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Jan 1, 1491
Northeast Settlements (Prior to 1491)
Societies were matrilineal and they had chiefs.
-This is significant because land was only passed through women which was different from other societies. -
Period: Jan 1, 1491 to
Period 1
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Jan 1, 1494
Encomienda System
King of Spain gave land grants of land and Natives to Spaniards.
-This is significant because it shows Spains dominance and how strong Spain's government was. -
Jun 7, 1494
Treaty of Tordesillas
An agreement between Spain and Portugal which aimed at settling conflicts over newly discovered or explored by Christopher Columbus.
-This is significant because it is one of the first areements between governments concerning territorial borders. -
Jan 1, 1542
New Laws of 1542
Laws ended Indian slavery, halted forced Indian labor, and began to end the encomienda system.
-The significance is that it showed a change in SPanish policy concerning control of indians.This wasthe start of better treatment for Indians. -
Jan 1, 1550
Valladolid Debate
Debate over role for Indiansin Spanish colonies. It was Bartolome de Las Casas who felt Indians were human versus Juan Gines de Sepulveda who argued Indians were less human. Neither side won the debate.
-The significance of this is that it established basic arguments in government concerning the fight for justice for Indians. -
Period: to
Period 2
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Mayflower Compact
First written form of government in what is now th e united States.
-This is significant because it was the first written framework of government and set the tone for future docutments concerning government. -
Fundemental Orders of Connecticut
It established a representative government consisting of a legislature elected by popular vote and a government chosen by the legislature.
-The significance is that itis the first written constitution. -
Navigation Acts
Series of laws that emphasized theory of mercantilism. This forced all good imported to colonies to pass through England first and trade to and from colonies could only be carried by English or colonial built ships.
-This is significant because during these times British government was not as strict so colonies were able to ignore laws such as these and find ways to avoid them. -
Enlightenment
A movement in literature andphilosophy.leaders believed in human reasoning to solve most of humanmity's problems. For example John Locke felt citizens had a right to revolt agaainst whatever government failed to protect their rights.
-The siginificance of this is that Enlightenment ideas influenced not only the American revolution but others and it was also incorporated into government documents. -
Royal Colony
Georgia became a British colony where Britain had absolute control and many restrictions were placed on them. Governors reported back information to and from Britain.
-This is significant because this an example of Britain government attempting to have tight control on its colonies but this was not effective. -
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Period 3
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Battle of Lexington & Concord
"Shot heard round the world."British soldiers were going to arrest Samual Adams and John Hancock. Paul Revere and others warned the colonists that the British were coming.
-This is significant because it was the start of the REvolutionary War and the first step in the physical fight to the US gaining its independence. -
Northwest Ordinance
Gave Congress power to divide the new area into 3-5 seperate territories.Congress would appoint a governor, a secretary, and three judges to govern each territory.
-This is significant because it provided a model for how future territories would be organized. -
Three-Fifths Compromise
Iyt counted each enslaved person as 3/5 of a person for the purpose of determining a state's level of taxation and representation. It combined parts of the New Jersey Plan and the Virginia Plan.
-This is significant because it was the government's way of solving the issue over representation and taxation of free and enslaved people. -
Judiciary Act
Act established how the US Federal Court was organized. Split the judicial system into three parts with district courts, circuit courts, and the Supreme courts.
-The significance is that it outlined the structure and jurisdiction of each branch of the judicial system. -
Bill of Rights
First ten amendments in the Constitution.
-This is significant because the first ten amendments were a list of rights so people could protect themselve against the possibility of living in a strong central government acting similar to Britain. -
Period: to
Period 4
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Missouri Compromise
Prohibited slavery north of latitude 36°30' N except for Missouri which would become a slave state while Maine was admitted a free state.
-This is significant because it increased tension over slavery between states that led to the Civil War. -
Andrew Jackson elected
Southerners and westerners were unhappy and Jacksonians used this and new campaign tactics to get Jackson into office. Democrat Andrew Jackson defeated John Quincy Adams.
-This is significant because Jackson was viewed as a man of the people who was different from president's before him and he became a symbol for the emerging middle and working class. -
Nullification Crisis
South Carolinian legislature declared the Tariff of 1828 and 1832 unconstitutional in their state. They wanted to nullify both which increased tension.President said nullification and disunion was treason and was ready to take military action. The crisis was resolved when Henry Clay’s compromise tariff bill in 1833 was passed.
-This is significant because it increased tensions between states and led to secession and the Civil War. -
Whigs
Led by Henry Clay. They supported an American system which included a national bank, federal funds for internal improvements, and a protective tariff. They were mainly concerned about crime associated with immigrants and their base of support included Neew England and Mid Atlantic areas, Protestants of Englishheritage, and urban professionals.
-This is significant because it was similar to the Federalist party and this period was the beginning of the two party system. -
Seneca Falls Convention
First women's rights conventionfor equal voting, legal, and property rights. They wrote the Declaration of Sentiments which was similar to the Declaration of Independence. Women's rights actvists such as Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton led the campaign.
-This is significant because it was the beginning of the campaign for womens rights but this was overhadowed by slavery. -
Period: to
Period 5
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Kansas Nebraska Act
It said the decision of whether or not a region has slavery would be decided by a vote of the region’s settlers. It also created the territories Kansas and Nebraska.
-The significance of this is that it led to Bleeding Kansas and increased tension over the issue of slavery and led to the Civil War. -
Emancipation Proclamation
Issued by Lincoln. initially he warned that he would free enslaved people in states in rebellion once those states surrendered but they did not comply. Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves in rebellion states and it was also Lincoln's attempt to recruit African Americans into the military.
