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The Enlightenment
Valued science and reason.The American and French Revolutions were directly inspired by Enlightenment ideals and respectively marked the peak of its influence and the beginning of its decline. The Enlightenment ultimately gave way to 19th-century Romanticism. -
The Great Awakening
A revival of strong religious feeling. By emphasizing the personal aspects of religion, this movement weakened the authority of churches. Through the Awakening, the Colonists realized that religious power resided in their own hands, rather than in the hands of the Church of England, or any other religious authority. -
French and Indian War
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. The French were defeated and surrendered most of their North American lands. The war brought great expansion of British territorial claims in the New World. -
The Stamp Act
Required colonists to pay taxes on certain items. This led colonists to boycott British goods in protest. -
Boston Massacre
British soldiers fired ona mob and killed several colonsists, prompting angry colonial leaders to call the even a massacre. The massacre resulted in the death of five colonists. The Boston Massacre was a signal event leading to the Revolutionary War. -
The Bill of Rights
Its laws specify the fundamental rights and most cherished liberties of the American people, still in place today. This has ensures that people have a voice in issues affecting them. -
Battle of Fallen Timbers
Settlers streamed into the Northwest Territory upsetting Native Americans there. This was the last major conflict of the Northwest Territory Indian War between Native Americans and the United States. After the defeat, several Native American groups signed a treaty giving up a large area of land in what is today Ohio. -
Treaty of Ghent
Congress and Great Britain went to war after Britain helped Native Americans who fought settlers in the West. It was signed by British and American representatives, ending the War of 1812. By terms of the treaty, all conquered territory was to be returned, and commissions were planned to settle the boundary of the United States and Canada. This allowed the Great Lakes region to open up and the U.S. to expand. -
Homestead Act
Offered 160 acres of land free to any citizen or inteded citizen who was head of the household. Many took advantage of the governments offer, most African Americans who moved from the post Reconstruction Sout of Kansas. This gave the chance to those who were poor and allow them to prosper. -
Freedmen's Bureau
Was established in 1865 by Congress to help former black slaves and poor whites in the South in the aftermath of the U.S. Civil War. This offered more freedom to the blacks, creating a stepping stone. -
Treaty of Fort Laramie
The Sioux agreed to live on a reservation along the Missouri river. Although, the conflict between the two cultures continued as settlers moved westward and Native American nations resisted the restrictions imposed upon them. -
Fifteenth Amendment
States no one can be kept from voting because of race, color, or pevious condition of servitude. This opened the door to many races to finally have the chance to be represented. -
Social Gospel Movement
Preached salvation through service to the poor. This was one attempt made to relieve urban poverty. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
This act banned entry to all Chinese except students, teachers, merchants, tourists, and the government officials, creating great restrictions for the Chinese. This act lasted ten years and was repealed in 1943. -
Dawes Act
Aimed to "Americanize" the Native Americans. The act broke up the reservations and gave some of the reservation land to individual Native Americans. The government would sell the remainder of the reservations to selttlers, and the resulting income would be used by Native Americans to buy farm implements. In the end, the Native Americans would receive no money from the sale of the lands. -
Sherman Antitrust Act
Made it illegal to form a trust that interfered with free trade between states or with other countries. This act was faulty and the government eventually stopped trying to enforce it, and the consolidation of business continued. -
Grandfather Clause
Stated that even if a man failed the literacy test or could not afford the poll tax, he was still entitled to vote if he, his father, or grandfather had been eligible to vote before January 1st. This was before slaves were freed which meant the Blacks were being disriminated against. -
The Gentlemen's agreement
The Gentlemen’s Agreement between the United States and Japan represented an effort by President Theodore Roosevelt to calm growing tension between the two countries over the immigration of Japanese workers. -
Immigration Act
The Immigration Act of 1924 limited the number of immigrants allowed entry into the United States. -
Poll Tax
An annual tax that had to be paid before qualifying to vote. Seeing how most African Americans were poor, they did not have the money to vote which meant they could not vote for someone who could potentionally make their lives better.
