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1400
Age of Discovery
The start of Age of Discovery that continued into the 18th century. Europeans made contact and sought to explore and colonize the "New World" -
1449
Treaty of Tordesillas
Treaty of Tordesilla was the agreement between Spain and Portugal. It aimed at settling conflicts over lands newly discovered or explored by Christopher Columbus and other late 15th-century voyagers. -
1492
Columbian Exchange
Exchange of goods, ideas, diseases, and people between the Americas, Africa, and Europe. Each region was significantly impacted as a result of trade and contact. -
1492
Christopher Columbus
In 1492, a Spanish-based transatlantic maritime expedition led by Christopher Columbus encountered the Americas. A continent which was largely unknown in Europe and outside the Old World political and economic system. -
1512
Encomienda System
The Encomienda System was established. It was created by the Spanish to control and regulate American Indian labor and behavior during the colonization of the Americas. -
1550
Valladolid Debate
The Valladolid debate was the first moral debate in European history to discuss the rights and treatment of a colonized people by colonizers. It was from 1550 through 1551. -
Jamestown
Established in 1607 and was the first permanent English settlement; located in Virginia and led through the starving time by John Smith. It was the only successful after tobacco was established as a cash crop -
Pueblo Revolt
Also known as Pope's Rebellion, this was an uprising of indigenous Pueblo people against Spanish colonizers of Sante Fe, New Mexico, after attempts to force natives to convert and the destruction of native religious artifacts. Although the Spanish were expelled from Santa Fe for 10 years after the rebellion, they later returned. Spain began to take an accommodating approach to Natives after the revolt -
Seven Years War
The Seven Years' War was a global conflict fought between 1756 and 1763. It involved every European great power of the time and spanned five continents, affecting Europe, the Americas, West Africa, India, and the Philippines. Also called the French and Indian War - French and Natives vs. England and Colonies - England wins and gains control of the Ohio River Valley. -
Townshend Acts
A set of laws passed by Parliament after Stamp Act crisis that stated new taxes would be applied only to imported goods and paid at the port of entry (glass, tea, paper, lead, etc.) and instituted the writs of assistance. -
Boston Tea Party
A group of colonists protested thirteen years of increasing British oppression, by attacking merchant ships in Boston Harbor. In retaliation, the British closed the port, and inflict even harsher penalties. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
These two battles occurred on the same day. They were the first military conflicts of the war. Lexington was the first one, in which a shot suddenly rang out as minutemen were leaving the scene at Lexington. Fighting then occurred. The British won the brief fight. In the second battle, Concord, the British had gone onto Concord and, finding no arms, left to go back to Boston. On the bridge back, they met 300 minutemen. The British were forced to retreat, and the Americans claimed victory. -
Second Continental Congress
They organized the continental Army, called on the colonies to send troops, selected George Washington to lead the army. They also appointed the Committee of Five to draft the Declaration of Independence. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
First major battle of the Revolution. It showed that the Americans could hold their own, but the British were also not easy to defeat. Ultimately, the Americans were forced to withdraw after running out of ammunition, and Bunker Hill was in British hands. However, the British suffered more deaths. -
Committee of Five
Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman were selected to draft a declaration of independence to King George III. -
Battle of Trenton
This was known as "The Crossing of the Delaware." It was a surprise attack on the Hessians on Christmas Day 1776 led by George Washington. This was a significant morale boost for the continentals. -
Articles of Confederation
This document was the nation's first constitution. The document was limited because states held most of the power (federal government was weak), and Congress lacked the power to tax, regulate trade, or control coinage, there were border disputes, and the states blamed each other for issues. -
Saratoga
A battle that took place in New York where the Continental Army defeated the British. It proved to be the turning point of the war. This battle ultimately had France to openly support the colonies with military forces in addition to the supplies and money already being sent. -
Smallpox introduced to Indians
The smallpox epidemic of 1780–1782 brought devastation and drastic depopulation among the Plains Indians. This epidemic is a classic instance of European immunity and non-European vulnerability. Killed at least 30% of West Coast Native Americans. -
Yorktown
