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500 BCE
Maya
The Maya civilization developed within areas that are now Guatemalan area. The Maya civilization were very good in agriculture, pottery, hieroglyph writing, mathematics, and calendar-making. The Maya are well known for their own hieroglyphics scripts, mathematics system, and astronomical system. Mayan's will later advance human sacrifice from the the Olmec. The Maya civilization also used the cast system as a social system. Early Mayans were farmers and more advanced than other societies. -
Period: 100 BCE to
Beginnings to Exploration
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1000
The Dark Ages(Middle Ages)
The Dark Ages(Middle Ages) was a backwards time for Europe. Europe had no higher learning during this time period which would lead to no major break through's. People in Europe was more focused on religion/culture and didn't really focus on education. The Orthodox Christians viewed this time as a corruption in Catholicism. The Catholic Church had total domination over Europe during this period. During this time period, Europe had a very weak economy. Europe had a Feudalistic social system. -
1349
The Black Death
The Black Death was one of the most horrifying diseases in human history to occur. This disease would spread from the fleas that would travel on boats during maritime trading or from traders along the Silk Road. The Black Death would kill around 30-60% of all Europeans and would leave no workers. Since it was hard to produce goods prices would inflate and the economy would go through abrupt and extreme inflation. Social changes like nobility wearing extravagant clothes to be known. -
1494
Treaty of Tordesillas
The Treaty of Toredesillas would clear confusion of land in the New World between Spain and Portugal. Spain and Portugal fought over new lands in the New World so the Pope would divide lands.Pope Alexander VI divided the land which would draw an imaginary line and Spain had land to the left and Portugal had land to the right of the line. Spain would benefit greatly since they were given more land than Portugal but Portugal didn't know how much land there really was. -
1495
Columbian Exchange
The Columbian Exchange is a trade between the Old World and the New World. Christopher Columbus would start the Columbian Exchange with his voyage back to the Old World from the New World with new goods he discovered. Goods that were traded in the Columbian Exchange consisted of plants, animals, and diseases. The Columbian Exchange would benefit mostly the Old world since the Old World would not have many goods to introduce to the New World. Disease would wipe out most of the Indian population. -
1517
Martin Luther
Martin Luther is the author of the Ninety-five Theses which objects to the ways of the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church used indulgences which Martin Luther thought was not right and that inner spiritual repentance is needed for sins to be forgiven. Martin Luther thought the Catholic Church was corrupt so he broke away from the Church and started the Protestant reformation. Martin Luther was excommunicated from the Catholic Church because he did not recant his writings of the Theses. -
1550
The Renaissance "Rebirth"
The Renaissance era was a rebirth of old cultural ways. The Renaissance was a time of great beauty, art, creativity, imagination, and curiosity. The Renaissance was also the age for exploration. Italy was the center of culture during this period. Changes in thinking led to new ideas in art, science, religion, literature, and other ideas. Though Catholic Churches began to go into decline since Martin Luther broke away from the Church and spread the Protestant religion. -
Roanoke
A colony that settled in Virginia was called the Roanoke colony. This colony would be led by John white who would 100 settlers to form a permanent English colony in the New world. Shortly after arriving the colony realized they needed more supplies so John White would return to England. He would try many times to return back to the colony but thunderstorms and war would stop him from returning. After three years he was able to return to the colony only to find they had gone missing. -
Period: to
English Colonial Societies
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Plymouth Colony
The Plymouth Colony started out as 100 men and women, many of the English Separatist Church. The Mayflower, a merchant ship, transported these Puritans from England to Cape Code where they landed. 40 of these people were known as Puritans which were reformers of the Anglican Church and believed in a more religious life. The Mayflower Compact (1620) was an agreement to have self-government in America. A man named Squanto helped the Plymouth Colony being a translator for the English to the Native. -
Quakers
Quakers, a religion started as the society of friends, was a Christian movement founded by George Fox. Quakers gave their time to peaceful principles and believed in Christ's direct working in the soul. The Quakers came to America for the freedom of their religion since they were Criticized, imprisoned, and sometimes put to death in England. William Penn, a Quaker, founded Pennsylvania a proprietary colony so Quakers could experience their freedom of religion. -
Navigation Acts
The Navigation Acts were a series of acts passed by parliament to encourage British shipping and maintain Great Britain's monopoly on British colonial trade. The three acts that were passed were in 1651, 1660, and 1663. The 1651 act restricted Dutch trading but was voided since they needed money. The 1660 act restricted imports and exports to British ships. The 1663 acts stated that colonial exports had to be traded in English/Colonial ships and Colonial imports had to go through English ports. -
North/South Carolina
North and South Carolina would both have a part in the Province of Carolina first founded by Lord Proprietors King Charles II gave the land to in 1663. Carolina was founded as a buffer colony and a source of income for the British. Carolina would also be used as a storage colony and a colony for another colony. Carolina would be easier for slaves because slave owners feared insurrections so work hours maxed to 15. In 1712 Carolina would split into North and South Carolina. -
Salem Witch Trials
