidential election of 1876 was highly disputed, as both parties had committed fraud at some point or antoher. After many legal battles and many disputes, it was finally awarded to Republican Rutherford B. Hayes. -
"Jim Crow" Culture
What was Jim Crow
"Jim Crow" was a belief and a way of life from 1877 to the 1960s. It was the belief that whites were superior to blacks, and under its influence the "Jim Crow" laws were instituted. Those laws were basically laws of segragation, separating blacks and whites. -
Last National Troops Leave South Carolina
South Carolina
After the election of a new governer, and having met all the criteria to be readmitted fully to the Union, President Hayes removed federal troops from South Carolina. -
Civil Rights Act Overturned
The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow
The Civil Rights Act of 1875 was declared unconstitutional in 1883, as the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments made no mention of a need for this law. This opened the door to much segragation. -
Florida Requires Segregation
After the Civil Rights Act of 1875, Jim Crow laws became popular. In 1885, Florida instituted many Jim Crow Laws, which segregated blacks from whites, such as seperate water fountains, seating areas, public schools, churches, etc. JIm Crow laws became a way of life in many Southern states. -
Case of Plessy v. Ferguson
The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow
The case of Plessy v. Ferguson was between Homer Plessy, a black man, and Judge Ferguson, who presided over the case. Plessy had knowingly gone into the white-only first-class car in hopes to get arrested and challeneg the "Seperate Car Act" of Louisiana in court. The case went all the way to the supreme courts, and the law was declared constitutional on trains that stayed within the state's b -
Election of 1860
The Election of 1860
For the election of 1860, there were three main canadites; the northern Democrates had Douglas, the southern Democrates had John C. Breckenridge, and the Republicans chose Abraham Lincoln. As we all know, Lincoln won the election.
