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Period: 12,000 BCE to 8000 BCE
Native Americans Enter America
The first people travel across the Bering Strait during an Ice Age. After the Ice Age ends, they are cut off and become the Native Americans -
1436
Christopher Columbus Born
He was the first person to make the news of America widespread and started the greatest change and flow in world history. -
Aug 3, 1492
Columbus Sails the Ocean Blue in 1492
Christopher Columbus sails across the Atlantic Ocean. Although he may not have been the first, he is the first one to share this information. -
Jamestown Founded
The British's first colony was established in Virginia. It was the first of many that started the transformation of a continent. -
Navigation Act of 1651
This act prohibited only British ships to conduct trade with their colonies. It allowed the British to prosper off of a system called Mercantilism. -
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British Mercantilism
This system allowed for British to prosper through a monopoly on trade with colonies. The British gained extraordinary riches over their colonies. -
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Enlightenment
This was a time when freedom of people and fair government became popular and mainstream. The focus shifted more to the governed than the government. -
Benjamin Franklin Brithday
He was one of the Founding Fathers, and revised the Declaration of Independence. He also came up with a compromise on state representation that allowed for both the Senate and House of Representatives. -
George Washington Born
Greatest hero in American history, he kick started the era of Democracy by ending the unfair British rule and starting a government ruled by people. -
Thomas Jefferson Born
He was the smartest president in the white house, wrote the Constitution. He bought Louisiana. -
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French and Indian War
The British and French fought over territory in America. The British ended up winning this and gained a monopoly on eastern America through territory. -
Proclamation of 1763
This proclamation was enacted to make sure no American colonists settled west of the Appalachian Mountains. This was proclaimed in order to improve relations with Native Americans. -
Stamp Act into Effect
This act made it mandatory to buy a stamp to put on paper/media. This was the first of many acts that enraged the colonists. -
Andrew Jackson
Was the first "President of the People". He was the first elected by a representative democracy, and reflected that in policies. -
Boston Massacare
British soldiers shot and killed several people during a mob riot. Like the Stamp Act, this enraged the colonists. -
William Clark Born
He and his companion, Lewis set out into the wild west to explore the new land for America. They made it all the way to the Pacific Ocean. -
Boston Tea Party
This protest against taxation without representation involved throwing tea off the Boston Harbor. This was meant to be an act of retaliation against the previous acts of the British. -
Meriwether Lewis Born
One of the first men to explore the west, Lewis and his companion Clark went all the way to the Pacific Ocean through hostile terrain. -
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American Revolution
American colonists rebelled against the British because of the many unfair acts and a want to be independent. -
Independence Day (The Original)
On this day, the Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence. This document officially made the United States its own country and the birthday of our country. -
American Constitution Signed
The Constitution was made to emphasize and strengthen the rule of law. This document allows for the real start of the US Government and is still our law base today. -
Dred Scott Birthday
Dred Scott was on the losing side of the most infamous decision in Supreme Court history. He, a slave, believed that since he was in free territory, he was free. However, the court didn't think so/ -
Dred Scott Born
The recipient of the most famous ruling in Supreme Court history, he was told to remain a slave even though he was in a free state. -
Louisiana Purchase
Thomas Jefferson bought the entire land of Mississippi from the French. It doubled the size of the country at that time and was first explored by Lewis and Clark. -
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Westward Expansion
This period of time lasted for about 150 years from the Louisiana Purchase all the way to Hawii becoming a US state. The US expanded as far west as it could during this time. -
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Lewis and Clark Expedition
Lewis and Clark set out into the newly purchased Louisiana Purchase land to explore and map it for the US. They were the first of many to attempt to tame the west. -
Abraham Lincoln Born
He was the first Republican President who believed that the slaves should be free and won a war to do it. -
Fredrick Douglass
A very prominent abolitionist, Douglas was famous abolitionist who wrote books and speeches. -
Election of 1828
In this pivotal election, the first ''man of the people" was elected. Andrew Jackson was also the first President to actually wield and use power. -
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Jacksonian Democracy
This was a time when the President was criticized for using too much power. But, Jackson made sure democracy was more representative than ever. -
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Abolitionist Movement
A time when people who opposed slavery got power and numbers. They divided the nation until the Civil War and Emancipation Proclamation when slavery was ended. -
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Manifest Destiny
As new states and territories began to become added, people started to believe that America was destined to go from sea to sea. This eventually ended around 1900 when all major territories became states. -
Indian Removal Act
This act required Native Americans to either be integrated into American society or to leave the area where the United States was. Many chose to leave in horrible conditions, resulting in the "Trail of Tears". -
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Mexican-American War
America went to war with Mexico because of a fight over newly acquired American territory (Texas). The Americans won this war and gained territory in California, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas. -
Compromise of 1850 enaced
This pact involved the growing problem of slavery between the north and south. They both agreed that for every new free state added, one slave state would be added too. -
Dred Scott Decision
The Supreme Court ruled that a slave who went to a free state and then back to a slave state who thought that they got freedom because,"Once free, always free", was still a slave. -
Election of 1860
Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican candidate, won this election. Since Lincoln didn't like slavery, the Civil War was started as a result. -
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Civil War
The battle between slavery had become a war. The south wanted to keep slavery, but the north was in opposition. After years of brutal fighting, the north came out on top. -
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Era of Reform
This was a very progressiveness time in which people faced problems caused by industrialization, urbanization, and corruption. American was becoming more aware of issues. -
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Pax Americana (Golden Age of America)
With little protesting and war, this era consisted of American dominance from a post World Wars Boom before a real Soviet and internal instability emerged. -
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Second Golden Age of America
After the turbulent 60s and 70s, the United States returned to calm as a clear winner in the Cold War was emerging. Economic prosperity returned for the 80s and 90s. There were little issues that were openly expressed until the Era of Turbulence. Although 9/11 happened during this time, the response was a War on Terror that has made the world a better place. No internal issues occurred during this time and ended before the Great Recession. -
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Era of Turbulance
After an era of growth and progress, a Great Recession started an "awakening". Since 2008, protests, violence, riots, and controversial politics have become the norm. Dirty acts by both sides of the political spectrum have spurred a culture war between the classically liberal and far left. The old, white America and West was called into question. In 2020, the nation will decide which path to take by electing either what seems to be a leftist, or the controversial right wing Donald Trump.