-
Pilgrims Arrive at Plymouth
The start of the creation of the United States, religious seperatists decided to go west across the Atlantic Ocean to start a new life and escape religious persecution from Great Britain, creating their own form of Protestantism. Although many people died during and after the voyage, it created a great impact on how the United States started and how it later expanded, separated from Great Britain, and became a global superpower. -
Navigation Acts
One of the first acts put on the American Colonies, it was put by Britain in order to make sure that the colonies only traded with Britain. While it seemed good, it seriously hurt trade with merchants and farmers because they traded with other countries, putting Britain in a bad position. It also put taxation on goods going out and into the colonies, causing another economic factor that started the American Revolution. -
Spiritual Revival
Also known as the Great Awakening, this was a time were new ideals for religion (mainly Christianity/Protestant) were being to use, such as the idea of free will. It prompted people to become more religiously devoted and also make better life choices. It impacted the start of the US by creating colonies that were based off of religious power. -
American Enlightenment
Originally from the new ideals from Europe, new questions were being asked on how society and government should be ran and that also led to questioning of the British Monarchy, later starting the American Revolution. Important figures like Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson started the new Enlightenment by publishing their ideals. -
Boston Massacre
With colonials and Redcoats fighting right before the massacre, it was prompted by colonials throwing objects at Redcoats as an act of protest for the continous taxation and new laws. As a result, Redcoats fired at the crowd, causing 5 people to be killed and even more anger towards Great Britain and contributing even more to the start of the Revolutionary War. -
Boston Tea Party
One of the main political protests before the start of the American Revolution, it was consisted of the Sons of Liberty disguising themselves as Native Americans and went onto a ship in the Boston Harbor and started dumping out tea crates from the ship. Known for the famous catchphrase: "No taxation without representation," this act of rebellion was actually the main reason for the passing of the Coercive Acts, later creating the start of the Revolutionary War. -
Coercive/Intolerable Acts
Following the Boston Tea Party, Great Britain punished the colonies by putting multiple acts at the same time. With the Quartering Act, New governing act, Boston Port act, and more, people in the Colonies were even more furious, provoking more fighting and acts of rebellion. The impact of this was that it soon started the American Revolution. -
First Continental Congress
Following the Intolerable Acts, delegates from all of the colonies except Georgia met together to discuss these acts and how to solve it. In this meeting, the delegates were able to plan boycotts, create a Navy, and also create a national currency in order to unite the colonies even more before the American Revolution, prompting Britain to comply with the colonies' demands to remove the boycott. -
Start of Salutary Neglect
Before strict laws created by Great Britain, they actually didn't get entirely involved with the American colonies and let them create their own trade policies and laws, prompting the colonies to create their own types of government and laws. Since Britain didn't know until later, it caused Britain to be angered by these new governments that they started putting new laws once they found out, causing outrage among the colonists. -
Battle of Lexington & Concord
Known for the 'Shot Heard Around The World,' this battle ultimately started the Revolutionary War once the famous shot was fired. A well coordinated attack by the colonists, they were able to drive off the British invaders, making an impact within the colonies to join the fight and later gaining independence from Great Britain. -
Declaration of Independence
As an act of defiance, the Second Continental Congress wrote this historic document, signifying the separation from Great Britain. While it didn't immediately make the US independent, it helped give motivation during the American Revolution. It also impacted how people in the colonies viewed each other and helped unify the colonies. -
Battle of Trenton
Viewed as a historic win for General Washington, he and his troops crossed the Delaware River to battle against Hessian troopers located in Trenton. Since the Hessian troops were unable to fight back due to it being a surprise attack, they were easily conquered. The impact of this victory is that it gave American soldiers more motivation to fight and might be a turning point in the Revolutionary War. -
Battle of Yorktown
The final battle of the Revolutionary War, the month-long siege ended with General Cornwallis from Great Britain surrendering after being surrounded by French and American forces, eventually giving up. With this, peace negotiations were underway to officially the Revolutionary War, creating an impact that would spark more independence movements around the world later on. -
Treaty of Paris
Offically ending the Revolutionary War, this treaty made the United States an independent nation and separated from Great Britain. The obvious impact was that it started the new beginning for the United States to thrive and conquer but it also started more westward expansion and created a new era of independent nations across the globe. -
Northwest Ordinance
With more territories, the US went to settle on how to divide the land and make it official parts of the country. So under the Articles of Confederation, the US brought a strategy into how to make each of those territories new states and also made them free states, its impact later foreshadowing the sectional conflicts between slavery and abolition that would cause the Civil War. -
Constitution Adopted
After much debate after the failure from the Articles of Confederation, a new group of delegates from the states decided to meet to create a new document that would be the supreme law of the US. With many arguments, the Constitution was ratified in 1788 and officially in use in 1789, alongside the Bill of Rights. -
Cotton Gin Invented
Before this device, it was way more difficult to process cotton, leading to a decrease in slavery. But after Eli Whitney patented this device, the cotton industry exploded,helping the south economy, and caused a massive increase once more. The impact it caused might be traced to one of the reasons on why the Civil War happened, which was an issue over slavery. -
