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Sep 23, 1492
Columbus's Discovery of America
He was sailing for Spain when he discovered America. He didn't know he had landed on a new land at first so he called the natives "Indians." He came on ships named the Pinta, Nina, and Santa Maria. -
Jamestown
King James I granted a charter to the Virginia Company to establish an English settlement. It is America's first permanent colony created. -
Virginia House of Burgesses
It was a legislative elected by the colonists. They met annually at Jamestown. It was the first assembly/meeting in America. Their first meeting didn't establish much because of an outbreak of malaria -
The Mayflower Compact
The first governing document of the Plymouth colony. It was written by the Pilgrims while still on board of the ship. They road across the ocean on the famous Mayflower. Half the people were separates of the English Church. -
Navigation Laws
These laws restricted the use of foreign shipping trade between England. The English wanted the colonists to only trade with them and not the Netherlands or France. -
Bacon's Rebellion
It was a rebellion in Virginia led by Nathanial Bacon. About 1,000 Virginians rose against William Berkeley's friendly policies towards the Native Americans. The Virginians were furious at Berkeley and made him flee, also attacking Indians. -
Act of Toleration
The Toleration Act was an act of Parliament giving freedom of worship to Nonconformists. -
Separation of NC and SC
North Carolina and South Carolina separate to create two different colonies. They had different agriculture and disputes causing them to part. -
The founding of Georgia
The founder was James Oglethorpe. Georgia was at first used as a buffer from the Spanish Florida. The people were mostly small farmers. -
The Great Awakening
It was a religious revival in America. They were usually led by Protestant ministers. -
Proclamation Act
The proclamation act was issued by King George the III. The purpose was to organize England's new North American colonies and to stabalize relationships with the Native Americans through trade. -
Sugar Act
The English put a tax on sugar and molasses on the importation of it. This was one step closer to the American Revolution, angering the colonists. -
Currency Act
This regulated paper money issued by the colonies. It was placed to protect British merchants from being paid in depriciated colonial currency. -
Quartering Act
These were issued by Britain enforcing that the colonists must quarter the British soldiers in their homes if needed. -
The Stamp Tax
This act required all printed items be taxed. The purpose of the tax was to help pay for the troops in North America. -
Townshend Acts
These acts eventually resulted in the Boston Massacre. These acts raised revenue, tightened customs enforcements and to assert imperial authority. -
Boston Massacre
The colonists egged the British soldiers on prompting them to fire into the crowd which killed 5 colonists. This sparked the rebellion of all the colonists. -
Gaspee Affair
American Patriots attacked the Gaspee ship of the English. The pillaged it and burnt it down. -
The Boston Tea Party
Some colonists dressed up as Indians and poured tons of tea into the Boston harbor rebelling against the tax on tea. -
Intolerable Acts
These were the laws created in response to the Boston Tea Party. These laws were the Impartial Administration of Justice Act, Mass. Bay Regulating Act, Boston Port Act, Quartering Act, and the Quebec Act. -
Boston Port Act
It was a response to the Boston Tea Party. It outlawed the use of the Boston Port to everyone but British ships. -
Second Continental Congress
Meeting of delegates from all thirteen colonies to ratify the Articles of Confederation. Eventually turning into the Constitution. -
Declaration of Independence
Stated that the US was a free country and independent of Britain. It was signed by the founding fathers and written mostly by Thomas Jefferson and it discussed natural rights. It also listed many grievences by the clonists against England. -
Common Sense
Written by Thomas Paine to encourage the colonists of independence. It had the largest sale of any book in American history. -
Battle of Saratoga
This war is considered the turning point. This war was to decide the fate of the British general John Burgoyne's army. He was forced to retreat from the American forces. -
Massachusetts Constitution
John Adams drafted the Mass. Constitution along with Samuel Adams and James Bowdoin. -
Cornwallis Surrenders
He surrendered in Yorktown when many colonists trapped him. This marked the end of the Revolutionary War even though small battles continued for a little while after. -
Peace Treaty of Paris
This ended the Revolutionaly War, giving the States independence. John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay represented the States and all signed the treaty. -
Right of Deposit
The US claimed the right of being able to deposit goods down the Mississippi RIver, but Spain closed the Miss. to the US commerce. -
The Land Ordinance of 1785
It was adopted by the United States Congress under the Articles of Confederation. The goal was to raise money through the sale of land. -
Shay's Rebellion
The rebellion is named after Daniel Shays who led the rebels. Most of the rebels were poor farmers angered by the ridiculous taxes and debts. -
First President
George Washington was the first president of the United States. He took his oath of office on The Federal Hall on Wall Street in New York. -
French Revolution
The absolute monarchy of France collapsed in three years. The French Revolution was a period of great social and political upheaval. A democratic republic came in place of the monarchy. -
United States Secretary of the Treasury
Alexander Hamilton was America's first Secretary of Treasury. He was also a founding father of America. The secretary of treasury deals with the financial and monetory matters. -
Whiskey Rebellion
The Whiskey Rebellion was a tax protest in Penn. during the presidency of George Washington. Alexander Hamilton created this tax to fund money for the National debt. Small farmers protested and became violent. -
Treaty of Greenville
This treaty was between the Native American's called the Western Confederacy and the US for the land of Ohio. It was after the loss at the Battle of Fallen Timbers for the Native Americans. -
PIckney's Treaty
This treaty established intentions of friendship between the US and Spain. This also defined the boundaries of the US with Spain colonies. It guarenteed the US the right of navigation on the Mississippi RIver. -
Jay's Treaty
This was a treaty between the US and Great Britain that is credited with averting war. It also solved many issues left over from the American Revolution. This led to the formation of the "First Party System" in America. -
XYZ Affair
This strained relations between France and the United States. It led to an undeclared war called the Quasi-War. Generals from France wanted 250,000 dollars from the US to just see Tallyrand, the ruler in France. This made many Americans outraged, wanting to start a war. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
These acts were created to keep out alien citizens in America from the enemies. The sedition act was to prevent seditious attacks from weakening the new American government. -
Convention of 1800
A meeting between the US and France to settle the hostilities that had erupted in the Quasi-War. This convention resulted in an alliance with France for the US. -
Marbury vs. Madison
Established judicial review. On John Adams last day of office, he created 16 new judicial offices. Federalists were added to the court. Thomas Jefferson did not deliver the appointments. -
Louisiana Purchase
The US aquired Louisiana from France in 1803. The total cost was only 15 million which was a good deal for all the 828,800 square miles. This was a vital moment in Jefferson's presidency. -
Orders of Council
Was a universal law that said all trade with Europe must go through England. -
Continental System
This was a ban to the whole world to trade with Britain. France put this in place.