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Foundation of Jamestown
Jamestown was the 1st permanent English settlement in the New World, made up of poor, young men. After 9 months, 2/3 of the original settlers died, but those who survived flourished. Tobacco, a cash crop, brought wealth to both settlers & investors, & more people came to Jamestown for the chance of wealth, self governance, & owning land, taking huge risks to get what they couldn't in crowded England. Jamestown gave England a foothold in the New World, laying a foundation for future colonies. -
First African Slaves Arrive in North America
The 1st African slaves brought to America were a group of more than 20 Angolans brought to Jamestown. Their presence began slavery in North America, led to the reliance on slaves in the south, fueled the transatlantic trade system. Slave labor was cheap, was considered the best option for menial jobs. This led to violent social and economic oppression of African Americans, both slave free, because white slave owners were fearful of slave revolts saw them as genetically inferior. -
Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 closed off Britain's territory west of the Appalachian mountains to settlers & marked the end of benign neglect. This angered many settlers, who believed that they had the rights to the land after fighting in the French and Indian War, & many colonists ignored the law, settling the land anyways. The Proclamation was 1 of the causes of the American Revolution, as Britain turned its attention to the colonies, bringing taxes, rules, and regulations upon the colonies. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre happened when a group of colonists who were protesting taxes antagonized a group of British redcoats. 5 colonists were killed, and 1 of the dead was a man of mixed ethnicity named Crispus Attucks. Attucks is largely thought of as the 1st kill of the Revolution. One of the witnesses was Paul Revere, who made an engraving of the event. Even though the engraving was inaccurate, perception trumps reality, & it was used successfully as propaganda, fueling colonial anger. -
Boston Tea party
Angered by the end of benign neglect the tax on tea from the Townshend Acts, a group of colonists from the Sons of Liberty, an aggressive protest group, raided a British merchant ship carrying tea dumped 342 chests of tea into the Boston Harbor. As a result, Britain passed the Coercive Acts, hugely affecting the people living in Boston and limiting their actions and economy, fueling Patriotic sentiment in the area and throughout the country, as people were angered at British control. -
Lexington and Concord
Lexington Concord was the 1st battle of the Revolution, the 1st shot fired was known as the "shot heard round the world". It was the 1st time that one of England's colonies successfully revolted. The battle ended in an American victory, fueling Patriotism. Famously, there were some riders (including Paul Revere), that warned that the "Redcoats are coming!", alerting people of the coming danger. This battle began the Revolutionary War the win proved that the colonies may have a chance. -
Common Sense Published
Angered by British control in the colonies, Thomas Paine wrote a pamphlet against British tyranny that encouraged colonists to attempt to remove British control from them. He made arguments for the equality of men, and argued against hereditary rights to rule. The pamphlet largely contributed to the rise of patriotism in the colonies. Later, he would write another work "The American Crisis" to encourage Patriot soldiers to continue fighting after the winter in Valley Forge. -
Declaration of Independence is Signed
On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence, declaring that the colonies were no longer ruled by Britain. Written by Thomas Jefferson, it laid out a list of King George III's abuses. Even though it declared independence, independence was only secured through the revolution. By declaring the colonies separate from England, the convention created the need to establish a government, laws, and all other institutions that are needed to run a nation. -
Battle of Trenton
The Battle of Trenton was an important battle because it helped to boost American morale during the early months of the war, & introduced a departure from European war traditions. Not only were the Americans fighting during winter but they were fighting on Christmas, something that was not done in Europe, & that would have caught many Brits off guard. It encouraged soldiers to continue on fighting & enforced the idea that Americans were willing to fight, because they fought on a holy day. -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga was the turning point in the American Revolution. It proved that the Americans had a chance to win, & they were able to obtain a French alliance that would give them military and financial support they needed to win the war. Without the support of the French, the Americans would not have won the Battle of Yorktown, the final battle of the war that resulted in American independence. It was also the first time that anyone had outmaneuvered a British army & captured it. -
