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Investors in London wanted a new producer of wealth. Additionally, they wanted to create a new English society. They decided to choose Jamestown due to its coastal protection from possible invaders. After a four-month journey across the Atlantic, English Anglicans settled in Jamestown. 104 men, the youngest being 13, created the first colony in the New World. Though not successful for long, the people of Jamestown held the first governance meeting in 1619: the first in American history. -
The printing press was a revolutionary device which assisted in the movement of thought and Idea throughout the colonies. Before it could assist with the Great Awakening about 100 years from 1639, it was still a useful tool to spread word. The printing press was a useful too because it allowed for the spreading of revolutionary ideas. -
Nathaniel Bacon was angered by the high taxes and low tobacco prices. They were specifically angered by the special privileges given to friends of Sir Berkeley to overcome these taxes. Bacon began a rebellion against wealthy landowners and businessmen. This uprising, though unsuccessful created change within the colonies. This rebellion sped up the wealthy’s replacement of indentured servants to slaves as many of Bacon’s revolutionaries were former indenture servants. -
The Pueblo Native American revolted against Spanish conquistadors due to violence and religious persecution. Along with this, a large drought also descimated the Natives. They rose up in order to gain back the religious practices and land that was taken away from them. This revolut was successful and kept Spain out of New Mexico for 12 years. This revolt assisted in the survival of the cultural traditions of the Pueblo. -
The Glorious Revolution occurred in England and overthrew Catholic King James II. For a brief period of time after the Glorious Revolution, the colonies were stripped to ani-puritain rhetoric after the overthrowing of King James. Additionally many people rebelled against the crown when they heard of the Revolution. -
Franklin founded this society to promote “useful knowledge”. This is the first society established in America and it was designed to help scientific men discuss theories and discoveries. -
The French and Indian war was fought between the French and the British over land. The French had Natives on their side as they employed less violent tactics when associating with them. The war lasted 7 years and was ended with the Treaty of Paris of 1763, forcing France to give up all North American territory and to refrain from being a military threat to Britain. This heightened conflict between Britain and France and influenced France to assist the colonies durring the revolutionary war. -
The Boston Massacre occurred due to rising tensions during the height of the King’s taxation rampage. More British soldiers than usual were in the area to enforce the Stamp and Tea acts, leading to the violence of the Boston Massacre. The events occurred when colonists opposed to the King began to throw snowballs at the soldiers. Though no one knows why the first shot was pulled, it led to other soldiers shooting into the crowd. These events caused anti-British fervent throughout the colonies. -
The Boston Tea Party occurred due to the Tea Act implemented by the British. This act heavily taxed tea and some other products. In retaliation, a group of drunk founding fathers disguised themself as Mohawk Natives and dumped tea crates of 3 ships in the Boston Harbor. Due to the Boston Tea Party, the British passes the Intelerable Acts which significantly lessened the freedoms of the Colonists. -
Due to the anger of the intolerable acts which closed the Boston harbor and more, the colonists met to discuss their grievances against the British government. During this meeting, they group establishes an army, navy, and post office, preparing to be an independant nation. They also agreed to begin to boycot British goods until the Intelerable acts were removed. -
When the Colonies were still under British rule, they were being attacked with aggressive taxes. The founding fathers were angered due to the abuse of power by the King. Because of this, they devised a document to express their unhappiness with the King and his policies. As a result of the king’s disregard of the Declaration of Independence, the Revolutionary war began. -
Things were not looking good for the Continental army. Washingotn beleived that he must mobilize the troops if he had any chance of maintaining morale. Due to this, he planned the assault of Trenton. After months of losses, the victory at Trenton against the Hessians was a large morale booster for the country and the troops. This likely encouraged the victory at Princeton the next week.
