-
1492
The Voyages of Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus sails and discovers the Americas in search of India for spices and silks. Though he is viewed as a hero by many (and makes claims about his glory in his letter), he ended up wiping out the Arawak Indian Population. Columbus' Letter
History Lessons -
The Founding of Jamestown
Britain created their first colony called Jamestown, which failed twice due to famine and disappearance. Later, though, it became successful when Sir Walter Raleigh brought cash crops to grow on the land. Jamestown Notes
New York Times: Girl's Bones Bear Signs of Cannibalism by Starving Virginia Colonists -
The Alamo
The Alamo was a major battlefront in the Texan Revolution. It was a fort where an epic battle between the Mexicans and Texans took place. Although it was a massive defeat, resulting in Santa Anna, Mexico's president, to slaughter all the men inside, it helped spur on the revolution and was used as an incentive for soldiers to fight harder and avenge their loved ones. https://www.history.com/topics/mexico/alamo -
The Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris ended the Seven Years' War between the English and French. The terms included that France ceded a large amount of territory to Britain and Spain. French and Indian War Map Analysis -
The Proclamation Line of 1763
The Proclamation Line was issued after the end of the Seven Years' War by the King of England. It prevented colonists from crossing the line along the Appalachian mountains and was a major factor which stirred up the first sparks of rebellion. Proclamation of 1763 Reading
America Textbook: French and Indian War -
The Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a riot that started as a street brawl but ended with British soldiers firing on and killing five colonists. After Paul Revere etched a famous engraving of the chaotic slaughter, it paved the way for the American Revolution, as all the colonies were shocked that British soldiers had fired upon defenseless civilians. https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/boston-massacre -
The Liberty Bell
The Liberty Bell is a 2,000 pound copper and tin bell in the tower of the Pennsylvania Independence Hall in Philadelphia. In 1776, it was rung to summon the colonists for the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/liberty-bell-tolls-to-announce-declaration-of-independence -
The White House
The White House is the official home for U.S. presidents and was designed by James Hoban. The estate had many changes through the years under different presidents, and it remains the only private residence of a president open free of charge to the public. Some of its famous features include the Oval Office and the Rose Garden. https://www.history.com/topics/landmarks/white-house -
The Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was a huge real estate deal between the U.S. and France. Thomas Jefferson bought the large land mass despite backlash as he wanted to fulfill manifest destiny and expand America across the continent. History Alive! Chapter 8, Section 3 -
The Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was formed by Henry Clay after Missouri applied to be a slave-holding state. This would've tipped the balance of slave and non-slave states in both land and Congress, so the Missouri Compromise also accepted Maine as a non-slave state to counteract Missouri's statehood. This event was significant as it was the major point in which slavery became a national and pressing issue. History Alive! Chapter 9, Section 2 -
The First Photograph
The first forms of cameras were found in the Camera Obscura, which projected a hazy picture of the outside world onto a wall or screen. Later, in 1725, a German professor found that silver salts darkened when exposed to light. In 1827, a French inventor named Joseph Niépce used a camera obscura coated with a light-sensitive material to "fix" an image. It's considered the world’s first photograph. https://www.history.com/news/8-crucial-innovations-in-the-invention-of-photography -
The Invention of the Telegraph and Morse Code
The telegraph was invented by Samuel Morse and helped revolutionize long-distance communication. It worked by transmitting electrical signals over a wire laid between stations. Morse also created a set of codes where a set of dots and dashes were assigned to each letter of the alphabet and allowed the transmission of complex messages across great distances. The telegraph is also known for being an important advantage for the Union. https://www.history.com/topics/inventions/telegraph -
The Washington Monument
At the center of Washington D.C., Robert Mills' design to honor George Washington's legacy stands tall. At the time it was completed, it was the tallest building in the world, and it has survived an earthquake and was once the site of a hostage situation. https://www.nps.gov/wamo/learn/historyculture/index.htm
https://www.history.com/news/5-things-you-might-not-know-about-the-washington-monument -
The Election of 1860
The Election 1860 was a major cause for the Civil War, as Abraham Lincoln, the Republican Party representative, had won the election. His ideas included stopping the spread of slavery, which triggered the Southern Secession. history.com
Class Notes -
The Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was issued by Union President Abraham Lincoln, which freed all slaves in areas opposing the U.S. This gave the North a purpose to win the war and allied the now anti-slavery Europe with the Union. History Alive Chapter 10 Section 2-3 -
The Arlington National Cemetery
The Arlington National Cemetery is the most famous cemetery in the U.S.A. and has the graves of more than 300,000 veterans from wars ranging from the American Revolution to Afghanistan. The cemetery is on the property of George Washington's adopted son, and about 6,900 burials occur each year. https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/national_cemeteries/virginia/arlington_national_cemetery.html -
The 14th Amendment
