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Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in North America. The first few years of living were rough as the people would have to start from nothing. They would use the new resources found in America to profit, especially with the discovery of tobacco as a cash crop. The new settlement of the Americas would also kick off the Colombian Exchange. Settlement would also lead to Britain giving land through the Homestead System to people willing to go to America. -
The Great Awakening was a large boom of new people joining religions, mainly Puritanism. Many new ministers emerged and began to teach Christianity in a different, modern way. People like George Whitfield and Jonathan Edwards led the forefront of the movement. It was the first time where messages of equality were spread to the people in America. It also created a higher literacy rate, as Puritans were taught to read so they could study the Bible. -
A war between Britain and France over colonial territories. Britain won the war and gained a large amount of land in the West of their current territory in America. The British, suffering from war debt, ended Benign Neglect and sent British troops in to occupy the colonies. The troops enforced the new taxes set in place by the British. The colonists were angered by this because they felt that they had contributed a lot to the war effort and weren't being recognized. -
With the ending of the French-Indian war, Britain was in a lot of debt. Due to this, they passed a series of taxes and laws to bring the burden of the debt onto the colonies. Things like the Stamp Act and Sugar Act raised taxes on everyday things. Laws such as the Quartering Act forced citizens to keep British soldiers in their own homes. This new control that Britain was exerting onto the colonies angered many and prompted protests and riots. -
A protest by the Sons of Liberty done in Boston, Massachusetts. They were protesting a series of taxes the British Government had imposed on the colonies, such as the Stamp Act and the Sugar Act. They dumped hundreds of gallons of imported tea into the ocean on the port of Boston. Britain, angered, went on to pass the Intolerable Acts, which are believed to have spurred the American Revolution. This was one of the first acts done by the colonies that showed defiance to British laws. -
After the famous "shot heard round the world" skirmish, it was clear to the colonies that a war was coming. They organized the Second Continental Congress, where all 13 colonies sent delegates to discuss their next plans. Headed by radicals, seeking independence and conservatives seeking peace, the Congress sent the Olive Branch Petition to King George III, as a last attempt to prevent war. The King rejected it, and the Revolutionary War officially began. -
After the French had aligned with the colonies, they were able to defeat Britain's Royal Navy on the coast of Virginia. This allowed the American army to be able to corner General Cornwallis and his army in Yorktown, Virginia. With the American army in front of him, and the French Navy behind him, Cornwallis was forced to surrender, marking the official end of the American Revolutionary War. Britain would then sign the Treaty of Paris to officially give up their land in the colonies. -
Angered by the new government's failure to give proper repayment to veterans of the Revolutionary War, Daniel Shay led an angry mob and started riots across the colonies. Marching towards Boston, his mob would take over courthouses as they went. The government under the Articles of Confederation, was not able to really stop this mob, as they weren't allowed to have a standing military. The rebellion showed the weaknesses of the Articles, and prompted the calling of the Constitutional Convention. -
After intense debate over representation, and how much power the federal government should really have, the Constitution was ratified. This was after the Anti-Federalists wrote the Bill of Rights to defend the people from the government overreaching its power. They also split up the government into the three branches of: judicial, legislative, and executive branches. In creating the Constitution, the framers also set up a delicate checks and balances system that would stay in place even today. -
As president George Washington's secretary of Treasury, Alexander Hamilton established a financial program to strengthen America's new economy. He started with an assumption of debt so that the nation could be debt free. He then made many tariffs to boost American industry. Lastly, he created a national bank so that the government could issue loans to businesses. Thomas Jefferson opposed all of these parts of Hamilton's plan, but Washington sided with Hamilton and passed them all. -
A rebellion due to the first national tax being imposed on the American people. The tax was on whiskey, and it affected farmers more than others, causing them a lot of anger. Much like Shay's Rebellion, the Whiskey Rebellion tested the current governing body. However, the Whiskey Rebellion showed the strength of the Constitution. George Washington was able to use the army to easily stop the rebellion. -
Blanket term for the Naturalization Act, Alien Act and Sedition Act. Created by president John Adams as an attempt to silence his opposition and win the election of 1800. The acts lengthened the time needed for naturalization of immigrants, allowed the president to deport any immigrants deemed dangerous, and made it illegal for presses to print any material that was critical of the president. The acts were frowned upon, and later reversed by president Thomas Jefferson. -
Also known as the "Revolution of 1800", this election was the first time in world history that power was transitioned peacefully between two opposing political sides. Thomas Jefferson won the election over John Adams, and the whole world watched and waited for some sort of violent response, but it never came. Signaled to the whole world that Democracy can and does work when done properly. Jefferson's win also brought an end to the era of Federalist power in the United States. -
Jefferson, worried that the United States would lose control of New Orleans, sent James Monroe to purchase the territory from France. Napoleon offers to sell the entire Louisiana territory for $15 million to the US instead. This created a dilemma for Jefferson because he wasn't sure the Constitution granted the president the power to expand territory. However, Jefferson ends up buying it and sends two explorers, Lewis and Clark, on an expedition to explore the new land and document it. -
Marbury v. Madison was a landmark Supreme Court case in the United States because it established the concept of judicial review. This changed American legislation forever because now, the Supreme Court could review any law brought to it and decide whether it was Constitutional or not. This created many new court cases in the future, and led to many corrupt laws being verified. It also led to many just laws being upheld. -
Great Britain and France are at war, but Jefferson wants the US to remain neutral. Due to this, Jefferson passes the Embargo of 1807, which is a ban on all foreign trade. It was extremely unpopular, especially among merchants and businessmen who relied on foreign trade to make a living. The Embargo also did great damage to the economy, but it did encourage growth of American Industry. -
