-
Apr 17, 1215
Magna Carta
An important step to ensuring individual rights. Britain's pact that established jury of peers, and parilment makes rules. -
Period: Jan 1, 1580 to
United States History
Follow the history of the United States....have fun! :-) -
Ronake Colony
Founded by sir Walter Raleigh off the coast of North Carolina. The colonists of the Roanoke suddenly disappeared making it a "Lost Colony." -
Jamestown
The first permanent colony to be established by the British.
It was led by by John Smith and was founded near the coast of Virginia. -
House of Burgeses
The House of Burgeses was the first representative assembly in the colonies. -
Pilgrims
The Pilgrims , who were Puritain seperatists, came to the New World seeking religious freedom. After their ship, the Mayflower, was blown off course, the Pilgrims founded their new colony at Plymouth, Massachusetts. -
Mayflower Compact
Signed by the pilgrims of Plymouth, this doucument was an agreement between the colonists to form a self-government. The Mayflower Compact showed the principles of majoriy rule and self-government. -
Rhode Island
Founded for the purposes of fleeing the Puritans, who were persecuting all who didn't follow their religion, the colony of Rhode Island was founded by Roger Williams. It was a democracy and the government wasn't connected to the church. -
Navigation Acts
The first of many acts that the British parliment would pass to control the colonies. This act regulated the trade of the colonies in order to establish mercantilism. -
Bacon Rebllion
A revolt led by a post-indentured servant Nathaniel Bacon. Bacon planned to lead planters who were in the poorer side of James town against the British Govenor. Bacon and 23 of his followers died. -
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania was founded after William Penn signed a treaty with the Delaware Indians and making a payment for the lands. -
Witchcraft trials at Salem
Citizens of Salme, Massechusettes are deluded with the thinking that there were witches amoung them. During this time, at least 20 women were comvicted and executed by special court because they slept with cats and such. -
Poor Richard's Almanack
Almanack written by Benjamin Franklin. It soon became very popular and was printed annually until 1757. -
Georgia
The last of the origianal 13 colonies, Georgia was orginally used as a debter's land, where people in debt were sent off to work in order to pay thier money back. -
John Peter Zenger Trials
Accused of treason when his newspaper published unfavorable opinions about the governour, his trial showed that an important right that people needed was the freedom of the press. -
Jonathan Edwards & The Great Awakening
Gave the famous sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God". He was considered an important figure in the Great Awakening, a movement emphasizing religious emotion, right to challenge authority, and equality. -
Period: to
French and Indian War
Started when the French opccupied Ft.Duquesne at Pittsburgh. The war ended when a peace pact was signed in February of 1763. -
Union Plan
Delegates came together from 7 colonies to Albany, NY. These delagates toghether formed and approved a plan by Benjamin Franklin. The plan however was rejected by the colonies. -
Stamp Act & Repeal
Demanded that colonies pay a tax for all leagal documents and stamps in order to fund royal troops stationed in the colonies.
Later, 9 colonies met at the Stamp Act Congress and adopted the Declaration of Rights.
The Stamp Act was repealed on March 17, 1766. -
Sugar Act
Taxes planced on lumberm foodstuffs, molasses, and rum in colonies in order to pay for the French and Indian War debts. -
Quartering Act
Requires Colonists to house British troops stationed in the colonies. -
Townshend Acts & Repeal
The acts put taces on glass, painter's lead, paper, and tea.
