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Magna Carta was passed by the King of England to respect the citizens of England
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"Lost Colony" established by Sir Raleigh was founded on Roanoke Island, off North Carolina coast. In 1590, the settlers vanished with no trace of what had happended.
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Capt. John Smith and 105 settlers traveling in 3 ships landed on Virginia coast, started first permanent English colony; Jamestown.
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The House of Burgesses, the first representative assembly in the colonies, is established in Jamestown, Virginia.
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The Pilgrims signed the Mayflower Compact, which stated that laws passed for the good of the colony have to be followed. This became the first form of self-government.
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Pilgrims on the Mayflower landed at Cape Cod
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103 Pilgrims landed at Plymouth
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The colony of Maryland was eltablished as a Catholic colony by Lord Baltimore.
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Providence, Phode Island was founded as a democraticaly ruled colony with seperation from church and state.
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The first Navigation Act was passed by Parliament. It was passed to adjust colonial commers to fit England's needs.
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Charles Town was founded in South Carolina by English colonists
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The Indian War in New England ended. King Phillip, Wampanoag Chief, and Narragansett Indians were killed.
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Nathaniel Bacon led the rebellion agains British governor Sir William Berkeley. The rebellion ended when Bacon died and 23 followers were executed.
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William Penn signed the Treaty with Delaware and made payment for Pensylvania. Also, the first German colonists in America settled near Pennsylvania
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The witchcraft propaganda began at Salem, MA. 20 alleged witches were executed by court rule
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Benjamin Franklin publishes Poor Richard's Almanack. Also, Georgia, the 13th colony, is established.
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Zenger is accused and tried for criticizing the British governor's conduct in office.
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Famous sermon is given at Enfield, MA by major Great Awakening figure Jonathan Edwards
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Delegates from 7 colonies went to Albany, NY to form a Congress. They approved a plan of union by Benjamin Franklin, but the colonies rejected it.
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The French and Indian war began when the French captured Ft. Duquesne in Pittsburgh
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The Sugar Act was placed on the colonies by the British to pay off the French and Indian War debts.
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The Stamp Act was passed to pay British troops. 9 colonies adopted the Decleration of Rights and the act was repealed. The Quartering Act was passed March 24, which required colonists to house British soldiers.
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The Townshend Acts, which placed a tax on painter's lead, paper, glass, and tea were passed.
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British soldiers fired into a mob taunting them, resulting in 5 dead, including Crispus Attucks, a black man who was reportedly the leader of the group.
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A tea ship had its cargo burned on October 14 by angry protesters. On December 16, colonists dressed up as Indians and threw the tea into the bay. This was later known as the Boston Tea Party.
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The "Intolerable Acts" were passed to ban use of Boston Harbor until the ruined tea was payed off. The First Continental Congress was held from September 5 to October 26 and called for civil disobedience against British.
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Paul Revere and William Dawes rode to warn the Patriots that "The British are coming" to destroy weapons at Lexington. When returning from Concord, the British suffered 273 casualties. The battles of Lexington andConcord were the first battles of the Revolutionary War, where someone fired the "shot heard 'round the world."
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Col. Ethan Allen and Col. Benedict Arnold captured Ft. Ticonderoga, NY
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The Continental Congress named George Washington the commander in chief of the Continental Army and on July 26 named Benjamin Franklin the first postmaster general.
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Colonists went to Bunker Hill and fought British troops twice under Gen. Howe before retreating.
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Thomas Paine wrote the famous pamphlet "Common Sense" that encouraged independance from Britain. After it was published, it sold over 100,000 copies
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The Declaration of Independance was approved. This date later became known as the Fourth of July because it's the day we gained our freedom.
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Continental Congress approved the new American flag; the Stars and Stripes.
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John Paul Jones defeated Serapis in British North Sea waters on the Bonhomme
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Francois Joseph de Grasse and 3000 French soldiers stopped a British fleet in Hampton Roads. Washington and Jean Baptiste de Rochambeau arrived near Williamsburg. Cornwallis surrendured to them on October 19.
