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Period: Jan 1, 1492 to
Colonial America to 1877
This timespan will cover events in early Colonial America from 1492 to 1877. Important dates and events will be listed. -
Oct 12, 1492
Columbus Reaches the New World
Christopher Columbus On August 3, 1492, Columbus set sail from Spain with three small ships, the Santa Maria, the Pinta, and the Nina. In October of 1492 the Italian explorer reached the New World. -
Jamestown settlement established
Historic Jamestown The first English colony was established at Jamestown in 1607. Jamestown is located in the state of Virginia. -
Plymouth Rock landing
Pilgrim Museum
William Bradford and the Pilgrims set out on the Mayflower in September of 1620 heading towards the new British colony of Jamestown. In November of 1620, they landed in Plymouth Rock. -
The Great Awakening - Idea
The Great Awakening The Great Awakening was a religious movement that was sparked as a reaction to the Enlightenment. Colonists would come from all over to hear people such as George Whitfield spread the word of God. -
Melting Pot in America
America the Melting Pot
We oftern refer America as one big Melting Pot that includes people of all race, nationality, and religion. Pennsylvania in the 1770's was referred to as one of America's first melting pot areas. Most of the settlers were German and Scott-Irish natives. This was the first of many to define "What is the American". -
The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence
We all know July 4th is independence day. It is filled with barbeques and parties. But the date has significance because it is the date in which the founding fathers of America had the bravery and resolve to sign the Declaration of Independence to King George of England declaring itself a free country. This document set America on the course to become the nation it is today. -
United States Constitution is Signed
Signing of the U.S. Constitution
On September 17th, 1787 the United States Constituion was signed in Philadelphia, PA. There was dissatisfation with the Articles of Confederation and a Constitution would give America a strong centralized government. -
George Washington Elected President
George Washington Elected 1st as President
On February 4th, 1789 George Washington was elected by the electoral college as the 1st president of the United States. George Washington had previously served as General of the continental army during the Revolutionary War. -
The Louisiana Purchase
Louisiana Purchase Treaty Signed
President Thomas Jefferson was influential in signing the Louisiana Purchase Treaty in which the U.S. gained 828,000 square miles of land west of the Mississippi River. The U.S. purchased the land from France for 15 million dollars. -
Missouri Compromise
Missouri Compromise Passed
After several debates regarding what states would be slave free, Missouri wanted to be a slave state and Henry Clay proposed to include them into the union and then also include Maine, which seperated from Massachusetts to be a slave free state. The compromise was criticized but stayed in effect until the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854. -
B&O Railroad Built
B&O Railroad Formed
Charles Carroll laid the first stone of the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) railroad on July 4th, 1828. Carroll was the last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence. Railroads would later go on to change the way freight was shipped across the United States. -
The Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad
The underground railroad was neither underground or a railroad. However, it was trails that led from the south to the north where slaves escaped to freedom. Harriet Tubman was one of the most influential persons involved with this movement. It is thought that over 3,200 people worked on the railroad between 1830 to the end of the civil war. -
Transcendentalism
The Transcendental Club
Transcendentalism refers to the movement where people knowledge about themselves and the world around them. Their knowledge goes beyond what they can see, hear, taste, or touch. The formation of the Transcendental Club was the beginning of the this movement and was led by famous author Ralph Waldo Emerson. -
Manifest Destiny
Manifest Destiny
John O'Sullivan coined the term "Manifest Destiny" that sparked a westward expansion movement. People were moving west to discover new territoties aquired from the Louisiana Purchase. -
The Compromise of 1850
Compromise of 1850
Millard Filmore was named President after Zachary Taylor passed from food poisoning. He agreed with Henry Clay's compromise that overturned the Missouri Compromise, although it did not solve the issue of slavery. Ultimately the south was a winner out of this compromise from the Fugitive Slave Law. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin Published
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin written by Harriet Beecher Stowe changed Americans view on slavery. It was originally released in several editions in the "National Era". When Abraham Lincoln met Stowe, he famously said to her "So this is the little lady who made this big war" refrencing the Civil War. -
Election of 1860
Election of 1860
Abraham Lincoln was elected as the 16th president of the United States after defeating Breckenridge, Bell, and Douglas. Lincoln's election would soon spark the south succeeding the union. -
13th Ammendment
13th Ammendment
On December 6th, 1865 the 13th ammendment was ratified abolishing slavery from the United States. -
The Military Reconstruction Act of 1867
Military Reconstruction Act of 1867
After the Union victory in the Civil War, radical republicans in congress wanted to punish the south. The Act of 1867 split the south into five military districts and would outline how the districts shall be governed. The Act caused anger among southern democrats and led to President Andrew Johnson's impeachment and the formation of white supremacist groups in the south such as the Ku Klux Klan. -
15th Ammendment
15th Ammendment
The 15th Ammendment to the Constitution stated that all men had the right to vote regardless of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. However, many southern states would impose poll taxes, literacy tests, and other means to prevent African-Americans from voting until the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