Shays's Rebellion
Shays's rebellion was a result of some of the citizens feeling neglected by the government, closely resembled colonial resistance to the stamp act. In order to suppress the rebellion, the government needed to bring out the army, however, there was no standing army no funds to create one quickly, it had to be privately funded. Shays's rebellion proved that the Articles were highly flawed, that they were not going to work. This was because the Articles created a weak central government. -
Constitution Ratified
Alarmed by Shays's rebellion, a group of representatives from across the nation met at the Philadelphia Convention & wrote the Constitution, a frame for a new, strong, government, that used the Great Compromise & the 3/5 Rule. The ratification of the Constitution was a long process. Antifederalists were fearful of a strong national government & Federalists had to convince them that it was necessary, most notably in the Federalist Papers. In 1788, it was finally ratified & is used to this day. -
Alexander Hamilton becomes Secretary of the Treasury
When Alexander Hamilton was sworn in as Secretary of the Treasury, he brought with him plans to expand the nation's finances. He created plans of assuming the war debts of every state & redeeming all securities from the war. He hoped that by taking on debt the nation's credit would grow. He created excise taxes and tariffs to grow domestic manufacturing by protecting from foreign competition. His policies helped to grow manufacturing & influenced economic plans such as the American System. -
Invention of the Cotton Gin
Eli Whitney invented the Cotton Gin to make harvesting cotton profitable by taking the seeds out of the cotton bolls. This invention, similar to Whitney's idea of interchangeable parts, spread across the nation. The Cotton Gin caused the Cotton Boom, in which the South dominated the world's cotton supply, & cotton was made a cash crop. The boom called for more slaves to work cotton plantations, causing an incline in the previously declining usage of slaves due to the tobacco market collapse. -
Treaty of Greenville Signed
The Treaty of Greenville was the one of the 1st major acts of Native American relocation in the history of America as a nation. It was an attempt to pacify the hostility that had been happening between white migrants Natives, while also acknowledging Native sovereignty. The Western Confederacy sold their land in the Ohio Territory accepted American authority. This led to a surge in migration, causing several states to enter the Union, by the guidelines of the Northwest Ordinance. -
Jefferson's Election
Jefferson's election is known as the Revolution of 1800. This is because there was a bloodless exchange of power between people with completely different ideologies. This was a 1st in the world, & people in other countries thought that John Adams may use the military to keep his power, however he peacefully gave up his power. Despite the peaceful exchange however, Adams left Jefferson with around 19 midnight judges from the Judiciary Act of 1801, made shortly before Jefferson entered office. -
Marbury v. Madison
When one of Adams's Midnight Appointees did not receive his appointment after Jefferson came into office, he sued James Madison for not bringing it to him. This was the first time that the Supreme Court claimed constitutional/judicial review, when John Marshall ruled that while Marbury had the right to the appointment under the Judiciary Act of 1789, another part of the Act was unconstitutional. This contrasted the Virginia and Kentucky resolutions, which claimed the states had the right. -
Louisiana Purchase
Jefferson was interested in the city of New Orleans to secure national shipping rights to the Mississippi. However, Napoleon, desperate for funds, would only sell the entire Louisiana territory. Because of his strict interpretation of the constitution, he questioned whether or not he should make the purchase, because, in the constitution, buying land is never explicitly mentioned as a power of the federal government. In the end, Jefferson made the purchase, nearly doubling the nation in size. -
Robert Fulton Invents the Steamboat
Taking advantage of the steam engines invented in England, Robert Fulton used steam power to create a self-propelled boat. This boat revolutionized trade by allowing boats to go up river with ease, and also sparked greater efficiency and need for canals. Steamboats also contributed to the shrinking size of America, as people could get from place to place with greater speed, and helped to connect the economies of the East & West. Steamboats also contributed to greater migration to the West. -
The Embargo Act of 1807 Passed
Jefferson passed the Embargo Act of 1807 in an attempt to earn French British respect. He instead devastated American trade, caused great short term economic turmoil in prominent trade cities, similar to the impact of the Intolerable Acts in Boston. Despite this, the embargo, despite hurting merchant interests, in the end, boosted American industries by removing foreign competition (similar to mercantilism). However, it fell short of its diplomatic goals which were met in the War of 1812. -
Battle of New Orleans
