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1492
American Identity
From the moment America was discovered, its identity has been unique from every other country's. Originally inhabited by the Native Americans, the British soon colonized the land and became an independent country. Shortly after, America turned into a melting pot. People of all descents lived in America, and still do. http://www.ushistory.org/us/7f.asp -
Period: 1492 to
US History
An interactive timeline of major US History events from 1492 to 1877. -
British Defeat Spain's Armada
Previously, Spain was considered the superpower of the seas and was the most influential European nation. This caused Britain to delay their expeditions to new lands. Spain's armada, consisting of 130 ships, was defeated by England's small and quick ships during a storm. This was the beginning England's control of the New World, and the end of Spain's domination. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/spanish-armada-defeated -
Establishment of Jamestown
The Virginia Company of London organized a venture to the New World. The colonists landed in present day Virginia and created the settlement, named after King James I. The settlement survived through violent encounters with Chief Powhatan's people and the "starving time" and eventually started to grow tobacco. This drastically changed the settlement, centering its economy around tobacco and starting the production of tobacco elsewhere in the colonies. http://www.ushistory.org/us/2c.asp -
Meeting of the First Continental Congress
After the Stamp Act, Townshend Acts, and many more, the Intolerable Acts were the last straw for many colonists. The First Continental Congress was then organized, and met for the first time in Philadelphia. It featured representatives from each colony except Georgia, and a list of colonial rights was drafted. Parliament ignored the list of rights, and the Congress reconvened the next year in May. http://www.ushistory.org/us/10d.asp -
The Declaration of Independence
Signed on July 4th, 1776, the Declaration of Independence declared the 13 colonies free and independent from British rule. It was originally proposed on June 7th, 1776, by Richard Henry Lee, and but Congress waited to vote on it until early July. http://www.ushistory.org/us/10g.asp -
1783 Treaty of Paris
In 1781, George Washington led his troops to Yorktown, where the British were stationed. At the same time, a French unit headed towards the Chesapeake Bay from the West Indies. Together, they forced the British to surrender. This led to peace negotiations several months later. In the 1783 Treaty of Paris, American Independence was recognized, but only until the Mississippi River. America also had to pay back debts owed to the British. http://www.ushistory.org/us/11i.asp -
Federalism
Federalism is the distribution of power in an organization (such as a government) between a central authority and the constituent. http://www.ushistory.org/us/16a.asp -
The Constitution is ratified by nine states
On June 21rst, New Hampshire became the ninth and final required state to ratify the Constitution. After scrapping the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution was written in its place. The nine states ratified the Constitution one by one between December 7th, 1787, and June 21rst, 1788. http://www.ushistory.org/us/16c.asp -
The Election of 1800
The election of 1800 was a bitter and hard fought battle between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, with Jefferson coming out on top. This was also a victory of Democrat-Republicans. http://www.ushistory.org/us/20a.asp -
The War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a second war against the British. It lasted for three years, until 1815. This war gave America a chance to establish themselves as a true, powerful nation. http://www.ushistory.org/us/21.asp -
Two-Party System
The two-party system is a system in which the electorate gives its votes largely to only two major parties and in which one or the other party can win a majority in the legislature. The United States established this system in place of the first party system during the Era of Good Feelings. https://www.britannica.com/topic/two-party-system -
The Underground Railroad is established
Although no exact date is known, the beginning of the Underground Railroad is estimated to be around 1820. The Underground Railroad was established to help slaves escape. It wasn't a railroad, but rather a series of routes and safe houses that would lead to the North or outside of the United States. The railroad was run by former slaves, free blacks, Native Americans, and whites. http://www.blackpast.org/aah/underground-railroad-1820-1861 -
Andrew Jackson's Election in 1828
Andrew Jackson was considered the common man who represented all the people of America. He beat John Quincy Adams in the 1828 Election. Although he lead a strong presidency, controversies such as the Trail of Tears, South Carolina Nullification, and his battle with Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun are what he is truly infamous for. http://www.ushistory.org/us/24.asp -
Nat Turner organizes successful rebellion
Nat Turner, a slave who was very religious and connected to God, organized a rebellion of about 70 slaves and they murdered 75 people total across multiple plantations. This was in objection to the treatment of slaves and African-Americans, but in response, slave codes were only tightened. It was one of the most successful slave rebellions in the sheer number of white Southern people who were killed. http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/nat-turner -
Manifest Destiny
Manifest Destiny is a term coined by John O'Sullivan in 1845. It is the idea of the supposed inevitability of the continued territorial expansion of the boundaries of the United States westward to the Pacific and beyond. https://www.britannica.com/event/Manifest-Destiny -
The Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was a compromise proposed by Henry Clay. It resulted in the determining of which states acquired during the Mexican-American War would be free states and which would be slave states. http://www.ushistory.org/us/30d.asp -
The Election of 1860
Aside from the Kansas-Nebraska Act, the Election of 1860 was one of the main sparks that led to the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln, received 40% of the popular vote and 180 electoral votes, just enough to win the election. This angered many southern states, and South Caroline seceded shortly after. http://www.ushistory.org/us/32d.asp -
The Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was a order issued by Abraham Lincoln that legally freed all slaves in Confederate States. Although it did not immediately change the legal status of all slaves in America, it did in many Confederate States and created a chain effect to where slaves running away would become free as well. http://www.ushistory.org/us/34a.asp -
Reconstruction
Reconstruction was the period after the Civil War in which the South and the United States as a whole had to rebuild. It lasted from 1865-1877. During that period, there was a smaller Presidential Reconstruction, the Radical Republicans came to power, and the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments were ratified. http://www.ushistory.org/us/35.asp -
Impeachment of Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was the first president to be impeached. Johnson pardoned many Confederate leaders and was very lenient when it came to punishment for the South. The Radical Republicans held completely opposite views and wanted strict punishment for the South. Using their power in government, the Radical Republicans brought together 11 articles of impeachment. http://www.ushistory.org/us/35c.asp