American victory that ended the Revolutionary War. Under the command of George Washington, the Americans along with French Regiments beat Cornwallis and his British troops. The continentals surrounded the Cornwallis by land and a French naval in Chesapeake Bay fleet blocked his forces by sea. -
Whiskey Rebellion
In 1794, farmers in Pennsylvania rebelled against Hamilton's tax on whiskey, and several federal officers were killed in the riots caused by their attempts to serve arrest warrants on the offenders. In October, 1794, the army, led by Washington, put down the rebellion. The incident showed that the new government under the Constitution could react swiftly and effectively to such a problem. -
Cotton Gin
A cotton gin is a machine that quickly and easily separates cotton fibers from their seeds. It allows for much greater productivity than manual cotton separation -
Louisiana Purchase
The purchase doubled size of US, therefore opening up land for expansion. Jefferson changed his interpretation from strict to loose on this issue. -
Steam Boat
Boat that had a powerful steam engine, enabled boats to travel upstream on rivers. Increased trade while at the same time improving interstate transportation. -
Battle of Tippecanoe
Battle in which Native Americans (united by Tecumseh and Prophet) fought against General William Henry Harrison's forces and lost. Americans on the frontier blamed Britain for initiating the rebellion. -
War of 1812
A war between the US and Great Britain caused by American outrage over the impressment of American sailors by the British. The British seizure of American ships and aid to the Indians attacking the Americans on the western frontier. The war strengthened American nationalism and encouraged the growth of industry. -
Indian Removal Act
Indian Removal Act authorized Andrew Jackson to negotiate land-exchange treaties with tribes living in the East of the Mississippi. Paved the way for the reluctant—and often forcible—emigration of tens of thousands of American Indians to the West. -
Seneca Falls Convention
First women's rights convention in American history, organized by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott. It issued a "Declaration of Sentiments," which declared "all women and men are created equal." Beginning of women's suffrage movement. -
Compromise of 1850
Four part compromise
1) Instated the Fugitive Slave Act.
2) Banned slave trade in DC
3) Admitted California as a free state
4) Instated popular sovereignty in Utah and New Mexico -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Negated Missouri Compromise and it created Nebraska and Kansas as states. Gave the people in those territories the right to chose to be a free or slave state through popular sovereignty. -
Telegraph
The telegraph revolutionized long-distance communication. Worked by transmitting electrical signals over a wire laid between station. -
Dred Scott v. Sanford decision
Decision declared that African Americans were NOT citizens.Slaves were property and could not be taken away; Congress could NOT regulate slavery in territories, slavery protected in all areas of US as property rights of Constitution. -
Anaconda Plan
Union war plan by Winfield Scott. Called for blockade of southern coast, capture of Richmond, capture Mississippi River, and to take an army through heart of south. -
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was a presidential proclamation and executive order issued by President Abraham Lincoln, which changed the purpose of the Civil War. It allowed African Americans to fight in the Union Army and it kept Europe from aiding the South. -
Ku Klux Klan
A group who used violent actions during the Reconstruction Era. Represented the resentments felt by many Southern whites towards the changing political, social, and economic conditions of the Reconstruction Era. -
Political Machine
A political machine is a political group in which an authoritative boss or small group commands the support of a corps of supporters and businesses. It appealed to immigrants and the urban poor -
Transcontinental Railroad
The Transcontinental Railroad linked the eastern railroad system with California's railroad system. It revolutionized transportation in the west. -
Battle of Little Bighorn
Sioux and Cheyenne Indians were outraged over the continued intrusions of whites into their sacred lands. They gathered in Montana with the great warrior Sitting Bull to fight for their lands. Colonel George A. Custer and 260 of his men were killed by Sioux Indians. -
Compromise of 1877
The Compromise of 1877 ended the most disputed election in American history. By the terms of this compromise, Republican candidate Rutherford B. Hayes was awarded the electoral votes of Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina, giving him the presidency. In return, all federal troops were removed from the South and the Congress promised to stop enforcing much Reconstruction Era legislation concerning the South. -
Populist Movement
Movement was created in response to the growth of corporate power. Called for political reform (election of senators, secret ballot) and increased government involvement in economy. -
Homestead Strike
In 1892, a steelworker strike near Pittsburgh against the Carnegie Steel Company occurred. Ten workers were killed in a riot when "scab" labor was brought in to force an end to the strike. -