The 14th Amendment was passed in 1868 and stated that all people born in the United States automatically became citizens, also known as birthright citizenship. It was first implemented during the Reconstruction era to help African Americans become recognized as full citizens. It's now controversial since it would allow illegal immigrants who have children in the United States to have easy access to illegal citizenship. 14th Amendment Document -
The Completion of the Transcontinental Railroad
Founded by the Big Four, the Transcontinental Railroad stretched from the East to West coast. It connected the United States and allowed people to travel more efficiently across the country. This affected movement, settlement patterns, industries, and much more. History Alive! Chapter 12, Section 3 -
The Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty was designed by French sculptor Frederic Bartholdi and sent to the U.S. It later became a "gateway to freedom" for the influx of immigrants who passed it on their way to Ellis Island and New York. Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Notes -
The Assassination of Franz Ferdinand
At the time, tensions had been rising in Europe. This happened in Sarajevo, Bosnia, where Archduke Franz Ferdinand was shot to death along with his wife Sophie. Ferdinand was the Archduke of Serbia. This caused war between the two countries, which were joined by many more as countries had offered to fight for their allies. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/world-war-i-history -
The Lincoln Memorial
The Lincoln Memorial was erected in honor of the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. Giant columns are built around a giant sculpture of Lincoln, and this historical monument has also made a large impact as Martin Luther King Jr's "I Have a Dream" speech and other influential events took place in front of the monument. https://www.nps.gov/linc/learn/historyculture/memorial-features.htm -
The Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge stretches from San Francisco to Marin, California. It gave the chance to for steady employment during the Great Depression. It is now an iconic spot in California and a great engineering feat. -
Mount Rushmore
Mount Rushmore is a huge carving in South Dakota’s Black Hills National Forest. It depicts the faces of four U.S. presidents, George Washington,Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt. From 1927 to 1941, over 400 workers fought dangerous conditions to carry out sculptor Gutzon Borglum's design. https://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/mount-rushmore-1 -
WWII: The Battle at Stalingrad
At the Eastern front, the Allies were getting surrounded by German forces along the Volga River. Then, the Red Army launched a counteroffensive using its defensive forces, and in 1942, the Germans surrendered. This win marked a major turning point in the war and boosted the morale of the Allies to win the war. History Alive Chapter 36 Section 3
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-stalingrad -
The Invention of the Atomic Bomb
After realizing that Germany might have an atomic bomb, the U.S> quickly created the Manhattan project, who's main goal was to create the first atomic bomb, which worked by setting off a chain reaction in radioactive material such as uranium. The US was ultimately successful, and the atomic bomb was used by the United States to bomb Japan and end the second world war. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/atomic-bomb-history
Bomb Book -
The Interstate Highway Act
The Interstate Highway Act was passed due to Eisenhower's speech, which listed reasons such as allowing an escape route in case of an atomic attack and lowering the rising death toll. He also knew it would be a military advantage and that since the number of cars and the U.S.'s population was rising so rapidly, traffic would be unbearable if more roads weren't built. Eisenhower's Speech -
The Vietnam War
The Vietnam War occurred during the Cold War, while the battle between democracy and communism raged. After Vietnam, a formerly French colony, was taken over by Japan in WWII, conflict began to rise as communism gained popularity under the leader Ho Chi Minh. The U.S. ended up pulling out of the War because of increased opposition to the war and other reasons. Vietnam Era Notes -
The Invention of the Internet
The internet was not made by a specific person but evolved as a government weapon during the Cold War. People used it to communicate data and share ideas. The idea of the internet first surfaced when L.C.J. Licklider proposed the idea of a network of computers that could talk to each other, in case the Soviet Union destroyed telephone lines with a missile. https://www.history.com/topics/inventions/invention-of-the-internet -
The Space Needle
The Space Needle is located in Seattle. It was built for the 1962 World’s Fair, and has a rotating restaurant at the top. https://www.history.com/topics/us-states/washington -
The Cuban Missile Crisis
At the time, during the Cold War, Cuba had become a communism and the Soviet Union had moved missiles pointed at the U.S. John F. Kennedy, the U.S. president at the time, ordered a naval blockade around Cuba and pointed missiles back. The Soviets eventually withdrew, but it was a very close call to nuclear war. The Cold War Ends Slideshow -
The Gateway Arch
The Gateway Arch, or Ark in St. Louis, was an engineering wonder. It's height surpassed that of the Statue of Liberty and the Washington Monument. It was made to commemorate former President Thomas Jefferson's Louisiana Purchase, and how Saint Louis played a central role in the Westward expansion. https://www.history.com/topics/us-states/inside-the-gateway-arch-video
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/gateway-arch-completed -
The September 11th Attack
The September 11th attacks took place when a terrorist group lead by Osama bin Laden, al-Qaeda, flew planes at the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York. Almost 3,000 people were killed, and a plane was also flown at the Pentagon. This triggered more U.S. action against terrorist groups, ultimately leading to the U.S.'s war on terror today. https://www.history.com/topics/21st-century/9-11-attacks
