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Period: Aug 3, 1492 to Oct 12, 1492
Discovering of America
Christopher Columbus, sailed for Spain, traveled from west to east in search of new land. Landed on the shores of the "New World" where he found Indians. He completed four successful expeditions. -
Jun 7, 1494
Treaty of Tordesillas
An agreement between Spain and Portugal settleing conflicts over newly discovered lands found by Chistopher Columbus and other explorers -
Jamestown
About 100 Englishmen settlers arrived on a place that they called Jamestown. Turned out badly, 40 men died within the first year. -
Virginia Revolution
Patrick Henry's speech which condemned the British government for its taxes and other policies proposed 7 "resolves" to show Virginia's resistance to the British policies, 5 of which were adopted by the VA legislature. 8 other colonies followed suit and had adopted similar resolves by the end of 1765. -
Stamp Act Congress
Required that all legal or official documents unsed in the colonies, such as will, deeds, and contracts, had to be written on special stamped British paper. This is sometimes viewed as the first American action in or as a precursor of the American Revolution. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was fight between patriots and British soldiers. It was caused by the increasing number of British soldiers present in Boston. There were 5 patriots killed. The Boston Massacre was a signal event leading towards the Revolutionary War. -
Tea Act
Was the final spark that lead to the revolutionary movement in Boston. The tea act proposed no new taxes for the colonies. It was designed to prop up the East India Company which had 18 million pounds of unsold tea. The tea was sold at a bargain price. Colonist either refused the tea to be unloaded of the ships or didnt allow the ships to be docked. This lead to the Boston Tea party -
Treaty of Paris
Ended the Revolutionary War bu recognizing the independence of the American colonies. It granted the colonies the territory from the southern border of Canada to the northern border of Florida, and from the Atlantic to the Mississippi. -
Boston Tea Party
The Sons of Liberty dressed up as Indians and threw 343 chests of tea into the sea to protest the tax on tea and to insure that the tea's cheap price did not prove an "invincible temptation" to the people. -
Intolerable Acts
British war ships sent to block the Boston port, one of the largest ports, so that no trade could be done with the colonies with besides England. -
Quartering Act
Colonists were forced to accomidate British soldiers in any town, township, city, district, or place. -
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First Continental Congress
Each colony(minus Georgia) sent delegates to to Philadelphia to insure that the King of Parliament understood the grievances of the colonies and to make sure that the communication would be uniform throughout the population of America, and to the rest of the world. The colonies wanted to become united. John Adams played a key role. -
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Revolutionary War
Fought between colonist and Britian. The American Revoluition solitified American independence. The American colonist were supported by the french and led by General George Wachington. -
Lexington and Concord
First shots fired between American and British troops. British marched to Concord while American waited with a stock pile of weapons. -
Second Continental Congress
Delegates from all 13 colonies were represented. Still no well-defined motion for independence. The British and the Americans were on the verge of all-out warfare. -
Batlle of Bunker Hill
Located in Charlestown Massachusettes. British suffered heavy losses and lost any hope for a quick victory against the colonies, first battle engaged by the continental army and British troops. -
Olive Branch Petition
A proposal for peace sent by the colonist, the Kind of England refused to recieve it. -
Common Sense
Thomas Paine wrote the pamplet that incouraged the colonies to seek independence. Spoke out against the unfair treatment of the colonies by the British government and was instrumental in turning public opinion in favor of the revolution. 150,000 pamplets sold in 6 months. -
Declaration of Independence
Written by Thomas Jefferson the Declartation of Independence declared independence from from British rule. Discussed the ideas of Natural Law and the Social Contract, inspired by John Locke, and listed grievances against Kind George III. -
Battle of Trenton
Physical and moral victory for the Americans. Lead by General George Washington, American soldiers crossed the Delaware and surprised the Hessians, german missionaries serving for England in the Revolutionary War. -
Overtaking of Philadelphia
General William Howe overtook Philadelphia. English olny conquered cities because they were more compact, a reason they were not as successful. -
Battle of Saratoga
Burgoyne was defeated by American General Horatio Gates and surrendered the entire British Army of the North. Was the turning point for the French to enter the wa on America's side. -
Yorktown