Panic of 1893
Serious economic depression beginning in 1893 due to rail road companies over-extending themselves, causing bank failures. It was the worst economic collapse in the history of the country until that point. -
Anti-Saloon League
National Organization set up to work for prohibition. Later joined with the WCTU to publicize the effects of drinking -
Spanish-American War
This war fought between Spain and the United States that began after the sinking of the battleship USS Maine. The United States won the war in four months, gaining control of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines -
Model T car
Henry Ford's revolutionary advancements in assembly-line automobile manufacturing made the Model T the first car to be affordable for a majority of Americans. -
NAACP
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, founded in 1909 to abolish segregation and discrimination, to oppose racism and to gain civil rights for African Americans, got Supreme Court to declare grandfather clause unconstitutional -
Red Scare
A Communist Party formed in the US and labor unions were suspected of supporting it. When Italian immigrants Sacco and Venzetti were sentenced to death for a crime with no evidence, Americans feared being labelled "communist." -
Women's Rights Movement
General movement that began before the 1920s, but cumulated in the 19th century. Granted women of all races and classes the right to vote. -
Treaty of Versailles
This was the most important of the peace treaties that brought World War I to an end. The treaty ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied powers. -
The Stock Market Crash of 1929
The result of speculation of stocks and commodities, an investing "fever," in America, overproduction of goods and under consumption of American goods. Spiraled into a world wide depression. -
Hoovervilles
A Hooverville was a shanty town of shacks and tents built by the homeless during the Great Depression. They were named after Herbert Hoover, who was president during the Great Depression and was blamed for it -
Neutrality Act
Originally designed to avoid American involvement in World War II by preventing loans to those countries taking part in the conflict. They were later modified in 1939 to allow aid to Great Britain and other Allied nations -
Social Security Act
The Social Security Act established a system of old-age benefits for workers, benefits for victims of industrial accidents, unemployment insurance, aid for dependent mothers and children, the blind, and the physically handicapped. Guaranteed an income for the unemployed and retirees. -
Brown v. Board of Education decision
Led by Chief Justice Earl Warren, the court ruled that "separate but equal" schools for blacks were inherently unequal and thus unconstitutional. Supreme Court decision overturned the Plessy vs. Ferguson decision. -
The Cuban Missile Crisis
This international crisis was the closest approach to nuclear war at any time between the US and USSR. When the United States discovered Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba, President John F. Kennedy demanded their removal and announced a naval blockade of the island. A week later, Soviet leader Khrushchev cooperated with US demands. -
The Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act was a landmark civil rights and US labor law in the United States. This act outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. -
My Lai Massacre
During the Vietnam War, American troops had brutally massacred innocent women and children in the My Lai village. This led to a more opposition to the war. -
Camp David Accords
First signed agreement between Israel and an Arab country, organized by President Jimmy Carter. Egyptian President Anwar Sadat recognized Israel as a legitimate state and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin agreed to return the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt. -
Iran-Contra Affair
Political scandal in the US in which the National Security Council (NSC) became involved in secret weapons transactions and other activities. These transactions/activities were prohibited by the U.S. Congress or violated the stated public policy of the government -
Tiananmen Square
The location of a huge demonstration for democratic rights that occurred in 1989. It was brutally put down by Chinese government. -
Persian Gulf War
The Start of the Persian Gulf War. It was an international conflict that was triggered by Iraq's invasion of Kuwait on August 2, 1990 -
Persian Gulf War Ended
Aftermath of the Persian Gulf War. Though the Gulf War was recognized as a decisive victory for the coalition, Kuwait and Iraq suffered enormous damage, and Saddam Hussein was not forced from power. In addition, Iraqi force regularly exchanged fire with U.S. and British aircraft over the no-fly zone. -
September 11, 2001 Terrorist attacks
The September 11 attacks were a series of four coordinated terrorist attacks by the Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda on the United States. Two plane hijackers hit the World Trade Center Towers, one hit the pentagon and the other crashed into a field in Pennsylvania.
