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Oct 12, 1492
Christopher Columbus Lands in America
After setting out to find a faster route to India, Christopher Columbus set foot in the Americas on October 12, 1492. The new terrain had an abundance of new crops, rich lands, lavish resources, and native peoples who were the subject of great curiosity. Upon his return with these fine products for the Queen Isabella of Spain, the gates had been open for a new era of expansion. -
Establishment of Jamestown
Soon after people discovered the economic riches that the New World held, settlements began to form on the bases of agricultural production. Jamestown was the first significant settlement to survive the harsh winter of new terrain. The main product of this settlement was the tobacco crop to fuel the Virginia Company's exports. Altogether, many tribulations occurred including illness and altercations with natives, but the productivity was unmatched for its time. -
Formation of the House of Burgesses
With a growing population, a form of government needed to be put into place. The colony of Virginia implemented the House of Burgesses which dealt with the distribution of items and the formation of laws. Ultimately, this mimicked the Parlement of Britain and was a major step in the road to a new government that would come later on. -
Boarding of the Mayflower
Following the discovery of the Americas, many saw an opportunity for a new life and a way out of religious persecution. An example of this was the Pilgrims who had been outcasts of the church of England. They wrote the Mayflower Compact which ultimately became an early example of an attempt to maintain order and society. Nevertheless, they arrived on November 11, 1620, in Plymouth, Massachusetts where they began to set up their settlement. -
Bacon's Rebellion
Tensions were on the rise between Native Americans and settlers as more people began to move in. In 1676, Nathaniel Bacon started a war with a native group after the Virginia government withheld its support for the war. As a result of discontent with the government, Bacon's rebels marched to the capital, but they were swiftly stopped soon after. This ultimately was a sign of the stifling foundation of a newly forming society. -
John Locke Writes his "Second Treatise"
Amidst the new age of Enlightenment, many people were beginning to focus on the concept of devotion to the church, but also their individual rights. John Locke wrote during this time that people have "inalienable rights" such as "life, liberty, and property" on the basis of this new era thought. This applied to how governments should aim to protect the rights of the people. -
The Albany Congress is Formed
Growing tension resulted in the need for all colonies to pull together for the common good against King George III's oppressive laws. Benjamin Franklin invited the elites of each colony to meet and form the Albany Congress. Altogether, this was the first example of a single entity forming among the different groups from South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and New England. -
The Quartering Act is Established
One of the major acts placed upon the colonies by the British government was the Quartering act of 1765. To elaborate, this act forced colonists to house British soldiers while they were in America and provide them with food. Food and supplies were already tight as they were so expensive from taxation. Altogether, these acts strengthened the "no taxation without representation" movement and added to the notion of revolution. -
The Homespun Movement Begins
Quakers in Boston were tired of added tariffs on goods and textiles that were being imported from England. In an effort to involve women and families in the effort against parliament, the Homespun movement began. To elaborate, this was the weaving and production of garments in the home in order to avoid the prices imposed by Britain. -
The Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre occurred due to a protest gone violent where colonials attacked British soldiers stationed in front of the customs house. In response, the soldiers fired into the crowd which killed five people. This was used by patriot newspapers as a vicious image to raise approval for the separation efforts. Nevertheless, this was a major event that was projected as a ruthless killing of helpless citizens and ultimately was used to insight hatred against redcoats. -
The Battle of Lexington and Concord
Bubbling over with rage from all the unfair taxes, Patriots had finally had enough. During the Battle of Lexington and Concord, a shot was fired that was later known as the "the shot heard around the world." This marked the beginning of the American Revolution and ultimately signaled the end of America's faltering allegence to the crown. -
The Battle of Bunker Hill
Boston has been seized by Britain, but not without severe loss as many British soldiers had been killed. Although this was an expected victory, it brought out the colonies as a force to be reckoned with. The war had not been as swift of a victory as England was expecting, thus, more effort would be needed to completely end the colonial uprising than they had suspected. Nevertheless, the colonies themselves continued to plan for war and supply themselves for future battles. -
