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Oct 12, 1492
Columbus Lands in the Americas October 12th, 1492
On October 12th, 1492, Columbus, an Italian sailor, employed by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, lands in the New World. Columbus landed in the Bahamas and later Hispanic with the Pinta, Niña and the Santa Maria. In search of gold, God and glory, Columbus intention was to find a new trade route to Asia. -
Jamestown established May 14th, 1607
Jamestown was the first English permanent settlement in America founded by the Virginia Company with an initial number of 100 members. In 1610, Jamestown was at the point of collapse as a result of famine, disease and conflicts with the Native Americas. The town was saved by the profitable exporting of tobacco and the arranged marriage of John Rolfes and Pocahontas. -
Pilgrims Land November 11th, 1620
On November 11th, 1620, William Bradford and the Pilgrims on the Mayflower landed in America, establishing the Plymouth Colony in the New World. The Pilgrims where seeking religious freedom with a starting population of about 100. In 1621, the Pokanokets and the Pilgrims shared a harvest feast for which the modern national holiday of Thanksgiving was created. -
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George Washington
George Washington was the first president of the United States from 1789-1797. Washington is considered one of the "Founding Fathers" of the US who was commander in-chier during the Revolutionary War after being raised up in Virginia on a thriving tobacco plantation. In addition, Washington prodded over the United States Constitution due to his authoritative character. Today, George Washington is considered on of the most influential members of society due to his profound affect on independence. -
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Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson, the 3rd President of the United States, is credited as a "Founding Father" after writing the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson attending the College of William and Mary for which he studied philosophy, math and physics. The Declaration of Independence was inspired by the Enlightenment ideals of human rights for which was written "all men are created equal" in the preamble. Jefferson wrote the Declaration at the start of the war due to his resentment towards the British. -
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French and Indian War 1754-1763
The Seven Years war also known as the French and Indian War was the struggle between France and Britain over the Ohio River valley. The conflict would cost the British an immersive amount of money for which the colonies would be taxed in order to pay the reparations. The Colonists did not want to share this burden. As a result, the Colonists decided to fight for Independence. The Treaty of Paris guaranteed/ceded land for Native Americans that resulted in conflict that lead to independence. -
*Sugar Act and Colonial Opposition
As a result of the Sugar Act and the Currency Act, colonists protested which prompted the phrase "taxation without representation". Later, colonists practiced nonimportation of British goods which was a refusal to use any imported English goods. This is important because is lead to a common goal of unification on the part of the colonists for which they viewed the British with resentment . Later the Stamp act would issue the first direct tax on the people after the known opposition. -
*Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was Parliaments first direct tax on American people which raised money for Britain after fighting in the Sevens Years' War. The act taxed commodities such as newspapers, almanacs, pamphlets... parallel Sugar Act ("taxation with...). A stamp was attached to each of the articles to demonstrate that the tax has been payed-no privacy. This event is important because it shows how the British viewed the colonists, as someone that would help pay their debts, leading to the Townshend Acts. -
*Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts placed taxes on glass, lead, paint, paper (Stamp*) and tea in order to compensate the expense of governing the colonies. The British taxed the most common commodities during that time period for which nobody would be unscathed by the taxes. This Act is important because it demonstrates the British view the colonies as their own territory, but look the discontent of the people with their own situation of government. The discontent would be shown through the Boston Massacre. -
*Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a skirmish between British troops and the citizens in Boston for which 3 died of their wounds inflicted upon by the soldiers. Many tried to keep nonpartisanship on the part of the colonies, but the tension of the British and the colonists continued as drawings where reconstructed of the event, showing the brutality of the soldiers. This is important because it shows the influence of Townshend Acts on the attitude of the people which eventually lead to the Tea Act. -
