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Period: Apr 22, 1491 to
Politics and Power
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Apr 21, 1492
Christopher Columbus
Spain funded Christopher Columbus's journey find a route to Asia from Europe, but he insteaded landed in the New World. His discovery of the Americas led to colonization and competition among Spanish, Dutch, French, and British powers. -
Apr 21, 1512
Encomienda System
Spanish settlers received grants of land in the Americas and in return had to Christainize Native Americans. The Encomienda System led to the creation of the Spanish Caste System which was the first establishment of power and superiority in the New World. -
Spanish Armada
The Spanish Armada set sail to secure control of the English Channel, but after ten days of fighting they were forced to retreat. The defeat of the Armada made England a world-class power and introduced new weapons which ended the era of boarding and close-quarter fighting. -
Virginia Company
The Virginia Company was the first joint stock company and was created to colonize North America. The Company led to the foundation of Jamestown, and promised gold, Christianization, and passage to the Indies. -
Jamestown
Jamestown became the first permanent English settlement in the New World. Its later success led to the creation of more European colonies and the desire for wealth and power. -
Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact was the first written form of government in the New World. It created just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices neccessary to help run the Plymouth colony. -
Indian Massacre
The Powhatan Indians led an attack on the English settlers of Jamestown for enrocahment of their native lands. This attack along with other violent rebellions created tensions between Europeans and Natives that would continue throughout the colonization of the Americas. -
King Philip's War
King Philip led a war against British settlers who tried to control the Native population through colonial rule. The Europeans won the war and beheaded the King, using his head to show other Native groups the dangers of waging war against the colonies. -
Queen Anne's War
Queen Anne’s War was fought between France and England for control of teriritory in the Americas. The Treaty of Utrecht ended the conflict and England gained land in Canada previously owned by the French. -
Slave Laws
King George II issued a statement that repealed an act declaring slaves were real estate, but the statement did not prohibit classifying slaves as property. This declaration led to Chattel Slavery and other slave laws regarding the status of Africans. -
French and Indian War
The expansion of French powers into the Ohio River Valley created conflict with the British who had also claimed ties to that territory. William Pitt's blank check led to a British success and the signing of the Treaty of Paris which gave Britain French and Spanish land in the Americas. The treaty significantly strenghtened American colonies and the role of Britain as a world power. -
Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation prohibited colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains and restricted colonial trade with the Natives. This declaration increased the power of the British government over the American colonies and led to tension between the groups. -
The Stamp Act
This act required colonists to pay a tax on paper, documents, and cards. It was the first direct tax on the colonists and was imposed by the British government without the approval of colonial legislatures. -
Declaration of Independence
Congress declared independence from Great Britain and passed the document that stated the colonies were no longer under British colonial rule. This allowed the colonies to create their own form of government, their own set of laws, and regulate their own economy. -
Articles of Confederation
The Continental Congress drafted the document to define the relationship among the states. The document was the first written constitution of the US and stated that Congress was given the power to make treaties and alliances, maintain armed forces, and coin money, but couldnt impose taxes or regulate commerce. -
Judiciary Act
The act increased the number of federal courts, judges, clerks, and marshals and advanced the federalists agenda by reorganzing the court system. -
Ban on Slave Trade
On March 2nd, Congress voted to end the international slave trade, but it did not end the means of using slaves for labor. Many Northern states abolished slavery, but the South continued to use Africans to work on plantations which increased tension between the North and the South. -
Election of 1824
The election was decided by the House of Representatives after no candidate received the majority of the electoral votes. The house chose John Quincy Adams as the sixth president of the US. The election was viewed as corrupt becuase even though Jackson received the popular vote, he did not win. -
Nullification Crisis
South Carolina protested the federal protective tariffs and adopted the Ordinance of Nullification which declared the tariffs void in the state. The crisis resulted in the passage of the Compromise Tariff Bill. -
Whig Party Formed
Anti Jackson political parties merged to form the Whigs which was made up of small farmers, educators, manufacturers, and immigrants.The Whigs favored a program of modernization and economic protectionism. They also supported the policies of the American System. -
Compromise of 1850