Declaration of Independence is Signed
After a year of battle and a greater commitment to separation from the crown, the Declaration of Independence was signed. The document was designed to address the wrongdoings of the King to the settlers and organize the reasons why independence was necessary. Furthermore, the application of enlightenment ideas popular in Europe made the document more appealing to foreign powers with which the colonies wished to form an alliance with. -
Battle of Saratoga Starts
After a very one-sided war in the early stages, the battle of Saratoga gained America the victory it needed to turn the war in its favor. Benjamin Franklin had been sent to France to negotiate an alliance in order to gain numbers as well as a navy. With news of the victory at Saratoga on October 7, 1777, France finally agreed which would form a long-lasting bond between the two countries. With newfound morale, and the addition of a powerful ally, the control of the war was shifting. -
Articles of Confederation are Enacted
A form of government needed to be made in order to keep order within the newly independent United States. To fulfill this need, the Continental congress formulated the Articles of confederation which would be the first governmental guide of America. This document ultimately gave the central government little power as they hoped to avoid an oppressive leader such as Britain. Nevertheless, this would be quickly put to the test and was later expended as it was a very weak system. -
The Treaty of Paris is Signed
At last, the colonies had reigned their victory over England after a difficult war. In Paris, leaders from England, France, and the colonies met to finalize an agreement between the countries. Finally, England was forced to recognize the colonies as independent countries and presume them an Independent nation. -
Shays' Rebellion Starts
Shays' Rebellion was the result of anger strung from taxes to regain economic stability after the Revolutionary war. In summation, the lasting impact of this event was that it was the first trial of the Articles of confederation and it proved that it was an inapplicable document which needed to be replaced. -
George Washington is Inaugurated
A new country had been born, but who was to lead it? George Washington had been the one that America looked to as its leader through the war with England, and he was appointed by his peers to be the first President of the United States. In his inaugural address, George Washington set the example of how to address the country as you enter the office. By the end of his term, he would warn the country of political parties and the dangers of foreign involvement in his farewell address. -
Northwest Ordinance is Passed
One of the first acts of the new government was the action of the Northwest Ordinance. With more people moving past the Appalachian mountains, new territories needed a system to be admitted to the United States. This ultimately allowed a territory to be represented in congress if it had a population of 5,000. Altogether, this would create the states of Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin. -
Constitution is Signed
After several meetings with delegates of both federalist and anti-federalist ideals, the Constitution had signed. This ultimately replaced the Articles of Confederation and was put into place in reference to all states. Nevertheless, this document stands at the center of our government, yet is flexible to modern times. -
Bank of the United States is Created
Alexander Hamilton, a federalist who was positioned as treasurer in Washington's cabinet, pushed to form a national bank for the United States. In its element, it would provide a common currency, make loans to merchants, organize government funds, and provide stability to the economy. -
Eli Whitney Creates Cotton Gin
Textiles had always been a major product in the market which could alter the prominence of a country in global trade. However, their production process was extremely difficult and required intense labor which was commonly presented in the form of slavery. With Eli Whitney's invention, the cotton gin, cotton seeds no longer needed to be picked out by hand and production increased greatly. -
Proclamation of Neutrality is Instated
Per his own advice and the controversial advice of Alexander Hamilton, George Washington decided to not involve the United States in the French revolution. This was heavily argued against by Thomas Jefferson as they had aided America in the revolution against Britain. Nevertheless, the Proclamation of Neutrality kept the U.S. out of conflict yet went against the agreement from the Treaty of Paris between the two countries. -
The Whiskey Rebellion Ends
With taxes being raised on whiskey, people were in an uproar as they felt they were experiencing oppressive taxation once again. Washington responded by rounding up the national troops and ordering them to fire warning shots at the rebels which ended the rebellion. This test of the Constitution ultimately proved it was a viable government system. -
Alien and Sedition Acts Commence
