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Period: 1491 to
Period 1/2
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1492
European Discovery of North America
Christopher Columbus, in an attempt to reach India by sailing West around the earth, discovered the coast of North America. -
1565
Establishment of St. Augustine, FL
The Spanish establish the first and oldest city in the United States area, St. Augustine. -
English defeat the Spanish Armada
The English defeat the Spanish Armada against all odds, securing English dominance over Spain in the New World. -
Establishment of Jamestown
Jamestown was an English settlement that was the first to be considered successful. -
New York/ New Netherlands Settled
Present day New York State is settled by the Dutch and called New Netherlands -
Start of the Great Puritan Migration
Puritans moved away from their homes to have religious freedom -
Fundemental Orders of Conneticut
The first official "constitution" in the colonies, set up the government of conneticut. -
Po'Pay's Rebellion
The Pueblo revolt against the Spanish colonials led by the Pueblo religious leader, Po'Pay. This was the first revolution of America. -
Stonto Uprising
The largest slave uprising in the British mainland colonies. -
Beginning of the French and Indian War
French Settlers traveled into land owned by Great Britain, which sparked conflict, while Natives sided with France. -
Proclamation Act of 1763
Act by the British on the colonists that prohibited settlement west of the Appalachians. -
Period: to
Period 3
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Sugar/Revenue Act
Law passed by Britain that reduced the tax on British sugar and molasses but increased enforcement of anti-smuggling laws. -
Stamp Act Passed
A tax on all printed goods that sparked a universal burst of outrage by the colonists. -
Townshend Acts Passed
A tax on tea, glass, paper, paint, and lead that started the circular in Massachusetts. -
The Boston Massacre
British soldiers killed five angry colonists, making a huge and widely known impact of the time period, and widened the divide between the colonies and Britain. -
Gaspee Affair
British ship runs aground in Rhode Island and colonists burn it. -
Tea Act
Creates a British monopoly on colonist tea and saves the British Tea Company. -
Intolerable Acts Passed
Several acts passed by the British at once to punish Boston for the Tea Party. -
American Revolution Begins
Most colonists, aside from the rich and members of the Anglican Church, start the American Revolution -
Second Continental Congress
Meeting in Philadelphia where future leaders decide on Washington as general of colonial military. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
The point at which the colonists believed that they could manage to defeat the British in war. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
The first battles of the American Revolutionary War. -
Thomas Paine Writes Common Sense
A pamphlet is written urging colonists to fight against the British and sells over 15,000 copies, creating a huge impact. -
Battle of Saratoga
Turning point in the American Revolution due to French Alliance with the colonies. -
Valley Forge Winter Ends
Washington and his men survive the harsh winter in Valley Forge -
Battle of Yorktown
General Cornwallis of Britain surrenders to George Washington. -
Articles of Confederation ratified
All states accepted this new form of government proposed by the Continental Congress. -
Treaty Of Paris
The signing of this treaty officially ends the American Revolutionary War. -
Annapolis Convention
5000 delegates meet to revise the Articles of Confederation. -
Constitutional Convention
Meeting of very important figures to discuss and completely new constitution for a new form of government based on a balance of power. -
Washington is elected President
George Washington is chosen as the first President of The United States. -
Election of 1800
The first peaceful transfer of power in the history of the United States, Thomas Jefferson is elected president -
Period: to
Period 4 (part 1)
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Marbury v. Madison
John Marshall decides that the president cannot make new jobs for judges. -
War of 1812
Took away the ability of Native Americans to stop the spread of the United States -
Monroe Doctrine Is Written
John Quincy Adams writes a doctrine that states that new democracies should be formed and that European influence on the West should be limited -
Election of 1824
Presidential election where the loser, Henry Clay, is made vice president by the winner, John Adams. -
Period: to
Period 4 (part 2)
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Election of 1828
Andrew Jackson is elected president, starting the "Age of Jackson" and held appeals to the common man. -
Latter Day Saints Formed
Joseph Smith tries to create a religious Utopian society where a president is chosen and the lord Jesus speaks through him. -
Indian Removal Act Signed
Andrew Jackson signs the Indian removal act, starting the Trail of Tears. -
Oregon Trail Established
This trail was used by over 40,000 settlers as a route to the Western side of the United States. -
Nat Turners Revolt
Nat Turners revolt involved a lot of bloodshed of white American's and so strengthened pro slavery views and created new legislation about gathering of slaves in large numbers -
The Liberator begins publication
The liberator was the leading anti-slavery newspaper of this time period. -
Formation of the Whig Party
Part of the second party system and founded by Henry Clay, this party supported on the American System. -
Wanghia Treaty Signed
First treaty between the United States and China. -
Period: to
Period 5
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Polk invokes Manifest Destiny
President James K. Polk invokes the concept of manifest destiny to expand the United States far to the West. -
Wilmont Proviso
Claims that any territory gained from Mexico should be free territory, but the south disagrees and grows more angry so the proposal fails. -
Compromise of 1850
Attempted to mend aggression between the North and the South regarding land acquired by the US in the Mexican American War. -
Clayton-Bulwer Treaty
The treaty stated that both the United States and Great Britain would protect the Panama Canal -
Election of 1852
Signaled the downfall of the Whig party and the second party system, as well as divides in party between the North and South. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin Published
Harriet Beecher Stowe writes an anti-slavery novel that sells over 300,000 copies. -
Gadsden Puchase
Allows a southern route for the Transcontinental Railroad. -
Japan rejects Mattew Perry
Naval officer goes to Tokyo with demands that Japan opens up trade with the United States, but they refuse. This is the first attempt to open Japan up to the western world in over 200 years. -
Ostend Manifesto
A document from the US to Spain trying to buy Cuba, which angered anti-slavery groups because Cuba was to the South and already an established slavery territory. -
Dredd Scott vs. Stanford Decided
Supreme Court ruled that African Americans could not sue in federal court and that congress did not have the power to ban slavery in territories. -
Panic of 1857
Economic crisis that started a panic due to overexpansion. -
John Brown's Raid
John Brown and allies break into a US arsenal and free lots of slaves and move them to Canada. -
Full Southern Secession
All the slavery supporting states secede from the Union and create the foundations of the Confederacy. -
Gettysburg Battle
Northernmost battle of the Civil War, lasted three days, huge Union victory. -
End of the American Civil War
The American Civil War ends with the Union (North) victorious. -
Period: to
Period 6
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Congress' Reconstruction
Congress passes many bills to aid in reconstruction, including the civil rights act, the 14th amendment, and establishment of Freedman's Bureau. -
15th Amendment Is Passed
The 15th amendment allowed black men to vote after the 1868 election, which was a huge step towards racial equality. -
Panic of 1873
The panic was a financial crisis due to the over-expansion of industry that lasted four years in America. -
Compromise of 1877
This compromise pulls all US Government troops out of the south, ending the reconstruction era. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
Suspended Chinese immigration into the US for ten years due to a large amount of Chinese immigrants coming to the US. -
Establishment of the Bureau of Labor
A bureau to collect information on labor in the US, such as unemployent rates, which is still used today -
ICC Established
Regulates the railroads in the United States, which had been held in monopoly, and now regulates all interstate commerce. -
Battle of Wounded Knee
The US military stops the ancient tribal sun dance and kills and arrests Native Americans. -
Change from mostly old to mostly new immigrants.