The Salem Witch Trials were mysterious acts of witch craft and girls believed they were possessed by the devil in Massachusetts. Mass hysteria would spread throughout colonial Massachusetts and girls would accuse women of being witches which led to prosecutions. Tituba was one of many women to be accused of witch craft except Tituba confessed thinking she could get out of it by naming others. Tituba would be hung eight days later and 20 women were executed for being accused of witch craft. -
Act of Union (1707)
The Union of England and Scotland would eventually come from the Act of Union (1707) in which the parliament of England and Scotland came together to become one. This act would also lead to the creation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and New Britain becoming an Empire. The New Britain Empire would be led by a
combined parliament. The Act of Union would later be the basis for American government. Colonies would still have local control over themselves and no one to govern but the people. -
Period: to
Colonial America
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Triangular Trade
The Triangular trade was a trade route that went from West Africa, Caribbean or American Colonies, and the European colonial powers. The first leg was from European ports to Africa bringing supplies for slaves. The second leg was the Middle Passage from Africa to the New World in which many slaves died of diseases. The third and final leg was back to England with goods. Europe got significantly wealthier from the Triangular Trade and Africa suffered significantly with a decrease in population. -
The Middle Passage
The Middle Passage were routes that transported slaves from West Africa to America and parts of Europe. Conditions during the Middle Passage were so horrible that more than 10 percent of the slaves died on the voyage mainly due to diseases. Slaves were densely packed together with no leg space and the voyage would take up to 3-4 months to arrive at their destination. There would be 11 million slaves in total that would be transported one the Middle Passage an 9.6 million ending in America. -
The Enlightenment
The Enlightenment was a intellectual and philosophical movement which dominated ideas around the globe. Science no longer became superstition but normal thinking and everything became reasoning. Philosophers that were associated with bringing light to the Enlightenment were Benjamin Franklin, Sir Isaac Newton, John Locke and others. Religion would be questioned due to new scientific discoveries and methods. The Enlightenment would later be a major influence on the French Revolution. -
The Great Awakening
The Great Awakening was a movement of new religious thought and reformation that changed the thought of religions across the American colonies. Preachers George Whitfield was a powerful preacher who would have a part in the Great Awakening. Everyone during the Great Awakening was given voice and everyone was heard. Jesus was a very significant symbol during the Great Awakening since Christianity was majority of the religion. George Whitfield would cause the Great Awakening to be fully ignited. -
New England Economy
New England had an economy and trade that was very dependent on their environment and surroundings. The towns along the coast were very dependent on fishing, whaling, and shipbuilding since they had easy access to the Atlantic. Access to the Atlantic would mean a lot of maritime trade would go throughout the coastal cities too. The Northern Colonies of England focused on manufacturing, town life, and industries like ship building. They also focused on the export of rum to the Triangular Trade. -
Seven-Years War/French and Indian War
The French and Indian War was a seven year long war between England, France, and Spain for territory. Britain and the Colonies would seek more land west in the Americas but France also wanted more land so this would cause land disputes. The first land dispute that would start the war was over the Ohio River valley but France had many forts in this region. British would have a new policy to defeat the French and have a 10,000 man army and Navy. Was a world-wide conflict and first real world war. -
The Treaty of Paris-1763
The Treaty of Paris is what ended that French and Indian War after seven long years of many battles. All territories that French had conquered were taken away and redistributed. The only territory in America they were able to keep was Haiti and the small islands off the Caribbean. The treaty would be issued since Great Britain was going into massive debt so they would not want to go further into war. The British empire would become stronger through new lands they had obtained in the new world. -
Period: to
Revolutionary War
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Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was passed by British Parliament for American Colonists that put a tax on all paper goods. People who were affected the most were printers and lawyers since they used paper on a daily basis for their job. The Stamp Act would cause many people to be angry so the Stamp Act Congress was created. The Stamp Act Congress was a meeting in 9 of 13 colonies sent representatives to devise a unified protest against British taxation. Protest would later erupt because of taxation. -
Townshend Act
The Townshend Act is a series of measures into England Parliament to payoff the massive debt that they have obtained through the war with France. The act imposes taxes on glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea that are imported into the colonies and the colonies saw this as an abuse of power by Parliament. Because of the protest from the colonies the taxes would later be removed except the taxes on tea which would cause anger. The resistance of the act would lead to occupation of troops in Boston. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a midnight raid protesting the Tea Act of 1773. Colonists would see this act as another example of Parliament using their powers to tax what ever they want. Samuel Adams would organize a group of 60 members from the Sons of Liberty and would disguised as Mohawk Indians since his persuasions to send the tea back did not work. This group would dump $18,000 worth of tea the night of December sixteenth to defy British Parliament since they would not agree with Samuel Adams. -