Due to the lack of popularity for John Adams in the voting trends following the XYZ affairs result, he enacted the Alien and Sedition Acts. To elaborate, this made the period longer for one to become a naturalized citizen, and it prohibited insulting political members of the national government in the press. He hoped to salvage himself from public disapproval due to the limited trade with France, yet it made a lasting impression as a limit of freedom. -
Lewis and Clark Begin Journey
As Jefferson had a large interest in nature as well as overall research of natural science, he felt it was important to map out the land the U.S. had just acquired from the Louisiana purchase. Lewis and Clark were tasked with documenting the plants and wildlife out west as they traveled to the Pacific. During this trip, they would meet many natives, including the prominent Sacagawea, who they wished to build trade with. -
Thomas Jefferson is Elected
With Thomas Jefferson being elected the Jeffersonian Republican era would begin. He would be faced with multiple challenges as many of the positions of the court had been filled with Federalists by John Adams. In alignment with his beliefs, Jefferson would stick to the constitution in its literal form yet expansion west would be carried out with great hesitation. -
Slave Trade is Outlawed
Despite the necessity of slaves to keep the Southern economy booming, Congress outlawed the importation of slaves as well as their purchase. This greatly angered the cotton industry workers and ultimately increased the already existing tension between the abolitionist north and the slave-driven south. Regardless, production demand needed to be met and slaves were still of great value to the southern economic needs. -
War of 1812 is Declared
Following the discovery that British troops had been training Native Americans and giving them weapons in Canada, Congress voted to declare war. Federalists were not fond of the war as it was bad for national stability. With many resources having been already in use against Natives in defense, the war was difficult for America yet victory was won and the Treaty of Ghent was signed. -
African Methodist Episcopal Church is Founded
Abolition was becoming more of a hot topic and slowly African Americans were emerging as an independent group that gathered for recreation. The AME was a prime example of their growing presence as the organization grew in the west and sparked vibrant worship throughout the African American community. In a statement, this congregation was part of the beginning of the movement against second-class treatment of African Americans in society. -
The Market Revolution Begins
Transportation was beginning to pick up and with it, the economy took off. Farms and factories were producing more with less which allowed for a dramatically increased exchange of items. Furthermore, railroads showed major promise and their prominence only began to flourish with the expansion out west. -
Monroe Doctrine is Issued
Within the outcome of the War of 1812 as well as America's growing prominence in global affairs, the federal government had finally gained stable control of the area. This led James Monroe to issue the Monroe Doctrine which prevented Europeans from further colonizing the Western side of the war. Furthermore, the doctrine restricted any additional interference in Western political affairs. -
Indian Removal Act is Passed
Andrew Jackson formed the Indian Removal act in order to make way for western expansion. This was heavily contested by Natives and the Cherokee Nation attempted to sue against their removal as they were considered an independent nation. Ultimately, this removed all eastern tribes to the west forcefully in a path that would later be known as the trail of tears. -
Henry Clay's Resolution is Passed
Great Controversy was brought upon the mention of a second national bank as Andrew Jackson vetoed the bill that would put it into place. As a result, Henry Clay created a censure that the Senate passed which attested to the idea that Jackson had overstepped his role. -
Mob Burns Pennsylvania Hall
Angered by abolitionist talks and women's suffrage movements, a mob formed during a convention to throw rocks at the building. In further violent efforts, they hurled insults at the speakers and ultimately burned the building. Consequently, this displayed the growing tension and the strong opposition to these social movements as they emerged. -
First Telegraph Message is Sent
A new form of communication was needed as America was growing in space by the minute. Samuel F. B. Morse created telegraph lines to send messages from many miles away in 1837, and Alfred Vail created a code. As a result, lines were strung from major cities such as New York, Chicago, and one day all the way to San Francisco. All in all, this opened the gateway to a new age of communication that would build across the country. -
Battle at Monterrey
The US had been called to help the Texans gain their independence from Mexico, yet President Polk wanted to take it a step further and expand territory into Mexico. After six days, his army was able to capture Monterrey and later the port city of Tampico. Later on, they would capture the capital which would force peace to be made. -
Gold is Found in California
