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The Colonial Roots of America's Founding Ideals
This section highlights how colonial America began shaping the principles of liberty, democracy, and equality. Early settlers brought ideas like self-government and economic opportunity, which set the stage for America's founding ideals. Documents such as the Mayflower Compact and colonial assemblies like the Virginia House of Burgesses were early experiments in democratic governance. -
Establishment of the House of Burgesses
This was the first elected legislative body in the English colonies, formed in Virginia. It marked a step toward self-government and laid the groundwork for the democratic practices that would later define the United States. -
Signing of the Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact was created by Pilgrims and other passengers to establish a "Civil Body Politic" that would govern their new colony in Massachusetts. It became the first written framework for self-government in the American colonies. -
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Americas Revolt
Tensions between the colonies and Great Britain grew due to taxation without representation and other policies like the Stamp Act. Inspired by Enlightenment ideas, colonists pushed back against British rule, leading to key events like the Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War. -
Boston Tea Party
Colonists protested the Tea Act by boarding British ships in Boston Harbor and dumping 90,000 pounds of tea into the water. This act of rebellion demonstrated colonial resistance to British taxation and control. -
Declaration of Independece
The Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence, formally announcing the colonies' decision to separate from Great Britain and asserting their right to self-governance. -
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Creating the Constitution
After gaining independence, the new nation faced challenges under the Articles of Confederation. Leaders gathered in Philadelphia to draft the U.S. Constitution, creating a stronger federal government while balancing power among the states. -
Constitutional Convention
Delegates from 12 states (excluding Rhode Island) gathered in Philadelphia at Independence Hall to revise the Articles of Confederation. This meeting eventually resulted in the drafting of the U.S. Constitution. -
Constitution signed
After months of intense debate and compromise, 39 delegates signed the final draft of the Constitution, establishing the framework for a strong national government. -
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An Enduring Plan of Government
The Constitution was put into action, and the Bill of Rights was added to protect individual freedoms. This era solidified the framework for how the government would function and protect citizens' rights. -
The Establishment of the First Presidential Cabinet
On this date, President George Washington appointed the first cabinet members, including Thomas Jefferson as Secretary of State and Alexander Hamilton as Secretary of the Treasury. This step established an important precedent for the functioning of the executive branch. -
The Ratification of the Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments to the Constitution, collectively known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on this date. These amendments addressed concerns about individual liberties and protections, including freedom of speech, religion, and the right to a fair trial, ensuring limitations on government power. -
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Changes in a Young Nation
America expanded westward, underwent industrial growth, and faced societal changes, including the rise of abolitionism and women's rights movements. These developments shaped the nation's identity but also exposed internal divisions. -
Louisiana Purchase
The United States purchased the Louisiana Territory from France for $15 million, doubling the size of the nation. This acquisition gave the U.S. control of vital trade routes along the Mississippi River and opened vast new lands for settlement and exploration. -
The Embarkation of Lewis and Clark
On May 14, 1804, the Lewis and Clark Expedition officially began its journey up the Missouri River from Camp Dubois, Illinois. Led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, the Corps of Discovery set out to explore the newly acquired Louisiana Territory, mapping the land and establishing relations with Native American tribes. -
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A Dividing Nation
The nation became increasingly divided over slavery, states’ rights, and economic differences. Compromises like the Missouri Compromise attempted to ease tensions but ultimately failed, leading to growing sectionalism. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
This act allowed settlers in Kansas and Nebraska to decide for themselves whether to permit slavery, effectively overturning the Missouri Compromise. It led to violent clashes between pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers in a period known as "Bleeding Kansas." -
The Election of Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln's election as the 16th President of the United States, without carrying a single Southern state, alarmed Southern leaders and directly contributed to the secession of Southern states from the Union, setting the stage for the Civil War. -
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The Civil War
The Civil War (1861–1865) was a conflict between the North (Union) and the South (Confederacy) over slavery, states’ rights, and unity. The South wanted to break away, but President Abraham Lincoln fought to keep the country together. Major battles like Gettysburg and Antietam shaped the war. The Union won in 1865, slavery was abolished, and the nation began to rebuild. It was the deadliest war in U.S. history, changing the country forever. -
The Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam, fought near Sharpsburg, Maryland, was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, with over 20,000 soldiers killed or wounded. Despite the enormous human cost, the battle ended in a stalemate, but it forced Confederate General Robert E. Lee to retreat back to Virginia. -
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Reconstruction
The Reconstruction Era (1865–1877) was the 12-year period after the Civil War when the U.S. tried to rebuild the South and give rights to freed African Americans. The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments ended slavery, gave citizenship, and allowed Black men to vote. However, racism and groups like the Ku Klux Klan fought against change. Reconstruction ended in 1877 when federal troops left the South, leading to Jim Crow laws and segregation for decades. -
The Ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment
The Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery throughout the United States, marking a monumental step in redefining freedom and equality. It formally ended the institution of slavery, impacting the lives of nearly 4 million African Americans. -
The Compromise of 1877
The Compromise of 1877 resolved the contested 1876 presidential election by awarding Rutherford B. Hayes the presidency in exchange for the removal of federal troops from the South. This agreement effectively marked the end of Reconstruction and led to the resurgence of White supremacist rule in Southern states.