Battle of Lexington
The Massachusetts governor heard that Colonists in the Province of Massachusetts Bay were preparing for conflict by producing arms, munitions, and training militia so he sent British troops to Lexington to capture leaders. Paul Revere would hear about the troops and at midnight of April 16 would ride to warn others and flee. The British and Americans were face to face and would hear a shot fired by an unknown person that would cause the battle. This would be the first battle of the war. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was a document stating that the thirteen colonies are independent no longer under British rule. Adams would persuade the committee to select Jefferson to write the original document and Congress would edit and produce the final version but Jefferson would later be charged for writing the document. Independence was passed on July 2 with no opposing votes but the declaration would not be ratified until July 4. A copy of the declaration would be issued to the public. -
Massachusetts Constitution
A member of the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention, John Adams was the author of the Massachusetts Constitution. Voters approved of John Adams Massachusetts Constitution in 1780. This document had articles, chapters, and sections and would also serve as a model for the Constitution of the United States. The Massachusetts Constitution also influenced the revision of many other state constitutions. Four parts: preamble, declaration of rights, description of gov, articles of amendment. -
Period: to
Constitution
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Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was an early version of the US Constitution that was established limited power over the 13 colonies. The Articles of Confederation would not have very much control because it was very weak and many would revolt against it. Since it was very weak the Congress would not get much done and there was no central government authority. After Shay's Rebellion many would want the Articles of Confederation to change and some realized it needed to be replaced. -
Treaty of Paris-1783
The Treaty of Paris (1738) was negotiated between Great Britain and the United Sates to end the Revolutionary War. This treaty would also recognize America as an independent nation and would also give them fishing rights and restore the property and prisoners of war. This treaty would also establish northern border with British/Canada and both nations will have access to the Mississippi River. The treat will restore loyalist properties and give the United States frontier land to Mississippi. -
American Virtue (late 18th Century)
When the Revolutionary War ended Americans had a different perspective of their virtues and thought differently. Americans started to celebrate the ideals of Republicanism and would share these ideals with others. States will start to form a Constitution to govern themselves and have a sense of control over the people. Children will also begin to be educated at an early age to grow up and educate others. British style will be completely ruled out an no longer apart of American life style. -
Three Branches
Three Branches of government consisted of legislative, executive, and judiciary. The legislative branch was in charge of making the laws and is made up of Congress and government agencies. The executive branch consists of the president and enforces the laws written by Congress and appoints the head of federal agencies. The judiciary branch is ran by the Supreme Court which interprets the the laws and the Constitution and limits the power of other branches of government. -
Shays' Rebellion
Shays' Rebellion caused by a post-war recession that would seize the farms and tax poor farmers. The seizing and taxing of poor farmers would cause them to be angry and rebellion against the government. A man named Daniel Shay would lead this rebellion which consisted of Revolutionary War veterans and would begin to widely spread. The rebellion will be put down and show how weak the Articles of Confederation was. Constitutional Reformation would soon come and the Founding Fathers would write it. -
Two Plans
The Founding Fathers would come together and devise two plans for the reformation of government. First would be the Virginia Plan that had a two house legislature; an upper and lower house with population based representation. Second was the New Jersey Plan that would be for the smaller states and was a modified version of the A.O.C. It would consist of a single legislature and legislature would be supreme law of land. Executive would be elected by congress and have a less powerful Judiciary. -
Election of 1788
The Election of 1788 was the first presidential election and George Washington was the one to be elected with John Adams as his vice president. George Washington was seen as a god-like figure in the eyes of the Americans. The person to who got the most votes was elected for president which would be George Washington. The person who got the second most votes would be vice president which was John Adams. This was cause incompatibility so this was changed by the twelfth amendment. -
Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights are the first ten amendments till the US Constitution and guaranteed individual rights and liberties. James Madison introduced nine amendments to the constitution in which seven of those would be added to the ten ratified Bill of Rights amendments. Madison wanted to insert rights that would limit the power of the constitution and Anti-Federalists would supported the Bill of Rights since it would limit the power of the Constitution. The English Bill of Rights was a basis. -
Period: to
The New Republic
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Federalist
The Federalist party was the first party in America that supported Alexander Hamilton's fiscal policies and were committed to a fiscally sound and nationalistic government. Federalists supported the constitution and an all powerful central government with loose states rights. They also opposed Bill of Rights and used checks and balances to preserve government. Their political opponents were the Democratic-Republicans that had the exact opposite belief as the Federalist. -
Bank of the United States