The change from people mostly immigrating from Northern and Western Europe to mostly South and East Europe, as well as Asia. -
Sherman Antitrust Act
The first federal act to outlaw monopolies in business practices. -
Chilean Crisis
The people of Chile revolt as a result of increasing US control over their country. -
Italian Lynching
In New Orleans, Italians are killed because they are suspected of killing a police chief, but they were not given fair trial and instead killed publicly. -
Homestead Strike
A very unsuccessful attempt at Labor union. Hours were increased and pay was cut, and working class individuals were outraged. -
Pullman Strike
This strike was very important because, although a failure, it made the leader of the strike, Eugene Debs, a national hero which raised awareness for the poor working conditions at the time. -
Venezuelan Crisis
The United States intervenes on a dispute over boundaries between Venezuela and Great Britain because they hold a military base in Venezuela. -
Plessy v Fergueson
Upheld the separate but equal doctrine, refusing to end segregation in the United States. -
Wilmington Massacre
White men violently overthrew a duly appointed part black government. This was a turning point in post-reconstruction NC politics. -
Annexation of Hawaii
The United States takes in the island nation of Hawaii. -
Cuban War
The United States declares war on Cuba because of the uprising. -
Period: to
Period 7 (part 1)
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American Medical Associations
Created to encourage the betterment of public health in America. -
Anthracite Coal Strike
A successful strike by miners in Pennsylvania where they achieved a ten percent increase in wages as well as a shorter work day. -
Elkins Act
Said that the ICC could place heavy fines on railroads for providing rebates. -
Election of 1904
One of the most influential presidents, Theodore Roosevelt is elected. -
The Jungle Published
The Jungle is a book about an investigation into the crooked meat industry in Chicago, which was a huge deal at the time in America. -
National Education Association Established
An association with the goal to improve public education and keep the future of America alive. -
Antiquities Act Passed
Gives the president the power to declare national monuments and parks, part of the progressive movement. -
Hepburn Act
Stated that the ICC could establish maximum railroad rates and extended its jurisdiction. -
Gentlemans Agreement
An informal agreement that the United States would not have restrictions on Japanese immigration if Japan would not allow emigration to the United States -
Chambers of Commerce Made
Meetings for groups of businesses who advocated for laws to be made, passed, or blocked. -
Bar Exams are made for Lawyers
Bar exams are tests to see if lawyers qualify for their jobs. Before this, anyone could be a lawyer without attending any schooling for it. -
National Park Service
Created by Woodrow Wilson, the national park service was made to protect national parks and monuments that were important to keep the environment safe. -
Armistice Day
World War One ends. -
Period: to
Period 7 (part 2)
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The Red Summer
A series of white supremacist terrorist attacks across the United States that resulted in hundreds of deaths. -
19th Amendment Passed
Gave Women the right to vote, which was a huge step for the women's rights movement. -
Quota Act
Established the first numerical limits for the amount of immigrants allowed into the US. -
Tulsa Race Riot
White residents of Tulsa, OK attacked black residents and businesses. -
Natural Origins Act
Established a racially based immigrant ratio for amount of immigrants allowed into the US that was extremely discriminatory. -
Black Tuesday
The stock market in New York completely crashed, one of the leading causes of the Great Depression -
Home Loan Bank Act
An attempt by president Hoover to encourage home ownership to Americans. -
Reconstruction Finance Institution
Gave financial aid to railroads, financial institutions, and companies. -
Election of 1932
FDR wins the presidency, which resulted in him fixing major factors of the great depression in his terms. -
Public Works Commission Created
Built large scale public works like bridges and dams to provide employment opportunities to Americans. -
Works Progress Administration Created
Employed over 8.5 million people in the United States during the great depression, part of FDR's New Deal. -
Hatch Act Passed
restricted federal employee participation in some political activities. -
Lend Lease Act
Stated that Great Britain could no longer buy from the US, but 50 billion dollars worth of war support was given away, trying to keep the US out of the war. -
European Victory over Axis Powers
The bulk of the Second World War is wont in Europe and Germany is defeated.