In 1770, all duties except tax on tea were repealed. -
Boston Massacre
British troops fired at an American mob and killed 5 citizens, including Crispus Attucks. -
Boston Tea Party
Bostonions raided and dumped the cargo of imported Tea ships in protest against Tea Tax. -
Intolerable Acts
Put Massachusetts in "lock-down" and took away all representative government until money for tea dumped was repayed. -
1st Constitutional Congress
For organizing civil disobedience, held in Philidelphia. -
Midnight Ride
Paul Revere and William Dawes ride their horses to Concord to warn militias that the British were coming. -
Lexington and Concord
During these first battles of the Revolutionary Wars, 8 minutement died and the British suffered 273 casualties. -
Commander in Chief
George Washington was named commander in cheif of the continental army. -
Declaration of Independence
Document which delclared independence from Britian was approved. -
Common Sense
Written by Thomas Paine, the booklet convinced many Americans to go for independence from Britian. -
Articles of Conferderation
First form of gorvernment adopted by the 13 states. It had many weaknesses and left the most important powers to the states. -
John Paul Jones
Fights a famous sea battle and wins! -
Yorktown
Final signigicant battle of Revolutionary War. -
Treaty of Paris
Treaty between US and Britian during which Britain acknowledged US independence. -
Shay's Rebellion
Debt-ridden farmers rebell, exposed weaknesses in Articles of Confederation. -
Constitutional Convention and Constitution
Convention with the purpose of creating a better government. Delagates debated for a long time, and finally came up with the Constitution. -
Northwest Ordinance
Provided the orderly pattern of growth for the US. -
George Wahsinton's Presidency
Chosen as the 1st president unanimously by voting electors. -
Bill of Rights
List of amendments that protected the citizens rights. -
Washington's 2nd Term
Washington is elected president for a 2nd time and John Adams gets VP once again. -
Cotton Gin
Eli Whitney invnets the cotton gin which makes cleaning of cotton easier, there fore more profitable, and slavery increases. -
Whiskey Rebellion
Rebellion caused by Pennsylvania farmers who were protesting the tax on whiskey. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
These acts made it harder for imigrants to become citizens and whose goal was to nullify political oppositions while the US was under threat of war from France. -
Washington's Farwell Adress
Speech given after Wahington's last term as president. Washington warned against picking sides in foreign affairs and political parites were not a good idea in his opinion. -
John Marshall
One of the Midnight Judges, he was name the Supreme COut cheif justice. -
Thomas Jefferson
3rd president of the US, Jefferson tied with Aaron Burr in the election of 1800, but Jefferson beat Burr in the House vote. -
Marbury vs Madison
This case established the principle of Judicial Review. (The supreme court can overturn a law it deems unconstitutional) -
Louisiana Purchase
Because of the need for money during watime, Napolean sold all of the Louisiana Territory to the US for 15 million dollars. This transaction double the area of the US. -
Lewis and Clark Expedition
Lewis and Clark set out to explore and map out the new terriotry gained in the Louisiana Purchase. -
Steamboat
Invented by Robert Fulton, the Steamboat made it possible to travel upstream against a strong current. This invention greatly improved transportation. -
Embargo Act
Tactic devised by current president to make the US completely self-sufficient and ordered all trade with foreign countries come to a halt. The idea failed miserably and almost crushed the US economy. -
War of 1812 (start)
War with Britian that started for 3 reasons:
1. Britain seized US ships trading with France
2. Britain impressed (or seized) 4,000 US
3. Arming Native Americans so that they could raid US citizens -
Battle of Lake Erie
Oliver H. Perry, a famous sea captain, wins an important battle on water during the War of 1812. -
Burning of White House
British troops defeate US troop and proceeded to burn the White House. -
Star Spangled Banner
Written by Francis Scott Key, it was inspired by the bombarment of Ft. McHenry. -
Treaty of Ghent
Treaty which ended the War of 1812. The war ended in a tie. -
Florida
Because of raiding Native Americans hiding in Florida, UsS sezies control of Florida, and then gives it back to Spain with two options. The Us offers to take Florida from Spain and take control of it, or Spain needs to keep the raiders under control. Spain decides to give US Florida. -
Monroe Doctrine
Passed during the President Monroe Administration, this document declared that the Americas were closed to further colonization from European Nations and any further attempts at colonization would be seen as an act of war.. It also said that the US was a world power. -
Webster-Hayne Debate
Debate over states' rights and the nullification crisis. Daniel Webster represented the North and Robert Hayne represented South Carolina and the South. -
Indian Removal Act
