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Sep 29, 1488
Portuguese Exploration
Diaz sailed down the coast of Africa and around the Cape of Good Hope. -
Aug 3, 1492
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus left Spain with his three ships in hopes of finding an alternate route to India. He sailed on the Santa Maria while the two other ships that joined him were the Pinta and the Santa Clara. -
Oct 12, 1492
Christopher Columbus's Landfall
Columbus made landfall in the Caribean. He called the natives he met, Indians. This was because he believed he had landed in India. -
Sep 29, 1498
Vasco De Gama
The Portuguese explorer De Gama found an all water route to India. -
Sep 29, 1513
Balboa
Spanish explorer Balboa crossed Panama and named it. He was the first to do this. -
House of Burgesses
The House of Burgesses was created in Virginia as the first representative government in the colonies. -
Mayflower Compact
41 of the colonists on the Mayflower signed the Mayflower Compact establishing a majority rule governing system within their colony. -
The Trade and Navigation Acts
These were passed by England to limit the colonies trade by:
1. Only British ships could transport the imports and exports from the colonies.
2. Only British people could trade with the colonies.
3. Only sugar, tobacco, and cotton wool could be traded with Britain. -
Great Awakening
This occured due to free-thinkers preaching throughout the colonies. This resulted in New Lights, passionate preachers, and Old Lights, more traditional preachers. -
Albany Plan
The Albany Plan said that the general government would be led by a President-General, who was appointed by and supported the crown, and also a Grand Council that was appointed by representatives from several colonies. -
The Boston Massacre
Some rialed colonists began throwing rocks and snowballs at some British troops. The troops overreacted and fired their muskets. They ended up killing five people. It was called a "massacre" to get the other colonies to sympathize for Boston. -
Begining of the Revolutionary War
The first shots of the Revolutionary War were fired at Lexington and Concord. -
Rebellion
Britain declared the colonies to be in "a state of rebellion." -
The Declaration of Independence
After the Second Contitenal Congress came to an agreement, the Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson, was signed and the colonies truly became a new country. -
The Battle of Trenton
In the dead of night, Washington crosses the Delaware River to surprise a group of Hessian soldiers in the middle of a nap. Washington's troops captured 900 Hessians, and no colonial soldiers were killed. -
Capture of Philadelphia
William Howe captured Philadelphia, assuming that it was a nerve center of the colonies. He refused to go to battle in the surrounding countryside, so it wasn't a threat to the surrounding farmers and colonists. -
The Battle of Saratoga
This was a key turning point and victory for the colonists, because it prompted France to enter the war and fight with the colonists. This provided troops, supplies, money, and a trained navy. -
Charleston
The large port of Charleston fell to the British. -
Kings Mountain Battle
This was a strong and overwhelming victory for the colonies! -
Cowpens
This was an overwhelming victory for the colonists and furthered their high morale. -
The Battle of Yorktown
Lord Conwallis marched his men into a trap in Yorktown, Virginia. He believed they were being met by British supply ships, however it was a fleet of French ships. From land, Washington's troops marched in from teh North and together they surrounded the British troops. Cornwallis soon surrendered his troops, marking the ending of the major fighting in the Revolutionary War -
Maryland Ratification
Maryland finally ratifies the Articles of Confederation after a compromise with Virginia. The problem was that the westernland claims were not going to benefit Maryland, so no land gain was going to happen for Maryland. Because of this issue, Virginia agreed to give Maryland some of its land as the landclaims for Maryland. -
Peace of Paris
The Peace of Paris was signed and finalized on this date. This set up the colonies as a new country and set some terms and rules for them and Britain.