*Tea Act
The Tea Act gave British tea merchants an unfair advantage by reducing tax only on imported British tea. Tensions continued to rise as the colonists condemned and planned to boycott English tea. As a result colonists no longer bought English tea resulting in decreased revenues for the British, it's most successful export. This is important because the tension of the Boston Massacre would boil over later to the Boston Tea Party due to the Tea Act. -
*Boston Tea Party
On December 16th, 1773 a group of men impersonating Indians boarded English tea ships in Boston harbor, dumping the tea into the water. This action was a result of British tea ships arriving in Boston harbor without citizens buying the tea due to the tax. The colonists wanted to hurt the British economically. This event is important because it demonstrates the length/act of defiance of the colonists in response to the Tea Act and the implementation of the Coercive Acts . -
*Coercive Acts
In order to punish Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party, The Boston Port Bill, The Administration of Justice Act and The Massachusetts Government Act where enacted by the British government. These laws limited the import/exports of goods, protected Royal officials and eliminated the Massachusetts charter of government. This is important because the people would for the first time come together/involved at the First Continental Congress to find a solution to their joint problem of the British. -
*The First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was attended by 12 of the 13 colonies for which a total 56 delegates where present that formed the Association of 1774 that urged colonists to avoid using British goods. This act was supposed to hurt the British economically, in the same way as the Coercive Acts. This is important because it shows the unification of the colonies against the king, but the continual feeling of being British that would result in the Olive Branch Petition. -
Lexington and Concord April 19th, 1775
The battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775 was the start of the Revolutionary war between Britain and the 13 colonies. The conflict was caused by rising tension between the Colonists and the British after "taxation without representation". On April 18th, the British marched from Boston to Concord to seize weapons in an arms cache, but Paul Revere alerted the Minute Men who intercepted the British along their path. War broke out at Lexington and Concord and the Revolutionary war was started. -
*Olive Branch Petition
After the meeting of the First Continental and Second Continental Congress, a petition was issued that arranged a reconciliation with the loyalty of the King, but this act was rejected. This is important because the colonists are willing to state their allegiance to King George III with this document, but through rejection, the only course for conflict of the colonies and the British is war. The need for war will lead to the Declaration of Independence in 1776. -
*Congress Declares Independence
On July 4th, 1776 the Declaration of Independence was approved while copies of the document where set throughout the colonies. The draft was written by Thomas Jefferson. This is very important because the 13 colonies, through their differences, have joined together to fight the British for their independence after the rejection/reconciliation of the OBP. This event highlights the abuses by the British government while demonstrating the length the colonists are willing to go for freedom-WAR. -
Declaration of Independence adopted July 4th, 1776
The Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia that proclaimed the 13 colonies to be free of British rule. Thomas Jefferson was the mastermind behind the document which was signed by 56 other delegates such as George Washington. The document explained the abuses of the British government and the need for war. -
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Constitutional Convention May 27th, 1787-September 17th, 1787
The Constitutional Convention was held in Philadelphia in Independence Hall for which the original goal to revise the Articles of the Confederation, but resulted in the creation of a new federalist constitution. The Virginia Plan and the New Jersey plan where integrated to form one system of government that shared small and large state representation in a bicameral legislature. In addition, in order to for the new Constitution to be adopted, a Bill of Rights had to be created. -
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Jefferson Presidency March 4th, 1801- March 4th, 1809
Thomas Jefferson, a member of the Democratic-Republican party, the author of the Declaration of Independence and the third president, instituted republicanism during his presidency that lowered taxes and national debt. In addition, Jefferson authorized the Lewis and Clark explorations and the Louisiana Purchase while remaining neutral during the Napoleonic Wars. Ohio was added as a state to the Union during the presidency of Jefferson. -
