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Jamestown
A settlement in the Virginia Colony that survived as the first permanant settlement in the English colonies. A part of a joint-stock group to profit from the land. John Smith was the successful man behind the town. -
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US History
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Mayflower Compact
Pilgrims set sail to the New World. They're ship veered off course and landed in Plymouth. A civil agreement was made to uphold a "body politic" government. This is a precedent to the US Constitution. -
Roger Williams establishesd Rhode Island
Roger Williams was a believer of religious freedom. He sought seperation of the church and state. Because of such, he was exiled to present day Rhode Island, -
William Penn Established Pennsylvania
Will Penn is granted land by James II of England. Principles he set forth served to inspire the US consititution. Penn also urged a union of the colonies. -
Salem Witch Trials
In towns, such as Salem, those who were suspicious of antichrist were accused of witchcraft. Sentenced to exile or death by "Witch tests". 130 "Witches" were tried, jailed or executed -
James Oglethorpe established Georgia
James was a british social reformer seeking the well being of man. He settles Georgia in the New World hoping to help Britain's poor folk, especially debtors. The colony was later a flourishing settlement under dispute. -
Jonathan Edwards sparked the Great Awakening
As a preacher, Edwards delivered powerful sermons. Of these is "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," which was among strong early American literature. His strong spirituality was the ignition of the first Great Awakening. Following in his footsteps, George Whitefield toured the 13 colonies. -
The French and Indian War
Part of the Seven Years war, where Great Britain and France delt battle. Britain wanted to conquer French lands, and thus resulted in conflict. The Treaty of Paris gave Britain Canada, Spain Louisiana, and Florida to Britain -
Proclamation of 1763
Set forth to prevent Indian raids. Prohibited colonists from settling west of the Appalachian mountains. There was no waste in money. -
Stamp Act
Tax to possess legal documents. This was to raise funds lost in their protection. Colonists reacted in fury. -
Declaratory Act
Parliament can issue any law for whatever reason. This also allowed them to tax the colonists. This obviously angered the colonists tremendously. -
Townshend Acts
These acts were used to pay crown officials. Five laws were under the umbrella of the Townshend Acts: the Revenue Act of 1767, the Indemnity Act, the Commissioners of Customs Act, the Vice Admiralty Court Act, and the New York Restraining Act. Colonists, once again, resisted these laws. -
Boston Tea Party
Tariff imposed on foreign tea. Colonists outraged, The Sons of Liberty dressed as Mohawk indians and dumped the incoming tea into Boston Harbor. This greatly upset the British Parliament. -
First Continental Congress
The British induced the intolerable acts and angered colonists. As a result, the colonist leaders organized a meeting. These leaders discussed the possible secession from Great Britain. -
Lexington and Concord
These were the first battles of the American Revolution. The war was fought bewttwen the British army against the colonies' milita. Both of these battle were an embarrassing loss for the British Army. -
Second Continental Congress
When British troops were seen stationed throughout the colonies, colonists began to get angry. As a result, the Boston Massacre occured. The continental congress would not stand for this. In their discussions, the overviewed the possible route of indipendence or an altered relation with England. -
Declaration of Independence
The colonists couldn't handle King George's tyranny anymore. Thomas Jefferson wrote the declaration in a list of grievances Great Britain had caused. The document stated established the inalienable human rights everyone has. -
Publishing of Common Sense
A radical pamphlet written by Thomas Paine coursed public opinion to support the war effort. Many colonists were presented with whether or not to declare indipendence from the British. This was received with a lot of support and praise. -
Treaty of Alliance
A defensive alliance between France and the United States of America. This was created during the Revolutionary war of the US. Both sides having issues against Britain brought about this consensus. -
Articles of Confederation
Under the Articles of Confederation, the United States won the war of indipendence. The articles established a weak central government and strong state governments. Historically, the confederation was extremely inaffective, aside from the Land Ordinances of 1785 and NW Ordinance of 1787. -
Battle of Yorktown
A decisive victory of the American Revolutionary War. The British surrendered to the feet of the Americans with aid from French forces. The battle prompted a negotiation to terminate the conflict between the countries. -
Treaty of Paris
In paris, representatives of both the United states and britain signed a peace treaty. There were three important facts the british had to acknowledge about america. Many loyalists didnt trust the treaty because the patriots treated them badly before. -
Northwest Ordinance
(1784)(1785)(1787)
These land ordinances were issued by the Congress of Confederation of the United States. They expanded the land controlled by the US not by expanding existing states, but by admitting new ones. This event was a strong anticedent of the Civil War. -