1. Boundries--British border of Canada to Spanish border of Florida, from the Atlantic coast to the Mississippi River.
2. Independence is recognized.
3. The British agreed to vacate their forts in the Northwest. -
Land Ordinace of 1785
Under the Articles of Confederation, the Land Ordinace called for creation of three to five new states in the Northwestern area of the US. It set up a town system like New England's. Each town would be six square miles, with one mile square sections. Section 16 would be designated for public education. -
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
This ordinace under the Articles of Confederation allowed for a system to be made on how new states could enter into the country. It called for 5,000 freem males to become a state; 60,000 citezens to have a Constitution; and all the new states would automatically be free of slavery and public education would be highly promoted. -
Annapolis Convention
This meeting called to attention the need for a new government. Five states sent delegates. The people proposed that another Contental Congress be called in Philadelphia in 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation. -
The Second Continental Congress
At this meeting, the Articles of Confederation were replaced with the new Constitution. It was held in Philadelphia. All states except Rhode Island sent delegates to it. -
Constution Ratification
By Feburary of 1788. all but four states had ratified the Constitution. The remaining four were Virginina, New York, Rhode Island, and North Carolina. -
Virginia Ratification of the Constitution
After being recieving a letter from George Washington encouraging Virginia to ratify, the state agreed and ratified the Constitution. -
New York Ratification of the Constitution
Due to Virginia ratifying the Constitution and the publication of the Federalist Papers, New York ratified the Constitution. -
War between France and Britain
France declared war on England. Both expected the US to support them in some way. America staid neutral during the war, which ended up helping France gain food, supplies, and other necessities for war. -
Jay's Treaty
America was about to go to war with Britain, and Jay's Treaty kept us from entering into war for the time being. The deal was that:
1. British troops would abandon the North Western forts (even though it was already in the Peace of Paris)
2. America would pay off debts owed before the Revolutionary War. -
Battle of Fallen Timbers
Mad Anthony Wayne defeated the Miami Confederation (Indian Group) and the US gained a lot of land out of the Treaty of Greeneville with those Indians in the North West. -
Pickney's Treaty
The treaty with Spain gave the US right of Deposit at the Port of New Orleans. This is important because American land was on the Mississippi, so it gave those people right to use the river. Alos the US gained some land in Northern Florida. Spain gained nothing, because the Spanish believed there was a sercret part of Jay's Treaty with Britain planning war against Spain. Spain's whole reason for this treaty was to keep the US on their good side. -
Election of 1800
Jefferson had 73 electoral votes. Aaron Burr had 73. Adams (running for re-election) had 65. Pinckney had 64. Because there was a tie between Jefferson and his running mate, Aaron Burr, the vote went to the House of Representatives. Hamilton campaigned for Jefferson to win in the House, because Hamilton felt that his character was somehting we needed in the presidency and he was dependable. Jefferson won. -
Tripoli and Barbary Pirates
In an undeclared war, the Barbary Pirates would attack trade ships around the Mediterranean (they actually declared war in 1801) but the US was reluctant due to Jefferson being a pacifist and they had already paid a ransom to the pirates of $2 million. Jefferson sends ships to the Mediterranean without declaring war. This ended up being the first American victory on foreign soil. -
Louisiana Perchase
After being given the Right of Deposit at the port of New Orleans, the US felt they must secure the port after Spain gave the land to France. The port and a lot of other land was purchased for $15 million. This doubles the land of the US and it puts us back in debt. Hamilton and Adams were supportive of this and sold bonds to help pay it off. -
Non Intercourse Ast
This was an embargo against England and France. This opened up trade significantly. -
Beginning of the War of 1812
The House voted 79 to 49 for war. THe Senate voted 19 to 13 for war. -
Battle of Lake Erie
Americans were led by Oliver Hazard Perry who lost 80% of his men there, but he won. This was the most significant naval battle of the war. Perry said, "We have seen the enemy and they are ours." -
Battle of Thames
Tecumseh (Indian in charge of the Miami Confederation) dies and the NAtive American alliance falls apart. The US secured the North West territory. -
Battle of Horseshoe Bend
This was fought between the US and the Creek Indians. Americans were led by Andrew Jackson and were victorious. This secures the South Western Alabama area. -
Battle of New Orleans
After Peace was declared, though unknown, Andrew Jackson leads the American Troops to victory at the BAttle of New Orleans and becomes a National Hero! -
Treaty of Ghent
This ended the War of 1812. Britain was tired of fighting, so they were willing to make peace. Neither side gained or lost land. -
Florida Treaty Purchase
The Spanish sign over Florida to the US. The US takes on $5 million debt. This sets the boundary between Texas and Louisiana. Spain gave up claim to Oregon. This set the 42nd parallel as the northern border of the Spanish claim.
