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Period: 1491 to
APUSH project
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1492
Columbus discovers new colonies
Columbus arrives by boat in search for new lands, discovers what now is known as the United States of America -
1492
Columbian Exchange
Refers to the flow of goods between the Americas, Europe, and Africa that followed Columbus's widely advertised "discovery" of the New World. People, animals, plants, and disease passed from continent to continent affecting virtually all aspects of the environment in all three. -
1494
Treaty of tordesillas
Signed by Spain and Portugal, dividing the territories of the New World. Spain received the bulk of territory in the Americas, compensating Portugal with titles to lands in Africa and Asia. -
1512
Encomienda system established
Under this, conquistadors and other leaders (encomenderos) received grants of a number of Indians, from whom they could exact "tribute" in the form of gold or labor. The encomenderos were supposed to protect and Christianize the Indians granted to them, but they most often used the system to effectively enslave the Indians and take their lands. -
1525
The rise of the Atlantic slave trade
The first record of a slave trade voyage direct from Africa to the Americas is for a ship that landed in Santo Domingo, on the island Española -
1532
Francisco Pizarro invades Peru
Highly advanced South American civilization that occupied present-day Peru until it was conquered by Spanish forces under Francisco Pizarro in 1532. The Incas developed sophisticated agricultural techniques such as terrace farming, in order to sustain large, complex societies in the unforgiving Andes Mountains. -
1540
Spain authorizes Coronado's conquest
This letter, written on behalf of King Charles V of Spain by Francisco Garcia de Loaysa, the president of the Council of the Indies, authorizes Coronado to explore the northern lands (present-day New Mexico) in the search for wealth and resources. Loaysa writes in hope that "through your excellent efforts you will bring the natives of that province under our sway and dominion and will bring them into the knowledge of the holy catholic faith." -
John Smith, failure at Jamestown
Virginia company lacked appeal to English because of forced labor upon colonists under John Smith -
Headright system
to attract more colonists and search for gold, 50 acres of land offered to immigrants who also sponsored indentured servants to Virginia -
Mayflower compact
first written government document of USA, declares separation of church and state in Pilgrim Plymouth -
Opechancanough rebellion at Jamestown
surprise attack killing 300 settlers, settlers fought back and won, trade continued with Virginia Indians -
Roger Williams banished
banished to Rhode Island by Puritans bc freedom of religion would make for stronger government -
John Smith, Powhatan, and Pocahontas at Jamestown
John Smith saved by Pocahontas and able to continue peaceful trade with Powhatan's tribe -
french and Indian war
Also known as the Seven Years’ War, this New World conflict marked another chapter in the long imperial struggle between Britain and France. When France’s expansion into the Ohio River valley brought repeated conflict with the claims of the British colonies, a series of battles led to the official British declaration of war in 1756. -
Land Ordinance of 1785
Provided for the sale of land in the Old Northwest and earmarked the proceeds toward repaying the national debt. -
anti-federalists
Opponents of the 1787 Constitution, they cast the document as antidemocratic, objected to the subordination of the states to the central government, and feared encroachment on individuals' liberties in the absence of a bill of rights. -
federalists
Proponents of the 1787 Constitution, they favored a strong national government, arguing that the checks and balances in the new Constitution would safeguard the people's liberties. -
great compromise
Popular term for the measure which reconciled the New Jersey and Virginia plans at the constitutional convention, giving states proportional representation in the House and equal representation in the Senate. The compromise broke the stalemate at the convention and paved the way for subsequent compromises over slavery and the Electoral College. -
new jersey plan
(1787) "Small-state plan" put forth at the Philadelphia convention, proposing equal representation by state, regardless of population, in a unicameral legislature. Small states feared that the more populous states would dominate the agenda under a proportional system. -
northwest ordinance
(1787) "Small-state plan" put forth at the Philadelphia convention, proposing equal representation by state, regardless of population, in a unicameral legislature. Small states feared that the more populous states would dominate the agenda under a proportional system. -
articles of confederation
First American constitution that established the United States as a loose confederation of states under a weak national Congress, which was not granted the power to regulate commerce or collect taxes. The Articles were replaced by a more efficient Constitution in 1789. -
Battle of New Orleans
