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French and Indian War
Date 1756-1763 Location: Ohio River Valley, Northeast of the colonies, and over the north Atlantic. People: George Washington, William Pitt
Explanation: A string of battles between the French-Indian Alliance and the British. The war was against the British in the start, but changed with British Victories in the north.
Reason: I chose this because this war starts up the whole commotion with wanting freedoms and independence. It shaped the US from the ground up, and its Constitution. -
Boston Massacre Date: March 5, 1770 Location: Boston Massachusetts, in front of the Custom House. People: Private Hugh White, Captain Thomas, Crispus Attucks
Explanation: Private Hugh White was guarding the custom building with all of the King's money inside. Colonists started picking on him and threatening him. It further escalated into violence once the colonists started to get violent. Captain Thomas Preston came over as he heard trouble, and reinforcements were called. The order was given to shoot, killing 5 colonists, including Crispus Attucks. I chose this event because It sparked the call for Independence and freedom. It really shaped the US. -
Boston Tea Party
Date: December 16, 1773 Location:Griffin’s Wharf in Boston, Massachusetts People: The Sons of Liberty Explanation: The Sons of Liberty organized themselves for the night of December 16, 1773, to dump tons, 45 tons, of tea imported from China into the harbor. It was meant as a protest to the tax on tea and other taxes. This event was chosen because this was the beginning of mass protests against British Parliament and furthered the call for freedom and influenced the Declaration of Independence -
First Meet for the Continental Congress
Date:September 5, 1774 Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania People: John Adams, George Washington, John Jay Explanation: the first meeting of the Continental Congress happened on Sept. 5th, 1774. They discussed the dispute with Britain, and issued a Declaration of Rights that says they are still loyal to Britain, but disputed the British Parliament's right to tax them. I chose this event because this is one step towards equality for the colonies, and fair equal rights for the, that leads to war. -
Declaration of Independence Date: July 4th, 1776 Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania People: Continental Congress, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin.
Date: July 4th, 1776 Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania People: Continental Congress, John Adams Explanation: A series of meets by the Continental Congress to decide on how they should declare independence. John Adams put forth the final version. The document was ratified and put into effect July 4th, 1776. I chose this event because this is when the founding fathers knew there was no turning back, and they made the push for freedom and liberty. It sparked the Revolutionary War. -
The Territorial Expansion
Date: Oct. 19, 1776 Location: West over the Appellation Mountains People: N/A Explanation: Territory was conquored west of the Appellation Mountains after the Declaration of independence was ratified, and states began being annexed into the states after the war. This event was chosen because more territory was gained, and land is power. The newly formed states also got more resources and room for their people. -
Articles of Confederation
Date:November 15, 1781 Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania People: Continental Congress Explanation: After four long years of debates and trifles, the Articles of Confederation were ratified by all the territories. This event was chosen because the ratification was a further attempt to becoming a free people and proving that they could govern themselves, and be a free country. -
Treaty of Paris
Date: January 14, 1784 Location: Hotel d’York in Paris People: Continental Congress, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, Thomas Jefferson. Explanation: The Treaty of Paris was an official end to the Revolutionary War between the newly formed US against Britain. It was finalized in Sept. 1783, and was put into effect in Jan. 14th, 1784. This event in history was chosen because this is when the US was officially born and was a recognized country around the world, and they were a free state. -
Shays’ Rebellion Date: 1786
Location: Courthouses across Massachusetts People:Daniel Shays, Samuel Adams, General Benjamin Lincoln. Explanation: Shays' rebellion was a string of attacks when protests escalated into violence after the courts refused to hear the farmers' side of the debate. They attacked and raided several courts and a stockpile. The rebellion was put down by General Benjamin Lincoln. This event was chosen because it highlights the problems with the early US, and that systems were becoming corrupt already. -
Election of the First President
Date: March 4th, 1789 Location: New York City People: George Washington Explanation: the first ever president of the US wasput into office March 4th, 1789. His inauguration was celebrated by everyone around the states, and this marked the new state of the union, and the new Constitution. -
