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Poor Richard's Almanack
In 1732, the first edition of Poor RIchard's Almanack was created. Poor RIchard's Almanac was wrote by Ben Franklin. -
John Peter Zenger Law Case
John Peter Zenger was accused of printing false statements about the royal governor of New York. The jury voted that he was not guilty, which ultimately started the freedom of press. -
War of Jenkin's Ear
The War of Jenkin's Ear was between the British and Spanish. In America, this war is known as King George's War. It ended with Louisbourg being given back to France. -
The Great Awakening
The Great Awakening was a religious revival started by Johnathan Edwards. THis brought about the preaching from old lights (orthodox clergymen) and new lights (new style preachers). -
Albany Congress
This was an attempt between 7 of 12 delegates to unite the colonies. -
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was also known as the French and Indian War. This war was fought throughout America, Europe, West Indies, Philippines, and Africa. -
Virginians Surrender
George Washington went to the Ohio Valley to secure land purchased by Virginians. There his militia killed the French leader, which caused French reinforcements to respond. Not long after, the Virginians surrendered. -
Britsh attack French
The British that were in Nova Scotia attacked the French known as Acadians. The British defeated them and scattered their people as far as Louisiana. -
Fort Duquense
General Braddock along with 2,000 men tried to capture For Duquense. However, he lost the battle to the French and Indian Army. -
William PItt
WIlliam Pitt became the leader in the London government, so he took control of the British military and ended up caturing Louisbourg. -
Battle of Quebec
James Wolf was chosen to lead the British amry to attack The war took place on the Plains of Abraham between the French and British armies. -
Pontiac
Ottawa chief Pontiac and his several tribes helped remove the British from the Ohio county along with help from French troops. -
Treaty of Paris
This treaty ended the Battle of Quebec and the French were thrown off the continent of North America. THis made the dominant power of North America the British. -
March of the Paxton Boys
The march of the Paxton Boys was led by the Scots-Irish through Philadelphia. The march was to protest the Quakers being lenient toward the Indians. -
Molasses Act
The Molasses Act was passed by parliament in order to ruin trade between North America and and the French West Indies. Smuggling was the colonists way of getting around the law. -
Common Sense
The pamphlet Common Sense, was wrote by Thomas Paine. It's mainly known for inspiring the colonists to fight for their freedom. One of the points made was that the British are smaller than us and a smaller country shouldn't rule a larger one. -
American Ports Open
America had opened up all of its ports to foreign trade, except for British ships. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence, wrote by Thomas Jefferson. This document finally helped delcare independence on this day. America was offcially declaring to Britatin that this was was about Independence. -
Second Continental Congress
The colonies were called to draft new constitutions by the second continental congress. The final draft would be read to the people, so a special convention was called. -
Battle of Princeton
George Washington took his troops and marched from Trenton to attack the British. -
Battle of Saratoga
The British army surrended to America at the Battle of Saratoga. The British were short on supplies and really had not option, but to surrender. -
America Denies France
America passed a resolution that there had been no French aid becuase the French didn't want to risk war with Britain by helping America. -
Allies with France
France agreed to be allies with America as long as America didn't make separate peace agreements with Britain. However, America eventually did make its own agrrements with Britain. -
France recgonizes America
France recognizes American indpendence from Britain. -
Congress Starts Peace
Congress tells Great Britain their terms of peace, which include American Indpendence and rights to the Mississippi River. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation went into effect. -
Battle of Capes
A French naval took on a British fleet outside the Chesapeake Bay. Luckily, America came out on top of this battle. -
Yorktown
Cornwalis, a British general surrenders at Yorktown. -
British Authorize Peace
The British government finally authorized peace negotions to Americans. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris ended the Revolutionary War. This treaty was signed in Paris by King George lll. Britain had realized that they were spending too much time and money on this war. -
Constitutional Convention
For this Constitutional Convention, 12 out of 13 states were represented. This was where the Constitution was written. -
Judiciary Act of 1789
This Judiciary Act set up the Supreme Court and Federal Court System. -
Bill of Rights
The Constitution didn't have a Bill of Rights, which was a problem for some. Eventually, the government kept its promise to those it bothered to add a Bill of Rights, which was wrote by James Madison. -
Neutrality Proclamation
America didn't want to get invoved in another war, so the Neutrality Proclamation claims that American will remain neutral and not pick a side between England and France. -
Battle of Fallen Timbers
General Anthony Wayne led the Army to defeat the Indians. At this point it became apparent that the Indians were using British guns. -
Jay's Treaty
The results of Jay's Treaty includes American paying off their debts to Britain, the British leaving American posts on the frontier, England paying for impressment damages, and ultimately this treaty avoid war. -
Washington's Farewell Address
In Washington's Farewell Address, he warned America of two main things. He advised to avoid political parties and making permanent alliances. -
Jefferson Inagurated
Jefferson coming into office was known as the "Revolution of 1800." THis was the first time there was a peaceful power exchange among parties. -
Tripolitan War
The Tripolitan War made Jefferson stregthen the navy, but only with small gunboats. This meant that later on America didn't have warships. -
Marbury V. Madison
Judge Marbury didn't recieve his commisson to step into office as a Federalist judge from Thomas Jefferson. In the court case, the judge Marshall issued the Writ of Mandamus unconstitutional. This way he didn't have to require Jefferson to hand Marbury his comission. -
Embargo Act
The Embargo Act said that America couldn't trade with any other nation. This was the hardest on New England. -
Non-Intercourse Act
This act went into place after Congress repealed the Embargo Acts. It outlawed shipping to England and France. -
Macon's Bill No. 2
Macon's Bill No. 2 was passed by Madison. This stated that we could trade with either Britain or France, depeding on who dropped restrictions first. -
Battle of Tippecanoe
William Henry Harrison got into a battle with the Shawnee. During this altercation, the Prophet who was told by his brother not to start any trouble was killed. -
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was entered for a couple different reasons.The main reasons for entering the war includes wanting the right to use the seas without fear, the possibility of land, to fix problems with Indians, and to make the point that America is just as strong as other nations. -
Protective Tariff
The Tariff of 1816 was known as the protective tariff. This was to boost the American economy becuase the British began to over-run American markets. -
Corrupt Bargain
The election of 1824 was known as the "corrupt baragin." The race started with four candidates, but came down to Jackson or Adams. Henry Clay, who started in the election, used his power as Speaker of the House to get Adams elected as president. -
Erie Canal
The Erie Canal (Clinton's Big Ditch) was started in 1817. The money used for this canal was strictly from the New York State. It had big effects on the comonmy: shipping costs dropped from West to East, more goods were transported, and the following cities were very successful. The canal was completed in 1825. -
South Carolina Exposition
The South Carolina Exposition was a challenge to the government, as it stated that the states could nullify or void the tariff. -
First Railroads
The first railroad tracks were laid in 1828, however they didn't have an impact until years later. Also known as the Iron Horse, it was the next biggest thing after the Erie Canal. -
Indian Removal Act
This bill started the Bureau of Indian Affairs to deal with the relocating of the Indians. -
Force Bill
This bill allowed the president to use force in order to collect the tariff. -
Election of 1840
This election was between William Henry Harrison and Martin Van Buren. However, Harisson died after being in office for a month, so John Tyler who wasn't part of the Wig Party and didn't have a party at all took over. -
Commonwealth V. Hunt
This supreme court case reulted in a victory and helped legalize labor unions. -
Webster-Ashburton Treaty
This treaty settled the Aroostook War, which was mainly between lumberjacks. This split the land from the Aroostook River. -
Election of 1844
Between James K. Polk and Henry Clay, Polk came out as winnder. Voting for Polk in this election, meant a vote for expansion since he ran on the platform of Manifest Destiny. -
Wilmot Proviso
Propsed by David Wilmot, it suggested that all of the new lands (Mexican Cession lands) should be closed off to slavery. Even though this legistlation passed through the House, it did not make its way through the Senate becuase it was balanced between free and slavery states. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
This treaty ended the Mexican War, which resulted in America gaining Mexican Cession lands. America paid $15 million for the land. -
The Seventh of March
The Seventh of March was a speech given by Daniel Webster in hopes of getting the North to compromise. -
Clayton-Bulwer Treaty
Land in Central Amerca was starting to cause tension betwwen the U.S. and Britain. This treaty said that neither of them would take over that area without agreement from the other country. -
Gadsden Purchase
James Gadsden bought southern Arizona and New Mexico for $10 million after being sent to Mexico to work out a deal for the land. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
This act was proposed by Stephen Douglas becuase he was an Illinois senator, so he wanted the railroad up Norht. In the end, the North got the transcontinental railroad up North and the South got popular sovereignty in Kansas and Nebraska (which went against the Missouri Compromise of 1820). -
Charles Sumner Incident
Charles Sumner was a northern abolitionist that criticized a congressman from South Carolina. Preston Brooks was offended by Sumner and attacked him with a cane. -
Pottawatomie Massacre
This event was when John Brown murdered 5 pro-slavery supporters. -
Election of 1856
In the election of 1856, the American Party also know as the Know Nothing Party emerged. The election was between Democrat James Buchanan and Republican John C. Fremont. In the end, James Buchanan won. -
Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott was a slave who sued for his freedom becuase he had lived in free states with his master. The Chief Justice Roger Taney concluded that becuase Scott was a slave, he was property, and therefor he couldn't sue. Also, he said that Congress can't outlaw slavery, which made the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional. -
The Impending Crisis of the South
This was a book published by Hinton Helper that said non-slaveholding whites are hurt the most by slavery. -
Panic of 1857
The Panic of 1857 was caused by inflation, overe production of grain and over speculation. This was another financial panic that was harder on the North than the South. -
The Lecompton Constitution
This document was wrote when Kansas was large enough to apply for statehood. This date is from the last group that had to vote on the document, the Sentate. Wrote by the pro-slavery government, it said that even if they voted to be slave free the present slave owners would be protected. This constitution did not pass because of Stephen Douglas. -
Lincoln vs. Douglas
Lincoln, unknown at the time, challenged the well-known Stephen Douglas to a series of debates. The most important question was asked by Lincoln on what would Douglas do if a terriotry voted to be slave-free, would he support the people or the Supreme Court? -
Freeport Doctrine
This document was Stephen Douglas's response to Lincoln in their debates.Douglas said that he would support the people. -
Harper's Ferry Raid
In Harper's Ferry, Virginia John Brown had a plan to abolish slavery. He took men to pass our weapons to local slaves, which would start a revolt. However, He was quickly captured by the Marines, tried, and convicted to death. -
Election of 1860
The Northern Democrats nominated Stephen Douglas, the Southern Democrats nominated John C. Breckinridge, the Know-Nothings nominated John Bell, and the Republicans nominated Abraham Lincoln. In the end, Lincoln won. -
Crittenden Compromise
The Crittenden Compromise was proposed by James Henry Crittenden to extend the Missour Compromise line to 36 degrees 30 minutes. Free states would be North of the line and South of the line would be slave states. Lincoln did not support this compromise, so it didn't get very far. -
Seceding South
South Carolina was the first state that threatened to secede if Lincoln won the election.