The Bank of the United States established by Hamilton helped stabilize the economy in America. The national bank would be charted for twenty years by the United States Congress and is like modern day banks where you can make a deposit and make loans. Critics would say that the bank restricted any economic developments and the charter was not renew in 1811. When president Andrew Jackson was reelected he removed all federal funds from the bank and was no longer operated as a national institution. -
Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton was a Federalist and a founder of the Federalists party who supported the US Constitution. He was the first Secretary of the Treasury and was the wrote most of the economic policies of the George Washington Administration. He also created the national bank and funded the states' debt. Hamilton sought after a strong central government led by a strong executive branch with a strong commercial economy. He was the leading cabinet member in the new government under Washington. -
XYZ Affair
Britain and France were the world powers trying to control most of their commerce. When US and Britain ratified Jay's Treaty, Britain appeared to be the most favored nation to trade with although US was neutral France took action and seized American ships and started an undeclared naval war. John Adams, wanting to avoid conflict would send a committee of three men to negotiate peace with France and met three agents under the names of X, Y, and Z. The Convention of 1800 would maintain peace. -
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was an English man who briefly practiced law. He was the third president of the United States and was a delegate from Virginia at the Second Continental Congress who is the author for the Declaration of Independence. He would also become governor of Virginia and design the buildings of the University of Virginia. Jefferson would purchase Louisiana from Napoleon and send out the Lewis and Clark Expedition to fully explore Louisiana. -
Period: to
The Age of Jefferson
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Marbury v. Madison
The 1803 case by which the United States Supreme Court forms the basis for the exercise of judicial review in the United States Constitution. This case started when William Marbury would send a petition to the Supreme Court to force James Madison to deliver documents. John Marshall would find Madison's refusal of the documents to be illegal and correctable. Supreme Court would force him but stop very quickly since it would extend the Court's original jurisdiction. -
Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase that was made by Thomas Jefferson in 1803 from Napoleon after the French were not able to control Louisiana from war and needed money. The purchase would be made for 3 cents an acre or $15 million and would also double the territory of the United Sates. This purchase of the Louisiana territory would be one of the largest bargain in history. This purchase would also go back on Thomas Jefferson's ideals since he is a Republican and more government power would be needed. -
Burr v. Hamilton
Hamilton and Burr were not always the kindest of people to each other since Alexander would sometimes attack him personally. As Burr ran for VP on Jefferson's Democratic-Republican ticket Hamilton would publicly attacked Burr. After Burr's character was attacked by Hamilton in the campaign against him, Burr would challenge Hamilton to a duel which was illegal. Hamilton would shoot into the air on purpose and Burr would fatally wound Hamilton and killing him causing him to be an outlaw. -
Embargo Act of 1807
The Embargo Act would be an embargo placed by the United States Congress against Great Britain and France during the Napoleonic Wars when an American ship would be seized. British navy would capture American seamen forcing thousands of Americans to impressment and making them work on navy warships. The embargo would also deprive the British and French of American goods. This embargo would also be quite a failure since it would bring down the US economy and be a burden. -
War of 1812
In 1812, the United States would go to war against Great Britain which is the greatest naval power in the world. Causes that would start the war were the attempts to reduce US trade and the impressment of American seamen by the Royal Navy. The British would take Washington D.C. and burn the White House down in revenge for Montreal. The Americans would beat the British navy at the Great Lakes but would end the war at the Battle of New Orleans. The Treaty of Ghent ended the War of 1812. -
Period: to
Early American Industrial Revolution
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Adams-Onis Treaty (1819)
The Adams-Onis Treaty is a treaty that would cede Florida into the US hands and would define border disputes between Spain and the US. This American triumph would come after the American Revolution when rising tension about Spain's territorial boundaries against North America. The treaty would establish US territory claims in exchange for US paying rent claims against Spanish government up to $5 million and relinquishing parts of Spanish Texas and other Spanish areas. -
Panic of 1819
The Panic of 1819 was the first major economic crisis in the United States that consisted of foreclosures, bank failures, unemployment, and decrease in agriculture and manufacturing. After banks were not able to give metallic currency when given their own bank notes, state-chartered banks began to foreclose on farms and business properties. Popular hatred towards the banking and business enterprise and belief that government economic policy was flawed. America would not recover till 1821. -
Missouri Crisis
The Missouri Crisis was the disputes over whether Missouri would be a slave or free state. Missouri would be entering the United States but as a slave or free state was yet to be determined. After many arguments the Missouri Compromise would occur and state that Missouri would be admitted as a slave state and Main was free. Although Missouri would be a slave state, it would be excluded from the Louisiana Purchase lands north of 36*30. Would hold the Union together for 30 years until repealed. -
Lowell Mills
