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Aug 3, 1492
Christopher Columbus Sets Sail
Funded by money from the Spanish crown, the Italian explorer set off towards China via North America, a HUGE land mass that he did not anticipate to block his path. -
Oct 12, 1492
Columbus Sights Land
After 6 weeks at sea, the crew was loosing hope until the crew sighted an island in the Bahamas. Columbus, upon meeting the natives, called them "Indians," believing that he had finally landed in India -
Jun 7, 1494
Treaty of Tordesillas
Spain and Portugal sign a Treaty that divides up the discoverd land between the two countries. Spain got most of the new land, but Portugal laid claim of parts of SA, Africa, and Asia. -
Nov 17, 1558
Queen Elizabeth takes the Throne
Queen Elizabeth's rise to power led to a massive outbreak of Protestantism within the country and conflicts broke out with the Catholic Church. -
First English colony is created
Jamestown -
John Rolfe and Pocahontas get married
John Rolfe, an englishman, married the Indian princess Pocahontas and secured several years of peace between the colonies and the Native Americans -
Mayflower Compact
The Pilgrims, having set sail from England several months prior, arrived in the New World and established a Contract that promised the creation of some form of government -
Massachusetts Bay Colony gets a Royal Charter
- composed of non-seperatists
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Roger Williams is Banished
Roger Williams, a young, outspoken minister was banished from Puritan society for preaching "new and dangerous opinions." -
Bacon's Rebellion
Nathaniel Bacon was a poor farmer who led over 1,000 virginians in a rebellion against Governor Berkley. The group burned the capital and attacked several Indian groups. -
Sinners the Hands of an Angry God
Jonathan Edwards was a key figure in the "Great Awakening"- a religious movement that divided worshippers into the "New/Old Lights" and got a wider range of people involved in religion. Edwards took a "fire and brimstone" approach to his preaching. -
Sugar Act of 1764
This Act was passed by the British government in an attempt to raise money to counter the massive debt the British had gone into after the 7 years ' war. I tput a tax on sugar and mollasses, and cost more to keep in place than it earned from the tax. -
Currency Act of 1764
This act stopped the colonies for printing their own money. Paper money was banned, and Britain required the colonies to pay in silver or gold coins. -
Stamp Act
This act put a tax on stamps, and required that every paper item be stamped. This act brought forth a LOT of colonial protest. The Sons of Liberty, a radical colonist group, surfaced, as well as the Stamp Act Congress. NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION. -
The Quartering Act of 1765
This act required that the colonists house British soldiers at their own expense. -
Stamp Act Repealed
After many violent protests and the Stamp Act Congress's constant complaints to Britain, the Stamp Act was repealed. -
Townshend Acts
The Townshend Acts were a series of laws designed to make enough money to put colonial judges and officials on the British payroll. -
Boston Massacre
British troops fired into a crowd and killed 5 people. -
Tea Act of 1773
Monopolized the tea business. Kept East India Company alive, killed all other tea-producers. -
Boston Tea Party
Bostonians dressed like Indians and dumped 10,000 lbs of tea into the Boston Harbor. -
Boston Port Act
Shut Down the Boston Port. Part of the "Intolerable Acts" -
Massachusetts Government Act
Shut down the elected assembly and replaced it with officials appointed by the crown. Banned town meetings and committees of coorespondance -
Suffolk Resolves
Small declaration of war by Mass. Declared Mass. to be a free state. -
Lexington and Concord
Patriots Day. Mac has decided that Britain fired the first shot, and therefore started the war. -
Bunker Hill
Colonists win, but had a lot of casualties. -
Olive Branch Petition
Colonies asking for peace- the king refused to even see it. -
Declaration of Causes of Taking up Arms
blamed Britain for the fighting -
Battle Of Quebec
The colonies tried to take over Canada and failed miserably. -
Declaration of Independence
WE ARE FREE -
Articles of Confederation are Passed
INEFFECTIVE form of government. Trial period. -
Peace of Paris
Treaty between Britain and America. Made the Mississippi river the bondary of the US. -
Constitution
Todays form of government- created in place of the Articles -
French Revolution
America was originally supportive of the French, but when they declared war on England the US stepped out and declared neutrality. -
Washington Takes Office
Washington was a war hero, a powerful general, and presided over the meeting that created the constitution. It made sense that he would be our first president. -
US Navy is created
Washington signed a bill that gave $$ to the construction of ships to protect the commerce of the US -
Jay's Treaty
Decided that the English had to evacuate their American forts within two years and the US would pay their debt. -
Pinckney's Treaty
Gave the US the Right of Deposit to the port of New Orleans -
John Adam's Takes Office
2nd president of the US. Tried to do what was best for the country, not what was specific to a party's beliefs -
Non-Intercourse Act
Suspended trade with British and France -
Madison takes Office
Madison was the 4th president of the United States. He had previously served as Secretary of State under Thomas Jefferson -
Embargo is Put on England
Madison, being stupid and stubborn, suspended trade with Britain based on the promises of the tricksy French. -
War of 1812 is DECLARED
The votes were realtively close when it came to deciding whether war was worth it. The votes counted 79 for, 49 against in the House of Representatives, and 19 for, to 13 against in the Senate. War was declared. -
War of 1812
This was when the first battle occured. The war of 1812 was a war that occured between the US and Britain (in the form Canada). There was no clear winner. -
Battle of Lake Erie
Oliver Hazard Perry lost 80% of his troops in this naval attack, yet it was still considered an American Victory. -
Battle of the Thames
The Indian Tecumseh (who created the Indian Confederation) is killed, and with him dies all Indian resistance in the NW. -
Battle of Horseshoe Bend
Slaughter of the Creek Indians- led by Andrew Jackson- ended Indian resistance in the SW -
Battle of New Orleans
Final major battle of the War of 1812- led by Andrew Jackson, who became a hero- led to much nationalism.