After gold was found on their land, even more citizens were demanding that the Indians be relocated. Jackson agreed and justified it by saying that this was the only way to preserve their way of life. -
Nat Turner
Nat Turner, a young slave, started a rebellion among the slaves which was stoped after 57 white men were killed. Turner and 100 other slaves were killed and the uprising was a cause of even stricter slave codes. -
Trail of Tears
After Andrew Jackson froced the Native Americans to relocate, the Cherokees were made to go on a route to the "Indian Territory" during which 4,000 cherokees died. -
Telegraph
Invented by Samuel Morse, the telegraph allowed near instentaneous communications by transmitting electric pulse of code along wire. This invention greatly improved communication. -
Mexican War
Starting over disputed borders between Texas (which had recently been annexed) and Mexico. Mexico City was captured one year afterwards and the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed on Feb 1848, in which Mexico ceceeded all the land contained within the Mexican Cession. -
Oregon Teritory
Treaty with Britain that divided the Oregon at the 49th parallel for Britian to have the North side and the US to have the south side. -
Californian Gold Rush
Gold is discovered in California and 80,000 people flood to California to get rich. Most don't and many stay in California. -
Seneca Falls Convention
Led by Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, the convention's purpose was to grant equal rights to women and men. While it achieved many of these goals, like giving property rights to women, it did not however give them suffrage. -
Compromise of 1850 & The Fugitive Slave Law
This compromise written by Henry Clay, admitted California as a slave state and banished slavery in D.C. to please the North, but tightened the grip of the Fugitive Slave Act Law which now required Northeners to turn in runnaway slaves or be arrested. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
A book by Harriet Beecher Stowe, Uncle Tom's Cabin described the cruelties and harsh life slaves endured. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Opposed by Republicans, this act rested on the principal of popular sovreignty. It gave the citizens the right to vote for or against slavery in Kasnas and Nebraska. The act also let way for the Bleeding Kansas issues to follow. -
Dred Scott vs. Sanford
Scott, a slave, sued for his freedom since his owner died in a free state. Supreme court ruled against him and declared that Congress couldn't take away property rights, and since slaves were considered property, slavery can't be banned in certain states. -
Harrper's Ferry
Led by an extreme abolitionist, John Brown, 22 men seized arms storage at Harper's Ferry planing to incite a slave rebellion. Brown failed, then was captured and hanged later. -
Abraham Lincoln's Election
During the Election of 1860, Abraham Lincoln, the Northern Republican nominee, wins the 4-way battle between the candidates. -
Confederate Sates of America
Composed of the 7 states that seceeded (later to be 11), these states seperated after the Election of 1860, because they saw President Lincoln's vicotry as a threat to their way of life. The president of the Confederacy was Jefferson Davis. -
Fort Sumter
Confederates fire shots at Union-held Fort Sumter demanding it be turned over. Marked the beginning of Civil War. -
The Battle of Antietam
Taking place in Western Maryland, it was the single bloddiest battle of the Civil War. Each side lost over 2,000 men, yet there was no clear winner. -
Emancipation Proclamation
A symbolic act of War, this proclamation declared all slaves residing within the Confederacy were free. The real main effect wasn't that it freed slaves, but changed the North's cause to fight from a battle to preserve the Union to a battle of Liberation. -
Siege of Vicksburg
Confederate forces holed inside Vicksburg give up and surrender, granting the whole of Missisippi to Union controll, completeing one of the key parts of the Anaconda plan-splitting the confederacy into two. -
Gettysburg Adress
Considered one of the most famous speeches ever, this speech was given in honor of all the troops who died at Gettysburg and to inspire the rest of the army to continue fighting so that their comrades wouldn't die in vain. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The turning point of the Civil War, Gettysburg marked the point were the Union could see victory on the horizon. -
Surrender at Appomattox
Robert E. Lee surrenderes to General Grant at the Appomattox court house in Virginia. After signing the treaty, the war is over, and the Confederates are welcomed back under extremly gentle terms of surrender. -
Lincoln's Assasination
Shot by John Wilkes Booth at Ford's theater while watching a play, Lincoln died the next morning on his death bed. Andrew Jackson, the current VP, was sworn into office. -
Reconstruction Amendments
1865: 13th Amendment is ratified, abolishing slavery.
1868: 14th Amendment is ratified, providing citizenship for all people born of naturalized in US
1870: 15th Amendment gives suffreage to all men above 21 -
American Red Cross
Clara Barton founds the American Redcross society.