The War of 1812 occurred because of the impressment of American sailors and the attack of the US Chesapeake. As the War drew on, England called for a treaty, its finances drained. As the treaty of Ghent was signed, a battle was being fought in New Orleans, led by Andrew Jackson. This battle was a massive success, and, because the American people heard of the battle before the treaty, they were left with the impression that they won the war. It also turned Jackson into a household name. -
Construction of the Erie Canal Begins
The Erie Canal was major in the transportation revolution, connecting the East and the West together by allowing boats to travel around the Appalachians. The Erie Canal was the 1st major engineering feat in the US, the amount of travel through the Canal and connected waterways led to the construction of major transport hubs. It also widely contributed to the market revolution as the amount of goods that could be transported increased, making many goods more readily available. -
Monroe Doctrine Issued
Urged on by John Quincy Adams, James Monroe passed the Monroe Doctrine. It demanded that there be no more European colonization of the Americas. It also said that America would stay out of European politics if they would stay out of American politics. This doctrine was apart of the Era of Good Feelings ( is still influencing America today), a phrase used to describe Monroe's presidency, during which there was little crisis or other issue, allowing the country to grow its industries. -
Election of 1824
In the election of 1824, no presidential candidate achieved a majority of the vote. So, the choice between John Q. Adams, a notable Andrew Jackson, fell to the House. After speaking privately with Adams, Henry Clay, the speaker of the house, endorsed Adams, who won the presidency appointed Clay as secretary of state. Jackson's followers called this a "corrupt bargain". It was the 1st time that Congress chose the president, the 1st time a major scandal happened involving the election. -
Andrew Jackson's Election
In the election of 1828, it was the first time that a political machine had been used to win the presidency. It brought politics to the local level and, as a result, more people voted than the year before. Because of the use of political machines, Jackson implemented the spoils system, giving government jobs to his most loyal supporters, which critics claimed removed competency from the government roles. Jackson's policies were centered around the common man, and he was distrustful of wealth. -
Indian Removal Act Passed
Jackson, the champion of the common man, took up arms against the Natives by passing the Indian Removal Act, despite John Marshall's Rulings in both Cherokee Nation v. Georgia and Worcester v. Georgia, both of which declared that the Natives should be protected by the nation, and that they were capable of ruling themselves. This act led to the Trail of Tears, the removal of 1000's of Cherokees from their homeland, as well as the relocation of most eastern tribes, save the Seminoles in Florida. -
Joseph Smith Publishes the Book of Mormonism
In a time where people were trying to reform society through Utopias, Joseph Smith attempted to reform society through a religious utopian movement by reinforcing a more patriarchal family structure. Mormons were regularly persecuted. When Smith called for polygamy, he was arrested and killed by a mob in an Illinois jail. After this, some of his followers moved West into Utah, where they prospered grew, unlike any other utopian movement, religious or not, of that time. -
American Anti-Slavery Society Founded
William Lloyd Garrison, along with ~60 other abolitionists, founded the AA-SS in 1833 in order to better fight for the immediate uncompensated end to slavery. The Society eventually divided on the controversies of women's rights, and those against women's rights left founded the American and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society. Abolitionists used the society to spread pamphlets and other information throughout the country in order to spread info about the evils of slavery encourage its end. -
Panic of 1837 Starts
The Panic of 1837 was the 2nd (the 1st was Panic of 1819) major economic crisis in American history. At the time, critics blamed the specie circular for the crisis, however, the end of European credit in America had a larger effect. Despite the crisis, Van Buren, who had a laissez-faire outlook on the government, refused to help the nation. He even worsened the crisis by removing all government funds from any bank. The Panic led to extreme unemployment the end of the Working Men's Parties. -
John Deere Invents the Steel Plow
The invention of the steel plow shaped the Great Plains by allowing for farmers to more easily cut through the thick prairie grasses that grew there, causing a major agriculture boom in that region. Due to the agriculture boom, the Great Plains became important economically, as farmers farmed and sold more crops. The increased amount of agriculture helped the nation to mobilize its troops citizens during the Civil War by guaranteeing that the North wouldn't run out of food during the war. -
