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Jamestown
Jamestown was the first permanent English Settlement in North America. King James I granted the Virginia Company of London a charter, with the goal to find gold and establish trade for fish and furs. They grew the cash crop tobacco to trade and sell. -
Virginia House of Burgesses
Established in Jamestown, the Virginia House of Burgesses was the first representative assembly in the colonies, where colonists elected representatives to make laws. The Virginia House of Burgesses served as a model for future representative governments. -
Mayflower Compact
The Pilgrims wanted to plant a colony in North Virginia to escape religious persecution. They ended up in Plymouth, Massachusetts, removed from the influence of Britain, so they created the Mayflower Compact as a sort of social contract to establish some rules in the unfamiliar land. This was the first form of self-government. -
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut were influenced by the teachings of Thomas Hooker, who founded the colony of Connecticut. They were the first written constitution in the colonies, expanded voting rights, established the government's structure, and expanded voting rights for Puritan Men. -
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First Great Awakening
The First Great Awakening was a period of time when religious spirits were renewed and ministers went around the colonies and preached to everybody. This was important because religion was part of the reason many of the colonies were founded and showed the colonies that everybody was equal and had rights. They also began to realize the oppressive nature of King George III's rule. -
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French and Indian War
The French and the British fought over the Ohio River Valley, a land area that was an influential trade point. Native Americans allied with the French because of their trade ties. The British were put in a lot of debt after the war and they taxed the colonies more in attempts to pay it off. -
Proclamation of 1763
In attempts to avoid conflict, King George III issued the Proclamation of 1763. This act prohibited colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains. The colonists didn't believe the king had the right to restrict their movement and became angry. -
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Causes of the American Revolution
A period of time after the French and Indian War where tensions rose between the British and the colonies -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was a tax placed on printed materials. Colonists would protest the act by boycotting the British goods. The Sons of Liberty were an organization that formed and protested the policies, sometimes through violence. Because of the protests, they lost money and the Tea Act was repealed. -
Quartering Act
The Quartering Act was a law requiring colonists to house and feed British soldiers in their homes. The colonists didn't like the act because it was expensive to feed them, they could take any property they deemed unlawful, and the soldiers were taking their jobs. -
Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts were taxes placed on goods like glass, tea, and paper. The colonists and Daughters and Sons of Liberty responded to them by boycotting taxed goods and instead making their own. The Acts were repealed, but the tax on tea was not lifted so they began to protest more. -
Boston Massacre
When the colonists boycotted the taxes, soldiers were sent to Boston and a fight broke out, resulting in 5 casualties. Crispus Attucks was an African American man killed in the fight and considered to be the first death of the Revolution. John Adams chose to defend the British soldiers to show the right to a fair trial. -
Tea Act
The Tea Act was an act passed to save the British East India Company, helping to secure their monopoly over tea. Colonists were upset because they were unable to buy tea from other sources and didn't like their choices to be controlled. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was organized by the Sons of Liberty in response to the Tea Act. Colonists dressed as indians and dropped 342 crates of tea into the harbor, resulting in a loss of £9659 -
Intolerable Acts
King George passed the Intolerable Acts in response to the Boston Tea Party. They closed Boston's ports, didn't allow town meetings, gave Britain control over the colony, and strengthened the Quartering Act. All the colonies' economies were affected. -
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American Revolution
The American Revolution lasted from 1775 to 1783, where the Americans fought for their freedom from the British. The conflict ended with the Treaty of Paris of 1783, allowing the US to be recognized as its own independent nation, also giving them land rights. -
The Shot Heard 'Round the World
The two fights that started the American Revolution were the battles of Lexington and Concord. The conflict was initiated by the British but were fought off by the militia (untrained farmers). This was the first battle and the victory instilled confidence in the Americans towards their independence. -
The Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress took place after the battles of Lexington and Concord. In the meeting, the Olive Branch Petition, a final request for peace, was created and sent to King George III, who rejected it. They also formed the Continental Army, appointed George Washington as its leader, Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, and formed the Articles pf Confederation, their first form of US National Government. -
Declaration of Independance
The Declaration of Independence was created in 1776, with its primary author being Thomas Jefferson. It was written to declare independence from the British and listed the colonies' grievances against King George III. -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga was a win for the US and it was considered a turning point because the French decided to ally with the US after the battle. -
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Winter at Valley Forge
Through the winter the Continental Army faced disease, starvation, and freezing, but Washington was able to train his troops. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation gave little power to the federal governments and more power to the states. The Articles had many weaknesses, but they were able to provide the first government for the United States. -
Battle of Yorktown
The Battle of Yorktown was he last battle of the American Revolution. The French helped the Americans to set up a siege and win the battle. -
Treaty of Paris of 1783
