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Jamestown
Formed by the Virginia Company of London. It was the 1st permanent settlement in North America, but it barely survived. The tobacco in Jamestown brought much success. -
House of Burgesses
This was the first elected assembly in the New World. It still operates today as the General Assembly. -
Start of Slavery
Southern and Caribbean Plantations needed many workers. They started off as indentured servants and then slaves from Africa were brought over through the middle passage in 1619. -
Mayflower Compact
A document where they agreed to obey laws created for the general good. It also created a "covenant community"-based on the promises found in the Mayflower Compact. -
French and Indian War
England and the americans fought against the french and indians for land. The war was won by England and they recieved the land west of the Appalacians and Canada. -
Treaty of Paris
The treaty of Paris guarenteed that England had the control of the land west of the Appalacian Mountains and Canada. This enlarged boundaries and was called the "peace of paris" -
Proclamation of 1763
England prohibited colonists from settling west of the Appalacians. They did this because it cost them a lot to protect colonists from insian attacks. This angered the colonists that wanted to move out there. -
Stamop Act
This placed a tax on legal documents for the colonists. They did this to help pay war debts and to pay for the troops that were protecting the colonists. -
Boston Massacre
Colonists and british soldiers in Boston competed over jobs. One evening a mob of anti-british demonstators formed and British troops fired into the mob. Colonists protrayed this as a massacre. -
Boston Tea Party
England put restrictions on tea and this angered the colonists. Colonists boarded tea ships in Boston and threw all the tea in the water. -
1st Continental Congress
This was a meeting of representatives from all 13 colonies except Georgia. It was held in Philidelphia and they issued a statement of colonial rights. This urged colonists to form militias. -
Lexington and Concord
British troops attacked colonial weapons stockpile. Minutemen assembled and fighting erupted. This was in Massachusettes. -
2nd Continental Congress
This Congress crated the Continental Army. George Washington was general. They issued the "Olive Branch Petition" as a final peace offer, but it was rejected. -
Declaration of Independence
This document was issued by the Continental Congress. It was written by Thomas Jefferson, from VA. The colonists officially separated from England. -
Articles of Confederation
American leaders adopted a weak national government with the Articless of Confederation. This made the government too weak to meet the needs of the country. There were many weaknesses and very few strenghts of it. -
Yorktown
The revolutionary war ended in Yorktown where a French general developed a plan. The French Navy blockaded the exit of the Chesapeake Bay. They surrounded Cornwallis, and caused him to surrender. -
Critical Period
This was a time period of that the US was under the Articles of Confederation. The few succcesses included the Land Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Ordinance of 1787. Problems during this period involved war debt, inflation, and international problems. -
The Treaty of Paris
England acknowledged American independence. This created the voundaries of the United States, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River. -
Land Ordinance of 1785
This was created during the Critical Period. It developed a plan for surveying the western lands that no one had really been to. -
Annapolis Covention
This was called to settle disputes among states over commerce. Only 5 states decided to show up so they decided to hold another meeting to revise the Articles of Confederation. -
Constitutional Convention
There were 2 key leaders, George Washington and James Madison. They came up with 2 different plans and then came up with compromises to meet in the middle for each plan. -
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
This was also a part of the Critical Period. This ordinance provided a process for the creation and administration of new states. -
The Great Compromise
This compromise created a two house congress, including the senate and the House of Representatives. This balanced the power between large and small states. -
Shay's Rebellion
Shay's Rebellion was one of the problems during the Critical Period. This was when debt-ridden farmers in Massachusetts rebel due to high taxes. -
3/5ths Compromise
Thsi compromise counted slaves as 3/5ths of a person when they were trying to determine the state's representation in the House of Reps. This was very good for the southern states because they had more slaves. -
Washington's Presidency
George Washington was the first president of the US. He set up the government, including the court system. He decided to keep the US neutral and not involve us in a war between the French and British. -
Judiciary Act of 1789
This was created during Washington's presidency. This act set up the court system in the United States. -
Bill of Rights Signed
This is the first ten ammendments. It deals with rights and liberties. James Madison wrote it. While writing the Bill of Rights, James Madison consulted the Virginia Declaration of Rights and the VA Statute of Religious Freedom. -
Cotton Gin
The cotton gin was created by Eli Whitney in the deep south. The invention increased the amount of slavery needed and it expanded westward. Growing cotton required lots of labor. -
Adam's Presidency