Louisiana Purchase 1803
The United States purchased the Louisiana Territory from France in 1803 for 68 million francs. The Louisiana Territory was comprised of 15 modern day states and 2 Canadian provinces. The reason for the willingness of France to sell the land was to pay reparations for the Napoleonic War. As a result, the Mississippi and New Orleans became part of the United States which fostered trade and stimulate the economy as a result of the renewed convenience of the trade route. -
Missouri Compromise May 8th, 1820
The Missouri Compromise allowed Maine to enter the United States as a free state and Missouri as a slave state in order to maintain the the equal representation of the North and the South in Congress. The 36th parallel prohibited slavery north of the line expect for Missouri. This line later became known as the Mason Dickson line for which the North would be pinned against the South in the Civil War. -
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Jackson Presidency March 4th, 1829- March 4th 1837
Jackson was the 7th US president, part of the Democratic party, defeating John Quincy Adams after a landslide win in a contested election. Jackson is most notably known for the removal of Native Americans east of the Mississippi River and the removal of the spoil system in governance. The Panic of 1837 was a result of "hard money policies". -
Indian Removal Act May 28th, 1830
On May 28th, 1830 President Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act which dictated the are that Native Americans can and would live on west of the Mississippi. In response, many Indian tribes fought back against the law. In the North, the anti-whig party formed in order to oppose the non-Indian people of the South. Most notable was the resistance of the Cherokee who worked as an independence nation to fight the act, but their effort was unsuccessful. -
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Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie, a Scottish-American, became one of the richest men in America and in the world through the expansion of the steel industry. Carnegie who donate a total of about $350 million to charities, worked his way up the ladder in society through hard work persistence. Many colleges, libraries, educational institutions.... where named after him due to his charity. In today's dollars, Carnegie would be worth around $372 billion after starting the Carnegie Steel Company. -
Dred Scott vs. Sanford Decided 1857
After traveling to the Supreme court, Dred Scott was pronounced property thus he had the inability to sue in federal court. The standard further stated that slaves even when in free states where not considered free and thus continued to be classified as property. The court case is considered to be one of the catalysts that started the Civil War as tensions between the North and the South continued pertaining to the issues and ethics of slavery. -
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Lincoln Presidency March 4th, 1861- April 15th, 1865
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States of America, representing the Republican Party. Lincoln appealed to Northern voters as a result of being in opposing to slavery while trying to preserve the Union which caused 7 states to succeed on the day of his inauguration. The Emancipation Proclamation, announced in 1863 by Lincoln, freed all slaves in the United States. Later in 1865, Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, a confederate sympathizer. -
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Attack on Fort Sumter April 12th-13th, 1861
The Confederate States Army attacked Fort Sumter in Charleston South Carolina on April 12th-13th, 1861. Although nobody was killed, the conflict marked the beginning of the Civil War with the victory of the Confederate Army. The Union had 85 soldiers opposed to an estimated 500-6,000 Confederate soldiers. -
Emancipation Proclamation January 1st, 1863
The Emancipation Proclamation gave freedom to all slaves in the United States (North). The statement was issued by Abraham, Lincoln who shifted the focus of the war from the preservation of the Union to the slavery. The Proclamation was issued after the battle of Antietam for which the most casualties in a single day of war was ever recorded in American history. -
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Henry Ford
Henry Ford was the founder of the Ford Motor Company that revolutionized the assembly line and the mode of transportation. The Model T was an affordable car that appealed to the middle-class. As a result of selling many cars, the price fell which in turn caused more consumer to be able to afford the car. Due to the introduction of the car, consumers could travel long distances without having to walk or ride horseback. Ford helped shaped the culture of transportation which is still used today. -
Surrender at Appomattox April 9th, 1865