-This is significant because it was government's first attempt at freeing slaves but it did not free all slaves. This led to the thirteenth amendment. -
Period: to
Period 6
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13th Amendment
Abolished slavery.
-This is significant because it was a constitutional amendment that officially banned slavery in all states. -
14th Amendment
Granted citizenship to all born or naturalized in the United States.
-This is significant because it was the government granted citizenship and equal civil and legal rights to African Americans and slaves who freed after the Civil War. -
Fifteenth Amendment
Said citizens should not be denied the right to vote by the US due to race, color, or previous occupation.
-This is significant because the Constitution granted African Americans the right to vote and is another way the government was trying to assert equality. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
Act banned Chinese immigration for ten years and didn't allow Chinese to become citizens.
-This is significant because it was the nation’s first law to ban immigration by race or nationality. -
Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act
Act required government jobs to be awarded to individuals based upon merit and not political affiliation. It also made it illegal to fire government workers.
-This is significant because it stopped people being appointed to government positions based on political affiliation or relationto President. -
Election of Grover Cleveland
Republicans felt their nominee James G. Blaine was corrupt and they were willing support a democrat that was an honorable man and Cleveland seemed to be that man
-This is significant because.Cleveland was the only President to leave the White House and return for a second term four years later. He also instituted the Civil ReformAct and Dawes Severalty Act. -
Period: to
Period 7
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Omaha Platform
Delegates from different states met in Omaha to draft a political platform and nominate candidates for president and vice president. Omaha Platform included political and economic reforms. It demanded an increase in common voters through direct popular election of US senators and use of initiatives and referendums.
-This is significant because it provided the foundation for the Populist Party. -
Plessy v Ferguson
Case that said public facilities can remain separate based on race as long as they are equal.
-This is significant because it legally allowed for segregation. -
Woodrow Wilson elected President
Democrat Woodrow Wilson beat William Howard Taft,Theodore Roosevelt, and Eugene V. Debs. Wilson pledged a New Freedom which would limit big business and big government.
-This is significant because WIlson promised to limit big government and he was also President during WW2 and dealt with how to resolve it. -
17th Amendment
Amendment said Senate should be composed of two senators from each state and elected for 6 years by the people.
-This is significant because it redefined how Senators were elected so people could feel like they were being truly represented in government. and looking out for their best interests. -
18th Amendment
Prohibition which made buying, selling, and making liquor illegal.
-This is significant because it showed the influence women and religious groups had on government. The Prohibition was not that effective though because it increased crime and bootlegging. -
19th Amendment
Granted suffrage for women.
-This is significant becauseit was another way the government accomplished equality and granted women rights that they fought so long for. -
21st Amendment
Repealed the 18th amendment (prohibition.)
-This is significant because it is an example of the government trying to fix a mistake or projetc that did not turn out the way they intended especially since it was an amendment. -
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Period 8
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House Un-American Activities Committee
House of Representatives Committeee recreated to find communist government officials and communists in entertainment industry and other organizations. Committee went on witch hunts to find communists.
-This is significant because it demonstrates the amount of paranoia and in politics to figure out if there were communists in government.Americans during this time were unsure if they should trust members of their government. -
Fair Deal
Fair Deal enacted national health care insurance, federal aid to education, civil rights legislation, funds for public housing, and a new farm program.
-The significance was that this was another example of the government trying to create reform programs which is a main component of liberalism. -
22nd Amendment
Constituiional amendment limited the number of terms a president could have to 2.
-This is significant because it set a restriction to the terms a president could have so they wouldn't be able to have that much control for a long number of time. This also relates back to Washington because he set precendents for the presidency and this amendment coincided with that precedent. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Law made segregation illegl in public facilities (buses,hotels,restaurants.
-This is significant because it shows the governement's push to force integration and trying to provide equal right s and equality for everyone. -
Miranda v Arizona
Ruling says theat person has the right to have his or her rights being read to her once arested.
-This is significant because it shows the increasing individual rights alotted to people in the criminal justice system. -
Roe v Wade
Court case that legalized abortion.
-The significance is that this event brought attention to a social issue that was up for debate due to the rise of conservatism and religious values. -
Regents of the University of California v Bakke
Court case ruled that it was unconstituitional for this college to have racial quotas relating to admissions because it was viewed as reverse discrimination to whites but it still upheld affirmative action.
- This is significant because it was a direct challenge to laws regarding affirmative action and led to an increase in campaigns and deebates delaing with race and ethnicity. -
Period: to
Period 9
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Election of 1980
Reagan went against Carter. Reagan represented the newly popular conservative movement and attacked Democrats for expanding government and not dealing with foreign policy correctly.
-The significance of this is that it represented a resurgence of conservatism and the Republicans were able to end a long period where Democrats dominated Congress. -
Americans with DIsabilities Act
Act said it was illegal to discriminate against people with mental and physical disabilities in hiring, transportation, schools, and other areas of public life.
-This is significant because it protected those with disablities from discrimination and made it easier for them to have equal oppportunities provided by the government. -
No Child Left Behind Act
It allowed students the opporutnity to transfer to other schools, trained better eachers, and increased spending in reading and other school programs.
-The significance of this is it inceased government control in education and emphasized testing. -
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina hit the gulf coast. Most of the damage was caused when the levee breached which caused a lot of flooding and destroyed homes.
-The significance of this event is the effect of how much America government would do to help repair certain areas and improve situations with emergency programs like the Federal Emergency Agency. -
Affordable Care Act
Provided Americans with better health security by putting in health insurance reforms greater coverage, holds insurance companies responsible, lower health care costs, guarentees more choice, and enchances the quality of care for Americans.
-The significance of this is that it increased the amount of control the government had since it ordered them to buy health insurance or pay a penalty.