Congress adopted the Compromise which admitted California as a free state without forbidding slavery in other territories acquired from Mexico. This settled some disputes between the north and the south over the issue of slavery. -
First Meeting of the Republican Party
The party formed to protest the spread of slavery into new territories. Their platform was based on the idea that all land in the US is free land. -
Kansas Nebraska Act
Congress passed the act which prohibited slavry north of the 3630 line and stated that the status of slavery could be determined by the states. This act repealed the Missouri Compromise. -
Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott sued for his freedom, declaring that he had been living in a free state and was no longer a slave. The Supreme Court ruled that he had no right to sue a federal court becuase African Americans were not citizens and that the Missouri Compromise ws unconstitutional. -
Lincoln Elected
The election of 1860 was the immediate cause for the outbreak of the Civil War. The nation had been divided on questions of states' rights and slavery, fracturing the Democratic Party into Southern and Northern factions and bringing Abraham Lincoln and the Republican Party to power without the support of a single Southern state. -
Indian Appropriation Act
Congress passed the act which ended the practice of treating natives like independent nations. This led to the creation of the Carlisle School which was designed to replace indian culture with white American. -
Whiskey RIng Scandal
Distillers and federal officials were discovered to have participated in tax evasion. It resulted in a conspiracy against government officials. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
The Chinese Exclusion Act was the nation’s first law to ban immigration. The act banned Chinese immigration and prohibited the Chinese from becoming citizens. Violence and anti Chinese riots still occurred. -
Interstate Commerce Act
Congress passed the act which made the railroads the first industry to be regulated by the government. Congress passed the law in response to public demand and pressure from farmers and populist groups. -
McKinley Tariff
After the tariff was passed, Democrats argued that it raised prices, enriched the wealthy, and fostered inefficiency. Republicans argued that tariffs promoted small industries, protected established industries, raised workers’ wages, protected workers against low-wage competition, and fostered a market for farm goods. -
Open Door Policy
The policy aimed to secure international agreement and promote equal opportunity for trade and commerce in China. The Open Door became the official US policy towards the Far East. -
Roosevelt Corollary
The Corollary extended the Monroe Doctrine and asserted the right of the United States to police the Caribbean. It led to the idea that all of Latin America was vulnerable to European attack. -
Sixteenth Amendment
The amendment allowed the federal government to put taxes on incomes. Income tax allows the federal government to keep an army, build roads and bridges, and enforce laws. -
Fourteen Points
The program outlined a plan for peace after World War I. It called for the reduction of arms, self-determination of nations, and a league of nations. Wilson believed that his policy would bring stability to Europe -
18th Amendment
The amendment made brewing and distilling illegal, inspired new forms of sociability between men and women, and suppressed elements of immigrant and working-class culture. The prohibition on alcohol led to bootlegging which was the illegal buying and selling of liquor. -
Truman Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine was a policy to keep Communism from spreading to politically unstable countries. This was the start of the containment policy and the beginning of what would be the Cold War. -
Internal Security Act
The act strengthened laws against espionage, allowed investigation of immigrants who were suspected of communist activities, and allowed the limitation of free speech for national security reasons. It increased the ideas of the Red Scare in the US. -
Brown vs Board of Education
The Supreme Court decision overturned the ruling that separate but equal facilities were constitutional. It integrated public schools in the US. -
24th Amendment
The amendment prohibited poll taxes for elections which had previously prevented African Americans from voting. It created new rights for African Americans. -
Civil Rights Act
The act banned discrimination based on sex, race, color, religion, and national origin. It was the crowning legislative achievement in the Civil Rights Movement. -
Reagan Tax Cuts
Reagan Tax Cuts reduced overall income taxes by 25% which eliminated tax loopholes and deductions. These were the lowest tax rates since Coolidge. -
Dont Ask Dont Tell
This was the US policy on service by gays and lesbians in the military instituted by Clinton. The policy promoted protests and advocation for gay and lesbian rights. -
War in Afghanistan
The US goal was to remove the Taliban, destroy Al Qaeda and find Bin Laden. The US quickly removed Taliban but searched for Bin Laden and Al Qaeda for over a decade. -
Homeland Security Act
The act was passed to prevent terrorist attacks, reduce the vulnerability of the US to terrorism, and minimize damage and assist in recovery for terrorist attacks. The act was a result of the 9/11 attacks and promoted the War on Terror. -
Iran Contra Affair
US agreed to sell arms to Iran to secure the release of hostages and to fund Nicaraguan contras. It showed the power of the government and led to the public's suspicion of government officials.