The Surrender at Appomattox marked the end of the civil war which lasted from (1861-1865). The Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrounded to the Union General Ulysses S. Grant after abandoning Richmond, the capital of the Confederacy. In total, it is estimated that over 600,000 men lost their lives due to the conflict. -
Lincoln's Assassination April 14th, 1865
The 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, was assented on April 14th, 1865 by John Wilkes Booth. Booth a Confederate sympathizer and a stage actor, shot Lincoln in the back of the head with a Derringer pistol while attending Our America Cousin in Ford's Theater. As a result, one of the largest manhunts in US history unfolded which eventually lead to the death of Booth. -
Thirteenth Amendment Ratified on December 6th, 1865
The Thirteen Amendment banned slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States. The Thirteen Amendment was the first of 3 Reconstruction Amendments that where created after the conclusion of the Civil War. Slaves throughout the United States where free. Even through the Emancipation Proclamation stated that all slaves where free in the United States, the Thirteenth Amendment was the solidification of slaves rights and their inclusion into society. -
Chinese Exclusion Act May 6th, 1882
The Chinese Exclusion Act passed in 1882, prohibited Chinese immigration. The Act was supposed to last for 10 years, but the Geary Act made Chinese immigration prohibition permanent until 1943 when it was repealed by the Magnuson Act. Before the Chinese Exclusion Act, the Chinese where welcomed during the period of the California Gold rush and the contribution of the Trans-Continetal Railway, but hostility continued to grow as immigration numbers soared while the availability of jobs decreased. -
Sherman Anti-Trust Act 1890
The Sherman Anti-Trust Act was passed during the year 1890 under the president Benjamin Harrison. The Act sough to eliminate the use of trusts and monopolies that control the marketplace in order to price gouging. The goal of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act was to ensure a competitive market for which the consumer is able to benefit. -
Plessy vs. Ferguson decided May 8th, 1896
The court case of Plessy vs. Ferguson established the precedent of "separate but equal" facilities for different races. The court case was decided by a one-to-seven majority for which racial segregation became legal by law as long as the facilities where equal in nature. As a result of this decision, schools, restaurants, parks, neighborhoods... became separated while many views the court case as a first test of the meaning of the 14th Amendment. -
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Spanish American War April 1898-August 1898
The Spanish American was a conflict between the United States and the Spanish. The US sought to "free" the Philippines and Cuba from Spanish control. The war started as a result of the sinking of the Maine which caused widespread hatred towards the Spanish that eventually started the war. After fighting in the Pacific and in Cuba, the war was ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris for which the United States acquired Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippine Islands (later cause war). -
Sinking of USS Maine
The USS Maine was a naval ship that sunk after an explosion on February 15th, 1898 in Havana harbor. The ship was to protect American interests/individuals during the Cuban Revolution. The sinking was contributed to the Spanish which would prompt the US to enter into the war. Further investigation through, blamed a fault in the boiler room instead of a land mine that triggered the explosion. This event is momentous in US history because it promoted the US to enter into the war->acquire. -
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Theodore Roosevelt Presidency September 14th, 1901-March 4th, 1909
Theodore Roosevelt was the 26th president of the United States who served from September 14th, 1901-March 4th, 1909. Roosevelt a Republican, is most well known for his support for the development go the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Hepburn Act which increased the power of the Interstate Commerce Commission. In addition, Theodore Roosevelt sought to conserve the environment while opposing strongly the use of trusts and monopolies. Roosevelt believed strongly in capitalism. -
Gitlow vs. New York June 8th, 1925
The court case Gitlow vs. New York was decided on June 8th, 1925 ruled that the First Amendment (Fourteenth Amendment) applied to state governments for which state and federal governments had to abide by the same rules for curving speech. The court case was prompted after Gitlow published "The Wing Manifesto" which called for the overthrowing of the US government. The Gitlow vs. New York case was a result of the Red Scare and the rising nativism in the United Sates. -
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Wilson' Presidency March 4th, 1913- March 4th, 1921
