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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta Signed
After a revolt King John signed the magna Carta. This document was a peace treaty. It made sure that the king upheld rights, freedom of the church and maintain the law. The magna Carta had set the stage for change, but it did not work because a civil war broke out the same year. -
Mayflower compact signed
It was a written agreement of the new settlers. It was laws created by the passengers on the mayflower that was created for the sake of earilier settlers failed because of the lack in government. All of the male members signed the compact making it the first written laws for the new world. they believed the compact should be honored and that it was for the survival of their settlement in the new world. -
formation of the New England Confederation
The New England Confederation is an alliance between Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Haven, and Plymouth. This was alliance, for trade solution, boundary's, and to defend against attacks from the French, the Dutch, or the Indians. -
The french and Indian War Begins
This was a Colonial war between England and France. They were fighting over North American land. Englad had won, and then had to recover their economy and to do this they taxed the colonist. -
Albany Plan of Union announced
The Albany Plan was created by Benjamin Franklin. In the Albany plan each colonial legislature would elect delegates to an American assembly. British government did not agree because they saw it created a strong governer that they could lose control of. -
Treaty of Paris(1763)
The French and Indian War ended with Treaty Of Paris. It was signed by England, France, and Spain. From the treaty France lost Canada, and Great Britain gets the territory east of the Mississippi. England from the treaty holds all of North America east of the Mississippi. -
Royal Proclamation (1763)
The Royal Proclamation is a document that set guidelines for European settlement. The Proclamation stoped settlers from claiming land from the Aboriginal settlers, unless it has been bought by King George III and then sold to the settlers. -
Sugar Act
The Sugar Act reduced the rate of tax on molasses from six pence to three pence per gallon. The act also added goods to be taxed including sugar, certain wines, coffee, pimiento, cambric and printed calico. -
Stamp Act congress
The Stamp Act Congress was the First Congress of the American Colonies. The meeting was in New York City. There was elected representatives there from the colonies to make a unified protest against new British taxation. Parliament had passed the Stamp Act, which required the use of specially stamped paper for virtually all business in the colonies. -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was a tax on anything that had to have a stamp on it like documents. This also was Parliament's first serious attempt to assert governmental authority over the colonies. Great Britain had a lot of national debt afterthe Seven Years War. -
Townshend Acts
They were taxes on glass, paint, oil, lead, paper, and tea to get more money. Townshend Acts was to raise revenue in the colonies to pay the governors and judges so that they would be independent of colonial rule. It was also to create a more effective means of enforcing compliance with trade regulations. -
Boston Massacure
The Boston Massacre was a street fight between a mob, throwing snowballs, stones, and sticks, and a squad of British soldiers. Several colonists were killed. -
Boston tea party
The Boston Tea Party was a political protest by the Sons of Liberty in Boston. After officials in Boston refused to return three shiploads of taxed tea to Britain the Sons of Liberty dressed up as indians and dumped the tea into the harbor. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from twelve colonies that mt at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia, PA. It was in response to the Intolerable Acts which had punished Boston for the Boston Tea Party. The Congress met to talk about how to deal with the british including an economic boycott of British trade, and petitioning King George III for the grievances. -
Patrick Henry "Give me Liberty"
This speech was given at St. John’s Church in Richmond, Virginia. and it convinced the Virginia House of Burgesses to pass a resolution delivering the Virginia troops to the Revolutionary War. -
Midnight Ride of Paul Revere
Revere helped organize an intelligence and alarm system to keep watch on the British military. Revere later served as a Massachusetts militia officer. He is most famous though for alerting Colonial militia of approaching British forces before the battles of Lexington and Concord. -
Battles of Lexington and concord
The Battles of Lexington and Concord were the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War. The first shots were fired at Lexington. The militia were outnumbered and fell back, and the British proceeded on to Concord, where they searched for the supplies. More militiamen arrived soon after and inflicted heavy damage on the British and drove them back towards Boston. -
Fort Ticonderoga