John Adam's defeated his democratic-republican enemy, Thomas Jefferson in the election of 1796. During his presidency, he did many things including ordering the American Navy to start attacking French ships. -
Jefferson's Presidency
In the election of 1800, Jefferson defeated John Adams. This was the first peaceful transfer of power between the parties. During his presidency, Jefferson mad the Louisiana Purchase, which doubled the size of the US. -
GAbe Prosser Revolt
This was a slave revolt. It was held in Richmond, Virginia by Gabe Prosser. -
Louisiana Purchase
This purchase was made by Thomas Jefferson. He bought the land from France and it doubled the size of the US. He sent Lewis and Clark on an expedition to explore the land that was purchased. -
Marbury vs. Madison
This was a court case in the Marshall Court. Marshall declared a law unconstitutional and this case was important because it established the power of judicial review. -
War of 1812
The war was caused by british interference with American shipping and the fact that the british aided the Indians in the west. President Madison called for war and was supported by the southern and western democratic-republicans. -
McCulloch vs. Maryland
This case was another that took place in the Marshall court.In this case, Marshall upheld the federal government's rights to establish a bank. This case is important because it established the doctorine of implied powers. -
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise divided the LA Purchase at 36*, 30'. North of the mine was free states and south of the line was slave states. This maintained a balance of slave and free states, The north was industrial and the south was agricultural. -
Missouri Compromise
This compromise divided the Louisiana Purchase. North of the line was free states and south of the line was slave states. Maine was admitted as a free state and Missouri was admitted as a free state. -
Gibbons vs, Ogden
Another case in the Marshall Court. The court overturned a steamboat monopoly. This case was important because it confirmed the federal government's power over commerce. -
Monroe Doctorine
Created by President Monroe in 1823. The key ideas included a warning to Europe against future colonization in the Americas. It cemented the US's policy of isolationism towards Europe until WW1. -
Jackson's Presidency
Andrew Jackson won the election in 1824 against John Quincy Adams because now more common people could vote and they liked Jackson. He created the Spoils System and the Indian Removal Act of 1830 which basically killed a lot of native americans and he did a lot of things that people thought were good then but were actually really stupid. -
Age of the Common Man
AKA the Jacksonian Era. This was a time when democracy in the US expanded and more people got involved in the electoral process. Americans no longer let aristocrats make all the decisions. -
Indian Removal Act of 1830
Andrew Jackson created this act/law. It forced all indians east of the mississippi river to move to indian territory, which is present day oklahoma. -
Nat Turner Revolt
Another slave revolt, held in Southampton VA. It was led a band of slaves against 4 plantations. Nat Turner was caught and hung. -
Battle of San Jacinto
This was fought for the Texans independance, which they won. It was led by Sam Houstan and it established the Republic of Texas. -
Battle of the Alamo
The alamo was an old mission house that Texans fortified themselves. Mexican General Santa Anna attacked with superior forces and they fought until their last man died. -
Mexican War
President James J Polk urged war because he wanted the southwest but mexico wouldn;t sell. The US defeated Mexico easily and we won the southwest. -
Seneca Falls Convention
This was the first women's rights convention. Took place in NY and was led by Elizabeth Stanton. Created the Seneca Falls Declaration that outlined women's grievences and rights. -
CA Gold Rush
Gold was discovered in California and "49ers" rushed to Ca to get gold for themselves. -
Fugitive Slave Law
This was part of the COmpromise of 1850. It made it easier to catch runaway slaves. Many notherners refused to enforce this law because it went against his beliefs. -
Compromise of 1850
The compromise entered California as a free state and the southwestern territories would decide on their own whether to be a free or slave state. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
This is a book written by Harriet Beecher Stowe that was widely read. The book increased support in the north for abolition. -
US Annexes Texas
A big topic in politics and the US congress finally decided to annex texas and it became a part of the US. -
Kansas Nebraska Act
This act repealed the Missouri Compromise Lineby giving Kansas and Nebraska popular soverignty. The could choose on their own. It led to Bleeding Kansas which was a big fight. The result was the birth of the republican party that formed to oppose the spread of slavery. -
Dred Scott Case
A slave named Dred Scott sued for freedom after being taken into free territory by his owner. The supreme court ruled that: african americans are not citizens so he had no right to sue. This case overturned efforts to limit the spread of slavery. -
Election of 1860
The main issue during this election was slavery. Abraham Lincoln, a republican, won this election. -
Reservation System
Indians were forced off their land onto smaller and smaller reservations. -
Battle of Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter was in SC, but remained under union control. Confederates fired on union ships that were there to resupply. This was the first battle of the civil war. -
Homestead Act
