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Plymouth Establishment
Plymouth was established by Puritan migrants who were seeking religious freedom. It was one of the first major English settlements in North America. As people acclimated to the new environment and learned agricultural skills through peaceful native relations, the colony expanded (http://www.ushistory.org/us/3a.asp). -
The Flintlock Musket
This musket, invented in the 17th century, represented one of the most advanced technological weapons of its time, and was used during the Revolutionary War. Although the rifle took more time to load, it was more accurate than previous weapons. However, riflemen were at a great disadvantage in battles that were of a close range (http://www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/technique/gun-timeline/). -
Newton's 3 Laws
In 1687, influential scientist Isaac Newton, publicly announced his famous three laws of motion. In these laws, he outlined the role of gravity, inertia, and forces. In addition, he described the motion of massive bodies and how they interact. These laws revolutionized the science of physics and explained the forces that could not be physically observed.
(https://www.livescience.com/46558-laws-of-motion.html) -
Fahrenheit (The Modern Thermometer)
The modern thermometer was invented in 1709 by a scientist named Daniel Fahrenheit. It was an enclosed glass tube that had numerical increments, called the Fahrenheit scale. The original version of this thermometer used alcohol, and in 1714, Fahrenheit developed a similar thermometer using mercury instead of alcohol. This system of measuring temperature is still used in the United States today in day-to-day life. (https://jamaicahospital.org/newsletter/?p=5001). -
The Proclamation of 1763
This proclamation was issued by the British King George III, prohibiting colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains. The British claimed that this order was passed to prevent costly wars with the natives, protect the Western fur trade, and keep western land speculation under the control of the crown. After the passing of this proclamation, the colonists were infuriated. Therefore, this order directly led to the American Revolution. (http://www.ushistory.org/us/9a.asp). -
The Boston Massacre
On March 5, 1770, a mob of American colonists protested against high taxes and the presence of British troops in their city. Soon tensions rose, and British men started firing bullets, killing five protesters. Paul Revere's illustration of this scene became well known and raised awareness towards the idea of a revolution (https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/boston-massacre). -
The Battle of Saratoga
This battle from the Revolutionary War, which took place in New York, was a victory for the Americans and proved to the world that they could defeat Great Britain. This reassured France who created an alliance with America and sent resources including a navy to assist in the fighting (http://teachingamericanhistory.org/static/neh/interactives/americanrevolution/). -
Discovery of Uranus
On March 13, 1781, Frederick William Herschel discovered the planet Uranus by observing its movement through a self-made telescope. Later, he discovered two of Uranus' moons, named Titania and Oberon. This discovery enhanced astronomers' knowledge of the solar system. (http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/ask/134-Who-discovered-Uranus-). -
Cotton Gin
The cotton gin was invented in 1793 by Eli Whitney in an attempt to reduce the amount of labor for slaves by separating the seeds from the cotton. However, one unforeseen outcome was the increase in slavery, as the higher profitability from this efficiency led planters to expand the cotton plantations(https://www.history.com/topics/inventions/cotton-gin-and-eli-whitney). -
Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was a deal between the United States and France, in which France gained 15 million dollars in return for giving up an entire strip of land in the mid-North American region. The land included the Mississippi River and the port, New Orleans. These two landmarks were crucial sources of trade, ravel routes, and a port for supplies (History Alive! textbook, Chapter 8 Section 3). -
Steamboat
The steamboat was an invention of the 19th century that significantly reduced the amount of time it took to travel a certain distance across the United States and hence, enabled commerce. Even upstream, steamboats could travel 80 km per day; 8 times faster with 8 times the cargo of a raft. (America: The Story of Us, Episode 3) -
Indian Removal Act
The Indian Removal Act was passed by President Andrew Jackson on May 28, 1830, forcing numerous native tribes to move out of their homes in the South. One such migration of the Cherokee Indians, was portrayed in an event known as the Trail of Tears because of the extreme loss of lives and resources (https://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.phpflash=false&doc=25&page=transcript). -
Telegraph
The telegraph was a machine created by Samuel Morse, that worked by transmitting electrical signals over a wire laid between stations. Use of the telegraph was quickly accepted as it provided means for a faster and easier way of sending and receiving information. A wide variety of telegraph companies were started around this new innovation, and soon telegraph systems spread across the world, as well (https://www.history.com/topics/inventions/telegraph). -
The Minie Ball
Although the minie ball was invented in 1849, it was adapted by the United States military in the 1850s and was of immense significance during the Civil War. The Minie Ball was a cheap, efficient replacement for previous slower rifles. It was easy to reload, was mass produced, and was inexpensive. In addition, the bullet caused catastrophic damage as it was used in one-hit kills and served as a breeding ground for diseases (America, The Story of Us: Civil War) -
The Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was a network of safe houses and pathways that enslaved Africans followed when escaping to the North. There were conductors or people who helped the slaves move towards freedom, without being caught; one example of a very famous railroad conductor is Harriet Tubman. Through this system, many African Americans who faced discrimination and forced labor were able to escape the prejudice to pursue a better life. (The American Nation: Beginnings Through 1877). -