Samuel Morse Invents Morse Code
Samuel Morse revolutionized the telegraph by creating a system of communication that could send messages quickly across miles of wire. It allowed for Americans to communicate over long distances, allowing for the expansion of the country, such as into Oregon. It contributed to the Market Revolution, by making it easier to order goods to communicate between businesses. Telegraphs connected CA with NY by 1861, contributing to the shrinking space of the country by connecting people together. -
Commonwealth v. Hunt
In the early 1800's, unionizing was considered illegal. However, the Massachusetts Supreme Court Chief Justice, Lemuel Shaw, ruled that unionizing was not a crime, or grounds to fire people. This allowed for unions to eventually grow have more power. Similarly, the plight of workers was also highlighted with the Working Men's Parties. However, these parties, unions, fell apart in the Panic of 1837 (1837-1843) as unemployment soared there was a lack of employees to back these groups. -
The Term "Manifest Destiny" Coined
From 1840-1860, Americans sought the expansion of the US so that it would reach from coast to coast. This belief was 1st called "Manifest Destiny" by John O'Sullivan. Driven by Oregon Fever, American settlers went west settled the Oregon Territory. As they settled, they pushed Natives out, removing all other claims to the land. Some abolitionists viewed the expansionist mindset as "slave power" trying to grow, disliked expansion. Manifest Destiny expanded the nation created new states. -
Texas is Annexed
The annexation of Texas was the 1st major expansion of America after the Louisiana Purchase (except Florida). Annexation was hotly debated because abolitionist northerners in Congress did not want slavery to expand beyond the states where it already existed. War was set into motion, as American soldiers in disputed territory between the Nueces and Rio Grande were attacked by Mexican forces. It was the 1st Mexican territory acquired by the US, creating Polk's desire for more Mexican territory. -
Seneca Falls Convention
In July of 1848, Elizabeth Cady Stanton Lucretia Mott brought in ~300 people to the Seneca Falls Convention in New York. The convention created the Declaration of Sentiments, mimicking the Declaration of Independence, which called for more women's rights. This convention made the way for women to call for more rights, such as suffrage, also showed that women were willing to step outside of their role in domesticity by asking for more rights outside of what was traditionally available. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo Signed
Hoping to obtain some of Mexico's territory, expansionist James K. Polk encouraged Congress to declare war on Mexico. He hoped to obtain their territory, mainly California. Americans won the war, and obtained vast amounts of land, through forced peace terms acknowledged in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. These territories fulfilled Manifest Destiny, as Mexico's territory linked the east west coasts. Because Americans controlled the territory, they began to push out the Natives. -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850, like the Missouri Compromise, attempted to hold the nation together by compromising on slavery. However, unlike the Missouri Compromise, it only lasted 10 years. It let California enter as a free state, instituted a stricter fugitive slave law, instituted popular sovereignty in the territories. The Fugitive Slave Law deepened the divide between North and South, popular sovereignty led to "Bleeding Kansas". These conflicts would eventually turn into war. -
Dred Scott Decision
The Dred Scott decision, along with the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850, threatened the existence of free states by ruling that slaves who had lived in a free state were still slaves. This is considered the worst Supreme Court decision ever made. It was made by Robert Taney, the Supreme Court Chief Justice appointed by Andrew Jackson, who had a states' rights view on government. This Decision went against the idea of states' rights, ruled that blacks had no rights that whites had to respect. -
South Carolina Secedes from the Union
As a result of Lincoln's election and the south's fear for slavery, South Carolina seceded before Lincoln took office. More states followed, founding the Confederate States of America. If South Carolina hadn't been prepared to leave the Union as far back as the nullification crisis, the nation may not have divided. However, the South feared Lincoln, believing him to want to completely abolish slavery, thus, South Carolina seceded to protect slavery, as a result, set off a Civil War. -
Battle of Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter was the battle of no return for the South. It was located in South Carolina, which was fearful of the Federal fort, blockaded it. The South won, sparking war. Before, many Unionists called for peaceful negotiations, but Fort Sumter told them that the South wasn't interested in peace. It encouraged thousands of Unionists to volunteer for the army, create a strong, Patriotic army. The Civil War cost ~620 thousand lives permanently changed the social political landscape. -
