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Aug 3, 1492
Columbus Sailed the Ocean Blue
Columbus went on a trip to get to India because England wanted their spices and he thought he would get there by going straight west. Instead Columbus landed on American soil. He still thought it was India and called the people Indians. -
Jamestown is Founded
The first succeseful english settlement founded by the Virginia Comany. For a while Indians heled the folks of Jamestown byt giving them food. Jamestown still ended up with many people dying due to starvation, disease, and freezing. -
African Slaves in America
At the time the colonists had the Native Indians be their slaves. But they were dying from the colonist's new diseases so they decided to ship in Africans. The Africans were already immune to these European diseases and they were able to work more. This made them the perfect slaves. -
Mayflower Compact
The first governing document of Plymouth Colony. Written by people who call them selves the "Saints". This was an attempt to make a temporary, legally-binding form of self-government. -
Maryland Toleration Acts
Also known as the Act Concerning Religion this act was a law that mandated the tolerance for Trinitarian Christians. This law was assed by the assembly of the Maryland colony. -
Bacon's Rebellion
Nathaniel Bacon along with armed Virginians rebell against the rule of Governer William Berkely. Berkely had failed to adress the demands of the colonists which resulted in more people heling Bacon. -
The Great Awekening
A time of religious revival when colonists thought anyone could start over with God. There were many preachings and religious events. People were generally quite happy. -
French and Indian War
This was the bloodiest American war in the 18th century. This war was a clash between French and English over colonial territory. The territory that they fought for was the Ohio Valley. Each side made allaiences with the native Indians to get better chances of winning the war. The English ended u with getting the majority of the land but the French had a big imact on American culture. -
The Stamp Act
An act on all paper and letters saying that they have to be stamted. Citizens have to pay for these stams. This act made the colonists very angry with England which srouted small revolts and angry letters to the king and parliament. -
Townshend Acts
This act imosed a tax on various imorts such as tea. Many colonists were very mad and some even decided to boycott the imports. Because of revolts, england got rid of the Townshend Acts except for the tax on tea. -
Boston Massacre
British soldiers were surrounded by colonists who were throwing stones and revolting. The colonists were mad due to all of the taxes and acts. One soldier either shot by accident or on purpose, but after the first shot all other soldiers start to shoot too. The colonists called it a massacre but the British said self-defence. 5 civilians were killed in the shooting. -
Boston Tea Party
Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty went onto the harbor, boarded three ships and threw the tea overboard. They threw 342 crates of tea into the water. This ended up with more acts. -
Intolerable Acts
After the Boston Tea Party a series of acts that the colonists call the Intolerable Acts were passed. They were designed to unish the Massachusetts colonists. The real name of the acts are called the Coersice Acts. One of the things within these acts is that Massachusetts has more security from the British. -
1st Continental Congress
Delegates from twelve of the thirteen colonies met on September 5 until October 26. The congress was in responce to the intolerable acts. -
Lexington and Concord
These battles kicked off the American Revolution. On Aril 18 British soldiers marched to Concord in order to seize an arms cache. Paul Revere alarmed Concord and then the Militiamen got ready to fight them off. Fighting started in Lexington and then many battles followed. -
2nd Continental Congress
A meeting with delagates from all 13 colonies. This meeting was about colonial war efforts and the move towards independance. They quickly adoted the idea of the Declaraion of Independance. -
Declaration of Independance
A document written by Thomas Jefferson and later edited by the congress. This document stated the thirteen colonie's announcement of why they are becoming independant. The members of the congress that agreed with what this Document had to say signed it and agreed that if the war was not won then they would all be killed. -
Battles of Saratoga
British General Jon Burgoyne led a large army u the Chaimplain Vally from cCanada execting to fight an equal force coming from New York City. The equal force never came lik Burgoyne intended. But he ended u surrounded by Americans and was defeating. This gave a victory to the Americans. -
Articles of Confederation
THis wa sthe first written constitution of the United States. This taked about were the power would be in the government and how it would be composed. -
Battle of Yorktown
On this day General George Washington gathers an army and begins the seige of Yorktown. This was a very important battle in the Revolutionary War. This war ended battles in the colonies and then the negotiations began. -
Treaty of Paris
This treaty was signed in Paris by King George III and representatives of the United States of America. This treaty ended the American Revolutionary War. -
Land Ordinance
Under the Articles of Confederation congress did not have any power to raise revenue by direct taxation of the inhabitants of the United States. -
Shays' Rebellion
This was a series of rebellions by farmers. They were mad about the money problems and taxations because it forced them to sell land and property. The rebellion took its name from the leader Daniel Shays. -
1st President
George Washington was elected as the first president of the United States of America. He was the former commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. -
Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights was written by James Madison and is composed of the first ten amendments to the constitution. -
Jay Treaty
This treaty was negotiated by Supreme Court Justice John Jay and signed between the United States and Great Britain. This treaty mainly had American requests such as the British having to leave Revolutionary War forts. -
XYZ Affair
During this time France and Britain were attacking and raiding American ships. So John Adams decided tto send a few envoys to france and talk with them hoping that they would stop but France demanded a lot of money before formal negotiation. This event led to the undeclared war called the Quasi War. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
The Alien and Sedition Acts were four bills that were assed by the federalists and signed into law by resident John Adams. The law's main purpose was to strengthen national security. -
Lousianna Purchase
The United States acquired the Lousianna territory from France. At the time France was under Napolean's Rule. The Lousianna was later split up among the slave and free states. -
Embargo Act
The Embargo Act made all exorts from the United States illegal during this time. The goal was to force the British and French to respect America in this time of crisis. A joke that colonists would say is that backwards it is called "oh grab me". -
War of 1812
America decided to take on British naval forces. This war was mainly caused by British attempt of stopping American trade. This war had many loses for the Americans, such as the capture and buring of the nations's capitol. In the end the Treaty of Ghent ended the war. Many Americans celebrated. -
American System
The American System was an economic plan for the future of America. It involved mainly lans about roads, rails, and canals but also included bank and school ideas. This plan was mainly made by Henry Clay. -
Missouri Compromise
This was designed to equal out slave and free states. Missouri became a slave state and Maine was created to be a free state. This mostly worked in making it more equal. -
Monroe Doctrine
This was a U.S. foreign policy created by John Quincy Adams and resident James Monroe. It told European countries such as Britain and France to keep their hands off America. -
Nullification Crisis
This crisis was when Ordinance of Nullification was created. It stated that the Tariffs of 1828 were unconstitutional, therfore being null and void. This caused many problems because the government was very protective of these tarriffs. -
Compromise Tariff
This tariff was propsed by Henry Clay and John Calhoun as a result of the Nullification Crisis. It was used to make all other tariffs more constitutional and equal. -
Annexation of Texas
After texas revolts against Mexico, America decided to take Texas. They made Texas the 28th state. Many Texans were happy about this. -
Mexican American War
An armed conflict between America and the Rebuplic of Mexico. It followed the annexation of Texas becasue Mexico still considered it to be part of its territory. This war lasted for about 2 years. The United States ended up winning the war. -
Compromise fo 1850
This overtook the Missouri Compromise and left slavery unsettled. Good things happened to both the north and the south. The north got this: California became a free state, texas lost its boundry dispute with Mexico, and the slave state became prohibited in Washington D.C. The south got this: the Fugitive Slave Law, Texas gets a lot of money, and other slave rules to do with Utah and New Mexican territories. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
A book written by Harriet Stowe about the horrors of slavery. This book helped lay the foundations for anti-slavery. The southerners hated it and thought it was an exaggeration. The northerners were astonished and were disguisted. -
Kansas Nebraska Act
This act created the teerritories of Kansas and Nebraska. This opens new land for settlement. These areas could also determine whether it would be a slave or a free state through popular sovereignty. -
Bleeding Kansas
A series of violent confrontations taking place in the Kansas area. These events included anti-salvery and pro-slavery Americans. The main point of the conflict was whether or not Kansas would become a slave state or a free state since the Kansas-Nebraska Act created popular sovereignty. -
Dred Scott Case
Dred Scott who was a black man fled his master and lived in a free state for a couple of years. He was found but went to court to justify his freedom. He said that since he has lived in a free state for a while he should be free. The court denied his freedom. -
John Brown's Raid
John Brown, an abolitionist, led a small army to a small town he armed the slaves and led a small rebellion. He had no escape route and no food. He only planned to make an uprising. -
Lincoln Elected and South Carolina Secedes
Abraham Lincoln was elected as the 16th President and since he favored the free states and opposed slavery South Carolina finaly seceded. First he lost the elections but in a debate he gained a national reputation that got him a republican nomination for President. -
Civil War Begins
Many events has led up to this but as Abraham Lincoln gets elected war is finally declared. The Civil War between the Union and the Confederates has began. -
Gettysburg
Robert E. Lee made his army surround a small town called Gettysburg. He was awaiting the Union. There were heavy battles around all parts of Gettysburg. The Union won the war. -
Emancipation Proclamation
As the Civil War approached its third law Abraham Lincoln created this document. It stated that all slaves would be set free. -
Another Union Victory at Vicksburg
U.S. Grant won this battle an dgot control of Mississii river for the Union. Southern territory was cut in half. Vicksburg was the last major stronghold for the Confederates. Confederates where droven out and they adventually surrendered. -
Civil War Ends
Robert E. Lee surrendered giving the victory of the war to the Union. The very last battle was fought on Palmito Ranch, Texas. Finally this long and horrid war was over.