The Lowell Mills which was the first factory system would be created by Fancis Lowell. The Lowell Mills would employ women and children and would be the start of women having jobs.. They offered supervision for the women at all times and lodging so they could stay near their work. Lowell mills would open in 1814 and would work well at first but would reduce the wages without reducing work hours so women would protest and go on strikes. Also petition Massachusetts state legislature. -
Second Great Awakening
Arising in the 1820, it was one of the most significant occurrences in the history of American religion. Countless people were converted and many churches were reformed. The Second Great Awakening would consists of the Protestant religious revival and would have great affect on the religion. The revivals attracted women blacks, and Native Americans. There would be a significant increase in members in the Baptist and Methodist religious groups. This great awakening would rid the evils of society. -
Period: to
Nineteenth Century Cultural Changes
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Textile Manufacturing
Before the manufacturing of textiles, clothes would be made by individual workers and goods were transported by pack-horses or river navigation. The artisans' life style would completely taken away from them since textile manufacturing would be more efficient than making things by hand. Textile manufacturing would also be cheaper to produce since handmade goods would want to be sold for more. Textile manufacturing would show the technological advancement of the Industrialization Revolution. -
Temperance Movement
In America, alcohol consumption was not a rare thing to see and was actually very common among most men. A group called the American Temperance Society would be formed and would have over one million members. An early temperance movement would be during the American Revolution with farmers forming an association to ban whiskey distilling. During this movement, people would be encouraged to hold back or give up alcohol consumption. Men would be abusive toward women and children while intoxicated. -
Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine, which was mostly written by John Adams and slightly by president Monroe, would establish the opposition of further European colonization into the Western Hemisphere. This document would cut any and all European affairs and would follow Washington's Farewell Address and not have permanent relations. Also any European nation interaction with nations in the Western Hemisphere would be seen as hostile act and will handle the situation. -
Election of 1824
Before the Election of 1824 the Democratic-Republican Party would win six presidential elections in a row and couldn't decide on a successor. Since the Democrats couldn't decide the House of Representatives would be left to decide after. There would be four candidates that were selected and Jackson won the popular vote but didn't win the electoral vote. John Q. Adams would be chosen and Andrew Jackson would be mad which lead to the Corrupt Bargain. -
Period: to
Jacksonian America
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Cotton Gin
Eli Whitney, creator of the cotton gin, would patent the machine that would industrialize the production of cotton. The cotton gin was mainly used by slaves since they worked in the cotton field and would make the process of deseeding cotton ten times as fast than doing it by hand. It was also speed up the production of cotton in the South significantly. The cotton gin would also strengthen slavery in the South by helping farmers produce more cotton and earn money to grow larger crops. -
Slums
As the industrial areas grew in the cities, so did the population in which many would move from the country side to cities. Along with the mass migration into cities came poor people which would lead to slums. During the Industrial Revolution, the first slums would be created due to the differences in classes. Slums consisted of mostly the poor population and would be considered very unhygienic. Many would move out of the slums and that lead to the creation of suburbs. -
Election of 1828
The Election of 1828 would be a rematch between President John Q. Adams and Andrew Jackson. John Q. Adams would be reelected and would run against Jackson in which they would personally attack each other. This election would be a two-party between Republicans and Democrats like how elections are in modern day. Someone would call Jackson a jackass which would lead to the creation of a donkey as their mascot. The elections would also later cause the Inauguration Party. -
Railroads
A new form of transportation during the Industrial Revolution were railroads that would be used in unison with the a steam engine locomotive. Railroads would have a major impact on farming by making it easier for them to transport their crops to cities. Railroads would also make transportation to cities faster for people so many would move out of inner cities. A transcontinental railroad would be created connecting the west and east coast of the US later in 1860.r -
Revivalism
Revivalism in a Christian context generally refers to a specific period of spiritual renewal or increased interest in the life of the Church. Revivals are viewed as restoration of the church itself to a very passionate relationship with God after a period of moral decline. Many non-believers would convert to Christianity and would be viewed as having positive moral effects. Revivals of Christianity would be inspired by missionary works of monks from the Protestant Reformation. -
Nat Turner's Rebellion
Nat Turner's Rebellion is an slave insurrection in Virginia that would be lead by a man named Nat Turner. Nat Turner was a very religious man and believed he had been given a sign in which gave him the idea to start a rebellion. Nat Turner would lead 56 slaves and would kill all the white people including men, women and children no discriminating. The slave insurrection would be stopped by militias and all slaves that were captured would be tried and hung. -
Abolitionist Movement
The movement before and during the American Civil War to end slavery in the US would be known as Abolitionism. During the Enlightenment period, slavery would be criticized since it would be violating the human rights. During and after the American Revolution, slavery would slowly begin to be abolished. The abolitionist movement would grow in the North. The US criminalized the international slave trade and would make slavery unconstitutional because of the American Civil War. -