The Treaty of Paris of 1783 was the official ending of the war, allowing the US to be recognized as an independent nation and giving them land rights in North America. -
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US Territorial Acquisitions
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Northwest Ordinance
The US government was left with significant debt after the war. All the states discussed about how to develop the western lands acquired in the Treaty of Paris and the Northwest Ordinance was created, a way for new states to be added gradually. They could apply for hateship when they reached a population of 60000. This helped to expand the US westward. -
Constitutional Convention of 1787
The Constitutional Convention has held to make repairs to the Articles of Confederation, prompted by Shays Rebellion. They needed to decide how much power each state got, how slaves were considered, and how to resolve issues and disagreements between different states and groups through compromises. The Great Compromise determined there would be two houses made of representatives from states and the 3/5 Compromise decided that slaves counted as 3/5ths of a person. -
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George Washington's Presidency
The first president of the US, George Washington helped to get rid of war debts, establish a proper government, and set the standard for presidents after him. During his presidency, the National Bank was created, they formed protective tariffs, created the Federal Judiciary act, stopped the Whisky Rebellion (established federal authority), and gave a Farewell Address as advice to future presidents. -
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Early Republic
The period of presidencies where the US was a newly formed nation, os they faced difficulties both domestic and foreign while establishing themselves. (Washington to Monroe) -
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Second Great Awakening
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Innovations of the 1800s
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John Adams' Presidency
During Adams' presidency, they began to descend into small fights between countries, one of which was the XYZ Affair. The French were attacking US ships and 3 french agents (referred to as X, Y and Z) demanda ransom for them. The Alien and Sedition Acts happened domestically, where Adams passed laws that would not allow people to speak out against the President and allowing the president to imprison or deport immigrants. -
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Industrialization and Reform
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Thomas Jefferson's Presidency
The court case Marbury v. Madison occurred during Thomas Jefferson's presidency and established the principle of Judicial Review. Jefferson also made the Louisiana Purchase, a 15 million dollar purchase from France, doubling the size of the US. He also enacted the Embargo Act of 1807, cutting off trade with Europe and devastating the economy of the US. -
Marbury v. Madison
This court case was extremely important because it gave the courts power and established the concept of Judicial Review. Chief Justice John Marshall ruled over this case. -
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War of 1812
England was stopping trade between countries, impressing sailors into the British Navy and encouraging Native Americans to attack settlers. America proved it could protect itself, it became more independent (from foreign trade), and increased nationalism in the country. -
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James Madison's Presidency
Because the British were taking US trade ships and impressing the sailors, the War of 1812 was started, which allowed the US to prove that it could defend itself and earned us worldwide respect. -
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James Monroe's Presidency
Because of the lack of trade during the War of 1812, materials had to be made domestically, sparking the Industrial Revolution. The Missouri Compromise occurred during this time and the Monroe Doctrine was released, telling the European countries not to interfere with the development of the Western Hemisphere. -
Missouri Compromise
Missouri wanted to be admitted as a slave state, but that would throw off the balance of slave vs free states in the US. Henry Clay made the Missouri Compromise, allowing Missouri to be a slave state, but taking in Maine as a free state, also outlawing slavery above the 36° 30' line. -
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Sectionalism
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John Quincy Adams' Presidency
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Age of Jackson
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Andrew Jackson's Presidency
Because of expanded voting rights, Jackson was elected. He was known as the Common Man and shut down the National Bank, dealt with the Nullification Crisis, Passed the Indian Removal Act, and forced the Cherokee to embark on the Trail of Tears. -
Nullification Crisis
Protective Tariffs were passed to help Northern Manufacturing within the states. Southern states disliked this because their economy was based on trade and they believed in the idea of states' rights, where the sates could declare laws inappropriate and nullify them. South Carolina threatened to secede, but Henry Clay wrote the Compromise Tariff of 1833. Tensions, however continued to increase between the North and the South. -
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US-Mexican War
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Seneca Falls Convention
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Compromise of 1850
When California wanted to enter the US, it was unclear how they should rule it (slave or free) because of the previous Missouri Compromise. Henry Clay created the Compromise of 1850, allowing it to enter as free, abolition slave trade in Washington DC, but allowing the southwest to vote on slavery and strengthening the Fugitive Slave Law. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
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Dred Scott v. Sandford
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Raid on Harper's Ferry
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Civil War
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Homestead Act
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Morril Act
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Gettysburg Address
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Reconstruction
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Lincoln's Assassination
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Election of 1876
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Compromise of 1877