Revolution/Election of 1800
An event that changed the political world, this election helped bring a peaceful transfer of power from different political parties from Federalist to Democratic(John Adams to Thomas Jefferson). It soon impacted the world to see that no violence was used to transfer power over and helped bring a new way to view the US and its democratic system for voting. -
Louisiana Purchase
With a deal with Napoleon, the US was able to gain nearly twice as much land as before for only $15 million. The impact was that it gave new opportunities for farming and also exploration. Thanks to Thomas Jefferson, the US is now able to gain new land and soon start an era of westward expansion. -
Embargo Act
A controversial act by Thomas Jefferson, he decided to close US ports to British and French ships, staying neutral while there was a war between France and Britain. While this seemed like a good idea, it hurt merchants that got their supplies from Europe, causing anger towards this Act. Its later impact is that it caused anger from Britain for not supporting them during the war, later causing more tensions that later led to the War of 1812. -
British Burn Washington DC
Near the end of the War of 1812, British Forces were able to take over the capital, causing major damage to many important monuments and buildings such as the White House. Its impact was that many Americans were outraged from the war, also resulting in some Federalists wanting to secede from the country. But soon, the US fought back and later won the War of 1812. -
Treaty of Ghent
Delegates from the US and Britain met in Europe to end the war of 1812, Britain admiting defeat. As a result, they had to give up territory in the Northwest, giving more land for the US and more opportunities. Its main hidden impact was that the US would finally be taken seriously as a major country and opened new oppportunities to grow and trade with other countries. -
Battle of New Orleans
Although the War of 1812 already officially ended, this was the last battle that happened which caused a major loss to the British thanks to Andrew Jackson's brilliant military plan that caused nearly no deaths or injuries compared to the British. The later impact was that this win helped Jackson become president later on and that it also helped boost American spirit following the US winning the War of 1812. -
Benevolent Empire
With the Second Great Awakeining, more spiritual groups started to arisa, particularly this one. It consisted of mainly Protestantism with new ideals to change social statuses and also improve the lifes of poverished people with religion. The reason that it was so popular was because it targeted specific subjects like crime and alcohol in order to reduce/eliminate it. -
Missouri Compromise
A decision over free versus slaves states, Henry Clay led a compromise to admit Missouri as a slave state but Maine as a free state so that it didn't the balance of slave and free states. The impact was that it continued the debate of free and slave states that would lead to to the start of the Civil War. -
Monroe Doctrine
A very powerful proclamation, President James Monroe told the country and the rest of the world about how the United would not be in foreign affairs, and that itself and other colonies in the Western Hemishere could no longer be colonized, or else be punished. Its main impact was that it was a way to tell the rest of the world to not underestimate the US now that it was starting to expand. -
Tariff of Abominations
Another controversial act by Andrew Jackson that started the Nullification Crisis,it was the act that raised tariff prices. However, it benefited the North with manufacturing but tremendously hurt the South with raising costs for living. It impacted mainly South Carolina who opposed the tariff, starting the Nullification Crisis. \ -
David Walker's Appeal
Abolitionist David Walker published an article that was targeted towards enslaved people and told them to rise up against their masters and revolt. It was so popular that it worried slave masters about a potential revolt that they made sure that Walker's paper wasn't allowed in plantations. It had an ever greater impact when it became even more popular with southern governments restricting Walker's publication. -
Indian Removal Act
One of the most controversial acts by Andrew Jackson, it was a way to move Native Americans from their native territory to make room for settlement in states that already had settlers such as Georgia and Tennessee. This led to an even smaller Native American population later on and also the start of the Trail of Tears, which would create a great impact later on. -
Underground Railroad
A system used by enslaved people to escape North, this was an extremely difficult and dangerous passage organized by abolitionists and other helpers in order to help some enslaved people become free. Because of this, both opposition and support for the abolitionist movement grew because of how slavery was starting to grow. In order to address this issue, many slave owners offered money for people to enrue that their slaves didn't escape. -
Nullification Crisis
An intense debate of states law versus federal laws, this was a dispute between South Carolina and the federal government on whether SC was able to nullify a law that would exempt themselves from having to pay a tariff that taxed foreign goods. Its imoact was that it started another serious debate in the Civil War of state vs federal rights and also the topic of secession. -
Battle of the Alamo
Considered the cause event for the Mexican-American War, this battle resulted in American troops stationed at the Alamo dying due to fighting with Mexican forces. Angered by these deaths, Americans sought to fight to avenge the deaths in the Alamo, resulting in the start of the Mexican-American War and later to new territory gained in victory. -
Oregon Trail Starts
One of the most recognizable trails during westward expansion, this trail was used by over 350,000 people in pursuit of land and new opportunities. While the conditions to get there were very difficult and dangerous, many were willing to risk it, even though 1 in 17 travelers died during the trip. Its impact was that there was more settlements out west and that helped with creating new opportunities and jobs. -
Manifest Destiny
The main term used for westward expansion, this new ideal for 'having to' go out and conquer new land out west gave a new meaning on expansion and how many people were motivated to go out west to settle and explore. Its impact was that it led to new territories all the way out to the Pacific Coast and formations of states, helping the US become an even more powerful nation. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hildago