Nullification Crisis
The Nullification Crisis would arise after Congress would raise import taxes which was the Tariff Act of 1832. South Carolina would be affected and would call the federal Tariffs of 1832 unconstitutional and would want it nullified. John Calhoun would highly recommend and would take the Kentucky Resolutions further since the Alien and Sedition Acts were unconstitutional too. The Webster-Haynes Debate would attack States' Rights and denied that states could judge Constitution. -
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson would become President after the Election of 1832 and beating John Q. Adams. Jackson would lose to Adams while running in the election in 1824 after he was chosen by the House of Representatives. Andrew Jackson would be a soldier, a statesman, and also gained fame before his presidency for being a general in the United States Army. Jackson was also a Democratic who would have supporters who founded the Democratic party also gave them the donkey mascot after the Election of 1832. -
Spoils System
The Spoils System was a practice in which political parties would give their friends, families, and supporters civil duties after the party won. The government's bureaucracy would be almost completely replaced by supporters. The Spoils System would be in use until the Pendleton Act was passed and would be replaced by nonpartisan merit at a federal level. The term spoils would come from Andrew Jackson's victory in the election of 1828. Royal families use the Spoils System like Britain. -
Telegraph
The telegraph which was developed by Samuel Morse and other inventors would revolutionize long-distance communication. The telegraph would also be used in unison withe Morse's code which be created along with the telegraph. Morse's code would be a series of dots and dashes that would represent letters and the telegraph would transmit these messages across telegraph lines. It would also help revolutionize war communication. The telegraph would later be replaced by the telephone. -
Trail of Tears
Natives Americans were feared in the US whites and thought natives were aliens who occupied land. The natives would go to court against Georgia about their lack of rights and would find out they are their own nation. The Indian Removal Act of 1830 would be signed by Andrew Jackson and natives would be forced off their lands. The Cherokee were forced to relocate to Oklahoma and many went peacefully but others resisted. About 4,000 Cherokee would die on the voyage and be known as Trail of Tears. -
Stephen F. Austin
Moses Austin, father of Stephen F. Austin, would receive and empresario grant from Spain to settle Texas. After Moses Austin died Stephen would gain recognition of the empresario grant and convinced numerous settlers to move to Texas. He would bring 300 American families into Texas. Settlers would not be happy with Mexican government which Austin would try to stop but action against Mexico would escalate into the Texas Revolution. Known as "Father of Texas" and founder of Texas. -
Election of 1840
The Election of 1840 would be against Martin Van Buren and William H. Harrison which were the Whigs and Democratic party. In this election William H. Harrison would become the 9th president and this election would be known as the first modern election. William H. Harrison would be the shortest lived president and his position would be taken by John Tyler his vice president. This elections was unique since every man out of the four would become president. -
Period: to
Westward Expansion
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Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith was the founder of Mormonism and an American religious leader. In 1831, Smith would move west with his followers hoping to establish a place of independence for the Mormons. Smith would claim to have seen visions in which he would see God, Jesus, and an Angel who would point him to golden plates. He would publish a book called Book of Mormon that would translate these golden plates to English. Smith would be jailed and killed when a mob stormed the jailhouse. -
Trappers
A male trapper and explorer would also be known as mountain men who live in the wilderness. Trappers were very common in the Rocky Mountains and were essential in opening up Emigrant Trails allowing Americans into eastern territories. Trappers would rise in economic expansions due to the amounts of money they could earn form the North American Fur Trade. New western coastal territories would be founded which would lead to the ending of mountain men's good living off of fur trade -
Manifest Destiny
Manifest Destiny was the belief that it was God's plan that the US should go west and extend their lands from the east coast to the west coast. It would be O'Sullivan who would claim that it was our destiny to spread across the continent for the future people. It was originally a Democratic issue but Republicans would support it. The concept would be accepted by those desiring new territories. It would become America's "manifest destiny" to extend its continents boundaries. -
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses Grant was leader of the victorious Union army during the American Civil War and was the 18th US president. During the Civil War, Grant gained control over all of the US armies. After the war he became a national hero, and the Republicans nominated him for president in 1868. One main goal for Grant’s administration was Reconstruction, and he worked to gain peace between the North and South while trying to protect the rights of newly freed black slaves. -
Davy Crockett
David Crockett was an very outstanding frontiersman, a successful Tennessee politician, and a congressman. He was also a defender of the Alamo who would be martyred at the Alamo. David Crockett was like a natural leader since he was so great.His reasons for going to the Alamo would be questioned and would face controversy. As a defender of the Alamo he shouldn't have attracted the amount of fame that he did. He would attract the attention of many journalists that wrote books about him. -
Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee served as a military officer in the US Army of the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. Lee would gain command of the Army of Northern Virginia, which he would lead for the rest of the war. In the spring of 1863, Lee invaded the North, only to be defeated at the Battle of Gettysburg. With Confederate defeat near certainty, Lee would continue fighting until he surrendered at the Appomattox Courthouse. Lee remains a revered figure of South America. -
Wilmot Proviso
The Wilmot Proviso would propose and American law to ban slavery in the territory acquired from the Mexican War. Conflict over the Wilmot Proviso would lead to the American Civil War. David Wilmot would be the on to introduce the proviso to the United States House of Representatives. James K Polk would want $2 million as a part of a bill to negotiate terms. The proviso would pass the house but would not pass the Senate and was introduced later for the same thing to happen again. -
Suffrage
After the Seneca Falls Convention, women suffrage would be demanded for the first time. When the 15th amendment was passed and African Americans were allowed to vote, women would be outraged. Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Stanton, and Sojourner Truth would be very outraged by this and would pressure the government and would form the NWSA. Stone and Blackwell would form the AWSA and would lobby state gov. and achieved women suffrage only in Wyoming and Utah. -
Period: to
Sectionalism
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California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush would be one of the greatest mass migrations in America. The discovery of gold nuggets in Sacramento Valley would start the Gold Rush. News would spread about the discovery and thousands of gold miners would travel to California in search of a new life. Even Chinese people would come to America to try and start a new life. Around 100,000 people would come to California and about $2 million worth of gold would be extracted during this time. -
Henry David Thoreau
Henry David Thoreau was an American poet, abolitionist, naturist, and a leading transcendentalist. He was an abolitionist who would deliver lectures that attacked the Fugitive Slave law. In his early years he followed Transcendentalism, a loose idealist philosophy advocated by Emerson, Fuller, and Alcott. They held ideals that spiritual state transcends the physical and could achieve that from intuition. Thoreau and fellow Transcendentalist were an inspiration for Charles Ives. -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 would resolve divisions over slavery in territory gained from Mexico. There would be laws that would make California a free state and left Utah and New Mexico undetermined. Utah and Mexico would use popular sovereignty to see if they would be free or slave states. The compromise would also resolve disputes over Texas-New Mexico boundary. It would also end slave trade in Washington D.C. and made it easier for southerners to recover fugitive slaves. -
Fire-eaters
The Fire-Eaters would be a group of radical pro-slavery southerners who urged the separation of the South. The fire-eaters would also be angered by the North which would cause them to want to separate from the South. The group leader Robert Barnwell Rhett would want to reopen slave trade later in the 1800s. The North would be the ones to call this group of people the Fire-Eaters. The Fire-Eaters would influence the Confederate States of America to be created and the Civil War. -
Winfield Scott
Winfield Scott was a US Army general who served on duty longer than any one in American history. He would lead many wars throughout his 53-year career and would be classified as one of the best generals during his time. He would earn promotion to lieutenant general being the first man since Washington. Along with being a general he was also a Whig who would run for the presidential election in 1852 and would lose. Scott would ally with antislavery Whigs but Whig party would start to fall apart. -
Dred Scott vs. Sandford
This case would be brought to Dred Scott who was a slave that lived with his owner in a free state. He would later return to Missouri with his owner and would argue that he had spent in a a free state should entitle him to emancipation. In this case, Chief Justice Roger B. Taney would argue that no black, free or slave, could claim US citizenship. This would make blacks unable to petition the court for freedom. This case would heighten anger the abolitionist and increase North-South tension. -
Bleeding Kansas
The name Bleeding Kansas would be a term used to describe the violence when resolving disputes of Kansas territory. The Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854 would repeal the Missouri Compromise and would not use latitude to define free or slave but instead use popular sovereignty. Free-state supporters and Pro-slavery supporters would go to Kansas to change the decision but violence would erupt as both sides would fight for the decision. Pro-slavery and anti-slavery would create their own government. -
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was a lawyer who would run for the presidential election in 1860. He was elected as the 16th president of the US and would prove himself to be a great strategist and savvy leader. Lincoln would pass the Emancipation Proclamation and would open up ways for slavery's abolition. Lincoln's Gettysburg Address would be a famous piece that would inspire many Americans during the war. Lincoln would later be assassinated by John Wilkes Booth who was a Confederacy. -
North
The North in comparison to the South had an overall advantage in the war. The North's population would be 22 million compared to about 8 million. The North also had most of the industrialization along with 97% weapons manufacturing, 94% clothes, and 90% shoes. Also the North would have possession over 22,000 miles of railroad track which can benefit them in trading. They believed they were fighting to keep the Constitution and were known as the Union. -
South
The South in the Civil War would be a great disadvantage since they mostly benefited off the North. The South would have a population of about 8 million which would be way less than the North. They also had barely any industrialization since the South was mostly farming. They would have 18,000 factories and 3% weapons manufacturing. They also only had 9,000 miles of track which is almost useless. The South's military leader ship was the only advantage the South had. -