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Contrary to popular belief, Betsy Ross did not sew the first American flag, but she did commission it. This flag has 13 stars to represent the 13 states of the time. The design has not changed very largely except for the number of stars as the country grew in size. -
As America is now a free country, the founding fathers had to establish a new government that would not stomp on one’s natural freedoms. This resulted in the Bill of rights which was rattifies by ¾ of the states. These rights included the right to petition the government, the right to a fair trial, the right to bear arms, and many more. These rights laid the bricks of the foundation of American Democracy to this day. -
Many citizens were angered by the major taxation of whiskey by the federal government. A small number of people participated in this rebellion against the United States. This rebellion was a great test of General Washington’s power though, as he marched 13,000 soldiers to quell the rebellion. He was able to display his power and his forgiveness, as no real battle ensued. 150 rebels were arrested, 2 being convicted and pardoned of treason, but no real consequenses rang for the rebels. -
Years after the battle of Yorktown won America’s war against the British, a leader was needed in order to usefully govern the people. The articles of confederation were not very popular, but there was one man who was very popular and he was the very man who led America to independence. When Washington was elected, he set many presidents which are still used to this day such as a two-term presidency and the importance of advisors who think differently than you. -
Thomas Jefferson, a founding father, was the Vice President for President Adams. Winning the presidential election due to Alexander Hamilton’s referral against Aaron Burr. Jefferson did many notable things during his presidency such as cutting spending on the Army and Navy and reducing the national debt. He did many unpopular things as a Democrat that some view as bad policy, but based on his interpretation of the Constitution, he felt that he was in the right. -
As the French was in debt due to Revolutions and Wars, the Louisiana territory was uo for sale. Jefferson, a strict constructionist, found it morally wrong to impose presidential power not strictly outlined by the constitution. Despite this, he went along with the purchase, buying it for 4 cents an acre. This purchase effectively doubled the size of the United States and provided a new way of trade: the Missippi River. -
The Atlantic Slave Trade was due to labor shortages in the New World. This grew into an international trade of people for forced labor. The trade of slaves across the Atlantic lasted until 1808 when it was outlawed by the government. After this banning of trans-continental slave trade, the British Caribbean plantations began to lose money and not have enough slaves to work the plantation. -
The Napoleonic wars were a large influence for the Monroe doctrine. This doctrine warned Europe to not interfere with the happenings of countries in the Western Hemisphere. This declaration became foreign policy that withstood for a very long time. -
Elizabeth Cady Stanton wrote this declaration in order to express her grievances that wealthy white men were alowed certain liberties, but wealthy white women were not. 300 men and women assembled to express their support for the document and 100 of them signed it. When it was released it was met with hostility, but many people found it inspiring. This declaration is considered the beginning of the women’s rights movement. -
The Treaty of Guadelupe Hildago occurred to end the Mexican-American war. This treaty gave America New Mexico and Upper-Californian territories. It almost halved Mexico’s territory and doubled the United States territory. The territory gained in the treaty resulted in the states of California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, some of Arizonia, Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Wyoming. -
Elizabeth Blackwell graduated and became the first woman to graduate from medical school. With support of much of her peers she was able to graduate top of her class. After her graduation, she became a champion of women’s academic rights, encouraging other women to go into this field. -
After the death of her son from Cholera, Harriet Beecher Stowe began to empathise with African mothers who are separated from their children. With this inspiration, she wrote Uncle Tom’s Cabin. It became a massive hit and it aided in unveiling the humanity of slaves and the main that they have to endure. Though it made people think, it also divided people, specifically in the North and South. It also weakened British support for the South, leading to the downfall of the Confederacy. -
Slavery was the driving fatcor for the establishment of the Republican party, as Republicans were abolitionists. The Republicans, partially led by Lincoln, fought for the freedom of the slaves. When they were established, they quickly became the main opposition to the Democratic Party and the Know-Nothings. -