a major battle of the War of 1812 that actually took place after the war ended; American forces inflicted a massive defeat on the British, protected the city, and propelled Andrew Jackson to national prominence -
American Colonization Society
organization founded in 1817 that advocated sending freed slaves to a colony in Africa; it established the colony of Liberia in 1827 and encouraged free African Americans to emigrate there -
Adams-Onis Treaty
under its terms. the United States paid Spain $5 million for Florida, Spain recognized America's claims to the Oregon Country, and the United States surrendered its claim to northern Mexico -
Missouri compromise
an effort by Congress to defuse the sectional and political rivalries triggered by the request of Missouri late in 1819 for admission as a state in which slavery would be permitted. At the time, the United States contained twenty-two states, evenly divided between slave and free. -
American Anti-Slavery Society
organization of reformers who embraced moral persuasion to end slavery; founded in 1833, it opposed gradual emancipation, rejected compensation to slaveholders, supported many types of reform, and welcomed women as full and active members -
Wilmot Proviso
proposal to prohibit slavery in any land acquired in the Mexican War, but southern senators, led by John C. Calhoun of South Carolina, defeated the measure in 1846 and 1847. It Failed -
fugitive slave act of 1852
these laws provided for the return of escaped slaves to their owners. The North was lax about enforcing the 1793 law, which irritated the South to no end. The 1850 law was tougher and was aimed at eliminating the underground railroad. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
a compromise law in 1854 that suspended the Missouri Compromise and left it to voters in Kansas and Nebraska to determine whether they would be slave or free states. the law exacerbated sectional tensions when voters can to blows over the question of slavery in Kansas. It was very controversial, supported by President Pierce and not supported by Douglass -
Bleeding Kansas
A sequence of violent events involving abolitionists and pro-Slavery elements that took place in Kansas-Nebraska Territory. The dispute further strained the relations of the North and South, making civil war imminent. -
pottawatomie Massacre
When John Brown (abolitionist) and followers murdered 5 pro-slavery settlers in Kansas then mutilated their bodies to scare other slave supporters and to keep slavery supporters from moving into Kansas. -
Woodrow Wilson
28th president of the United States, known for World War I leadership, created Federal Reserve, Federal Trade Commission, Clayton Antitrust Act, progressive income tax, lower tariffs, women's suffrage (reluctantly), Treaty of Versailles, sought 14 points post-war plan, League of Nations (but failed to win U.S. ratification), won Nobel Peace Prize -
panic of 1857
An economic crash that arose due to the inflation caused by in pouring California gold. The demands of the Crimean War over-stimulated grain growth and land speculation, and when the collapse came over five thousand businesses failed. Northern farmers were hard-hit by the panic, while the South basically went untouched. Also the panic created a clamor of higher tariff rates. -
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
A series of seven debates. The two argued the important issues of the day like popular sovereignty, the Lecompton Constitution and the Dred Scott decision. One of the two won these debates, but the other's position in these debates helped him win in the 1860 presidential election. -
Freeport doctrine
Stated that exclusion of slavery in a territory (where it was legal) could be determined by the refusal of the voters to enact any laws that would protect slave property. Stated by Stephen Douglass during the Lincoln-Douglass debates, eventually led to his loss in the 1860 presidential election -
Election of 1860
Lincoln represented the Republicans. Stephen Douglas represented Northern Democrats, and John Breckenridge represented Southern Democrats. John Bell represented the Constitutional Party who wanted to heal the split between the North and South. Lincoln was not on the ballot in most southern states. It was primarily a sectional election (north v. south). Lincoln received the most popular votes (40%) and won the election with the electoral vote. -
LeCompton constitution
pro-slavery constitution written for Kansas' admission to the union in opposition to the anti-slavery Topeka Constitution; it was eventually rejected and Kansas became a free state in 1861 -
fort sumter
A fort in SE South Carolina, guarding Charleston Harbour. Its capture by Confederate forces (1861) was the first action of the Civil War. -
Anaconda Plan
Plan for civil war proposed by general-in-chief Winfield Scott, which emphasized the blockade of Southern ports and called for an advance down the Mississippi River the cut the South in two, the plan would suffocate the South -
Battle of gettysburg
Civil War battle in Penn. that ended in Union victory, spelling doom for the Confederacy, which never again managed to invade the North.Site of General George Pickett's daring but doomed charge on the Northern lines. -