Woodrow Wilson was the 28th president of the United States that served in office from March 4th, 1913- March 4th, 1921. Wilson, a Democrat, was very influential in the Progressive Moment lead to the development of the New Deal. In addition, Wilson is known for the Revenue Act of 1923 which created the federal income tax. Wilson's popularity grew as he continued to stay out WWI, but in 1917, Congress declared war due to the unrestricted submarine war. The foreign policy of "Wilsonian" emerged. -
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WWI Ends July 28th, 1914- November 11th, 1918
The war concluded with the Paris Peace Conference of 1919. Woodrow Wilson proposed the 14 points which sought to set the precedent for the future while ensuring the fair treatment of Germany. The creation of the League of Nations was a plan to offer a platform for all nations to settle disputes. But the Paris Peace Conference of 1919 lead to a decision to enforce tough sanctions on Germany while ensuing blame. These tough sanctions would eventually lead to inflation and lead to WWII. -
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WWI Begins July 28th, 1914- November 11th, 1918
The "Great War" or the "War to End all Wars" lasted from July 28th, 1914- November 11th, 1918. The Allies faced the Central Powers after the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand. The war compromised of trench warfare that lead to an impact like no other on the world as millions and millions died. During the war, Russia succeeded as a result of the November Revolution which was replaced by the United States. In the end (Paris Peace Conference), the Allies won with Germany facing tough sanctions. -
Panama Canal August 15th, 1914
The Panama Canal, a set of locks that allow faster ship passage, links the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean; first used on August 15th, 1914. The Panama Canal was originally a project started by the French, but due to such a high mortality rate during construction the US took over the project. On average, it takes a ship 6 to 8 hours to travel through all the locks and passages. In addition, the Panama Canal has enabled ships a safer route of passage instead of traveling around the Cape Horn. -
18th Amendment completed January 16th, 1919
The 18th Amendment banned the manufaction, transportation and sale of liquor in the US. The Amendment was to be enforced/take effect on January 17th, 1920. Later, the 18th Amendment was repealed by the 21st Amendment, which reinstated the manufaction, transportation and sale of liquor in the United States (economic impact). As a result, the use of alcohol initially decreased, but later increased as the population found out that the government did not have the funds to enforce the law. -
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Treaty of Versailles June 28th, 1919- January 21st, 1920
The Treaty of Versailles ended WWI. The Treaty lasted from June 28th, 1919- January 21st, 1920 for which the boundaries of Germany where reformed and liability was claimed. Through the Dawes Plan and the Young Plan, Germany at first was supposed to pay reparations, but the plans got cancelled. Germany was forced to suffer strict economic plans that caused massive inflation that eventually lead to the disobedience of following laws that later lead to the rise of Hitler. -
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Harlem Renaissance 1920's
The Harlem Renaissance was a revolutionary emergence of new social ideas that resulted after the Great Migration. The Harlem Renaissance occurred in the 1920's in Harlem New York. As a result of the Harlem Renaissance, jazz emerged with new focus on the African voice. The Harlem Renaissance challenged stereotypes, racism and social integration which prompted the emergence of socialistic politics. -
19th Amendment ratified August 18th, 1920
The 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote which Constitutionally prohibits the government from denying the right to vote due to sex. The women's right movement was started in 1848 during the Seneca Falls convention by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott. The 19th Amendment was originally written in 1878 by Aaron Sargent. -
Stock Market Crash October 29th, 1929
The Stock Market Crash, often referred to as "Black Tuesday" occurred on October 29th, 1929. The Stock Market Crash resulted a after a period of strict economic prosperity for which individuals bought/invested on credit. As a result, no individual was capable of paying back the banks which had lost a substantial amount of money. This practice of viewing the market only going up was called speculation. The economic bubble burst while investors bought on margin. WWI led the US out of the crash. -
21st Amendment
The 21st Amendment passed in 1933, repealed the 18th Amendment. In fact, the 21st Amendment is the only amendment to repealed while being ratified by state ratifying conventions. The 21st Amendment allowed the transportation, sale and manufacturing of alcohol to be legal. The 18th Amendment caused an uptake in organized crime while not being funded enough to fully enforce the law. The sale of alcohol has a wide market while being a profitable business for the economy.
