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Battle of Lexington & Concord
First battles of the revolutionary war. Marked the first military actions. Result of built tension between the US and Britain. -
Declaration of Independence
Written by Thomas Jefferson that declared independence from great Britain. Contains the ideals/goals of our nation.
Contained the problems the colonists had towards the king. -
Battle of Saratoga
British was defeated by the Continental army. Battle signaled to the French who was a enemy of Britain that the colonists had a chance in winning the war. French began providing military and financial aid for the colonists. -
Articles of Confederation
First written constitution of the United States. Was very weak. Government had little power which created a weak central government. -
Battle of Yorktown
Last battle of the Revolutionary war. The colonists had won the war. Was important because it led to British negotiation. Cornwallis surrendered to George Washington -
Northwest Ordinance
Set precedent for admitting new states into Union. Made Western settlement orderly. Outlawed slavery in the Northwest territory. -
Constitution
established the government of America. the supreme law of the land. protects individual rights & principles. places the power in the hands of the people. Creates our national government, divides power (federalism), and gives liberty -
Bill of Rights
Protects citizens from government power. The first 10 amendments of the Constitution . Was a controversial issue, supported by the Anti-Federalists. includes freedoms of citizens sucvh as " freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, etc. -
Alien & Sedition Acts
Laws that restricted citizenship and freedom of speech. Violated the 1st Amendment. Foreign residents were restricted activites and it was restricted to speak on the XYZ Affair -
Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions
In response to the Alien & Sedition Acts. written by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Agreed that the acts violated the state's rights & were therefore unconstitutional. The states attempted to nullify a federal law. -
Marbury v. Madison
Court case presided by Supreme Court Justice John Marshall. Established judicial review and strengthened the power of the federal government. Constitution was used to review and analyze in order to rule the case. -
Louisiana Purchase
purchase made by Thomas Jefferson through a treaty from France. Was purhaed despite feelings over the purchase. Jefferson felt buying the land wasn't a power he had through the Constitution. (Set a precedent) -
war of 1812 begins
Britain began capturing our sailors, forcing them into work. Andrew Jackson leads us to victory in the Battle of New Orleans. Marked the end of the Federalist Party. 2 new political groups form: Whigs & Democrats -
Battle of New Orleans
Last Battle in the war of 1812. Led by Andrew jackson, victory for the U.S. Showed the United States was actually strong. Resulted in the breaking of the Federalist Party and forming of 2 new political groups. -
Missouri Compromise
Passed to keep the balance of power in Congress of free and slave states. Admitted Missouri as a slave state & Maine as a free state. was repealed by the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Slavery was forever prohibited in the rest of the Louisiana Purchase north of the 36th parallel. -
Monroe Doctrine
passed by President James Monroe to warn European countries no to recolonize Latin America. Depended on the British army because the U.S. military wasn't strong. Used for future presidents' involvement in the affairs of Latin America -
nullification Crisis
Established states had the right to declare a federal law null & void it if it harms the state. Why ? the fed. governemnt passed a high protective tariff which angered the South. Andre Jackson wanted to ensure the fed govt was stronger than the states but he also wanted to keep the support of the South. The tariff was lowered as a result -
Texas Annexation
Americans in Texas declared independence fro Mexico after they outlawed slavery. The US gained the Republic of Texas through annexation 9 years after Texas declared their independence. led to a war with Mexico in 1846 -
Oregon Treaty
set the boundary between the United States and Canada at the 49th parallel. Avoided war with the British. -
Mexican Cession
Completed Manifest Destiny by giving Americans control of land from sea to sea. US acquired most of Mexico's territory after the Mexican-American War. -
Declaration of Sentiments
document which advocated women's rights. It was written mostly by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and was presented at America's first women's rights convention, in Seneca Falls. Declared women be equal to men (law, education, etc.) -
Compromise of 1850
Resolutions made to seek a compromise between the North and South. 5problems: admit California as a free state, stronger fugitive slave laws, popular sovereignty in Mex. Cession, Texas sells land /fed. govt assumes debt, and slave trade is abolished -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Antislavery novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe to evoke sympathy. Affected the civil war & views of slavery. -
Kansas Nebraska Act
proposed popular sovereignty to decide whether or not states should be free or slave. Overturned the Missouri Compromise of 1820. led to the formation of the Republican Party -
Bleeding Kansas
Violent result of the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Multiple violent confrontations from the debate of slavery in Kansas. Was like a small civil war -
John Brown’s raid at Harper’s Ferry
led by John Brown, raid on a Virgina arsenal. In hopes to start a rebellion for abolition. Further divided the North and South -
Battle of Fort Sumter
First Battle of the Civil War. The South took over from all sides & won the battle. Major Anderson surrended the fort the next day (April 13th) -
Battle of Bull Run
CONFEDERATE WIN. Union had an upperhand in the beginning but lost. It shocked people who thought the war would end quickly. Lincoln was replaced -
Battle of Antietam
Tactical Draw. battle fought in Maryland. the "single bloodiest day" of the war. 23,000 lay dead or wounded. -
Battle of Gettysburg
Union Victory; Battle in Pennsylvania, Lee retreats to Virginia, almost 1/3 of his force was dead or wounded. 3-day battle & became the bloodiest battle of the American Civil War. -
Emancipation Proclamation
Was effective January 1, 1863. Slaves in the Union were freed by the proclamation. States did not react right away. The aim of the war changed to include the freeing of slaves in addition to preserving the Union. -
Gettysburg Address
Speech given by Abraham Lincoln in Pennsylvania. To dedicate a cemetery for the fallen soldiers of the war. He describes the war as a struggle to fulfill the Declaration of Independence. -
Battle of Vicksburg
Union Victory" battle in Mississippi. Licoln believes the capture was a key to bringing the war to an end. Union gained alot of land, including the Mississippi River -
Presidential Reconstruction (1863-1867)
Included Lincoln's 10% plan, which was to allow Southern states back into the Union. Only 10% of the voters needed to swear an oath & accept the terms of Emancipation. Was continued by Andrew Johnson, he granted pardons but Congress wasn't pleaased with the plan. -
Sherman's March to Sea
William T. Sherman used the total war strategy & led his forces onto a march to the sea from the Tennessee-Georgia border. His point was to capture a port at Savannah, Georgia. -
Freedman’s Bureau established
Group set up by Radical Republicans to ensure protection for freedmen. They established schools, helped the freedmen get land, and helped with labor contracts -
13th amendment passed
This reconstruction amendment abolished slavery. However, it didn't stop racism, and segregation in the areas. -
Congressional Reconstruction (1867-1877)
goal was to punish the South. included the Military Reconstruction Act of 1867, ratifcation of the 14th amendment, and suffrage for all men -
14th amendment passed
Another reconstruction amendment which granted citizenship to freedmen, It addressed their rights & gave equal protection. wanted to Punish the South -
15th amendment passed
Allowed all men to vote (African American male suffrage) Third reconstruction amendment. -
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
Court case which established the princple of "seperate but equal" It upheld segregation, saying that is was legal. The court case also set back civil rights in the U.S. It was overturned by the Brown v. Board case.