Benedict Arnold, Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys of Vermont, attacked the fort, surprising and capturing the sleeping British. Although it was a small-scale conflict, the Battle of Fort Ticonderoga was the first American victory of the Revolutionary War. It also gave the Continental Army artillery to be used in future battles. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The battle took place on the adjacent hill, called Breeds Hill. The colonist held the hill for a while but the british eventually over took them. In the end the british had won the battle, but they lost a lot of men about three times more than the colonist. -
"Common Sense" Published
The Common Sense challenged the British government and the royal monarchy. Thomas Paine wrote it, and this was the first work to ask for independence from Great Britain. -
British evacuate Boston
The evacuation of British forces from Boston followed the Siege of Boston, early in the American Revolutionary War. The cannons that they had taken from Ft. Ticonderoga, had reached the rebel army and aimed them at the British fleet anchored. -
Second Continental Congress meets
The Second Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from the Colonies that met in Philadelphia, PA.It succeeded the First Continental Congress, the second Congress managed the colonial war effort, and moved incrementally towards independence by adopting the Declaration of Independence and raising armies, directing strategy, appointing diplomats, and making formal treaties. -
Declaration of Independence announced
The Declaration announced that the colonies as independent states, and no longer a part of the British Empire. It listed colonial grievances against King George III, and said certain natural and legal rights, including a right of revolution. -
"The Crisis" published
The Crisis describes the beginnings of the American Revolution, and the life of Thomas Paine. There sixteen pamphlets released between 1777 and 1783, these pamphlets make up "the Crisis". -
Washington captures Trenton
The Battle of Trenton took place after George Washington crossed the Delaware River north of Trenton, New Jersey. It was a brief battle, when washinton and his his troops captured almost the whol Hessian force, with negligible losses to the Americans. This battle significantly boosted the Continental Army's morale. -
British defeated at Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga was the turn point of the Revolution. The British had the to "divide and conquer" the colonists with troops invading from Canada and troops coming up from New Jersey and New York. But the plan failed as Burgoyne reached Albany and faced the American army. The Americans captured Burgoyne's troops. The Americans won the battle -
Articles of Confederation Signed
the Aticles of confederation was sent to thirten states. The delegates from New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and South Carolina signed the articles. The delegates from New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland did not sign it. and the delegates from North Carolina and Georgia were not present on that day -
Winter at Valley Forge, PA
Valley Forge in Pennsylvania was the site of the military camp of the American Continental Army. This is where the Continental army was trained in the European style of warfare during the winter. -
Benidect Arnold Plans found out
Benidect was in command of the fort at West Point, New York, and plotted to surrender it to the British forces. But his plan was found out, and then he changed sides and became a British General. -
John Paul Jones defeats the Serapis
He was a sailor and the United States' first well-known naval fighter in the American Revolution. He is know from the battle against the British ship the Serapis. Where he won and captured the ship. -
Cornwallis Surrenders
At Yorktown, VA British General Charles Cornwallis surrenders to a French and American force, ending the American Revolution. -
Newburgh Conspiracy
The Newburgh Adress which is known as the Newburgh conspirscy said, the the soldiers would stop fighting if their needs were not met and the war did not end. Or they would stay and fight if their needs were not not met and the war ended. This was handeled by George Washington. -
Treaty of Paris signed
The treaty ened the Revolutionary War Between Britian and colinist. The People who signed it for the U.S are John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and John Jay. -
Land Ordinance of 1785
This Ordinance was about the sale of Western land. The Government set up townships of the land, made it so each township had to maintain a public school. -
Ordinance of Relegious Freedom
It was an Ordince created by Thomas Jefferson. This was for the state of Virgina. It said they had freedom to their religion. -
Shays' Rebellion
Daniel Shays a farmer after being revolutionary war captian was against the tax law that was made saying farmers had to pay taxes in gold and silver. Farmers lands got taken away because they could not pay the taxes, so Shays led farmers and threatened the state courts, to make them change the law. -
Annapolis Convention
