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1492
Christopher Columbus
In 1492, Columbus was financed by Spain to discover the New World. Upon his arrival, Natives were killed off either by weapons or by the diseases brought over from the Old World. -
1492
The Columbian Exchange
This is the exchange of diseases, animals, and plants between the Old World and the New World after Christopher Columbus' contact with the New World. Technology and ideas were also exchanged and this was significant for the first time things were widely exchanged between continents. -
1556
The Black Legend
This is a tale of the cruelty that the Spanish unleashed to the Natives. This was used by English settlers to justify their colonization. They used saving the Indians from the Spanish as their excuse -
1565
Saint Augustine
Florida is settled by the Spanish and it becomes the first permanent European colony in North America by the Spanish. It was hard to settle because of harsh, hot weather and bugs, which led to diseases and bad living condition. -
1570
Iroquois Confederacy
Leagues made up of different Native groups such as the West Coast Indians and the Great Plains Indians. They worked together forming a peace. They had a mixture of cultures and languages. -
Roanoke Colony
The Roanoke Colony was founded by Sir Walter Raleigh as the first English settlement in the New World. Later it became known as the Lost Colony because no traces were left of the colonists that inhabited it. -
Spanish Armada
This was a fleet of Spanish ships that was defeated by the English. Spain decided to attack Britain because they had killed the Catholic Mary Queen of Scots and the British were Protestant. -
Jamestown
This is the first permanent English settlement in the Americas. It thrived off the production of Tobacco and it was founded in the Colony of Virginia. -
Mayflower Compact
This was an agreement signed by the Pilgrims that allowed them to live in a civil society governed by their own laws. They settled in Plymouth Rock. It was the first governing paper by them. -
Rhode Island
Rhode Island was founded by Roger Williams after being banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Freedom of religion and politics was allowed here, which was a save haven from the Puritans. -
Halfway Covenant
This allowed for partial membership in the Puritan Church in return for church privileges like land or food. It's purpose was to reinstall a fervor for religion in the people who have lost their faith. People who had half membership were granted political rights. -
King Philip's War
This was an effort of the Native Americans to kick the British out of their southern land. Metacom (Pokunoket chief) led an uprising against the British to fight the assimilation to Britain's culture. It ended with the capture and murder of Metacom. -
Bacon's Rebellion
This was a rebellion led by Nathaniel Bacon against Governor William Berkeley. Virginians were against the governors friendly policies with the Native Americans. This revolt included blacks and indentured servants. -
Glorious Revolution
This revolution demonstrated the right of people to change their form of government as long as they believed that it was not right for them. King James II of England was overthrown by English Parliamentarians. -
French and Indian War
This was a war fought in the North American theater between Britain and France. It was an imperial war where Native Americans sided with the French because of fur trade relations. The Treaty of Paris (1763) ended fighting with the British on the winning side. The French lost the majority of land in the North Americas. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was apolitical protest against the Tea Act of 1773 that forced colonists to purchase tea from the British. The Sons of Liberty went to the Boston Harbor and dumped tons of tea into the ocean. As a result of this, Parliament passed the Coercive Acts which closed the harbor until lost debts were paid off. -
Articles of Confederation (Ratified)
These articles gave a lot of state power, but was very limited in federal power. This means that the federal government could not collect taxes, they could not declare war, and resolving issues took too much effort. -
Land Ordinance of 1785
This ordinance split up land and it was given to towns and sold for income. It also set guidelines for funding education. It settled legal confusions about land as well. -
Shays' Rebellion
Farmers revolted against the state for demanding taxes and taking their land. Daniel Shays led this revolt violently. The Articles of Confederation were too weak to stop this revolt, which called for a stronger federal government. -
Constitutional Convention
Leaders gathered at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation. George Washington became president of convention. This is were the federalist and anti-federalists emerged over the debate of whether or not to create a new Constitution. (Federalists: Washington, Hamilton, Madison) (Anti-federalists: Samuel Adams and Patrick Henry) -
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
It outlined the steps for a state to apply for statehood. It banned slavery in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wyoming, and Minnesota. It went against the Proclamation of 1763 by allowing interaction with Native Americans. It also called for the establishment of free public schools. -
Louisiana Purchase
The United States bought a big amount of land from the French which was located west of the Mississippi River. Even though Thomas Jefferson supported strict policy of the Constitution, he bought this land even though these rights were not directly outlined. This purchase doubled the size of the United States. -
War of 1812
This was a war between Britain and the United States fought over conflicts about maritime rights and impressment. It ended with the Treaty of Ghent, which returned all acquired land to original owner. It was part of the Napoleonic Wars. -
James Monroe's Presidency
This presidency is known as the "Era of Good Feelings"; it is similiar to the Gilded Age because people felt good and looked good, but in the inside, there was chaos and problems. There was a lot of national pride, but there were a lot of tensions about tax and slavery. -
Monroe Doctrine
This stated that Europe should not interfere with any of the Americas. This warned against any further imperialism in the western hemisphere. It also declared U.S. neutrality in European affairs. -
Erie Canal
This canal linked Midwest farming to cities and contributed to the growth of New York. Allowed for an economic and social boom. -
Second Great Awakening
This was a big religious revival. Baptists and Methodists gained momentum during this period and the U.S. wanted to be religious. They believed that Jesus should behind the progress of the nation. -
Indian Removal Act
In 1830, Andrew Jackson signed this act which permitted him to grant unsettles land west of the Mississippi in exchange for Indian lands. This was enforced by federal power and there was retaliation from the Native Americans. This led to the Trail of Tears. -
Wilmot Proviso
This proposal proposed a law to ban slavery into Mexican territory. It was one of the big causes of the American Civil War. It was a settlement of the Mexican-American war, but it was never actually passed because Senate defeated it. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
This significant treaty officially ends the Mexican-American War. It gave the United States what is currently: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. This result was possible because of our victory. -
Compromise of 1850
Introduced by the great compromiser, Henry Clay, the Compromise of 1850 was supposed to keep tensions between the North and South at bay over the issue of slavery. Under this compromise, California was added as a free state and the Fugitive Slave Law was strengthened. Utah and New Mexico were also granted popular sovereignty. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
This allowed the states of Kansas and Nebraska to go under a policy of popular sovereignty; they decided as individuals whether or not they will become a slave or free state. This repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820 that had previously prohibited slavery up north passed the latitude 36°30´ line. -
Dred Scott Case
When Dred Scott's owner took him into the northern state of Illinois, which was a free state, he sued for his freedom because he stepped foot on free ground. Antislavery justices tried to defend the rightness of the Missouri Compromise, but it backfired and the final decision said that slaves were property and had no political rights and/or freedoms, therefore not having the ability to sue. -
Abraham Lincoln Presidency
Abraham Lincoln became the 16th President of the United States as the first President from the Republican Party. He launched Reconstruction under the United States and it was called the Presidential Reconstruction. He wanted to make amends with the southern states that had seceded from the union. His most famous speech is the Gettysburg Address, given at the heart of the Civil War. -
American Civil War
The American Civil War was the outcome of built up tensions between the Union and Confederates. It kicked off at Fort Sumter when Confederate troops attacked the Union's fort. The goal of this war was to come to a conclusion about slavery. After the Civil War, slavery was abolished and the South still believed they had the right to be able to nullify federal laws. -
13th Amendment
This amendment to the United States' Constitution abolished slavery and and form of involuntary servitude. This did not, however, end discrimination in any form. -
Ku Klux Klan
This racist, white supremacist group was founded by a group of Confederate veterans. They displayed acts of violence against minorities and had a revival in the 1920s. -
14th Amendment
This amendment to the constitution grants and defines citizenship to the people of the United States. It forbade individual states to restrict the basic rights of citizens, leaving more power to the federal government. This was big because it included former slaves, which have been freed already by the 13th Amendment. -
Transcontinental Railroad Completion
At Promontory Point, Utah, the first transcontinental railroad was completed. This signified a boost in the economy because goods were able to be transported from west to east faster and at a cheaper rate. -
Battle of Little Bighorn
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Wounded Knee Massacre
At this massacre, about 300 men, women, and children were killed by U.S. military troops. It took place at Wounded Knee Creek in South Dakota at the homeland of the Sioux. This massacre is key because this was the last retaliation by the Natives due to loss of motivation. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
A precedent to Brown v. Board of Education, this Supreme Court case declared "separate but equal", which upheld racial segregation in public facilities. Even though it says "equal" it really wasn't equal for minorities. -
Treaty of Paris (1898)
This treaty ends the Spanish-American War. It concluded that Spain will give the United States the last of the Spanish Empire, which included: Cuba, Puerto Rico,Guam, and the Philippines. -
Big Stick Diplomacy
Enacted by President Theodore Roosevelt, he is known to have said "Speak softly, and carry a big stick." This meant that foreign negotiations are backed by a threat of force. -
Roosevelt Corollary
An addendum to the Monroe Doctrine, stating that the U.S. will assert themselves into the affairs of any American affairs if they are under seizure of an European country. This is saying that they will go to any means to stop any further European imperialization. -
18th Amendment
This amendment to the United States' Constitution established Prohibition, later undone by the 21st Amendment. It banned the manufacture or sale of alcohol in any U.S. territory. Despite being against alcohol, it created a lot of black market selling and underground crimes. -