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Britain and America signed the Treaty of Paris recognising America's independance.
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Shays led many debt-ridden farmers in a rebellion in Massachusetts, but failed.
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The Constitutional Convention opened. The Constitution was agreed on by delegates on September 17. On December 7, Deleware became the first to ratify it. The Federalist Papers came out persuading people to ratify the Constitution.
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Continental Congress adopted the Northwest Ordinance that set settler's rights and made rules for statehood.
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George Washington was chosed to be the president with John Adams as vice president. The U.S. State Dept was established. The Supreme Court was established with John Jay as first Supreme Court Chief Justice.
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The Bill of Rights went into effect after the Constitution was ratified. The First Bank of the US was chartered.
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Washington was inaugurated for second term in office. John Adams was the vice president again, also. Eli Whitney invented the Cotton Gin
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Farmers in Pennsylvania protested the liquor tax
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Washington's last speech as president that warned against permanent alliences with foriegn countries and that political parties will ruin the country.
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Alien and Sedation Acts were passed to quiet the political oppositions.
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John Marshall is named the new Supreme Court Chief Justice. Thomas Jefferson became the new president with Burr as Vice President.
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The Supreme Court overturned the law for the first time by saying they have the right to declare a law unconstitutional.
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The Lewis and Clark Expedition began, ordered by President Thomas Jefferson, to explore new Louisiana Territory
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Robert Fulton invented the first succesful steamboat. The Embargo Acts were passed to stop all foriegn trade.
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The war of 1812 began for 3 main reasons:
1) Britain seized US ships trading with France
2) Britain had seized over 4,000 naturalized US sailors
3) Britain armed Indians who raided western boarder -
Oliver H. Perry defeated the british fleet during the Battle of Lake Erie
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The battle of Ft. McHenry went on for 25 hours and the Americans won, which inspired Francis Scott Key to write the "Star Spangled Banner"
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Spain ceded Florida to the U.S. and added more land to U.S.
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The Monroe Doctrine was passed opposing European settlements in the west
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Famous debate over states' ability to nullify federal law
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The Cherokee Indians were forced on the Trail of Tears off of their homeland after gold was discovered.
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The first message over telegraph was delivered. The telegraph was invented by Samuel F.B. Morse
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The Mexican War began after Texas was annexed into the United States
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Gold was discovered in California. This caused many people to rush to California from all over the world causing many cultural differences. The Seneca Falls Convention was held for womens' rights
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Henry Clay's compromise admitted California as 31st state with slavery forbidden, made Utah and New Mexico Territories, made Fugitive Slave laws harsher
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Harriet Beecher Stowe published Uncle Tom's Cabin, a book on the harsh realities of slavery. The South disagreed and said the book was a lie.
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The Republican Party was formed, Opposed Kansas-Nebraska Act. Treaty with Mexico was ratified
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John Brown, an extreme abolitionist, seized US armory at Harper's Ferry. Brown was captured and hung for treason.
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Abraham Lincoln won the Presidential election
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Seven southern states seceded to form the Confederacy with Jefferson Davis as their president. The Civil War began when Confederates fired on Ft. Sumter on April 12. Confederates defeated Union forced at the first Battle of Bull Run on July 21
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Union forces captured New Orleans. The Battle of Antietam, on September 17, was the bloodiest one-day battle of the war. Each side lost over 1500 men.
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President Lincoln gave the Emancipation Proclamation that freed all slaves in the South. He also gave the Gettysburg Address after the Union won the Battle at Gettysburg. On July 4, the Confederate Army surrendured at Vicksburg.
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Robert E. Lee surrenders his troops at Appomattox Court House
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The 14th Amendment is passed stating that all people born in the US are citizens
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The 15th Amendment is passed, stating that race does not prevent anyone from voting rights
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Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross
