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37,982 BCE
Bering Land Bridge/ Beringia
Beringia was a bridge that connected the continents Asia & North America together, allowing people to cross over between the two, this is also known as the Bering Land Bridge theory. The first Americans crossed the bridge in 3 major waves to settle in the New World. They were hunters & gatherers & were able to adapt to the environment and even started agriculture there. Today, The Bering Land Bridge is, unfortunately, non-existent, it has since then melted and is now known as the Bering Strait. -
Period: 20,000 BCE to
Beginnings to Exploration
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476
Fall of Rome
The fall of Rome was brought upon when Romulus Augustulus was overthrown by Odoacer. Bringing an end to the 1000-year rule of the Roman Empire. Rome was already starting to decline but when the barbarians came and sacked the town, it had pushed Rome to its tipping point. This fall of Rome is referring to western side of Rome, the Eastern side of Rome, Constantinople, didn't fall until the 15th century. Rome united Europe for the first time so when this mighty empire fell, Europe was falling too. -
750
The Dark Ages
The Dark Ages followed the fall of Rome and was, in short, a time of backwardness. Life during the Dark Ages was short and brutal, with an average lifespan of about 35 years. The economy wasn't doing so hot either, it was weak. But most notably, the Catholic Church was able to dominate, both culturally and educationally. During this time there was no higher education available, resulting in a low literacy rate. The people that did know how to read, were the clergy members of the Catholic Church. -
1340
Black Death
The Black Death, the Great Plague, the Black Plague, or the Plague, is a name for the pandemic that ravaged through Europe. Caused by a bacteria called Yersinia Pestis that used rats as their mode of transportation. Roughly 40% to 50% of Europeans died from it. The Black Death transformed European society as the workers were now seen as valuable since there was a scarcity of them available. A new economy and a merchant society were some of the more positive outcomes from this tragic plague. -
1450
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a time of rebirth. It was a cultural movement that started in Italy and soon spread. New ideas about technology were applied to all sorts of things. Exploration, artistry, and science just to name a few. Literacy also spread during this time because of Johan Gutenberg's invention of the printing press, this increase in literacy rate was a threat to the Catholic church. The Renaissance not only impacted Europe but it also had a notable impact on the rest of the world as well. -
Jun 7, 1494
Treaty of Tordesillas
During the Age of Exploration, The Treaty of Tordesillas was created by the Pope to resolve conflicts between Portugal and Spain concerning the land in the New World. They were at each other's throats and so the Catholic Chruch stepped in to put an end to it. So, on June 7th, 1494 Pope Alexander VI drew a line on the map and said that Portugal gets everything east of the line, while Spain gets everything on the West. The Treaty of Tordesillas was leter ratified by Pope Julius II in 1056. -
1517
Reformation
The Protestant Reformation took place in Europe during the 16th century. People were leaving Catholicism and creating their own religions. Like Protestantism and Calvinism. Henry VIII, Martin Luther, and John Calvin were some key players during the reformation. It originally started with Martin Luther and his problems against the Catholic Church selling indulgences that would forgive sins. So, he nailed his 95 theses in Wittenberg, Germany and this basically starts the Protestant Reformation. -
Period: to
English Colonial Societies
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Headright System
Population was in decline at the time which lead to labor shortages, so to combat that The Headright System created by the Virginia Company was imposed to attract people to come and settle in the colonies. It stated that a large tract of land, around 50 acres, would be given to anyone who came. Additionally, you would also get 50 acres for every indentured servant that you brought. Ultimately the Headright System did its job because populations did see an increase after its implementation. -
Mayflower Compact
The Pilgrims who sailed to the New World on the Mayflower created the Mayflower Compact, a set of rules, so that the there would be a functioning society instead of one where chaos ran ramped. The Compact was not only was the first document of Plymouth Colony but it was also the first document that established a self-government. The Mayflower Compact was enacted in 1620 and would rule and keep society in check until Plymouth Colony would be absorbed into the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1691. -
New England Economy
The New England colonies' economy was mainly focused on manufacturing, but nonetheless, very diverse. Since the colonies were located on the east coast it made the Atlantic Ocean readily available, allowing activities like shipbuilding, trading, whaling, and fishing, just to name a few, to happen. Given the geography and the climate of these colonies up north, slavery was not a prevalent thing in the area because the environment was not suitable for agriculture, therefore, not needing slaves. -
Navigation Acts
The Navigation Acts were a series of acts passed by Parliament that were put in place to limit colonists' interactions with The Netherlands and Holland, leading to a tighter grip on trade. They were also used to collect taxes on the colonies. The main goal for this was to make sure that England/ the Mother country was the sole benefactors of colonial trade, which reinforced mercantilism. This was the first event that would trigger resentment and create tension between the colonies and England. -
The Enlightenment
The Enlightenment was a time where people started to stray away from religion and superstition and started to focus more on reason and science. The Enlightenment was key to getting people to think individually and question all pre-conceived notions, like the bible. Some notable people are Sir Isaac Newton (laws of motion), John Locke (who we got the idea of natural rights from), and Benjamin Franklin (who became a symbol of the American Enlightenment). Deism also spread during this time. -
Dominion of New England
The Dominion of New England created by King James II was put in place to combine all the colonies of Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire into one. Which a royal governor - Andros, would be in charge of, effectively stripping away the rights the colonists once had as they no longer have a say on anything having to do with government. It, however, would only last about 6 years, when James II is ousted through the Glorious Revolution, their rights would soon be returned. -
Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution started was a result of James II dissolving Parliament. In response to that, Parliament gets James' daughter and her husband (Mary and William) to invade England. Since the invasion was relatively bloodless it was given the name "Glorious Revolution". James the II was ousted and Mary and William ruled. They signed the English Bill of Rights which our Bill of Rights stole some ideas from. This all had a huge impact on colonial governance and future problems as well. -
John Locke
John Locke, also known as the father of liberalism, was an English enlightenment philosopher and an enlightenment leader that was most notably known for introducing the idea of "Life, Liberty, and land". Locke also believed in the idea of governing with the consent of the governed. Many of America's founding fathers used Locke's way of thinking when they were creating the very documents that our nation would be built on. Like "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of happiness" in the constitution. -
Salem Witch Trials
The Salem Witch Trials was, in short, mass hysteria that had gone too far. The Salem Witch Trials took place in Salem, Massachusetts. During the time, there was war on the Northern Frontier which had fear running rampant. Tensions were already high and then the minister's daughter started acting strangely which set off this domino effect. This originally started as a religion thing but eventually became political. Many people were accused of witchcraft and dozens died when this was all over. -
Salutary Neglect
Salutary Neglect was a "policy" in which Parliament didn't really mingle in the affairs of the colonies across the Atlantic, as well as not enforcing Parliamentary laws on the colonists either. Since the British colonies were so far, it allowed them to have a sense of independence because they were allowed to do just about whatever they wanted. With salutary neglect, the colonies were developing their own autonomy, mainly because the travel time to the mother country and back would take forever. -
Act of Union
The Act of Union united England and Scotland and creating the United Kingdom of Great Britain in other words, birthed Britain. New Britain is now an empire with the parliament as the head of it. But in relation to the colonies across the Atlantic Ocean, this didn't really affect them as they still had local control over their respective colonies. The Act of Union also created a federal system with central authority and local governments which will pave the way for the U.S. system of government. -
Period: to
Colonial America to 1763
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The Great Awakening
The Great Awakening, originally started by John Edwards, was a revival of religion following the Enlightenment's focus on reason. The Great Awakening like the Enlightenment had people thinking for themselves. It occurred from 1730 to 1770. Colonial society changed as people were starting to focus back on God. George Whitefield, a notable player during the Great Awakening, toured around and preached the gospel. Native American revivals reverting to their old ways of life also took place. -
Seven-Years War/ French and Indian War
The Seven-Years War or the French and Indian War was a conflict involving Britain and France as well as their allies over territory. This was the first world war. This all starts as a result of George Washington getting captured. During the beginning of the war the French had the upper hand until Fort William Henry. This was the turning point of the war. Soon Quebec and Montreal will fall which will basically indicate that the French lost and the British won. The Treaty of Paris (1763) ends it. -
Period: to
The Revolutionary War
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Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris 1763 brought an end to the first worldwide conflict that was the Seven-Years War or The French and Indian War which was fought between the French and the British along with each one of their respective allies. It got its name because the negotiations took place in Paris. The treaty states that France's territories in mainland North America were to be given to Britain as a result of their victory. Consequently, the French were left with just Haiti, St. Pierre, and Miquelon. -
Declaratory Act
The Declaratory Act was issued out by England and in it, it not only repealed the stamp act after some very heavy backlash by the colonists, but it also stated that Parliament could make laws for the colonies and that they still had the power and authority to tax the colonists if need be, just like they would tax their very own people at home. This illustrates the progress and growth of America's relationship with Britain as it emerged from salutary neglect to them actually having some control. -
Period: to
New Republic
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Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre unfolded from the harassment of the British soldiers from a crowd of Bostonians. When the soldiers finally had enough of the harassment they fired into the crowd. The result of this "massacre" was a death toll of 5 and 3 were injured. The Boston Massacre that we know now is actually a result of Paul Revere's fictitious account of what actually happened. It was actually the first great example of American propaganda and was able to elicit anger and outrage from many colonists. -
Boston Tea Party
During this intense time of rebellion, the most rebellious of all the colonies was Massachusetts, so it's no surprise that this happened there. It was started by a couple of drunk Bostonians that had one too many drinks and decided to dress up as Indians, which was poorly executed, "invade" a ship that carried tea and toss the tea overseas. Overall, a total of 340 chests were lost. The Tea Party sent a strong message to Parliament who would later close Boston's port and revoke their charter. -
Common Sense
Common Sense written by Thomas Paine argued for independence, saying that it was the only option in times like these. It also advocated for a democratic representative government. In Common Sense it as well as doing all of what was previously stated, attacked the monarchy, making them look despotic. It was cheap, so the availability and popularity of Common Sense persuaded American colonial views of monarchy to change from being all-mighty to it being absolutely awful and all in all unjust. -
The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence made independence not an option but rather America's only chance. Thomas Jefferson is charged with writing it so he earned the title of the father of the Declaration, it was his baby. In short, it's a list of grievances against the British as well as a call for allies to help out America, European allies namely France and Spain. The Declaration was completed on July 2nd but signed 2 days later on July 4th. With this came a schism between Loyalists and Patriots. -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga is a key battle as it was the turning point of the Revolution and now turned the tides in favor of the Americans. Overall this was a major American victory. It denied the British from merging their armies from the north and the south. It also ultimately manipulated the French's initial opinion of American not being able to defeat the world's strongest army and navy, to supporting the American effort and going as far as committing their troops and navy towards said effort. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was the constitution before the constitution (if you don't count the Massachusetts constitution) it established a loose friendship of independent states. Money, laws, power, & jurisdiction would vary and differ from state to state. There was no central authority, no executive, additionally, revenue, military action, and diplomacy also did not exist. The Articles were put together very hastily and America would soon reap the consequences of this unorganized document. -
Period: to
The Constitution Era
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Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris 1783, not be confused with the one in 1763, will end the Revolutionary War. The United States is now recognized as an independent and sovereign nation. In it, it would establish the northern border with British North America/ Canada, give the U.S. fishing rights off Newfoundland, gives U.S. frontier land to Mississippi River, the ramification of this granted land is that it will double the size of America, and lastly the treaty would also restore the properties of loyalists. -
The Great Debate
The Great Debate was an argument between the federalists and anti-federalists regarding the ratification of the Constitution. The Federalists were supporters of the Constitution. So much so that Federalists Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison even went as far as to write The Federalist Papers to persuade other to support their side. Their foes, however, believed that the Constitution would give the central government too much power while leaving the states essentially powerless. -
Shay's Rebellion
Shay's Rebellion, started in western Massachusetts and was led by Daniel Shay, was an uprise caused by farmers who were enraged because their farms were being seized due to post-war recession which was bad for everyone but particularly farmers. The Rebellion will soon be put down but not without some problems. Even when it was put down, that wasn't the end. It created a sense of urgency as it pointed out and made the problems from the previously created Articles of Confederation transparent. -
Virginia Plan
Proposed by James Madison this plan was mainly for the largely populated states. It would have 2 house legislatures, a lower house that would be elected by the people and an upper house, that would be elected by the lower house, later transformed into the House of Representatives and the Senate, a separate judicial, and one executive. All branches would have a checks and balances system in place so that one could not overpower the others. Representation was based on population, one man one vote. -
New Jersey Plan
The New Jersey Plan appealed to the smaller population-wise states, it was a modified version of the Articles of Confederation. In it there would be a single legislature and the legislature would be the supreme law of the land. It also stated that the executive would be elected by Congress and that there would be a less powerful judiciary branch. The representation for the New Jersey plan counters the one man, one vote of the Virginia plan by saying that each state would receive merely one vote. -
Connecticut Plan
Proposed by Roger Sherman The Connecticut Plan, The Great Compromise, or The Sherman Compromise that was adopted at the Constitutional Convention was a combination/ compromise, like the name states, between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan. This is what our modern-day Congress is based on. With the Connecticut Plan came bi-cameral legislatures, which is known as the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House would be based on population while the Senate is equal in every state. -
Northwest Ordinance
The Northwest Ordinance was a new system for admission into the Union and would be used for future admissions. According to the Ordinance, a territory is a state if it had a population of 60,000 people, Congress would choose governors and when 5000 men lived in the territory, an election would be held to choose a legislature. It also rejected slavery, essentially tying itself to the north. This identification with the north turned slavery into a cultural issue rather than a purely economic one. -
Election of 1788
The Election of 1788 was the first election held in the U.S. It was unsurprising that George Washington, a high-ranking leader, won the election because people saw him as a god-like figure and so naturally and instinctually, he was everyone's choice. During this time, prior to the 12th amendment that would be added on later, candidates did not have running mates so, as a result, the vice president position would be given to the second place winner, which in this case would be John Adams. -
Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights are the first 10 amendments and was advocated by the anti-federalists to address the ever looming concern of the federal government overpowering the state government and potentially taking away the unalienable rights of the people and becoming a repeat of what happened before, when they were under British control. James Madison introduced 39 amendments but ultimately only 10 amendments would be passed. The Bill of Rights was there to guarantee individuals rights and liberties. -
Whiskey Rebellion
The Whiskey Rebellion was the 1st domestic test. Pennsylvania and Kentucky farmers are upset over Hamilton's 25% whiskey tax. Whiskey was economically important and allowed farmers to earn a large profit. So to counteract this tax, farmers will revolt. 6,000 farmers threaten to attack Pittsburgh. To put down the Rebellion, Washington leads his army and the farmers just dispersed. No bloody conflict was necessary to stop the rebellion. The Whiskey Rebellion showed how strong the Constitution was. -
Cotton Gin
The cotton gin, invented by Eli Whitney, was used to remove cotton from its seeds. Comparing the time it would take to separate from the cotton from its seeds manually compared to it being separated by the cotton gin was a game-changer. The cotton gin was a revolutionary invention that transformed the textile industry. Cotton would be pulled through wire teeth that were mounted on a revolving cylinder, the narrow slots that the cotton would go through made it impossible for seeds to get through. -
Washington's Farewell Address
George Washington's farewell address was a way for the people to come to grips with him stepping down after the 2 terms that he had served, and explain why he was leaving. Washington's Farewell Address started the tradition of presidents serving 2 terms. In it he also wanted the United States to avoid conflicts because they were too weak. Washington also addressed the topic of alliances, saying that temporary alliances were ok but the U.S. shouldn't have any permanent ones with foreign nations. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
The Alien and Sedition Acts was put in place during a time of neval war threats with France, which made people paranoid. The Acts also allowed an increase in military. The Alien Acts made it diffcult to becomea citizen and gave the governemnt a massive power in deporting citizens that may have been prior aliens. The SEdition Act was the most hated one as it made it a crime to say anything bad against the U.S. or President. The Sedition Act was mainly used by Federalists against the Republicans. -
Period: to
Age of Jefferson
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Marbury v. Madison
The Marbury v. Madison was the most important supreme court case as it will set up judicial review. Adams appointed several men to serve as justices of the peace however, Jefferson and Madison refused to deliver the commissions to said appointed men. Marbury, one of the appointees, sues the government & the case was taken to the Supreme Court. Chief Justice John Marshall ruled that Marbury was entitled to his position as well as ruling that the supreme court assumed the power of judicial review. -
Hamilton v. Burr
The Burr-Hamilton duel went down in Weehawken, New Jersey at around dawn. Both parties had their guns, drawn. As Burr and Hamilton begin to take their places, Hamilton aims his pistol towards the sky while Burr strikes him right between his ribs. Consequentially, Hamilton yielded fatal wounds & would later die with Eliza, his wife, by his side. Vice President Aaron Burr killed his longtime foe, Alexander Hamilton, & the Federalists lost their main leader. The duel also generated Burr's outlaw. -
Embargo Act of 1807
Put in place by Thomas Jefferson & later inherited by James Madison, the Embargo Act of 1807 closed the American ports to all foreign trade in the hopes of avoiding the ongoing war in Europe. This, in turn, will result in the U.S. economy taking a hit. The south & northeast regions are going to be the most affected. The Act will also anger the British & elicit outrage from Federalists. In response to this, The British resumed impressment of American sailors & gave natives more guns & supplies. -
Temperance
The temperance movement came at a time where people drank all-day leading to alcohol consumption to be at an all-time high. This social reform/ movement had Americans abstaining themselves from alcohol. Some states even went as far as to ban alcohol. The Temperance movement dramatically reduced alcohol consumption. It was endorsed by the American Temperance Society, originally formed in Boston, & tried to control the ever-present alcoholic drinking problem, referring to the drink as "demon rum". -
Waltham System
The Lowell-Waltham System was put in place in textile mills to increase efficiency, productivity, and profits in Lowell, Massachusetts. This system would use machines rather than skilled workers. In the system, young, single ladies from farm families would typically be the ones that were hired. It also created centralized factory mills, a large labor force, and women also earned more, but on the flip side to all of this, they had to work treacherously long hours in heinous working conditions. -
War of 1812
The War of 1812 had several causes that led up to this point. Firstly though, it should be noted that America did try to stay neutral and out of it but at this point, they had enough. Britain's seizure of American ships and sailors, British arming the Natives with goods and weapons, and the persuasion power of the War Hawks, all lead to this declaration of war drafted by the president at the time, James Madison. This would be the second time that the United States would be at war with Britain. -
Period: to
The American Industrial Revolution
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McCulloch v. Maryland
The McCulloch v. Maryland case was a landmark supreme court case. It gave the federal government implied powers and that states cannot take the place of the federal government. This case gave birth to the south's more radical views towards states' rights. The case was a result of Maryland levying a tax on all banks that weren't chartered in the State. James McCulloch the head cashier of the Baltimore branch of the second bank of the U.S. refused to pay, so the Maryland court convicted McCulloch. -
Panic of 1819
The Panic of 1819 was the first major economic/ financial crisis that the U.S. went through. This would become the mark of the ending of the economic boom that had followed that war of 1812. During the Panic agriculture and manufacturing prices were plummeting, unemployment rates surged to a high, and banks were failing. The blame would ultimately be placed on the second bank of U.S. Overall, the economy went into a tailspin and would be known as one of the worst depressions in U.S. History. -
Adams-Onis Treaty
The Adams-Onis Treaty, The Transcontinental Treaty, or the Florida Purchase Treaty, was between Spain and the United States. In the treaty, Spain would cede Florida to the United States and would also recognize the U.S.' claim to Louisiana. This treaty would redefine old boundaries. The Adams-Onis Treaty proceeded from the U.S.' desire to gain Florida from Spain and Andrew Jackson's attack on Florida Seminoles. Andrew Jackson captured Spanish forts and weakened their positions to negotiate. -
Yeoman Farmers
Yeoman Farmers were the middle class and were seen as the best kinds of citizens to have political influence in a republic. Typically, these farmers were more of a family farmer and didn't own slaves. Only about a quarter of them owned slaves. These farmers tended to their own land but would also rely on their neighbors and communities as well. They had a special resentment towards planters. Planters held the wealth in the south as they had larger lands and had a work force to tend to the land. -
Second Great Awakening
The Second Great Awakening began around 1800 but only started to really pick up around 1820. This great awakening emphasized religious romanticism & was based on Methodism and Baptism. Many people were converted and most churches were ressurected from the dead. This Second Great Awakening was influential & had a role in many other aspects beyond just religion as well, such as prison reform, the women's rights movement, abolishment of slavery, advancements in literature, and reform in education. -
Period: to
Cultural Changes
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Monroe Doctrine
Articulated by President James Monore, the Monroe Doctrine was an ultimatum to empires of Europe in order to support the several wars of independence going on in Latin America. In it, Monroe declared that the United States' entire hemisphere of North and South America would be totally off-limits and not subject to any European colonization. This meddling with and support for more revolutionary wars like the U.S' was an effect of the postwar pride that arose after the Battle of New Orleans. -
Period: to
Age of Jackson
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Election of 1824
The election of 1824 had 4 candidates running, Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, & William Crawford. Jackson was victorious in the popular vote aspect but failed to win the electoral college's vote leading to The House having to choose a winner. Clay, Jackson's big lifetime enemy, drops out of the race & tells his supporters to vote for Adams, essentially guaranteeing him a win. Jackson & his followers accused the two of a corrupt bargain that cheated Jackson out of presidency. -
Election of 1828
The election of 1828 is the most disgusting election there will be. The candidates running will be Andrew Jackson and John Quincy Adams. After losing the last election, Jackson has a new strategy. This election was filled with personal attacks, they would attack each other as womanizers & Jackson's wife Rachael even gets hit in the verbal crossfire. In the end, Jackson won by a landslide. His presidency from this is also known as the people's presidency as he was the first elected by common men. -
Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith is the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, also known as Mormonism. As the tale goes, an angel named Moroni told Smith about some golden plates in the backyard of his childhood home in upstate New York, specifically, Cumorah. The plates were written in an ancient language that only Smith was able to translate. So translate he did, and his translations became the sacred text for the very religion he found, this "bible" is known as 'The Book of Mormon.' -
Nat Turner’s Rebellion
Nat Turner's Rebellion, led by Nathanial Turner, was a slave rebellion, in fact, it was the only effective, sustained slave rebellion in American history. However, this 3-day revolt will eventually be put down. Some slaves were even executed when they were caught. The northerners viewed this act of insurrection as heroic. 60 to 80 of the slaves that participated in the rebellion will kill about 55 whites in the process. The outcome was a tighter grip on slaves and a stronger southern militia. -
Nullification Crisis
The nullification crisis happened during Andrew Jackson's presidency & brought upon an increase in import taxes by Congress' enactment of the Tariff Act of 1832. Things like textiles would be affected, places like South Carolina would be affected, & the import taxes will hurt the southern agriculture. John Calhoun, the Vice-president at the time, advocated nullifying law, rook Kentucky resolutions further, & ended up resigning over this problem. Henry Clay was also involved in the crisis. -
Election of 1832
The election of 1832 saw the candidates, Andrew Jackson, & the Aaron Burr to his Hamilton, Henry Clay, who robbed him of his presidency in the election of 1824, & William Wirt. Clay was with the national republicans/ anti-Jacksons party, Jackson was with the democratic party, and Wirt was a part of the Anti-Masonic Party. Jackson won this election, which will make it his second term that he will be serving. This was also the first time that national conventions were held to nominate candidates. -
American Anti-Slavery Society
The American Anti-Slavery Society, founded in 1833 under William Lloyd Garrison, who would meet in Philadelphia, & had a paramount role in the Abolitionist Movement in America during the 1830s. People in the society usually came from religious circles, philanthropic backgrounds, & free black communities. They used religious principles & conscience as opposed to violence. The American Anti-Slavery Society's main goals concerned getting African-Americans racial equality & trying to stop slavery. -
Telegraph
The Telegraph, invented by Samuel Morse changed the way long-distance communication would be carried out. Messages were transmitted in Morse code & used electric poles to travel from the sender of the receiver. Morse code gave each letter/ number a special & unique pattern of dots & dashes. This fast mode of communication was used throughout the nation, the uses ranged from government & military purposes, to regular commoners using it. It was one of many communication changes during the time. -
Millennialism
Millennialism was the belief that alongside the end of the world, Jesus Christ would be coming for judgement day. Some people, like William Miller, even had a day for the second coming already picked out. Miller predicted that Christ's second coming would be on October 21, 1844, this gained him thousands of followers. The belief in the final judgement led to the creation of the Church of 7th day Adventist, whose religion has a strong tie to the final judgement in the book of Revelations to John. -
Transcendentalism
Pioneered by Ralph Waldo Emerson, Transcendentalism was a movement in which people would use nature as inspiration as well as celebrated a more simplistic lifestyle. Transcendentalists tended to turn to nature and spirituality for motivations. This was a form of idealism and a sub-category to romanticism, it emphasized the importance of the mind over materialistic items. Some notable transcendentalists would be Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Nathaniel Hawthrone, and Herman Melville. -
Battle of San Jacinto
The Battle of San Jacinto was fought between the Mexicans and Texans during the Texas Revolution. This battle, monumental for Texans, will mark the end of the revolution & where Texas finally gained independence from Mexico. The Mexicans were led by Santa Anna & the Texans were led by Sam Houston. Houston launched a surprise attack on the Mexican army & the battle lasted for about 18 minutes. Santa Anna will be captured and signs the Treaty of Velasco, stating that he won't be fighting anymore. -
Election of 1836
Martin Van Buren or Old Kinderhook "OK" or Martin Van Ruin, Jackson's second VP, won the election of 1836 despite the Whigs' 3 sectional candidates method to try to deprive van Buren of a win. Van Buren barely won against the Whigs, but still a win, nonetheless. With Martin Van Buren's ascension to presidency came the role of inheriting the economy. The economy at the time was on its way to a state of turmoil so, following this path came the Panic of 1837 which caused many businesses to fail. -
First Police Forces
The Industrial Revolution saw an increase in immigration. With this emergence of different people also came the emergence of tensions between them. Tensions concerning the topics of immigration, white mobs, religious conflicts between Protestants and Catholics, and the political discourse of the whigs party vs the democratic party. To deal with the tension police forces were established and put in place. The first forces were created in the 1830s/ 1840s. New York's police force was created 1835. -
Trail of Tears
The Trail of Tears was when the United States' government forcibly removed the Cherokees from their homes as a part of President Andrew Jackson's Indian Removal policy. Thousands of Cherokees will die during their walk of miles upon miles when they were being relocated to the Indian Territory which would be present-day Oklahoma. This act of violent migration got the name "Trail of Tears" because it marked the end of a prosperous civilization and a start to a new found life for said Cherokees. -
Period: to
Westward Expansion
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Election of 1840
During the election of 1840 Martin Van Buren of the democratic party, victor of the prior election, runs again for re-election against General William Harrison, who served at the Battle of Lake Erie, from the Whig party. Harrison copies Jackson's campaign strategy, he spreads rumors about Van Buren and will get women to influence the vote of their husbands. General William Harrison ends up winning by a landslide but only makes it a month. His Vice President, John Tyler, will become president. -
Election of 1844
The election of 1844 had the candidates Henry Clay and James K. Polk running for president. Polk, a Democrat, was a supporter of Manifest Destiny and wanted to add Texas, California, and Oregon territory to the U.S. Clay, a Whig, disagreed with Polk's stance regarding the annexation of Texas. With the help of the Liberty Party, Polk wins the election with a one state difference. As a result, Texas is annexed before Polk and diplomats will be sent to discuss buying "No Man's land" from Mexico. -
Bear Flag Revolt
The Bear Flag Revolt is a revolt by the American Settlers located in California' Sacramento Valley against the rule of the Mexicans. Led by William B. Ide, California will declare independence from Mexico. This was one of the many sparks of the Mexican-American War. While the revolt is successful, their independent republic that resulted from the Bear Flag Revolt was ultimately short-lived as Commodore Sloat will soon occupy San Francisco and Sonoma and claim California for the United States. -
Wilmot Proviso
Wilmot Proviso was a proposal by Congressman David Wilmot to ban slavery in the newly acquired territory from Mexico after the Mexican-American War. It stated that neither slavey nor involuntary servitude were to exist in said territory. The bill was unsuccessful and faced defeat in Congress because the south, who were pro-slavery, had greater representation. The bill failed twice, in 1846 and in 1847, but it did manage to ignite a political firestorm over issues regarding the spread of slavery. -
Mexican American War
The Mexican-American War was originally a dispute over the border of Texas. Mexicans wanted it to be the Nueces River but the United States wanted the Rio Grande to be the border. Troops under Zachary Taylor were sent to the disputed terriotry & unsurprisingly, war broke out. President Polk asks for a declaration of war. The war is fought on 3 frontiers: Rio Grande Valley, West Coast (California), & Southern Mexico (Mexico City). Fighting will come to an end with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. -
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Sectionalism
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Seneca Falls Convention
The Seneca Falls Convention was held in Seneca Falls, New York & launched Womens' Suffrage movement in the United States. Elizbeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott will organize around 300 men and women to come to the convention and talk about women's rights. There, they created the Declaration of Sentiments & Resolutions that regarded securing women rights in economics and in voting. The media coverage of the Seneca Falls Convention was mostly negative. The convention is a cornerstone for women. -
Election of 1848
The election of 1848 saw the candidates: Lewis Cass - Democrat, Zachary Taylor - Whigs, & Martin Van Buren - Free-Sail party. Taylor was a Mexican-American War general, a no party man, & his views were mostly unknown. Campaigning in the south as pro-slavery while campaigning as a supporter for Wilmot Proviso in the North. He was able to secure a win relatively easily because of a democratic divide. Unfortunately, Taylor dies while in office so his Vice President, Millard Fillmore, takes over. -
Compromise 1850
The Compromise of 1850, created by Henry Clay, were 5 separate bills basically stating that 1) California would enter the United States as a free state, 2) New Mexico and Utah will get to decide on their stance regarding slavery, 3) Texas relinquishes the disputed western lands and that the federal government would take over Texas' debt, 4) the Slave-trade would be banned in Washington D.C., and lastly, 5) The Fugitive Slave Act, which would require the return of runaway slaves to their masters. -
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush, as evident in its name, was a rush of miners that came to northern California after reports of gold being present at Sutter's mill. Started by James W. Marshall who was hired by Sutter to make a sawmill, and in the process of making said sawmill, found gold in a river near Sutter's mill. The miners who had come to California in search and pursuit for gold would be given the forty-niners or sourdough. During the rush, boom towns were built to accommodate for said miners. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Written by Harriet Beacher Stowe, it targeted the fugitive slave acts. The fugitive slave acts enacted by Congress in 1850 created commissionaires for returning slaves, said that fugitives had no right to a trail, & whites could be jailed & fined for refusing to help. Uncle Tom's Cabin appealed to the emotions of the northerners and intensified the feelings of abolitionists in the North. It painted slavery as a moral evil and forced southerners to defend their position on the issues of slavery. -
Election of 1852
The election of 1852 pitted Franklin Pierce of the democratic party against military hero Winfield Scott of the Whig party in the race for presidency. Scott had a cold personality & was not like by many. Pierce, a member of young America and a dark horse, on the other hand, was very liked. He secured 254 electoral votes and 50.8% of the popular vote, winning by a landslide & becoming the 13th president with William R. King, his running mate, as VP. His victory marked the end of the Whig Party. -
Dred Scott vs. Sandford
Dred Scott v. Sandford is a supreme court case which called in the definition of citizenship. Dredd Scott, a former slave, sues for his freedom, saying that since he lived in a free state, that means that he is a free man. The case was taken to the Supreme Court where they ruled against Scott saying that slaves weren't citizens and therefore, cannot sue. SCOTUS also rules that Congress can't regulate slavery in territories. This case was a key player to African Americans getting their rights. -
Election of 1860
The election of 1860 had the candidates Abraham Lincoln, John Bell, Stephen Douglas, and John C. Breckinridge. Lincoln was a part of the Republican, Bell with the Constitutional Union Party, Douglas, the Northern Democrat, and finally, Breckinridge was with the southern democrat. With the combination of the democratic party's division over the issues regarding slavery and Lincoln's ability to secure the electoral votes and the popular votes, he was able to bring his Republican party a win. -
Clara Barton
Clarissa "Clara" Harlowe Barton, born in Oxford, Massachusetts on December 25, 1821 is best known for creating the American Red Cross Society in 1881. Barton, a pioneer nurse, was the first woman to go onto the battlefield in the United States and take care of/ dress the wounds of the soldiers on the battlefield. Barton was also known as the "Angel of the Battlefield". She helped improve people's health, saved lives, & created a memorial for unknown soldiers who she helped identify a lot of. -
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The Civil War
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Army of Potomac
The Army of Potomac was the main/major Union army in the East during the civil war. Under the command of George B. McClellan "young Napoleon", the troops of the Army of Potomac were in charge of protecting the nation's capitol, Washington, D.C., as well as shutting down the Confederate's eastern army who were under the command of Robert E. Lee. The Army of Potomac also had other commanders as well, like Irvin McDowell, Ambrose Burnside, Joseph Hooker, George Gordon Meade, and Ulysses S. Grant. -
Trent Affair
The Trent Affair started with the capturing of Confederate diplomats James Mason and John Sidell when the USS San Jacinto intercepts RMS Trent. Britain demands an apology and is preparing to fight a war against the U.S. Lincoln releases the Confederate diplomats because he didn't want to fight the Civil War on two fronts and says that the Captain of USS San Jacinto acted without orders. Lincoln also sends U.S. diplomats to try to secure the British and the French's neutrality during the war. -
Twenty Negro Law
The Twenty Negro Law was a southern law enacted in 1863 that allowed the exemption of slave owners who had 20 slaves or more from war service/ the draft for the ongoing Civil War. If someone didn't have 20 slaves they could also pay someone else to fight in the war for them. This law created a class schism and infuriated poor southerners as it was pretty evident that the rich southerners wouldn't have to serve in the Confederate armies, favoritism was being shown in the favor of the rich. -
Gettysburg Address
The Gettysburg Address, one of the greatest speeches of American history, was written by Abraham Lincoln & delivered in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, a couple months after the Battle of Gettysburg. Lincoln's address served to encourage Americans to take action in improving the nation & was also a way to honor those who had paid the ultimate sacrifice & lost their lives in the Battle of Gettysburg. Important themes of the address were the significance of the Civil War & the struggle against slavery. -
Lincoln’s 10% Plan
Abraham Lincoln's reconstruction plan was known as the 10% plan, as well as the Amnesty and Reconstruction Plan of 1863, pardoned all southerners except officers and officials that swore allegiance to the union, allowed the south to re-enter the union if 10% of the voters of the southern state took an oath pledging their allegiance to the union, once at the 10% they were also able to organize a state constitution and set up new government. The state must also recognize the abolition of slavery. -
Election of 1864
The incumbent Abraham Lincoln from the party he created, the National Union party, & George McClellan from the Democratic party were the candidates. McClellan wanted to end the war & let the south secede, while Lincoln believed that the war must be won & that the north & the south should be one. Northerners were tired of the war, so many vote for McClellan, giving Lincoln a scare as he might lose the election. Sherman's capture of Atlanta gives Lincoln a boost & allows him to win fairly easily. -
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Reconstruction
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John Wilkes Booth
John Wilkes Booth a well-known stage actor, a member of a conspiracy plot, & the man who, with the help of Dr. Sameul Mudd, assassinated President Abraham Lincoln, 5 days after the Appomattox Courthouse, when he was attending the play 'Our American Cousin', at Ford's Theater in Washington D.C. Lincoln dies the next day & his funeral procession will attract millions upon railroad tracks (the funeral train). Booth's original plan was to kidnap Lincoln but changed his mind after the 13th amendment. -
13th Amendment
The 13th amendment came to be when Lincoln and Radical Republicans had finally reached a common ground and decided to abolish slavery. The amendment stated that slavery/ involuntary servitude was not allowed in any state or territory under the U.S. government. This is a major event in American history as it allowed African Americans to be free and started the process of ending slavery in the United States. However, the south quickly found a loophole in the amendment and introduced black codes. -
Election of 1868
The election of 1868's candidates were Ulysses S. Grant, former general from the civil war, & Horatio Seymour. Grant was a Republican who stood by the belief of political moderation & peace. This election showed that the whites in the North & South were racist, saw the importance in black votes, but despite the importance of their votes, blacks were intimidated by violence that was used to keep them from voting. Grant came out victorious & would be named the 18th president of the United States. -
Nativism
Nativism is showing partisanship in favor of native-born Americans while viewing immigrants as racially inferior to said Americans. Social Darwinism was used as a method of justification for the native's racial superiority over the immigrants. This sense of nativism gave rise to groups like the APA & the KKK. This was motivated by ethnic/ racial tensions as well as religious bias. Job competitions also played a role in stirring the pot, as many immigrants were willing to work for lower wages. -
Whiskey Ring Scandal
The Whiskey Ring Scandal was one of many scandals that happened under the Grant administration. This scandal involved kickbacks from distillers trying to avoid taxes, essentially cheating the treasury out of millions of dollars. The Whiskey Ring operated mainly in St. Louis, Chicago, and Milwaukee. Things started to fall apart when Grant appointed Benjamin H. Bristow as the treasury secretary who, with the help of investigators and informants, created a case about the scandal and took it down. -
Panic of 1873
The Panic of 1873 set the booming economy that emerged after the civil war, back. African Americans will become less important, Democrats will be voted in office the following year, & Grant will reduce the policing in the south. The panic had many causes, like building more railroads and factories than the existing markets was able to handle & the over-loaning of said project. All it needed was a little push for everything to come crashing down & the push was Cooke's banking firm going bankrupt. -
Election of 1876
The election of 1876 was about choosing the lesser evil between the candidates Samuel Tilden, a Democrat, who was running against Rutherford B. Hayes, a Republican. This was one of the most controversial elections to ever happen in U.S. history as the Electoral votes were unclear. The popular vote, however, went to Tilden. In the end, Hayes will come out victorious with the help of the Compromise of 1877, and because of the fears of having a Democrat in office after what happened under Grant. -
Compromise of 1877
The compromise of 1877 or the great betrayal, was an informal deal between Hayes and southern democrats that was used to settle the election of 1876. The compromise stated that Rutherford B. Hayes would be given all of the electoral votes if he removed federal troops from the south, namely South Carolina and Louisiana, supported major spending for the south, gave at least one southerner a cabinet position, & gave southern democrats local control. The compromise marked the end of Reconstruction. -
Immigration
A surge of European immigration into the U.S. accompanied the Industrial Revolution as people were trying to escape the poverty back home or escape religious/ political perseuction. Rural migration was another source of a booming population. The emergence of factories resulted in an increased need for factory workers. So, people in rural areas moved towards the urban areas to work in said factories. This migration to urban areas is also called urbanization, which is a key player at the time. -
Great Migration
The Great Migration was the migration of African Americans from St. Louis, Missouri to Oregon. They took an overland trail that was approximately 2000 miles. This treacherous migration would take somewhere between 5 to 6 months. They were seeking job opportunities that were unavailable to them in the south, caused by things like Boll Weevil. In addition to seeking economic opportunities, the African Americans were also escaping Jim Crow laws, in other words, discrimination and segregation.