Ratification of the US Constitution
Date: March 4, 1789 Location: Independence Hall in Philadelphia People: Continental Congress, George Washington Explanation: After three months of serious debates, a draft of the final version of the Constitution was created, and needed to be ratified by nine of the thirteen states to take effect. Five authorized it quickly, four followed, and the rest required a Bill of Rights. I chose this event because this is when the US officially moved forward; taking a step toward true freedom and rights. -
Louisiana Purchase
Date:July 4, 1803 Location: west of the Ohio River Valley People: Continental Congress Explanation: This was a purchase of land from the French that doubled the land controlled by the US. It was effective immediately following the ratification on July 4th,1803. I chose this event because this purchase of land was the greatest land deal the world has ever had by far. It doubled the US in size, and highlighted the need for westward expansion, as the US has gotten much larger over the years. -
Birth of Abraham Lincoln
Date: February 12, 1809 Location: Hodgenville, Kentucky People: Abraham Lincoln Explanation: The birth of Abraham Lincoln is extremely important because this will be the man one day to lead the North during the Civil War. This event was chosen because Abraham Lincoln is a very highly looked up to leader when he takes charge during the civil war. He pushes for the freedom of slaves, and a truly, free, united people. -
War of 1812
Date: 1812-1815 Location: Across the US eastern coast People: Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun, James Madison, Explanation: The war of 1812 was a series of battles between the US and Britain-Indian forces that took a tole on the US; spending a lot of military that it wasn't fully prepared for. The attacks by the British were eventually repelled in all ports. I chose this event because this big victory against the British boosted morale and nationalism in the country a ton; it propelled the US forward -
Burning of the White House
Date :Aug. 24th, 1814 Location: Washington DC People: James Maddison Explanation: On Aug. 4th, 1814, British troops set fire to the White House in DC, burning everything inside, and destroying the rest. James Maddison managed to flee before the fire. I chose this event because this further put the US cause and grit in its soldiers to push the British out for good. This was a rally call to fight back, harder than ever before. -
Francis Scott Key pens “The Star-Spangled Banner”
Date:September 14, 1814 Location: Baltimore, Maryland People: Francis Scott Key Explanation: The Star Spangled Banner was written by Key after he negotiated his friend's release from British capture, and they weren't allowed to leave the city until the bombing was over. Francis was forced to watch the fighting, and he saw the US flag flying, and he wrote some lines down; the poem was created. I chose this event because this is a massive symbol for nationalism in the US, that push the US forward. -
Civil War Begins
Date:April 12, 1861 Location: Fort Sumter in South Carolina’s Charleston Harbor People: N/A Explanation: The Union forces stationed in the fort were fired upon by Confederate forces, and they eventually surrendered. I chose this event because this plummets the US into a very dark time with lots of bloodshed and killing, mostly over the issue and argument over slavery.This takes a tole on the US and for the first time, a mass rebellion has occurred. -
Lincoln signs Emancipation Proclamation
Date: January 1, 1863 Location: White House People: Abraham Lincoln Explanation: This document was a a declaration that from that day forward, all slaves were to be completely free; that slavery was now illegal. It asked for slaves in the south to band together and rebel against the Confederates. It was widely celebrated across the North; despised in the south. I chose this event because this is a major step forward for the US. It highlights a step towards true freedom. -
End of the Civil War
Date: June 2nd, 1865 Location: N/A People: Confederate General Edmund Kirby Smith Explanation: this is when the war officially ends and the rebellion was put down. I chose this event because this finally puts an end to the bloodshed that was the Civil war, and now the country can finally move forward as a whole and heal together. -
Abraham Lincoln’s Assassination
Date: April 14, 1865 Location: Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C People: Abraham Lincoln, John Wilkes Booth Explanation: on the evening of April 14, John Booth kills Abraham in the theatre in his stands, he runs off, but is eventually captured and hanged. I chose this event because this plunged the US into a very dark couple of days, and months of mourning for the President. It slows the US operations. -
Invention of the Telephone
Date: March 7th, 1867 Location: N/A People: Alexander Graham Bell Explanation: Alexander Graham Bell Invents and earns the first patent for the original telephone. I chose this event because this helps propel the US much further and much faster. This was the next step to instant contact, and better communication across the states.