Shay's Rebellion
A bundle of southern farmers reacted in outrage at financial difficulties in having been imposed taxes. Daniel Shay led an armed rebellion to resolve the issue. There was a strong lack of response to fixate the issue. Many feared the weakness of the US power. -
Constitutional Convention
US leaders met in Philadelphia to discuss the Articles of Confederation. They adressed how the articles had proven to be inaffective and counterproductive to the government. The constitution was signed introducing a new governent structure. -
Publishing of the Federalist Papers
When the new constitution was introduced to the public, the acceptance rate was low. 85 articles were written advocating ratification of the US constitution. These papers were in high demand. -
Washington's Presidency
After the new government was created, the United States was in need of a president. Congress turned to George Washington for leadership. He held two terms and held precedent actions during his presidency, such as the title, "Mr. President." -
Bill of Rights
After the ratification of the US Constitution, many felt that the Constitution wasn't sufficient enough. James Madison proposed 12 amendendments of which 10 were accepted. These protected individual human rights. -
Cotton Gin
Eli Whitney invented the Cotton Gin which sped up the textile process by working with cotton to make it ready for weaving. This increased revenues for farm land owners. Slave demand also rose to a new high. -
Proclamation of Neutrality
George Washington was well aware that the US was an infant country. War arose in Europe between Britain and France and much turmoil stirred. George Washington made sure to not get involved. -
Whiskey Rebellion
In need for an increase in revenues, a tax on whiskey was induced. Again like Shay's rebellion, the Whiskey Rebellion took footing in southern disapproval. Unlike Shay's Rebellion though, George Washington himself marches down to settle the issue. This exemplifies the effectiveness of a Strong Central Government. -
Washington' s Farewell Address
During his two term presidency, George Washington had observed what would be best for the country. In his farewell address, he states the importance of unity, danger of politcal parties, strong foreign relations, and to remain neutral. From this, we ignored his political party warning advice to remain neutral. -
XYZ affair
An event between the US and France that instigated turmoil. The French demanded major concessions in order to continue peaceful negotiations. The bribe was a scandelous event by the French diplomats publicly referred to as X, Y, and Z. This escalated to an undeclared war named the Quasi-war -
Alien and Sedition Acts
The Alien and Sedition Acts were 4 acts passed by congress. Of these, sent Immigrants back for danger precautions. As well as sending back immigrants of which their homeland were at war, extending the process to become a citizen. Punishment of publishing works that speak falsley against the US was also passed even though it directly counteracted the freedom of the press. -
Election of 1800
The election between Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. The election exposed a major constitutional flaw. This brough aobut the 12th amendment which fixed the operation of how the electoral college functioned. The winner for the Presidency was Thomas Jefferson with Aaron Burr. -
Marbury vs. Madison
In this court case, the Supreme Court declared something "Unconstitutional." A petition by Marbury had been denied by Madison, obviously going against the bill of rights. An idea that spawned Judicial review, which consisted within the Checks and Balances system. -
Louisiana Purchase
Thomas Jefferson bought the Louisiana territory from Napoleon to control the trade port in New Orleans. The land of the United states was doubled and Manifest Destiny was well on its way. The purchase was nearly unconstitutional, yet nothing defined the acquiring of land as being unconsitutional. -
Construction of Erie Canal
The water canal was a smashing success. Trade was exponentially more efficient once it came around. Many tried to imitate its glory but in the end it was still the greatest. -
Monroe Doctrine
As an effort to keep European countries away, James Monroe issued a policy stating that if Europeans crossed into the Western Hemisphere, it would be viewed as an act of agression and would result in intervention of the US. This was a defining moment in foreign policies and relations. -
Indian Removal Act
A dark hole in American History when president Andrew Jackson views Indians as savages and believes their place in the US is elsewhere. He takes away their land for "better" use. Eight years later, was the mass migration of Indians to the West. -
Nullification Crisis
During Jackson's presidency, South Carolina deemed a law unconstitutional and therefor would not follow it. This sparked the idea that the states didn't have to follow any law as long as it was "unconstitutional." The states were nullifying laws left and right and ultimately played a leading role to the Civil War. -
California Gold Rush
When gold was found in 1848, James Marshall and sparked interest into many outsiders. Those who came from far away lands and rushing to the scene of gold were deemed Forty-Niners. The population of California boomed into a glorious success. Unfortunately, many indians were run off their land. -
Fort Sumter
