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Period: 1492 to
1492-1877
A timeline detailing everything that we have learned in our U.S. History VHS class in chronological order. This timeline will start at the European Discovery of the Americas and end in 1877. -
Foundation of the Jamestown Colony
The Virginia Company of London's first colonization attempt took place in Jamestown, Virgina. The original colonists faced tough conditions and many perished during the winter. This settlement eventually became successful and proved to England that profits could be made in the New World. Source
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The Virginia House of Burgesses and Democracy in America
The Virginia House of Burgesses was an democratically-elected legislative assembly where Virginians met to discuss and draft laws for issues pertaining to themselves. This is considered the first instance of American democracy and would provide the foundation for American democratic practices. Source
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The Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was the cumulative result of unfair tax policies directed to the colonists. England granted the British East India Company a tea monopoly in America, allowing for cheaper tea. The tax on this tea angered the colonists, who decided to take action. A group of men disguised themselves as Native Americans, boarded tea ships and threw 342 chests of tea into the Boston Harbor.
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Approval of The Declaration of Independence
On July 4, 1776, with a vote of 12 to 0, the Declaration of Independence was approved by the US Congress. This document officially declared the United States of America independent of English rule and secondarily began the Revolutionary War.
Source](http://www.ushistory.org/us/10g.asp)
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Publication of "Letters From an American Farmer"
Hector St. John de Crèvecoeur's "Letters From an American Farmer" consists of 12 essays ranging from the future, virtue, and sins of the American man. His essay "What is an American?" reveals his astonishment at the amount of diversity in America. He ponders the American identity,introduces the "melting pot" comparison, and initiates a discussion on national identity.
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Federalism
Federalists in the 18th century were supporters of a strong central government. The name originates from the name of supporters of the constitution governmental model of Massachusetts. They wanted to separate government powers, with each using a "check and balance" system to prevent tyranny. Federalists supported creating a national bank, paying war debts, and the tariff system. Pic. Source
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Antifederalism
Anti-federalism was a movement against the ratification of the 1787 U.S. Constitution. Anti-federalists opposed the strong central government proposed by the Federalists, justly fearful of the potential corruption and tyranny of a single national government. The date 1800 was chosen because it marked the election of the first anti-federalist president, Thomas Jefferson. Source 1
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The War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a battle to affirm sovereignty and to gain unchecked access to the North American west. Escalating from a trade embargo, the War of 1812 was fought between American and British forces. The war ended December 24, 1814 with the Treaty of Ghent, restoring all pre-war territorial boundaries. Pic. Source
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The Completion of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
On July 4, 1828, the first railroad was introduced to the United States, connecting a distance of 13 miles from Baltimore to Ellicott City. This railroad was created to compete with the Erie Canal and sparked the creation of other new railroads. Pic. Source
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Nat Turner's Rebellion
Nat Turner's Rebellion was the largest successful slave insurrection in American history. His rebellion foreshadowed the need for violence to emancipate the slaves. This uprising resulted in tighter slave codes in the south, but fueled antislavery movements in the north.
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The Trail of Tears
The Trail of Tears was the journey trekked by Native Americans forcibly removed from their homeland. After years of deception and anti-Native American policies enforced by President Andrew Jackson, in 1835, about 20,000 Cherokees forcibly, with guns at their backs, marched west . About 1/4 died on the journey.
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Transcendentalism
Transcendentalism was an American philosophy that promoted originality over conformity, believing that, as transcendentalist Ralph Waldo Emerson stated, everyone has "an original relation to the universe". They knew they were in a new era and tried to influence a new type of thought. Transcendentalists were outspoken advocates for abolition, women's rights, reform, and education.
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Manifest Destiny
First used by in 1845 by a reporter, Manifest Destiny was the belief Americans had a "divine obligation" to have U.S. control of all lands spanning the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. Manifest Destiny is inherently religious, stemming as a result of the Second Great Awakening and led by American missionaries. Pic Source
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Popular Sovereignty
Introduced by Democrat Lewis Cass in the late 1840s, Popular Sovereignty gave the decision of permitting slavery to the territories, instead of the national government. The concept was riddled with flaws, including potential voter fraud and implementing this eventually lead to the "Bloody Kansas" conflict. Pictured is Lewis Cass
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Seneca Falls Convention
The Seneca Falls Convention was the event that initiated the women's suffrage movement in the United States. Orchestrated by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott, the convention promoted feminism and abolition. Their manifesto was the "Declaration of Sentiments", a document that closely modeled the Declaration of Independence and emphasized that "all men and women are created equal". Pic. Source
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Publication of Uncle Tom's Cabin
Disturbed by the stories of runaway slaves and their experiences in plantations, Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin. This book exposed to many northerners the terrible conditions endured by southern slaves, but was condemned by southern whites. The book sold 300,000 copies in the North, yet its influence was international- selling even more copies in Great Britain and shifting public support to the North. Pic. Source
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Civil War
The Civil War was a major event in American history that would determine the future of the Union. Beginning in 1861 with the Battle of Fort Sumter, the Civil War would become the bloodiest American conflict of all time. Leading the North, President Abraham Lincoln and General Ulysses S. Grant; leading the South, President Jefferson Davis and General Robert E. Lee. The North, with overwhelmingly more resources and troops, won. Pic. Source
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Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln, America's 16th President and Commander in Chief of the Union Army during the Civil War, was assassinated by a band of conspirators on April 11th, 1865. At Ford's Theater, John Wilkes Booth approached the Presidential Box and shot Lincoln. He proceeded to flee, but broke his leg trying. Lincoln died the next morning. Booth was killed on April 26 by Union Calvary and his fellow conspirators hanged. Pic. Source
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Reconstruction Acts
The Reconstruction Acts were legislation that the Southern states needed to ratify to rejoin the Union. These acts included rewriting state constitutions to consider all men free and ratifying the 14th amendment. The Southern states were also divided into districts under military control to assure the safety of African Americans.
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Impeachment of Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson's hand-off reconstruction policies impeded with Congress's attempts to rebuild a fair south. Congress was "looking for any excuse to rid themselves of an uncooperative President" and found this excuse in the Tenure of Congress Act and for "disgracing congress". Johnson was ultimately not removed from office, but his power was greatly lessened. Pic. Source
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