The convention was to revise the Articles of Confederation. At the Convetion there were delegates from five of the states could not reach a disicion so they changed the meeting to phildelphia with all the states to disscuss it. -
Constitutional Convention Opens
At the Constitutional convention 55 delegates met to create a outline for the laws of the United States. They met at the state house in Philidelphia. -
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
This Ordinance set up a government for the Northwest Territory. The document said the territory had to split into "not less than three nor more than five States". They also had to set up some form of goverment. -
The Great Compromise Agreed to
The compromise was combining the New Jersey plan with the Virgina plan. The actually compromise was that in the house of reps. the members would be by the state according to population. But, the senate would be the same for every state. -
Federalist Papers appear
The papers were written by Hamilton, Madison and Jay. These papers sum up all the ratification of the constitution. -
Anti-Federalist articles Appear
The Anti-Federalist Paper are articles written in opposition to the ratification of the Constitution. They have "warnings of dangers from tyranny that weaknesses in the proposed Constitution". -
Deleware Ratifies
Deleware was the first colony to ratify the constitution. This mad Delware become the first state. -
Constitution Sent to the States for Ratification
The different states elected legislatures to hold ratifying conventions in the state. All the states ratified the constitution. -
Massachusetts Ratifies Constitution
Massachussets almost did not ratify the constitution. It came down to about ten delegates who changed their mind. -
New Hampshire Ratifies Constitution
New Hampshire ratified the constitution. They did ratified it on the terms of what the preamble said. -
George Washington elected President
George washinton was elected the first president of the United States. This was after the constitution was ratifed, and he pretty much ran unopposed by anyone. -
Congress Meets for the 1st Time
Every Colony was represented except for Georgia. The congress set up rules and laws that the constitution did not cover about the government. -
Bill of Rights Sent to the States for Ratification
The congress set up admendments to the constitution. These admendment they proposed to the legislatures to ratify. -
Bill of Rights Ratified
The Bill of rights protected individual citizens. The bill of rights was agreed to or ratified. -
Spain closes Mississippi River
The peace Treaty between Britain and U.S said that navigation of the Mississippi would be open for both of them. But, Spain said that the treaty did not apply to them so they kept control and closed it to them. -
Viginia and Kentucky Resolutions written
The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions were written by James Maddison and Thomas Jefferson. The resolutions argued that the Congress had no power to do acts that were not authorized by the Constitution. They argued that states rights had lead to a great deal of controversy. -
Hartford Convention meets during War of 1812
The Hartford Convention meets during the War of 1812, and they discuss the war and the rising power of the government. They also talked about the problems in New England pertaining to the war. -
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise made Missouri and made it into a slave state. It made Maine a state as well, but into a free slave state. It also set the boundary for slavery at the 36° 30´ line. All the states above that line were free slave and below it were slave. -
Tariff of Abominations passed
The Tariff of Abominations was passed to protect industries in the North so they wont have to compete with European goods by raising the prices of imported goods. The South now had to pay more for products that they had not made themselves. -
South Carolina tries to nullify
The North was advancing industriously as the South was still holding on agricultural ties. After the Tariff was passed South Carolina felt that the new tax rates were too high. They proclaimed to grant a nullification in order to avoid the tariffs being passed down to southern states. -
Abolition of Slavery Act (1833)
The Abolition of Slavery Act was passed by Parliament in England. This act abolished slavery throughout the British Empire. This act gave slaves on land owned by the British their freedom. -
Texas declares independence from Mexico
This being declared allowed U.S citizens to settle in Texas.When Mexico stoped slavery in Texas, American slave owners living there revolted and started to organize a new government. -
James polk elected
Polk became the 11th President of the United States. Polks goals as being a president was to reestablish the independent treasury system, lower the tariff, settle the Oregon boundry dispute, and to gain control of California. All of these goals were acomplished during his presindentcy as well. -
Mexican war
Polk planned to purchase California and New Mexico. From misscommunication, the Mexicans became angry. The results of the war gave America to gain territory, -