During construction out west, John A. Stutter came across gold flakes which would cause for a population boom in the West. Not only were Americans swiftly moving to California, but foreign miners came from China and Mexico with hopes of finding this precious metal for themselves. Ultimately, they were met with the Foreign Miners Tax in order to keep much of the profits for the US. -
Compromise of 1850 is Imposed
Mexico was against slavery when Americans had migrated there yet much of their territory had now been acquired by the U.S. government. Following this addition of territory, the government decided to deem it "free." Nonetheless, congress made it fair to the south by implementing the strict refugee slave act which required free states to return runaway slaves. -
Kansas Nebraska Act is Passed
The Kansas-Nebraska act split up the native territories within the two states, yet it also left the issue of slavery up to the populations of those areas. Altogether, this would lead to the conflict of "bleeding Kansas" which was the exchange of violent murders between abolitionists and slave owners. -
Lincoln is Voted the New President
Despite the lack of popularity of Lincoln in the south, he was able to win the election of 1860 with 180 electoral votes. Southern slaveholders were horrified by the news and immediately talked of succession. As a result, the federal government quickly attempted to resolve the issue yet it failed and the federal troops were called upon to settle unrest on April 12. -
Draft is Issued for Civil War
Battles between the North and South were getting more violent as the number of soldiers was dropping swiftly. As a result, both sides issued a draft for men between the ages of eight teen to thirty-two in order to gain more numbers for their cause. Ultimately, women stepped up to be medical caretakers and industry workers as the majority of men were off fighting in the war. -
Emancipation Proclamation
In an effort to stop European exchange with the southern economy as well as any aid, they would give to the confederate army, Lincoln abolished slavery. This was essentially a political move that moved Europeans to stop trade with the south as that would show that they supported slavery. Ultimately, this did not end slavery right away, yet it made it illegal. -
Gettysburg Address is Given
The Battle of Gettysburg had been a tremendous victory for the Union yet a very hard and sad battle nonetheless. Lincoln used his address to declare the formation of a cemetery as well as his support to the Union troops. Altogether, this was set to honor the dead and explain his support of the Declaration of Independence in saying "all men are created equally." -
Atlanta Falls to Sherman's Army
As a final act to ensure the South's destruction, Sherman made his march to the sea to destroy crops and cities that had been used to fuel the confederacy. Altogether, this made the south very weak and made it mandatory for their survival to rejoin the union and cease their resistance. -
The Fourteenth Amendment
Even though the war was over, an ongoing struggle between state versus national supremacy continued. The Fourteenth Amendment made all people born in the US and naturalized people citizens of the United States which gave them all the same rights. Altogether, this brought the superiority of national citizenship over state citizenship when granting individuals their rights. -
Burlingame Treaty is Signed
Industry was becoming more of an attraction to people coming to the US, yet agreements were in the works to insure that the government retained a benefit. An example of this was the Burlingame Treaty which allowed missionaries from the US to travel to China while workers came to the mining areas to extract prised elements. -
Fifteenth Amendment is Ratified
Following the freeing of the slaves within the United States, they had been left with only a fraction of the rights within the federal system. In a great success, the Fifteenth Amendment was ratified which gave African Americans the right to vote and gave them a form of security when placing it in the ballet. -
Grant's Peace Policy is Implemented
As violence was rising between reservation natives and white citizens action needed to be taken to resolve the issue. Grant, now acting president, enacted his peace policy which forced natives to assimilate into the white ways through harsh schooling. All in all, the lasting impact of this policy would be one that would be looked upon with great sadness due to the great discrimination they faced. -
Yellowstone National Park is Established
Mining and industry were taking over the west, but tourism was extremely important to railroad prominence and western profit. As a result, Yellowstone National Park was created to preserve the natural environment and attract more people to expand profits. This would be the first national park in the United States. -
The Civil Rights Act
Education as well as the overall public connection was growing in importance, however, African Americans were limited in access to this due to racial prejudice. As the public continued to push for equality, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act which required full and equal access to public services. In retrospect, this was lawfully implemented, yet there was still a long way to go in order to reach truly equal access to these services.