The Election of Abraham Lincoln
The presidential election of 1860 drove a final wedge between North and South. In a famous series of debates against his opponent, Stephen Douglas, Lincoln condemned slavery as "a moral, social, and political wrong." Lincoln's presidential victory raised the cry of secession, or withdrawal from the Union, in the South. Southerners feared that with a Republican in the White House, Congress would try to abolish slavery (History Alive! textbook). -
The Emancipation Proclamation
Although the Emancipation was issued in September of 1862,
it was not in effect until January 1863. The document was issued by President Abraham Lincoln after the bloody Battle of Antietam. The proclamation states that all slaves living in countries rebelling against the Union were considered free. The specific states considered to be in rebellion were listed as well (https://www.archives.gov/exhibits/
featured-documents/emancipation-proclamation). -
Ratification of the 13th Amendment
The 13th Amendment, known as the first Reconstruction Era Act, abolished slavery throughout the United States. This particular Amendment promoted many civil rights and equality movements for African American freedmen. However, despite the ratification of this law, the emancipation was not implemented properly and hence, most Southern slave owners refused to let go of their "property" (https://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=40). -
First Transcontinental Railroad
The first transcontinental railroad was a major step towards the age of technological innovations. It united the East and West and encouraged many businesses to spring up, boosting the economy. In addition, it aided in spreading the population across America more evenly and allowed for easier transportation of goods and people. Finally, the many job opportunities it provided, diversified the population (https://www.history.com/topics/inventions/transcontinental-railroad). -
US Patent for the First Telephone
Alexander Graham Bell was awarded the patent for the first ever telephone. Bell believed that he could find a way to carry the human voice over a device. His invention was built around transmitting a current varying in amplitude through a wire. Bell's innovation revolutionized human life drastically, as the telephone plays a key role in day-to-day life till this day. -
The Model T Car
This was one of the first major automobiles to be available to people of various social classes. It was developed by Henry Ford, who created the cars through assembly lines. This method was not only quick and efficient, but it also provided numerous factory jobs for immigrants and did not require a certain set of skills (History Alive! textbook, Chapter 28 Section 3). -
Einstein's Theory of General Relativity
Einstein's Theory of General Relativity, including acceleration, was officially published in 1916. His theory determined that the laws of physics are the same for all non-accelerating observers and that the speed of light in a vacuum was independent of the motion of all observers. It introduced a new framework for all of physics and proposed new concepts of space and time. (https://www.space.com/17661-theory-general-relativity.html) -
Treaty of Versailles Signed
The Treaty Of Versailles was an agreement between the victorious Allied powers after the end of World War I. The treaty forced Germany to pay billions in reparations, give up all claims to its colonies, drastically decrease the size of its military, and take all blame for the war. These harsh expectations left many Germans feeling oppressed and hence, was a major cause of the second World War (https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/treaty-of-versailles). -
World's First Helicopter
The VS-300, the world’s initial practical helicopter, took flight in Stratford, Connecticut and was first to integrate a single main rotor and tail rotor design. The inventive 28-foot diameter, three-blade rotor allowed for a blade speed of up to 250 to 300 mph. Today helicopters are used for agriculture, firefighting, military purposes, cargo, transportation, tourism, news & media, etc (https://connecticuthistory.org/worlds-first-helicopter-today-in-history/). -
D-Day Invasion
D-Day was the day when Allies forces were able to gain control of Northern France through beach ladings in Normandy. This day was significant as it opened a second fron t in the European War and allowed the Allies to have a base ub Europe for sending troops and supplies (https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day). -
Yalta Conference
The Yalta Conference occurred in February of 1945 between Winston Churchill. Franklin Roosevelt, and Joseph Stalin. In the meeting, the Allies' leaders decided to divide Germany into four occupation zones, each controlled by a different country. In addition, they agreed to support self-government and free & regular elections (History Alive! textbook). -
The Berlin Wall
The concrete block wall was built by Eastern Germans as a "division" between East and West Berlin, which had opposing ideas of government and were claimed by different world powers. Furthermore, people from East Germany, who followed communism under the Soviet Union, were angered by the increased immigration to West Germany, which was mainly under US democracy. The wall fell in 1989 and Germany reunited in 1990. (https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/what-was-the-berlin-wall-and-how-did-it-fall) -
Invention of the Digital Camera
The first digital camera was introduced in 1975 by Steve Sasson. The item was able to make digital recordings of images. When light strikes the camera's pixels on the semiconductor, an electric current is induced and translated into binary digits for storage. The camera allowed for a cheap, disposable, and efficient product (https://www.britannica.com/technology/digital-camera) -
DACA Program
DACA, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, is an American immigration policy that allows individuals brought to the United States illegally as children, to receive a renewable two-year period of deferred action from deportation and become eligible for a work permit in the U.S. However, DACA was an executive order that has already expired (http://www.ilgrp.com/get-the-daca-facts-with-our-renewal-infographic/).