Wilmont Proviso
Wilmot was against the extension of slavery, and did not like the fact that Polk was willing to fight for the South, but would only compromise for the North. Wilmot felt that a war was being fought to extend slavery for southerners. Wilmot's Proviso was passed several times to work out the slave labor. But it was never passed to be a law. -
California enters the union
Californians began to look to be a state after the Mexican War. By the Compromise of 1850, California entered the Union as a non-slavery state. -
Fugitive Slave Law enacted
The Fugitive Slave Law was passed in 1850 and said that all fugitive slaves must be returned to their owners. Anyone caught helping the slaves, faced imprisonment and fines. -
Publication of Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin was written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. This book showed people how cruel and brutal slavery was. From this the South was angry because it helped the abolitionist movement. -
Formation of republic party
The Republican Party was formed in 1854. it was formed as a result of the kansas-nebraska act. This party was committed to stop slavery from spreading west. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act passed
the Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed to create "popular sovereignty" in Kansas and Nebraska. The Southern leaders especially supported this act as they had a chance to make Kansas a slave state. -
Charles Sumner attacked
Charles Sumner gave a speech about the violence in Kansas. In reponse to the speech, Butler's nephew a South Carolina Representative Preston Brooks beat Sumner with a metal topped cane. Sumner was not able to do his duties for three years after the attack but his seat in government was not taken while he was gone. -
"Border Ruffians" attack Lawrence
In the attack pro-slavery Border Ruffians rode into Lawrence, which was an anti-slavery stronghold in Kentucky. They aressted, also destroyed two newspaper offices, and burned and looted homes and shops. The Ruffians also shot cannons at the Free State Hotel. -
pottawatomie Creek
In response to the raid of Lawrence, a group of abolitionists led by John Brown attacked and killed five pro-slavery men in Pottawatomie Creek. This act led to more violence and killing in Kansas. -
Dred scott decicion announced
Dred Scott created a case in which he appealed to the Supreme Court in hopes of being granted his freedom. Taney, who was a supporter of slavery, explained that, because Scott was black, he was not a citizen and had no say or right to have freedom. This cause the north to get made because Dred Scott lost in the case. -
Lecompton constitution passed
As Kansas gained enough people to become a state, pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces rushed into the territory to make it their state. The Lecompton Constitution was the pro-slavery document and because of the Border Ruffians, the pro-slavery document got passed. -
Lincoln- Douglas Debates
Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas ran for president. They argued about slavery in these debats and Lincoln wanted to stop its expansion, but Douglas wanted popular sovereignty. Also Lincoln thought that the country could not last divided on the issue, but Douglas thought it could remain. -
Raid at Harper's Ferry
The raid at Harper's Ferry was led by John Brown. The group was keeping hosteges in the firehouse. 10 people on John's side were killed. The goal of the raid was to spark an uprising of the slaves in the area and free them. He was captered by the U.S Marines and hanged for murder, conspiracy, and treason against Virginia. -
Democrats split in 1860
During the election of 1860, the democrats in the South, split from the democrats in the North. Southern democrats saw Douglas was a traitor because he supported Popular Sovereignty, and most Northern democrats joined the Republican Party. -
Formation of the Constitutional Union Party
This party believed that the middle of the country on the north/south division would become the main battleground in a civil war. The party sought, that there was no political principle but the Constitution of the country. They also wanted to make the union of the states and the enforcement of laws. -
Election of 1860
The election was between Douglas and Lincoln. Lincoln became popular from his debates and became a nominie for President. Lincoln went on to win the election, and because of this South Carolina left the Union and created the confederacy with 6 other states. -
Abraham Lincoln Announces Plans for Reconstruction
plans
Lincoln's Plan for Reconstruction:
1. Pardon any Confederate who takes an oath to the Union and accepts federal policy of slavery
2. Deny all pardons for the Confederate Military
3. Allow each state to hold a constitutional convention only after 10 percent of voters in-state have sworn allegiance against slavery
4. States would then be able to hold elections -
Wade-Davis Bill Receives Pocket Veto
bill
The Wade-Davis Bill was a plan for Reconstruction. Lincoln left it alone until it expired. It was created by the Radical Republicans:
1.Southern states abolish slavery