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The Civil War
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George McClellan
George McClellan was a US Army officer, railroad president, and politician who was a major general during the Civil War. McClellan organized the Army of the Potomac in 1861 and briefly served. McClellan's secrecy to attack the Confederacy with the whole army, though outnumbered, put him at odds with President Abraham Lincoln. McClellan failed to decisively defeat the Confederate Army at the Battle of Antietam later in 1862 which frustrated Lincoln and was removed from the Army of Potomac. -
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam would take place at Sharpsburg, Maryland which would the Confederate's Army of Northern Virginia against the Union's Army of Potomac. The Union would lose many battles before and would see the Confederacy as an opponent not so easy to beat and Lincoln would no release the Emancipation Proclamation. Before the battle, Lee's plans would be leaked by accident and caused Lee to retreat. Lee's men would be hungry and sick and the Union would win after long hours of fighting. -
Lincoln's 10% plan
Lincoln's 10% plan was apart of his bigger plan for reconstruction for southern states to be readmitted into the Union once 10% of its voters would swear an oath of allegiance. All southerners would be granted pardon except for high ranked Confederate officers and government officials. Southerners private property except slaves would be protected by Lincoln which he guaranteed to protect. This plan would be more to end the war than it was for reconstruction. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg would be known as one of the most important battle of the American Civil War. After the defeat of the Union at Chancellorsville the Confederates marched to Pennsylvania. The Confederates and Union clashed at the crossroads town of Gettysburg and the next day would be heavier fighting. Lee would send 15,000 troops of his army to Cemetery Ridge where they would be defeated attempting to break Union lines. Lee would be forced to flee to Virginia. -
Clara Barton
Clara Barton was an American nurse, suffragist, and humanitarian who would organize the American Red Cross. As the Civil War continued she would go out to the battle field and tend to the hurt soldiers often bringing her own supplies. Though she did not attend nursing school and Nursing education was not formalize she provided self-taught nursing care. She would be much appreciated in the battles of Antietam and would sort out business of locating and identifying people. -
John Wilkes Booth
Although he was a successful actor on the national stage, John Wilkes Booth would be known as the man who assassinated President Lincoln. John Wilkes Booth, a native of Maryland, was a Confederate during the Civil War. Before the night of Ford’s Theatre, he would plan to kidnap Lincoln and keep him until Confederate prisoners were released. In 1865, Booth entered the theater and shot Lincoln at close range then immediately leaving the scene. He would be tracked down and killed. -
Freedmen's Bureau
The Freedmen's Bureau plan established in 1865 by Congress to help previous black slaves and poor whites in the South after the Civil War. 4 millions slaves would gain their freedom which would leave many communities in ruins and destroyed the South's plantation-based economy. This plan would give food, housing, medical aid, established schools, and offered legal assistance. The plan would not be carried out since funds and pressure from white Southerners the bureau would be shut down. -
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Reconstruction
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Freedom Amendments
The Freedom Amendments would include the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments which all of these combined would be the rights of man. The 13th amendment would abolish slavery and was passed in 1865. The 14th amendment would people who are born in the US would be classified as citizens and entitles to equal protections of law. The 15th amendment would protect the rights for blacks to vote and women wanted suffrage too. Many white would resent the black rights and created the KKK or White Brotherhood. -
KKK
The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) would spread into almost every Southern state and was the white southern resistance towards the Republican Party's economic equality for blacks. Though Congress would pass legislation to not allow Klan terrorism the group still saw its goal to reestablish white supremacy. The Klan would burn crosses and parades and marches denouncing immigrants, Catholics, Jews, blacks, and organized labor. The group would bomb black schools and churches and black and white activists. -
Panic of 1873
The Panic of 1837 was a financial crisis in the US that reached major recession that lasted until 1840s. Profits and wages went down while unemployment went up. A sharp decline in cotton prices, restrictive lending policies, and collapsing economy in Great Britain were the cause of this panic. The collapse of banks, failing businesses, decline in prices, and the loss of jobs by thousands of workers. Unemployment would be up to 25% in certain areas. -
Rutherford B. Hayes
Rutherford B. Hayes was the 19th president of the US and would win a controversial and fierce election against Samuel Tiden. He would run as a Republican.Hayes would sign up for the Union as soon as he heard that the American Civil War had broken out. He would be a major the 23rd Ohio Regiment and would receive a serious injury. He would also receive promotion to brevet major general after the war ended. Hayes would win the election in 1865 and have his seat in the House of Representatives. -
The New South
The New South would consist of a major reconstruction that would have new societies build around oppression and segregation. The South would also have an economic boom with industrialization, urbanization, and new railroads which would help with trading. Southerners need to justify their loss of the war. The South would also have 6% of national industrial output. The Southern economy would also consist of Rice, tobacco, sugar, and cotton; cotton prices would fall due to overproduction.
