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Period: 1492 to 1492
The first interactions
During this time period, Native Americans, Europeans, and Africans were interacting for the first time. There was conflict between Europeans and Native Americans, and Africans were coming over as slaves. Also, the spread of disease was diminishing all populations. -
Slavery
Slavery began in Europe and was brought over to America. Slavery is a horrendous period of American history where white people forced blacks to work for no pay. Slaves were put in the harshest conditions and sometimes were beat, raped, whipped, and even worse. Africans and African-Americans were thought of as property and were bought and sold at markets. Slavery existed from 1619 all the way to 1865
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Mainfest Destiny
Manifest Destiny is the believe that 19th century Americans had. Manifest Destiny was the belief that Americans had a divine duty to expand Westward. After the Second Great Awakening, the religious movement helped cultivate Manifest Destiny, many moved westward in hope of land and gold.
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American Identity
American Identity is the shared ideas and beliefs that connect us. A big part of the American Identity is the melting pot mindset, or that we are a nation of diversity. Another big example would be our shared belief in freedom of religion. American identity was formed through the blending of cultures throughout time.
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The Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre ensued on March 5, 1770. It started when Americans began to disobey and fight with British soldiers. After the Massacre, it began to unite colonists as it reassured anti-British feelings. This was a major event that led colonists to the American Revolution.
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Declaration of Independence
The declaration of Independence was enacted on July 4, 1776. The document solidified America’s independence from Britain. The declaration was written mostly by Thomas Jefferson, but also by John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and two others.
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The Melting Pot
The melting pot was a term coined in the 1780s, it was used to describe the blend of cultures and ethnicities to create American Identity. The idea of the melting pot has defined Americans and it is often used to describe America to this day.
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the US Constitution
On the 17th of September in 1787 the US constitution was written. The idea of the constitution was to outline the new government for America. It increased federal government but allowed protection for the people's’ basic rights. The US constitution was written by famous leaders such as James Madison and Thomas Jefferson.
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Federalism
Federalism is a form of government where there is one central government with regional governments in one system. The US adopted federalism with the ratification of the US Constitution (June 21, 1788). To this day, the US still had a federal government system. Link to more information on federalism in the US:
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Nationalism
Nationalism is a sense of pride and love for one’s country in the hopes of unification politically, economically, and socially. Post - Revolution American nationalism was key in uniting the country to succeed separately from Britain. Nationalism came in the form of art, music, building on the nations new capital (Washington D.C, finished in March 1801), etc.
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The War of 1812
The war of 1812 was a war against Britain and their allies, the Native Americans. Many view the war of 1812 as a second war for independence. In December of 1814, New England federalists met to discuss the war, and they eventually ended the war.
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Jacksonian Democracy
Jacksonian Democracy was an idea/movement that President Andrew Jackson started. It came from his fight for the common man. Although, many thought of Jackson as a king rather than a president, thus the nickname he was given was “King Andrew I”.
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The Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was a way of getting slaves to refuge. It started in 1830 and went on until the end of the Civil War. Railroad activists would sneak slaves through a series of “stations” until they could get to freedom. Some went as as far as Canada. The most known railroad activist is Harriet Tubman who made 19 trips into slave territory.
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Trail of Tears
The Trail of Tears, also called the Indian Removal, was a horrendous event initiated by President Jackson to rid Native Americans of their land so that Americans could profit off of their land. Many resisted leaving, some through violence, for example the Seminoles in Florida, others through legal actions, as the Cherokees from Georgia did. The removals were brutal and forced Native Americans to live on reservations.
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The Gold Rush
Famously known as the Gold Rush, the discovery of gold in California was a big economical movement that pushed people west. After James Marshall discovered gold in California, herds of people moved west in hopes of striking rich. Although life in mining towns were hard, many stayed in their newly developed home. During the Gold Rush, jeans were developed by Levi Strauss.
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The Civil War
The Civil War is one of the most infamous conflicts in America history. The war was between the Confederates (the South) and the Union(the North). The Civil War lasted four years and killed more than 640,000 soldiers on both sides. The war changed the political, social, economic, and cultural landscape of America. One of the biggest factors that lead up to the Civil War was slavery.
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The Reconstruction Era
An era in American history that came post-Civil War America. The thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth amendment changes lives for black Americans, making progress in equal rights and opportunities for black Americans. Radical Republicans seek punishment for the South, the Ku Klux Klan is started, and the military divides the South. The Reconstruction Era posed questions for Americans and American life.
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The Gettysburg Address
The Emancipation Proclamation read at the Gettysburg Address was an important document that made the Gettysburg Address a pivotal point in American History. This was the event that abolished slavery. Although slavery was still prevalent in America after, it ended the era of accepted slavery.
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The Impeachment of President Johnson
In 1868, President Andrew Johnson was the first president to be impeached. Johnson was impeached by the House of Representatives, but was later found not guilty by the senate. Andrew Johnson was originally charged with elven accounts of impeachment. President Johnson served out his full term due to the senate acquitted him.
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