This was a law that gave free public land in the west in 160 acre plots. The only condition was that the settlers had to use it for 5 years. -
Battle of Antiem
Lee, confederate, went north and lost at Antiem, Maryland. The main effect of this battle was that Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclimation. -
Emancipation Proclamation
The proclamation freed slaves in the rebelling states. The new northern war aim was to abolish slavery, not just to restore the union. -
Battle of Gettysburg
Lee pushed north into PA. It was a three day battle. Lee had to retreat. This battle was the turning point of the war. -
Battle of Vicksburg
This battle took place in Mississippi. Grat won and this cut the confer=deracy in half. -
Gettysburg Address
This was a short speech given by Lincoln dedicating the cemetary in Gettysburg. Key points included that they were one nation, not separate states and the war was a struggle to preserve the nation. -
Reconstruction
After the war, they had to rebuild the south because it was devestated. During the reconstruction they also had to determine the position of african americans. -
Appomattox Court House
Lee surendered. Lee urged southerners to accept surrender and unite and americans. -
Lincoln's Assassination
Shortly after the war, President Lincoln was assassinated. John Wilkes Booth shot him. -
Reconstruction Act of 1867
This act put the south under military occupation. The south didn't like it at all. -
Election of 1867
Hayes vs. Tilden, they disputed election results. Hayes ended up becoming president. -
Jim Crow Laws
JImC row laws established separate facilities for whites and blacks. Included schools, trains, bathrooms, etc. Black facilities were always inferior. -
13th Amendment
This amendment abolished slavery in the US. -
14th Amendment
This amendment gave citizenship to blacks. It also prohibited states from denying equal rights to any american. -
15th Amendment
This amendment gave voting rights to African Americans. -
Knights of Labor
This is a union founded by Uriah Stevens. -
American Railway Union
A union founded by Eugene V. Debs for railway workers. It was an industrial union for skilled and unskilled workers. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
One way the US put restrictions on immigration. This act banned almost ALL chinese. -
Haymarket Square
This was a Knights of Labor protest in Chicago. A boimb went off near police and 8 protesters were convicted. -
Dawes Act
The goal of this act was to americanize the indians. It broke up reservations and divided them into individual plots. This act legally abolished tribes. -
Pullman Strike
This was a strike by the Pullman railway workers. Thsi strike started a nationwide railroad boycott and the federal government ended it. -
Assimilation Policy
This was a plan under which Indians would be forced to adopt american culture. -
Sherman Anti-Trust Act
This act prevented any business structure that restrained trade. The goal was to outlaw monopolies, but it was not successful. -
Homestead Strike
A major gun battle. The plant manager for Carnegie Steel Plant called Pinkerton Detective Agency. -
Plessy VS Ferguson 1896
Supreme Court said separate but not equal did not violate the 14th ammendment. This upheld Jim Crow laws of segregation. -
American Federation of Labor
This was a craft union for skilled workers from multiple industries. The founder was Samuel Gompers. -
Susan B. Anthony
She was a strong leader during the womens suffrage movement. -
Progressive Movement
Early 20th century reform movement that used the government to institute reforms to fix problems caused by industrialization. -
16th Amendment
This amendment gave the US government the power to tax citizens. -
Clayton Anti-Trust Act
This was an expansion of the Sherman act. The act outlawed price fixing and it exempts unions from the Sherman Act. -
17th Amendment
This amendment let voters select senetors now instead of state legislatures. -
Federal Trade Commision Act
This creates the Federal Trade Comission. They investigate business practices. -
19th Amendment
Women gain the right to vote with this amendment. -
Immigration Restriction Act
This act put a quota of how many immigrants could come from each country. It allowed more from old areas than new areas. It basically ended immigration for several decades. -
Great Depression
The time of severe economic hardship in the United States.When the economy crashed causing everything else to crash. -
Hoover
Hoover was president at the start of the great depression and was not liked very much. People blamed him for the great depression and the failure of the US. -
Black Tuesday
The day that the stock market crashed. This signaled the beggining of the Great Depression. -
Dust Bowl
Agreat drought in the midwest that caused the land to be dry and no one could farm on it. Huge dust storms emerged and caused many farmers to move to California to pursue farming. -
FDIC
A program in the new deal that insured bank deposits. It also regulated banks to prevent them from failing again. -
Social Security Act
the biggest program in the new deal that provides safeguards for workers. It provided the disabled and unemployed compensation and old age pensions. -
New Deal
A plan produced by FDR to improve the lives in the US. Included many programs for relief, recovery, and reform. -
FDR
Franklin Roosevelt was elected towards the end of the great depression to help the US. FDR presented the New Deal and helped play a part in the US getting out of the great depression. -
Fair Labor Standards Act
This was an important part of the new deal. It set maximum working hours and minimum wages for workers. -
Wagner Act
This act protected worker's rights to form unions and engage in collective bargining.