While marching from VA to NY, British commander Lord Cornwallis became surrounded by Washington's troops and the French navy in the Chesapeake Bay. His troops believed the French ships were supply ships. Cornwallis surrendered to the Continental Army, which ended all major fighting in the Revolutionary War. -
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Signing of the Constitution
After 17 weeks of deliberation over the constitution only 42 of the origingal 55 remained to sign it. 3 out of the 42 refused to sign and retured to their home states for ratification. No one was entirely happy because they were too weary and too near towards their work. -
Virginia Plan
Wanted representation to be done by population, favored larger states) -
New Jersey Plan
Wanted representation to be equal, favored smaller states. -
The Great Compromise
Said that one house of the legislative branch would be represented by population (House of Representatives) and the other be represented equally (Senate). -
Present Constitution
Drafted by James Madison, the current Constitution of the US. Contains a Bill of Rights, which set the initial groundwork for the constitution. Stated the basic rights for all Americans. By adding a Bill of Rights to the Constitution it kept many states from ratifying it. -
Separation of Powers
The powers of government are divided up into 3 branches: executive, legislative, and judiciary. -
3/5 Compromise
Said that slaves would count as 3/5 of a person as to make the population of the south more represented. -
Jay's Treaty
Jay's Treaty:1794- US on verge of war with Great Britain because England was violating US decision on being neutral. British were to give up forts by 1796 and in exchange the US would make payment of per-revolutionary debts implementing the Treaty of Paris. US earned more respect -
Pinckney's Treaty
Jay's treaty lead to this, guy named Pickney sent to Spain, because Spain had control over Lousiana, to secure the right of deposit. Federalist hated it. Spain thought that Jay's treaty was to take over Spain. US can now use Mississippi River -
Alien Enemy Act
Gave the President the right to kick out any immigrant that posed a threat to the safety of the US -
Sedition Act
Says that it is illegal to insight a riot or to criticize high government officials -
Louisiana Purchase
goes from Spain--> France, secret treaty(port of New Orleans), didn't officially change hands until 1803, in 1802 Spain revoked the Right of Deposit, serious problem because there are more ppl moving to Mississippi R. ,might need to go to war to get it back, instead of going to war Jeff. Sends an envoy to New Orleans to negotiate(purchase city of New Orleans), France drops bomb shell for allowing them to buy the whole state of Louisiana, first offer $4 million(settled on 4.2million) -
Tripoli and the Barbary Pirates surrender
Tripoli and the Barbary Pirates- US paid $1 million to stop them from attacking our trade ships(20% of US budget. Pirates declared war on US in 1801, US did not declare it back. Pirates used our ship(USS Philadelphia)(that they stole) to protect themselves from us. Steven Decatur sneaks unto ship and burns it down so that they cant use it. William Eaton-had camels and march 500 miles across desert to capture the 2nd most important city(Derna). Pirates surrender June 4, 1805.1st foreign victory -
Continental System
In response to the Orders of Council France passes the Continental System saying that it is illegal for anyone to trade with Britain -
Order of Council
Orders of Council comes from Great Britian- says that all trade with anyone in Europe must go through Britain first -
Non-Intercourse Act
fallowed the embargo bans trade with England and France, reinvigorates American economy, Embargo against England almost ended because of Erskine Agreement -
Erskine Agreement
An agreement to reopen trade-Britain promised they would revoke orders of council- never happened. -
Macon's Bill Np. 2
Macon's Bill favors Britain because it gives them a chance to get their biggest trading partners back, France jumps in its first though -
Battle of Lake Erie
Lead by Oliver Hazard Perry, lost 80% of troops, victory, sets up US for control of North West. -
Battle of Horseshoe Bend
(only one so far outside of NW and Canada) Alabama, against Creek Indians, leader- Andrew Jackson, broke up Indian resistance in the South, beginning of Jackson legacy of bad treatment to Indians -
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Hartford Convention
- (Hartford Connecticut) meeting of Federalists to discuss the problems with US government(wanted to get ride of the 3/5 compromise, limit presidency to 1 term, and wanted to put in a stipulation that said that the next president must be from somewhere other that the state the current one was from-Only one not from same state is John Adams, wanted to limit congresses power about war, embargoes, and admitting new states into Union ) also....wanted to secede.
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Convention of 1800
Tensions between France and the US died down, decided to nullify the French alliance. France can no longer ask for our help and we feel obligated to help. Established a commercial treaty with France
