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Period: 1492 to
US History 1492-1877
I will use this timeline to complete time toast assignments for US History. It will also serve as a visual for when events took place. -
Colonists Establish Jamestown
144 all male settlers land in Virginia and establish the colony of Jamestown. With the Virginia Joint-Stock Company breathing down their necks, the colonists sought gold and ignored farming. They were ill equipped for the winter, many died and the stock venture failed. [http://www.ushistory.org/us/2c.asp] -
Virginia Legalizes Slavery
Huge cash crop plantations in Virginia called for cheaper and cheaper workers until colonists began using African slaves. This practice was first legalized in Virginia and remained in effect until the end of the civil war. [http://www.ushistory.org/us/6c.asp] -
Boston Massacre
A crowd of protesters began throwing rocks and snowballs at a group of Redcoats. A few of the Redcoats responded with an uncalled volley of bullets, killing five. This stirred up a desire for vengeance in many colonists. [http://www.ushistory.org/us/9e.asp] -
Republicanism
The belief in introducing a system of democratically elected representatives to make legal decisions. Even during the American revolution, Republicanism was considered radical.[http://www.ushistory.org/us/12b.asp] -
First Reading of the Declaration of Independence
The former colonies official declared themselves independent from England, but still had yet to back that up with the actual revolutionary victory they needed. The public reading took place in Philadelphia at 12pm. (http://www.ushistory.org/us/13a.asp) -
Federalism
The belief in a strong central government in order to maintain stability. American Federalists increased the power of the central government and ratified the constitution. (http://www.ushistory.org/us/16a.asp) -
Constitution is Ratified
After Federalists campaigned hard to achieve support in many states, the constitution reached the number of supporting states required to ratify it. Although some states had not signed on yet, they would eventually. (http://www.ushistory.org/us/16c.asp) -
Cotton Gin is Created
Eli Whitney created the cotton gin which could produce insane amounts of cotton in very little time. It resulted in a resurgence of slavery in the South, as workers were needed to operate the gins. (http://www.ushistory.org/us/27a.asp) -
Louisiana Purchase
Napoleon had recently taken over France and needed money quickly, so he decided to sell the gigantic Louisiana territory to the United States for only 15 million dollars, which, even in 1803, was a low price. The United States quickly expanded throughout the territory in the years that followed. (http://www.ushistory.org/us/20c.asp) -
War of 1812 Starts
The United States attempted to invade British Canada but was hopelessly outmatched. It was an embarrassing defeat for America. (http://www.ushistory.org/us/21e.asp) -
Andrew Jackson is Elected President
Upon inauguration, Jackson invited frontiersmen and common people to party and they trashed the White House. Democratic-Republicans thought that the country would collapse under Jackson. It didn't. http://www.ushistory.org/us/24.asp -
South Carolina Passes Nullification
South Carolina passed Nullification to dodge a tariff they deemed unfair. Jackson attempted to use federal troops to stop them. Luckily, Congress approved a compromise tariff. http://www.ushistory.org/us/24c.asp -
Manifest Destiny
The nationalist mindset that America had the divine obligation to expand. (http://www.ushistory.org/us/33a.asp) -
James Polk Splits Oregon with Britain
Although he originally promised the entire Oregon territory, he settled with a fraction to avoid war. A lot of people called him out. http://www.ushistory.org/us/29b.asp -
Uncle Tom's Cabin is Published
Harriet Breecher Stowe published Uncle Tom's Cabin, gaining support for abolitionist movements in the North. It was so effective that it was banned in the South. (http://www.ushistory.org/us/28d.asp) -
Civil War Begins
Confederate forces fired on Union controlled Fort Sumpter. The Union soldiers surrendered after three days. This caused even more states to join the Confederation. (http://www.ushistory.org/us/7f.asp) -
Battle of Gettysburg
Union forces clashed with Confederate ones near the town of Gettysburg. This was one of the bloodiest battles and changed the course of the war. George Pickett led a bold confederate push which failed and may have cost them the entire war. http://www.ushistory.org/us/33g.asp -
Civil Rights Act Veto is Overturned
The Civil Rights Act gave African Americans the same rights as white Americans. Andrew Johnson vetoed it, but Congress overturned the veto with a 2/3 majority. (http://www.ushistory.org/us/35b.asp) -
Reconstruction
After the Civil War, the term "Reconstruction" was used to describe the rebuilding process to return the union to how it was previous in the most fair way possible. It didn't exactly go that way. (http://www.ushistory.org/us/35.asp) -
The American Identity
America developed its own identity, not based on a shared ethnicity, but rather on values and a shared history. (http://www.ushistory.org/us/7f.asp)