2. the majority of the population swear loyalty to the Union
3. that governors are chosen to be in charge of the southern states. -
Lincoln Re-Elected President
election
Lincoln won against General George B. McClellan. He runs with Andrew Johnson as his Vice President. -
Formation of the Freedman's Bureau
freedman
The Freedman's Bureau was created to help the African-Americans who were recently freed from slavery. It helped provide jobs, food, and education to newly-freed slaves. -
Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
killed
Lincoln went to Ford's Theater to see the play "Our American Cousin." John Wilkes Booth, an actor and Confederate. Booth sneaked into the President's private box and with a pistol shot Lincoln. The next day Lincoln died. -
President Andrew Jackson Announce Plans for Reconstruction
andrew
Andrew Johnson's plan was forgiving of the South. It was less forgiving than Lincoln's plan but more than the Radical Republican's plan. He allowed states to hold constitutional conventions. and pardoned the South after they swore allegiance and abolished slavery. -
Black Codes Created in Mississippi
codes
The Black Codes were written immediately after the Civil War. These codes said men and women were not allowed to own property, own weapons, or have public meetings. Segregation between blacks and whites were present especially in southern states of Mississippi and Louisiana. -
Ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment
13
The 13th Amendment officially abolished slavery in the United States. -
Ku Klux Klan created
klan
This group was formed in Tennessee to cause terror to any supporter of the thirteenth amendment or any other laws protecting blacks, and blacks, They would burned houses and crosses in front yards and lynch people. -
Civil Rights Act (1866) Enacted
act
The Civil Rights Act gave equal rights to blacks and whites. Andrew Johnson tried to veto it, but was outvoted with 2/3 of Congress. -
Reconstruction Acts Enacted
reconstruction
The reconstruction act split the states in the South into five districts. Each district had a northern general who protected life and property. It also demanded the need for new state delegates and constitutions, ratification of the fourteenth amendment, and equal rights to all citizens. -
President Andrew Johnson Impeached
impeach
President Johnson removed the secreatary of war without consent of the Senate. So the Radical Republicans tryed to impeach Johnson because they were not happy with the reconstruction plan that was Lincoln's that Johnson was planning on carrying out. -
Ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment
14
The 14th Amendment made everyone born in the United States a citizen, which included the freed slaves. It also prevented states from making laws that would limit the blacks' rights. -
Ulysses S. Grant Elected President
grant
Grant was elected as a republican and allowed the radical republican's plan for reconstruction. He sent northern generals to control the Southern districts. -
Ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment
15
The 15th Amendment allowed black men to vote. This was not fully put into place until later, since the Southerners limited access to voting by literacy tests, taxes, and "the grandfather clause". -
Hiram Revels Elected to Senate
hirman
Hiram Revels was the first person of color to be in the U.S. Senate and the U.S. Congress. He represented Mississippi in 1870 and 1871 -
Ku Klux Klan Act Enacted
klan
This act authorized President Grant to enforce consequences against terrorist organizations, and use military force to end the KKK. -
Freedman's Bureau Abolished
freedman
The Freedman's Bureau abolished, President Johnson tried to veto the organization, but Congress overrode the veto and allowed them to keep their practice. The final educational programs were eventually outlawed in 1872. -
Civil Rights Act (1875) Passed
civil
The Civil Rights Act of 1875 allowed African-Americans to be integrated with whites in schools, restaurants, trains, and most public areas; and it fined anyone who went against the act. -
"Jim Crow" Enters the American Cultural Language
laws
These laws mandated rules of segregation in public facilities in Southern states of the former Confederacy. -
Last National Troops Leave South Carolina
carolina
In the end of reconstruction, a compromise was reached that dispatched all northern troops out of the South. This ended the Federal's government control in the South and the protection for blacks. -
Rutherford B. Hayes Elected President
hayes
Republican Rutherford B. Hayes won the election to Democrat Samuel J. Tilden. -
Civil Rights Act Overturned (1883)
rights
The Civil Rights Act of 1875 was declared unconstitutional. This allowed for segregation. -
Florida Requires Segregation in Places of Public Accommodation
segregation
Florida became the first state to enforce segregation laws, and other southern states followed. These laws cause blacks to lose rights like rights to vote. -
Case of Plessey Vs. Ferguson
plessy
Plessy went against the Separate Car Act by sitting in the car meant for whites. Plessy lost his cases in court, because it was declared that the separation was equal.