Ending the Mexican-American War, this treaty helped the US end fighting with Mexico but also brought much more land out west including California from the Mexican Cession. With this, it created an impact that started the main part of Westward Expansion, further on promoting the ideas of Manifest Destiny and creating new places to farm and control. -
Compromise of 1850
With the help of senator Henry Clay, Congress was able to create a compromise concerning the debate on free and slave states. To settle it, California was to become a free state, with New Mexico and Utah voting on which stance to be on. And to balance it, the Fugitive Slave Act was passed which caused slaves to be turned back to their owners even if they were in a free state. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The aftermath of the Missouri Compromise, it was an act that seperated the Kansas territory into two separate ones, which would use popular sovereignty to decide if they would become free or slave states. This led to both abolitionists and pro-slavery figures to go to these territories to vote, which led to "Bleeding Kansas," which was acts of violence during the voting process to disrupt the vote count. -
Dred Scott Decision
Possibly one of the worst decisions ever made by the Supreme Court, Chief Justice Roger Taney went against Dred Scott, ruling that just because you live in a free state doesn't mean you can become a free man. It also ruled that Northern states had no power to exclude slavery, which made a heavy impact towards abolitionists and added more tension which contributed to the Civil War. -
Attack on Fort Sumter
Causing the start of the Civil War, this Confederate attack was caused by supplying the fort before the attack, even though the supplies weren't going to be used for anything against the already seceded states. Ultimately, the impact created the 4 year war that would completely change the US and end slavery afterwards. -
Homestead Act
During westward expansion, this act helped encourage new settlers by giving them 160 acres of land, as long as they stayed there for at least 5 years and helped improve/farm it. It promoted more agricultural work out west which impacted the economy by producing more crops and sharing them with the rest of the country and world with the help of railroad contruction. -
Start of Transcontinental Railroad
While use of railroads were increasing during this time, there wasn't one that ran through most of the United States until this event. It helped the economy by transporting goods quickly from coast to coast and ultimately helped with the Reconstruction Era after the Civil War. It also helped with better agricultural work since supplies could be delivered quickly, aiding farmers along the way (both for crops and cattle). -
Emancipation Proclamation
During the middle of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln decided to change the purpose from reunitung the Union to the issue of slavery. The significance of the event was that Lincoln was able to free the slaves, but only from the South, who didn't listen to that rule. While it didn't immediately do much impact, it soon helped change the purpose of the war, help more slaves go North, and more motivation to help the Union win the war. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The turning point of the Civil War for the Union, it also served as the battle with the most deaths over multiple deaths. When the battle was over, president Lincoln issued the Gettysburg Address, telling the nation to unite and fight for equality. Afterwards, the impact of both the battle and the address later led to the Union winning more battles and eventually winning the Civil War. -
Gettysburg Address
Following the Battle of Gettysburg, president Lincoln addressed the country about the deaths on the battlefield, reminding his soldiers and the country to fight for freedom and equality. The reason it's deemed so important is because it helped unite the country once more and also in the battle that could be viewed as the turning point in the war and led to the Union winning the Civil War. -
Ten-Percent Plan
The opponent to the Wade-Davis Bill, it was the plan used by Lincoln in order to admit Confederate States back into the Union. It consisted of at least 10% of the state's population to take an oath of loyalty to the Union and later admit the 14th and 15th amendments under the state's laws. The reason it had a great impact was because it stirred up controversy once Reconstruction started which put many in a position to join the Union even though they didn't like it. -
Lee's Surrender
Formally ending the Civil War, General Grant's siege in Virginia during 1865 forced Lee to retreat multiple times, each time closer to the Confederate capital of Richmond. Eventually, Lee's army was running out of supplies that they had to surreneder at Appomattox, creating the long impact that would finish the Civil War and call the war a Union victory. -
Lincoln's Assasination
Right after the end of the Civil War, president Lincoln was in Ford's Theatre when John Wilkes Booth killed him, later running away but being found. Viewed as one of the greatest presidents to ever serve, there was a lot of mourning afterwards. The impact was that Andrew Johnson became president, who was a Democrat, that had controversial decisions on running the country that he was almost impeached. -
Passing of 14th Amendment
The aftermath of the Civil War, this new amendment made sure that all people born in the United States of all races had the same citizen rights. It also provided equal protection for all races in terms of equality. The reason it hada great impact is because it now made sure that formelly enslaved people now had the same rights as their white counterparts. -
Passing of 15th Amendment
The second amendment to be passed after the Civil War, this one made sure that all men (not women until later) had the right to vote regardless of race or color. This was a historic landmark for the US because it made sure that it in fact made "all men created equal" under the Declaration of Independence. It also allowed for more people of color to take political positions in governments which was another huge step to perfecting the US. -
Dawes Severalty Act
Similar to the Homestead Act, it gave Native Americans the ability to gain 160 acres for farming. But came at a significant sacrifice, cutting off territory from Native reservations. It impacted significantly both natives which were viewed as traitors and the government because they now had more territory gained from the Dawes Act than before. It also allowed for more growth for farming and agriculture.