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Jamestown
Jamestown was founded near the James River and was the first American colony to succeed. Leaders of the town included John Smith and John Rolfe. Jamestown’s population grew to over 2000 in 1621 which resulted in the need for more laborers. Soon indentured servants were coming to America. The town also founded the first representative assembly in the American colonies, the House of Burgesses. -
The House of Burgesses
In Jamestown there was a growing need for a proper government. The Bristish Parliament was just too far away to actually govern the colonies. Therefore, the House of Burgesses was formed. It became the first representative assembly in the American colonies. There, the elected representatives would meet one a year to discuss different matters. -
The Great Migration
In 1625, Charles I became King of England. He dissolved the Parliament meaning that he solely would make the laws. To escape the harsh treatment of the King the Puritans left England for America. The Puritans soon setup their colonies. These colonies included New Hanpshire, Massachusetts, Conneticut, and Rhode Island. -
King Philip's War
King Philip's War began in 1675 with the Native Americans attacking the colonial settlements. The war began due to conflicts between the colonists and Natives in the matters of land ownership, religion, and the constant increase in colonial population. King Philip was another name for the chief of the Wampanoag tribe, Metacom. He led the Natives into the war. Sadly, most of the Natives were killed and the English setllers began expanding further into the Natives' lands. -
The Enlightenment
The Enlightenment time period stressed reason and science. People like Benjamin Franklin and John Locke were the leaders of this time of reason. Locke stated the rights of man as life, liberty, and property. Many of the ideas in the Enlightenment era resulted in the ideas that shape our country of America today. These include the three branches of government, the rights of man, and indiviual power. -
The Great Awakening
A religious movement, known as The Great Awakening, occurred during the 1730's and 1740's. It impacted the culture of the colonials. People argued over religion and many even joined Protestant groups. Some of these people included, African Americans, Native Americans, and women. The movement inspired colonists to question British authority and the idea of freedom slowly emerged. -
The Zenger Trial
John Peter Zenger was a publisher of the New-York Weekly Journal. He printed an article criticizing New York's Governor. For this act he stood trial, as at this time it was illegal to criticize the government in print. His lawyer, Andrew Hamilton, claimed that everyone had the right to speak the truth. The court voted 'not guilty' and this brought about the freedom of press. -
Stono Rebellion
In the September of 1739, 20 slaves gathered at the Stono River. They were angry and frustrated at the way they were being treated; at the lack of respect they were given. They attacked several farmers and marched on, inviting others to join them in their search for freedom. Sadly, they were killed or executed by the militia soon after. This was the first African American rebellion and abolition attempt. -
The Albany Plan of Union
During the French and Indian War, the six Iroquois nations banded together for defense. Benjamin Franklin admired this form of unity and wanted the colonies to the same. He proposed the Albany Plan of Union in the June of 1754. It would unite the colonies in a way much like the Iroquois making the nation much stronger. The plan was not accepted due to the concerns of England that America may became to strong to control. -
The Proclamation of 1763
King George III issued this statement after the end of Pontiac's Rebellion. It said that the colonists weren't allowed the settle west of the Appalachians. This angered the colonists and fueled the ideas of freedom from England. The colonists believed they had earned the right to the Ohio River Valley. This was one of the many reasons that brought about the Revolution -
The Boston Massacre
Tensions between the British and the coolonists were high. Finally, the tension hit its peak and it reulted in violence. Trading insults soon evolved into the death of Crispus Attucks and four laborers. The Sons of Liberty called this the Boston Massacre. The incident soon was put into every pamphlet and newspaper available to the colonists, fueling anti-British feelings and calling for a war -
The Boston Tea Party
In 1773, the British Parliament passed the Tea Act. This act placed a tax on tea and gave the British East India Company was given control of the Asmerican tea trade. Angered colonists started protesting and one of the best known protests is the Boston Tea Party. A group of colonists, dressed as Native Americans boarded three tea ships and unloaded all of the tea into the Boston harbor.The Boston Tea Party was one of the many events that brought about the Revolution. -
The Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris of 1783 ended the Revolutionary War. It gave Americans favorable terms, including their independence. The treaty though fair was never fully lived up to, with both sides not going completely with the terms. Even then, it was was one of the most important documents in American history. The Treaty of Paris helped America win the rights to lfe, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness -
The Constitution
On the 14 of May in 1787, the members of congress gathered to sign the Constitution of America. It took over a month to officilly ratify the Constitution. When it was done, though, it became the most important document in America. The reason America is the way it is today is because of the document we call the Constitution, the law book of America. -
The Lousiana Purchase
During 1802, when Spanish lost to the French, they gave up all their land to the French. This included New Orleans and important trading port for the US, so America offered to buy New Orleans. France responded with an interesting proposal, $15 million for the whole Louisiana Territory. America agreed and the country doubled in size. -
The Lewis and Clark Expedition
Thomas Jefferson wanted to explore the Lousiana territory that America had just bought from France. He put together the corps of Discovery and made Meriweather Lewis and William Clark the captians. On May 14, 1804 the expedition began. Their job was not only to explore the territory but also to see if there was an all water route to the Pacific. The expedition ended in 1806 with fantastic results. -
The battle for Fort McHenry
On September 13, 1814 Francis Scott key wrote the US national anthem. While watching the battle for Fort McHenry he wrote the Star-Spangled Banner. The battle went on the whole day. No matter how much the British ships blasted at the fort, the men protecting the fort wouldn't given in. This battle was one by the Americans and brought about the end of the war of 1812. -
The Monroe Doctrine
In 1823, John Quincy Adams, James Monroe's secretary of state, spoke out against colonialism. President Monroe soon followed this up with his statement, now known as Monroe Doctrine. The Monroe Doctrine stated America's foreign policy.Any attempts by England at colonialism in American territory would be considered a threat requiring US intervention. -
Nat Turner's Slave Rebellion
Slave rebellions were getting more and more common now. The most famous one would probably be at Turner's rebellion in 1831. Nat Turner led about 70 slaves to rebel in Virginia. They killed 55 Americans before getting caught. Those who weren't already dead were caught and hanged. This rebellion caused fear to spread through the South. The grip of slavery grew even harder to shake in the South, and tensions between the North and South increased as well. -
The Battle of the Alamo
The Texans fight for freedom was expected to be easy, but the Alamo changed that. William Travis led a small force of 183 volunteers to guard the Alamo. Soon Santa Anna's troops came and began the seige of the Alamo. At the end all but five Texans lived. This battle showed Texans how hard they would have to fight for their freedom! -
The Bear Flag Revolt
The Bear Flag Revolt was the name given for the revolt against Mexico by the California settlers. It was led by John C Fremont. They arrested the Mexican Commander and raised their own flag, now the California state flag. The rebels declared their independence from Mexico. Soon, American troops came and seized control of Califronia. -
The Dred Scott Decision
For the first time in the history of America, a slave by the name of Dred Scott, sued for his freedom. His owner had taken him into an area where slavery was considered illegal. The Chief Justice, Robert B. Taney gave his verdict in 1857. Dred Scott, not being a US citizen, couldn't sue for freedom. Southerner's were acstatic due to the decision but it outraged many Northerners. -
The election of 1860
The election of 1860 was fought between four candidates. For the first time a party had split up in to two separate parties. Many Southerners had warned that if Lincoln, the republican, won they would secede from the Union. Lincoln supported abolition and his position of containment wasn't widely accepted by those in the South. The election of 1860 was the beginning of the Civil War, due to the victory of Abraham Lincoln. -
The Battle of Bull Run
When the war began, many people consideredthe war to be an easy one day battle. Not one person thought it would turnout to be three dread full years of misery and blood shed in the name of slavery. The Battle of Bull Run took place in Virginia and was a cruel shocker for most of America. After losig to the South, Northerners realized that they had underestimated the South and Lincoln was soon calling for a army of at least 500,000 volunteers. -
Appomattox
Grant and Lee met at Appomatox Court House in Virginia to end the war with one last battle. With victory for the North close at hand, general Lee surrendered. He wanted to end this blood shed. The two generals met to discuss the terms of surrender, in which Grant was unbelievably generous. After four years, the end of the Civil War had come, with the North as its victor.