Homestead Act of 1862 Passed
The Homestead Act of 1862 led to the rapid expansion of the population in the West. As people went west, the west became more incorporated, and environmental issues conflicts with Natives arose. As farming expanded, erosion, over-farming, and overgrazing affected biodiversity. In order to remove Natives from their land, bison were over-hunted to the point of near extinction. The Homestead Act led to the agricultural Great Plains of today, as well as some American legends, such as cowboys. -
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was made after the Battle of Antietam. Lincoln made it to connect slavery to the war, used his wartime authority to do so. By making the war about freedom vs. slavery, Lincoln prevented alliances between the Confederacy Europe. It encouraged African Americans to enlist, prove themselves worthy soldiers, which some did in the 54th Massachusetts. The Proclamation only released slaves in rebelling states, yet it still paved the way for national abolition. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg was the bloodiest battle in American history. The battle was a failed attempt by Lee to take some northern territory. It was a turning point in the war, alongside Vicksburg, and signified the coming end of the war. After the Battle of Gettysburg, Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address, shifting the focus of the war to a fight for freedom alongside Unification. Gettysburg diminished Lee's fighting power, he wasn't able to fully recover, leading to the end of the war. -
Battle of Vicksburg
The Battle of Vicksburg happened within days of the Battles of Gettysburg, it was equally important. Vicksburg marked the completion of the Anaconda Plan, cutting TX, LA, and AR from the Confederacy completely. It also secured Union control of the Mississippi, gave Grant the prestige he needed to be chosen as the Union General. Vicksburg, by cutting off 3 states, diminished Confederate fighting power, and morale, the Union was better able to infiltrate the Confederacy from the inside. -
The 13th Amendment Passed
While the Emancipation Proclamation only set slaves free in rebelling areas, the 13th Amendment prohibited slavery in the entire country, setting 1000s of slaves free. This ended the abolition movement, led to the creation of a new reform movement, the civil rights movement, which would take some time to gain popularity. Prior to the passage of the 13th amendment, in Savannah, GA, General Sherman issued Special Order No. 15, which set aside land for African Americans to be able to farm. -
Transcontinental Railroad Completed
The Transcontinental Railroad was made law via the Pacific Railway Act of 1862. It was intended to link the East and West coasts via a railroad, connecting the nation to markets on both sides of the nation. It was a major undertaking, and 2 companies were chosen to complete it: the Union Pacific Railroad and the Central Pacific Railroad companies. The Railroad helped migrants expand into the West, and transported (and still does transport) billions of dollars worth of goods per year. -
The Start of the Panic of 1873
When the stock market crashed in Europe investors pulled out of American business, America plummeted into a depression. This depression stalled almost all railroad building activity, caused rampant unemployment, led to nearly 100 banks going bankrupt. The Depression diminished the power of Republicans policies, especially Reconstruction, because without proper funding it could not be maintained. It also caused the bankruptcy of Jay Cooke and Co. which was a shock to the nation. -
Battle of Little Bighorn
The Battle of Little Bighorn was the last Native American victory in the Plains. The Native Americans at Little Bighorn, led by Sitting Bull, were resisting being put onto reservations. When they were attacked, they took a major victory. After this battle they were subjected to terrible conditions starvation eventually gave up, submitted to reservation life. This represented the end of major Native resistance made the government feel justified to forcefully put Natives on reservations. -
Geronimo Surrenders
While Little Bighorn was the last of major Native resistance, Geronimo his band of Chiricahua Apaches in the Southwest were the last to surrender. This end of resistance represented the conquering of the Native Americans the west. His surrender also marked the end of the Indian Wars, as there was no one left to subdue. Despite marking the end of military conquest, it didn't mark the end of social conquest, as boarding schools were put on reservations to force Natives into white society. -
Plessy V. Ferguson
Plessy V. Ferguson negated the impact of the 13th and 14th amendment. Despite the 14th amendment declaring segregation illegal, the Supreme Court ruled that separate institutions were allowed, so long as they were equal. Similar court cases had a similar impact on the Reconstruction amendments. These rulings limited how Civil Rights Activists could use the amendments, and impacted the length of time it took for a new Civil Rights Act to be passed, by declaring segregation constitutional.