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Granted rights to Nobles and Freemen.
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"Lost Colony" sponsored by Sir Walter Raleigh was founded on Roanoke Island, off North Carolina coast; settlers found to have vanished, 1590
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Capt. John Smith and 105 cavaliers in 3 ships landed on Virginia Coast, started first permanent English Settlement in New World at Jamestown.
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First representative assembly in New World, elected July 30 in Jameston, VA
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Pilgrims, puritain separists, left Plymouth, England, Sept. 16 on Mayflower; reached Cape Cod on Nov. 19; 103 Passengers landed Dec. 26 on Plymouth.
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Signed Nov. 11 - was an agreement to form self government. Half of the colony died during harsh winter.
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Roger Williams founded Providence, RI, in June, as a democratically ruled colony with separation of church and state. Charter granted 1644.
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British Parliment passed first Navigation Act Dec.1, regulating colonial commerce to suit English needs.
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Nathaniel Bacon led planters against aucratic British Gov.Sir William Burkeley, burned Jamestown, VA, Sept. 19. Rebellion collapsed when Bacon died; 23 followers executed.
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William Penn signed treaty with Delaware Indians Apr. 23 and made payment for Pennsylvannia lands.
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Witchcraft delusion in Salem, MA; 20 alleged witches executed by special court.
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Benjamin Franklin publishes the first Poor Richard's Almanack; published annually until 1757.
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Editor John Peter Zenger was aquitted of libel Aug. 5 in New York after criticizing the British Goerner's conduct in office.
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Famous sermon "Sinners in the Hand of an Angry God", delivered in Enfeild, MA, July 8, by Jonathan Edwards, a major figure in the revivalist Great Awakening.
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The French and Indian War began.
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Delegates from 7 colonies to Albany, NY. Congress, July 19, approved a plan o union by Benjamin Franklin; the plan was rejected by the colonies.
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Forbade colonists to settle west of the Appalachian Moutains.
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Placed duties on lumber, foodstaffs, molasses and rum in colonies, to pay French and Indian War debts
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Enacted by Parliment required revenue stamps to help fund royal troops; repealed March 17, 1766.
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required colonists to house British troops.
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Levied taxes on glass, painter's lead, paper, and tea. In 1770 all duties except on tea were repealed.
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British troops fired into Boston mob, killed 5 including Crispus Attucks, a black man, repotedly leader of the group.
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Cargo thrown overboard at Boston Tea Party to protest the tea tax.
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"Intolerable Acts" of Parliment curtailed Massachusetts self rule; barred use of Boston Harbor till tea was paid for.
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Held in Philidelphia Sept. 5- Oct. 26; called for civil disobediance against British.
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Patrick Henry addressed VA convention said, " Give me liberty or give me death!"
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At Lexington, MA Minutemen lost 8. On return from Concord, British took 273 casualties.
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Famous pro-independent pamplet by Thomas Paine was published and quickly sold some 100,000 copies
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The Declaration of Independence approved July 4
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adopted by Continental Congress Nov. 15, took effect Mar. 1, 1781
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John Paul Jones on the Bonhomme Richard defeated Serapis in British North Sea waters
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Washington and Jean Baptiste joined forces, arrived near Williamsburg, Sept. 26. Siege of Cornwallis began Oct. 6, Cornwallis surrendured Oct. 19
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Britain, U.S. signed Paris peace treaty, Sept. 3, recognizing American Independance.
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Shay's Rebellion of debt-ridden farmers in MA, failed
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opened in Philidelphia May 25, with Washington presiding. Constitution accepted by delegates Sept. 17
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Adopted by Continetal Congress for Northwest Territory, north of Ohio River, west of New York; made rules for statehood. Guaranteed freedom of religion, support for schools, no slavery.
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First appeared in NY Independent Journal by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison.
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Washington chosen president by all electors voting; John Adams vice president.
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Bill of Rights submitted to the states, Sept. 25, 1789, went into effect Sept. 15.
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Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin, reviving Southern slavery.
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Whiskey Rebellion, western Pennsylvannia farmers protesting liquor tax of 1791, suppressed by federal militia in September.
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Warned against permanent alliances with foreign powers, big public debt, military establishment, and devices of "small, artful, enterprising minority."
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passed by Federalists, June-July; intended to silence political opposition.
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Thomas Jefferson, who had recieved the same number of electoral votes as Adam Burr in 1800 election, won out over Burr in House vote reached Feb. 17; Burr was named vice president.
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Supreme Court in Marbury v. Madison, for the first time overturned a U.S law.
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Doubled size of U.S; Bought by Thomas Jefferson from France
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Lewis and Clark expedition ordered by Pres. Thomas Jefferson to explore what is now Northwest U.S. Started from St. Louis May 14, 1804 & ended Sept. 23, 1806
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Robert Fulton made first practical steamboat trip.
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The War of 1812 began. There were 3 main causes: British interference with American shipping, British ally with Native Americans and British impressment of U.S. Sailors.
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Oliver H. Perry defeated British fleet at Battle of Lake Eerie.
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Francis Scott Key wrote words to "Star Spangled Banner"
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Spain ceded Florida to U.S.
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The Monroe Doctrine stopped European colonization in the Americas by Pres. James Mnroe. Made U.S. protector of Latin America and distinguished U.S. as a World Power.
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Pres. Jackson signed Indian Removal Act providing land and some pay to Indians who agree to resettle west.
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Nat Turner, a black slave in VA, led local slave rebellion, starting Aug. 21; 57 whites killed, Troops called in, 100 slaves killed. Turner captured, tried, hanged Nov. 11.
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Cherokee Indians forced to walk the "Trail of Tears" from Georgia to Oklahoma.
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First message over first telegraph line sent May 24 by inventor Samuel F.B. Morse from Washington to Baltimore; "What hatn God wrought!"
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Mexican war began after Pres. Polk ordered General Taylor to seize disputed Texan land settled by Mexicans.
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Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton led Seneca Falls, NY Women's Rights Convention.
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Sen. Henry Clay's Compromise of 1850 admitted California as 31st state, with slavery forbidden; made Fugitive Slave Law more harsh; ended District of Columbia slave trade.
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Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin published.
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Republican Party forms. Opposed Kansas-Nabraska Act, which left issue of slavery to vote of settlers. Act bacame law May 30.
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Dred Scott decision by Supreme Court held that slaves did not become free in a free state, Congress could not bar slavery in any territory, and blacks could not be citizens.
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Abolitionist John Brown, with 21 men, seized U.S. Armory at Harpor's Ferry, WV. U.S. Marines captured raiders, killing several, Brown hanged for treason Dec. 2.
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Republican Abraham Lincoln was elected Pres. in a 4-way race.
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7 Southern states set up Confederate States of America with Jefferson Davis as President.
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Civil War begins as Confederate Staes fire on Ft. Sumter in Charleston, SC
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The Battle of Antietam in western Maryland, was the bloddiest one-day battle of the war; each side lost over 2,00 men.
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Pes. Lincoln issued Emancipation Proclamation, freeing "all slaves still in rebellion"
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Union forces won a major victory in Gettysburg, PA, July 1-3; Lincoln gave Gettysburg Address on Nov. 19.
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Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendured 27,800 Confederate troops to Gen. Grant at Appatomax Court House, VA
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Pres. Licoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth in Ford's Theatre in Washinton, D.C.; Lincoln died the following morning.
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13th Amendment, abolishing slavery, ratified Dec. 6.
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14th Amenment, providing citizenship for all persons born or naturalized in U.S., ratified July 9.
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15th Amendment, making race no bar to voting rights ratified Feb. 8.
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Clara Barton founded American Red Cross.