Dred Scott sued for his freedom due to the fact that he has lived on free soil. This did not sway the courts saying that the courts do not have the ability forbid slavery in the north, meaning that Scott and his family were still slaves. With this case, they deemed the Missouri Comprimise unconstitutional, further hurting the abolitionist movement. -
Rising tensions between the Union and the Confederacy forced Mississippi to secede from the Union. They voted to succeed 83-15 due to their beleifs of States rights, Tariffs, and Slavery. With Mississippi in the Confederacy, the South obtained new soldiers and new land. -
Though it was only operational for 18 months, the Pony Express provided a fast mode of mail transportation from East to West. Not only did it deliver information and ideas, it also sped up the building of the transcontinental railroad. When the telegraph system reached the West, the Pony Express became obsolete. -
The Comprimise would have enshrined slavery in the United States Constitution, making it unconstitutional to outlaw slavery in the future. Additionally, the Union would not have been able to stop territories from allowing slavery. -
South Carolina was the first state to seccede from the Union, citing their displeasement with the election of Abraham Lincoln. This succession triggered many others in the South, disrupting the harmonized Union that Lincoln wanted to make. Due to the succession of many states, the tension rose until a civil war broke out. -
Robert E. Lee devised a plan to fight on the Northern side of the U.S., but he was stopped in Antietam by George McClellan. The Union won this battle, though they had more casualties. This is a large turning point of the war because Lincoln took this victory as an opportunity to announce the Emancipation Proclemation. -
Unknowingly, the Union and the Confederacy chose a similar spot in Gettysburg to go to and they collided, resulting in a three-day battle. Robert E. Lee Decided to make all of his soldiers go out at once while the Union let soldiers out in trickles to wait for reenforcements. This battle had the largest amount of casulties in the entirety of the Civil War, often called the turning point of the war. -
After the battle of Gettysburg, Lincoln announced the opening of a new cemetery to honor those who died during the civil war. People believed it significant because it gave some meaning to the senseless violence of the civil war. It additionally recentered the narrative as not a fight for the union but a fight for freedom and equality. -
In order to keep the country together, Lincoln and other leaders passed the 13th amendment to abolish slavery and involuntary servitude. Though this was a huge milestone for human rights, this was also a punishment for the south for seceding from the union. All in all, the 13th ammendment assisted in the furthering of POC rights and womens rights. -
John Wilkes Booth was a Souther Sympathiser and resented the president for the reunification of the nation. He believed that without LIncoln, the Confederacy would be restored. After Lincoln’s death a say after he was shot, the nation was once again, divided and most of the country was in mourning. -
Wyoming was interested in some publicity for their fairly new state, so they decided the best way to do that would be to allow women to vote. Another reason that frontiersmen voted to allow women to vote was because there were not many women in Myoming at the time and the hoped it would attract women to move there. Though their motives may not have been good, they did spark change and motivate women to demand that change. -
The Battle of Little Bighorn occurred due to the Second Treaty of Fort Laramie being broken. This treaty outlined the land that would be protected for the Lakota and Dakota tribes. Unfortunately, this treaty was broken, causing the conflict at Little Bighorn. Led by Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull, a battle broke out, resulting in a win for the native tribes. Though this was the largest Native victory to date, it did not protect them from further attack. -
Morale was low during the height of the first World War. Because of this, laws were enacted in order to make sure that people’s minds were focused on supporting the war instead of hindering it. The Espionage act bannned publicly suppporting America’s enemies, encouraging disobedience, and more. Though it caused drastic infringements on freedom of speech, it helped pave the way for strengthening of the first amendment.
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Morale was low during the height of the first World War. Because of this, laws were enacted in order to make sure that people’s minds were focused on supporting the war instead of hindering it. The Espionage act bannned publicly suppporting America’s enemies, encouraging disobedience, and more. Though it caused drastic infringements on freedom of speech, it helped pave the way for strengthening of the first amendment.
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Due to the fear of Communism, paranoia through McCarthyism was prevalent after the second World War. One of the victims of this were Sacco and Vanzetti, two Italian immigrants who were charged with murder. They admitted to being Anarchists, but there was not enough evidence to tie them to a murder. Despite this, they were charged and exicuted. This sparked protests throughout the country and started a debate about Civil Rights and free speech.