The first official battle of the American Civil war. Took place in the south. The Union stood victorious the next day. Lincoln used this as an excuse to raise an army to start surpressing the Confederacy. -
First battle of Bull run
After Fort Sumter, the Union fired an attack against the Confederate Army. The Confederacy fought back strongly. Both sides quickly realized they were in a pickle. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
Congress passes bill in 1879, and it is vetoed by Rutherford B. Hayes. However, once Hayes is out of office, it is passed. The act severely restricted Chinese Immigration, and was not repealed until 1943. -
Jacob Riis published "How the Other Half Lives"
Jacob Riis documented living conditions in crowded cities like New York and published his photography and journals. The conditions in which poverty stricken New Yorkers live in is absolutely horrible. This muckraker's work went on to moderately improve living conditions of all human. -
Plessy vs Ferguson
This court case upheld the constitutionality of "Seperate but Equal." The requirement of racial segregation in public facilities remained until 1954. The court case of Brown vs the Board of Education repealed the the 1896 decision of Plessy vs Ferguson. -
Spanish-American War
The War was fought over rather quickly, as the US defeated the Spanish. The war sparked over the sinking of the American Battleship Maine and demanded that Spain relinquish its control over Cuba. The war resulted in expansion of the US, becoming more imperialistic. -
Open Door Policy
A foreign affair that allowed equal trade to all countries acces to China. Since the US was still recently born country, such access to trade was nonsense. The US had grown much and could be compared with imperial nations. -
Model T Introduced
The introduction of the automobile, developed by Henry Ford, was a landmark event. This allowed families to live farther from work and leave the overcrowed uban cities. The mass migration of car owners eventually resulted in the creation of Suburbia. -
Pearl Harbor
Japanese bombers surprise attack Hawaii's Pearl Harbor for supplying their enemies. The attack was literally out of no where and such a catastrophe. Kamakazes, or suicide bombers, crashed into the US ships. The attack led the United States to declare war against the Japanese. -
Japanese-American internment
The Japanese and the United States were at war during WWII. Japanese-Americans were forced into interment camps. The US was afraid of the threat of having Japanese spies. -
Hiroshima and Nagasaki
When the United States had developed the Atomic bomb, a controversial discussion of whether or not to use it against the enemy during World War II. The US First dropped an atomic bomb in Hiroshima and then in Nagasaki. This attack leads to the surrender of the Japanese from the Axis. -
"Iron Curtain" Speech
As the Cold War begins, there is an obvious tension between the United States and the Soviet Union. Winston Churchill of the UK goes to the US to deliver his speech. In his speech, he explains how Eastern Europe has been the split where Communism meets Democracy. -
Marshall Plan
Nations in Europe are on the verge to falling to communism. John Marshall's plan helps aid these nations, Turkey and Greece, financially into remaining a democracy. This is all in an effort to contain communism. -
Berlin Airlift
When Berlin had been split, West Berlin was isolated from ground transit. This cut-off from the US had left West Berlin without any support. As this blockade continued, the US sends an airlift to give those in W. Berlin essential living items. -
Joseph McCarthy attacked the State Department
In the midst of the Cold War, Senator Joseph McCarthy accused many state officials of being communist, causing a second Red Scare. He exclaimed that spies and double agents have infiltrated the US infrastructure. As a result of McCarthyism, many innocent people were trialed and jailed. -
Korean War
Korea had fallen to communism, and a split was created at the 38' parallel. When North Korea had began oozing into the South, the United Nations felt the need to prevent the spread of communism. General Douglass MacArthur led the war in Korea to contain Communism. As a Warhead, he forcfully pushed through into China, causing great turmoil. In the end, it end back near the 38' parallel. -
Brown vs. Board of Education
An issue arose that Plessy vs. Ferguson's ruling of "Seperate but Equal," wasn't properly carried out. In schools that segregated blacks, the conditions were obviously inequal. In the Brown vs the Board of Education, the ruling desegregated schools. This process was supposed to be carried out immediately, but wasn't really at all quickly. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
In a segregated bus system, Rosa Parks had seated in the black section of the bus. Even though she was in the rear end of the bus, the white section had flooded forcing Rosa Parks to move back, she did not budge and was arrested. Parks led a bus boycott to end segregation in buses and resulted in success. -
Interstate Highway Act
President Eisenhower had taken notice of the use of the automobile. He issued the Interstate Commerce Act which made interstate commerce easier. This was a huge success in Ike's presidency and his greatest acheivement. -
Sputnik
When the Soviet Union had launched Sputnink, it put the US into shock. The Russian satelite sparked the Space Race and instituted NASA. Determination to surpass the Communist power even took into hand technological advancement. -
U-2 Aircraft shot down by U.S.S.R.