19th Amendment
This amendment to the United States' Constitution gave women the right to vote. It virtually eliminated discrimination based on sex. This is known as women's suffrage. -
The Great Depression
The Great Depression started when the stock market crashed. America was in economic ruins and families were left without homes or proper nutrition. Hoovervilles were developed; dubbed that way because President Hoover adopted a laissez-faire form of government, providing no help to the people. -
The New Deal
These were a series of policies made by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in an effort to provide relief, reform, and recovery to the American people during and after the Great Depression. It had programs like Social Security, Agricultural Adjustment Act, and Civil Works Administration. -
Lend-Lease Act
Despite the United States' claimed neutrality, the U.S. military provided aid to foreign nations during World War II. This allowed him to sell, lease, or lend weapons or supplies to other nations without getting directly involved with the war. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
Japanese air force attacked Pearl Harbor, a United States naval base in Hawaii. This caused the United States to enter World War II after they have been claiming neutrality. They went primarily after the Japanese directly after this disaster by the call to action of President Franklin Roosevelt. -
Battle of Midway
This was a naval battle in the Pacific Theater during World War II. American aircraft defeated a Japanese fleet that was on the way t Midway. This became a turning point in the war. -
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
This was an intergovernmental military alliance between several North American and European states. -
Brown v. Board of Education
In a contrast to the Plessy v. Ferguson case, Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court case declared that separate public schools are unconstitutional. It said that the phrase "separate but equal" is in fact, unconstitutional. -
Voting Rights Act
President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act, which overcame legal barriers that prevented African Americans from voting. It enforced the 15th amendment and prohibited racial discrimination in voting. -
1968 Presidential Election
President Richard Nixon won the presidency as a Republican and his opponent, Hubert Humphrey, lost drastically. The final say was 301 electoral votes versus 191 votes. -
26th Amendment
This amendment was added to allow eighteen year old adults to be able to vote. The sentiment against\ the Vietnam War helped act as a catalyst for the protest to lower the voting age. -
Nixon Resigns
After much publicity on the Watergate Scandal and being impeached, President Richard Nixon steps down from presidency, becoming the first and only president to ever resign. Vice President, Gerald Ford took over and immediately pardoned the wrongdoings of Nixon. -
1976 Presidential Election
This presidential election was against Democrat Jimmy Carter and Republican Gerald Ford. Jimmy Carter took the presidency with 297 electoral votes, while Ford had 240. Jimmy Carter wanted to reassure the people that he wasn't like former President, Richard Nixon. -
Camp David Accords
After twelve days of negotiations at Camp David, Egyptian President Anwar El Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin signed a type of treaty under the supervision of President Jimmy Carter. This was a part of Jimmy Carter's plan for peace in the Middle East. -
Iran Hostage Crisis
During Jimmy Carter's presidency, the Iran Hostage Crisis commenced. Fifty-two American diplomats were taken hostage by Iranian students who raided the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. It lasted for 444 days, ending the day President Reagan was inaugurated. They were kept blindfolded and all of this was in support of the Iranian Revolution. -
1980 Presidential Election
In the 1980 Presidential elections, republican candidate,Ronald Reagan, went head to head with democratic candidate, Jimmy Carter. In a landslide victory with 486 electoral votes against 49 electoral votes, Ronald Reagan easily took presidency. Throughout his presidency, he supported a type of economic system called "trickle-down economics", latter dubbed Reaganomics. -
North American Free Trade Agreement
This was a trade agreement between Canada, the United States, and Mexico. This came into effect because President Clinton signed it into law. It created a free trade zone and it gave way to economic growth and prosperity. -
World Trade Center Terrorist Attacks
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2008 Presidential Elections
President Barack Obama was the first African American to be elected as President of the United States. He won against republican John McCain in a landslide victory. -
Deepwater Horizon Oil Rig Explodes
This became the worst oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry. It ended the lives of 11 people and about 4.9 million barrels were dumped into the ocean, additionally killing aquatic wildlife. This all resulted in many efforts to protect beaches and estuaries. -
Boston Marathon Bombing
In 2013, a tragedy occurred at the Boston Marathon that included two bombs at the finish line; killing 3 spectators and approximately 260 other people. It was an act of terrorism even though the two suspects were not part of a terrorist group. -
Same-sex Marriage is Legalized
In 2015, the Obergefell v. Hodges (United States Supreme Court case) case declared that the ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. This ruling overturned the previous ruling from Baker v. Nelson. It is part of the civil rights' struggle and it caused a lot of civilian uprise and approval. -
2016 Presidential Election
In 2016, Republican candidate, Donald Trump scraped past into presidency by winning the electoral vote. Despite winning the popular vote, runner-up Hillary Clinton did not win.