election of 1864
Lincoln vs. McClellan, Lincoln wants to unite North and South, McClellan wants war to end if he's elected, citizens of North are sick of war so many vote for McClellan, Lincoln wins -
freedmens Bureau
1865, Congress created the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands; acted as an early welfare agency of sorts, providing food, shelter, and medical aid for those made destitute by the war, both blacks and homeless whites; led by General Oliver O. Howard -
Ku Klux Klan
a group of mostly Southerners who were extremely racist against African Americans, and disliked all other cultures and races. They originated in Tennessee in 1865. General Forrest was in charge of this group. The members of this group dominated the democratic party. They also released a campaign that terrified the republicans. The Ku Klux Klan went around blackmailing many republican politicians and burned black schools and churches. -
civil acts of 1866
This act pronounced all African Americans to be US citizens (repudiated the Dred Scott decision), and also attempted to provide a legal shield against the operation of the southern states' Black Codes. -
Reconstruction Act
divided the Confederate states except Tennessee into five military districts. Military commanders in the districts were appointed to oversee constitutional conventions in the districts and the creation of state constitutions. This military occupation would last until the states created new constitutions that included black suffrage, the permanent disfranchisement of Confederate leaders, and ratification of the 14th Amendment. -
Tenure of Office Act (1867)
In 1867 this Act was passed which limited the President's power by prohibiting the President from removing civil officers w/o Senate consent. Goal was to bar Johnson from firing Secretary of War Stanton. -
Boss Tweed
head of Tammany Hall, NYC's powerful democratic political machine in 1868. Between 1868 and 1869 he led the Tweed Reign, a group of corrupt politicians in defrauding the city. Example: Responsible for the construction of the NY court house; actual construction cost $3million. Project cost tax payers $13million. -
Teddy Roosevelt
26th President, from 1901-1909, passed two acts that purified meat, took over in 1901 when McKinley was shot, Went after trusts, formed the "Bull Moose Party", wanted to build the Panama canal, and make our Navy ( military stronger ) -
W.E.B. Du Bois
He was the African American leader most opposed to the gradual approach of achieving equal rights presented by Booker T. Washington. He advocated immediate equal treatment ad equal educational opportunities for blacks. He helped initiate the founding of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1909. -
FDR
1910, elected democrat into New York state legislature. 1932 became president. Made new deal. Wanted to increase productivity of industry. -
18th amendment
1919, prohibited the non-medical sale of alcohol. -
Carrie Chapman Catt
(1859-1947) A suffragette who was president of the National Women's Suffrage Association, and founder of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance. Instrumental in obtaining passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920. -
19th amendment
Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (1920) extended the right to vote to women in federal or state elections. -
Margaret Sanger
1921 - founded American Birth Control League; which became Planned Parenthood in the 1940s. Advocated birth control awareness. -
Marcus Garvey
African American leader durin the 1920s who founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association and advocated mass migration of African Americans back to Africa. Was deported to Jamaica in 1927. -
Roe v. Wade
'73 Supreme ct decision that stuck down 46 state laws restricting women's access to abortion (highlighted divisions within women's movement -
Ronald Reagan
first elected president in 1980 and elected again in 1984. He ran on a campaign based on the common man and "populist" ideas. He served as governor of California from 1966-1974, and he participated in the McCarthy Communist scare. Iran released hostages on his Inauguration Day in 1980. While president, he developed Reaganomics, the trickle down effect of government incentives. He cut out many welfare and public works programs. -
george bush
Vice under Reagen. President during 1989-1993 Berlin wall comes down, Persian Gulf war against aggressive Saddam Hussein who invaded Kuwait. -
Persian Gulf war
a 1991 war in which the United States and its UN allies drove invading Iraqi forces out of neighboring Kuwait -
Americans with disabilities Act
Passed by Congress in 1991, this act banned discrimination against the disabled in employment and mandated easy access to all public and commercial buildings. -
operation desert storm
Military operations that started on January 16, 1991, with a bombing campaign, followed by a ground invasion of February 23 and 24, 1991. The ground war lasted 100 hours and resulted in a spectacularly one-sided military victory for the Coalition. -
9/11 terrorists attacks
the series of terrorist attacks on the united states that killed thousands of people
