U.S. History Background Info

By Jar5850
  • 1215

    Magna Carta

    Magna Carta
    First document that limited a king’s power. We used it to limit our government when creating our government.

  • French and Indian War

    French and Indian War
    It was a war with the British versus the French/ Indians with the victor being the British, but they also had very high price to pay.

  • Taxation

    Taxation
    The British decided on taxing the colonists to gain back the money that was used on the French & Indian War with different acts such as the stamp, townsend, sugar & tea acts which was a cause for the American Revolution.

  • Boston Tea Party

    Boston Tea Party
    In retaliation for the Tea Act which taxed the colonists on Tea. A group of colonists dressed up as Indians and threw valuable Tea shipments off into the sea.

  • The Battle at Lexington & Concord

    The Battle at Lexington & Concord
    This is where the first exchange between the British and the colonists. It showed that the colonists where serious about gaining independence.

  • Declaration of Independence

    Declaration of Independence
    On this day the final draft was signed. On this document it listed the grievances that the American people have with the crown (England) and why we should be free.

  • The Battle at Yorktown

    The Battle at Yorktown
    The British where controlling Yorktown which was an important port but with the help of the French the colonists where able to take back Yorktown marking the end of the American Revolution with the colonists winning the war

  • Bill of Rights

    Bill of Rights
    After winning Independence from Britain, Americans wanted a document that would protect their rights. Rights that the government can’t strip away.

  • The Battle at Fort Sumter

    The Battle at Fort Sumter
    This was the first engagement between what would become the Union and Confederacy. This Battle was more of a bombardment and resulted in zero deaths and a Union surrender.

  • The Homestead Act

    The Homestead Act
    The Homestead Act was put in action by the U.S. Government which gave land on the frontier for free and it helped build up the west.

  • The Battle at Appomattox Court House

    The Battle at Appomattox Court House
    This was the final battle of The American Civil War. Robert E. Lee was forced to surrender because his escape route was cut off by Union forces. So, on April 4th, 1865 was marked as the end of the war because after this surrender many confederate leaders followed suit.