A U-2 Spy Plane crashed in the USSR while performing a secret espionage mission. The Soviets had recovered the plane and got the pilot to talk. This led to the USSR refusing to attend the upcoming Paris Peace Summit. -
Bay of Pigs
Many Cubans were exiled from Cuba during the reign of Fidel Castro. These exiles were trained by the CIA of the US to infiltrate Cuba and eliminate Castro. President Kennedy decided to withdraw the air support to make it seem like the US was not involved in the invasion. The attack turned out to be a huge mistake and a mockery of the Kennedy administration. -
Cuban Missle Crisis
A confrontation arose between the US, Soviet Union, and Cuba where nuclear missiles were found in Cuba pointed at the US. This caused major anxiety in the US homefront that they could be bombed at any moment. Kennedy and Khrushchev made an agreement that the Soviets would dismantle their missles from Cuba, and the US would remove their missles from Turkey. -
John F. Kennedy assassination
John Kennedy went down to Dallas Texas for a celebratory parade. During the height of the parade, Lee Harvey Oswald shot the president from a warehouse and fled to a theatre. There have been many conspiracy theories concerning this event. -
March on Washington
A rally of civil, labor, and religious activists marched to the Lincoln memorial advocating racial harmony. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his "I Have a Dream" speech which transcended many ideals. The march was credited with aiding the passsing of the Civil Rights act of 1964 -
Civil Rights Act
Johnson's administration passed the Civil Rights act of 1964, which desegregated public facilites. So much effort over a century led up to that moment. Martin Luther King Jr. watched over the shoulders of Johnson as he signed the act. -
The Great Society
Lyndon B. Johnson wanted poverty out of the US, and his effort soared. His social agenda would be increase government activity to help those in poverty stricken America. These domestic programs would relieve poverty and racial injustice. -
Vietnam War Escalates
Lyndon B. Johnson had many plans for his presidency, the Great Society for example. But much went into his obssession for the war, and eventually went out of hand. The war's popularity spiraled downward. -
Voting Rights Act
When the Civil Rights Act of 1964 passed, there were still some issues having to be resolved. The poll tax still continued to prevent many poor African Americans from placing their votes. This was abolished in the Voting Rights Act of 1965. -
Miranda vs. State of Arizona
In the case, a man was accused of a crime and did not know his rights. What he said was used against him and he didn't know he could remain silent. The decision stated that at the point of arrest, every police officer must recite the Miranda Rights. -
Neil Armstong Walks on the Moon
Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin are launched into space and successfully land on the moon. The innovation that has coursed and pulled through was awe inspiring. This event wins the Space Race and triumphs over the Soviet Union. -
Panama Canal Treaty
Theodore Roosevelt proposed to Colombia to build a canal through the isthmus , but was terribly over priced, then helps Panamanians gain their freedom in exchange for rights to build the canal. The canal increased commerce drammatically by reducing the time to travel under South America. -
Fall of Berlin Wall
This marked the end of the Cold War and the fall of the Soviet Union. Ronald Reagan challanges the Soviet Union to tear down the Berlin wall to increase freedom to the Eastern bloc. And the famous words, "Mr. Gorbechov, tear down this wall." were spoken.