Invented by Eli Whitney, the Cotton Gin was able to make cotton profitable, as the process of removing the seeds from the fibers was now much easier. Due to this invention, cotton production soared in the South and set it on an entirely new trajectory. Slavery, which was actually on a decline, began going up rapidly in the South due to this new invention. Plantation life was now common in the South. -
During the war of 1812 between Britain and America, the British led an invasion into Washington D.C.. They destroy many significant government buildings in Washington. Among these is the White House. They burn down the White House. However, the first lady, Dolly Madison becomes a national hero, as she is able to save many significant artifacts such as paintings of past presidents. This burning of the White House served as a stark indicator of how bad war was for a still new nation -
This Battle actually happened after the Treaty of Ghent was signed, but the news hadn't reached the US yet. In it, Andrew Jackson is able to recruit soldiers from all different walks of life such as slaves, pirates, and Cajuns. Using this "motley band" of men, Jackson mauls the incoming British forces. This win made the American people view the War of 1812 as an American victory even though it was not. The Battle also made nationalism soar in the United States for the foreseeable future. -
Part of a larger transportation revolution in the United States, the building of the Erie Canal, and other canals like it revolutionized trade. Goods could now be transported over larger distances, faster. This, coupled with Robert Fulton's steamboat made trade easier than ever before. The canal system turned rivers into essentially the first American highways. Due to the trade canals brought, many major cities were built near a canal or river. -
During the 1820s, the United States was receiving a record number of Irish and German immigrants in the North. The immigration, coupled with a very high birthrate at the time, caused the population to double every 22 years. This large increase in population led the creation of the middle class. There was also a large amount of emigration into the West, which was still largely unexplored. In fact, by 1850, half of all Americans lived outside of the original 13 States. -
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This election was highly controversial, and left a mark on Americans of the time. The main two candidates were Andrew Jackson and John Quincy Adams. Neither received the majority of the popular vote, so the vote went to the House of Representatives. Henry Clay, who was also running, drops out of the race. Later, Clay and Adams meet privately and Adams ends up winning the election, appointing Clay as his Secretary of State. Due to this, the election was coined a "corrupt bargain". -
The first election where there were no property requirements for voting, meaning that the lower class could also vote. The election was between John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson. Jackson created the first ever political party: the democrats. This election was also the first "modern" election, where we saw things like advertisements, mudslinging, and campaign merchandise. The election changed every election following it in this way. -
Angered by John Quincy Adams' Tariff of Abominations, the South threatens to nullify the law. The South thought the tariff was unconstitutional because it favored the North. South Carolina took the most drastic measures, stating that they would secede from the Union if the federal government forced them to pay the tax. However, Henry Clay was able to pass the Compromise Tariff, which would make the tariff lower in South Carolina over the next ten years, saving the Union. -
After Andrew Jackson was able to destroy the Second National Bank in his bank war, the country was thrown into economic downfall. Jackson had funded a large number of "pet banks", which were simply smaller state banks that could issue small loans. However, the large amount of money lost from the destruction of the national bank, coupled with the passing of Jackson's Specie Circulo, ballooned inflation and made the value of the US Dollar go way down., causing a massive economic panic. -
Lyman Beecher was a figure of major importance in the Second Great Awakening. He essentially redefined the meaning of Christianity at the time. He also was an important figure in the abolition movement. He helped bring awareness to several new social movements through the lens of religion. The Second Great Awakening overall saw religion as a means to create a perfect society. America also saw new expansions of roles that women could have through the church. -
A large gathering of women's suffrage advocates in Seneca Falls, one of the first gatherings for women's rights. Was the first time America saw women like Susan B. Anthony advocating for women's suffrage. They also created the Declaration of Sentiments, which was essentially a list of complaints listing what women felt like they needed in terms of rights. Susan B. Anthony also founded NAWSA soon after the convention. -
To liberate Texas from Mexico, America signed a deal with Texas to annex them. This made America join the conflict, and started the Mexican-American War. The war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, in where Mexico was essentially forced to give up large amounts of land, including California. This Treaty made the US officially a bicoastal nation, which opened up trade opportunities. -
After intense debate over if California should be a free or slave state, Henry Clay creates the Compromise of 1850 to remedy the problem. The Compromise makes California a free state, but now all new states entering the Union will decide based on popular sovereignty. The Compromise also made the slave trade illegal in Washington DC. Finally, the Compromise enacted a strict federal fugitive slave law. It made it so that everyone was legally obligated to report fugitive slaves that they knew of. -
When Kansas officially became a state, there was a lot of intense fighting over the vote on whether it should be a slave state or not. The South knew they needed Kansas to be a slave state to keep what little power they had left in the House. Due to this, many Southerners moved to Kansas just for the vote. On voting day, a group of Southerners invaded the anti-slavery town of Lawrence and burned down many of the buildings, as well as casting hundreds of fraudulent pro-slavery votes. -
In this landmark case in American history, Dred Scott, a slave, was suing for his freedom after his master had moved to a free state. The court ruled that Blacks were not considered citizens under the Constitution, thus Scott had to remain in slavery. This ruling was incredibly angering to abolitionists as it essentially meant that there was no longer any free states. This was a very influential case leading up to the Civil War. -
Abraham Lincoln, the first candidate for the Republican party, runs against the Democrat's Stephen Douglas. Lincoln and Douglas had the first ever presidential debate, and Lincoln garnered a lot of recognition from this debate. Lincoln won the election, but the South had been fear-mongering their people that Lincoln would be taking away their rights to slavery. Because of this South Carolina immediately seceded the nation after Lincoln's election, starting the events leading up to the Civil War. -
After the South took over Fort Sumpter, and attacked Union forces attempting to send aid, the Civil War between the Union and Confederates had officially begun. The first battle of the Civil War was the Battle of Bull Run. In this Battle, the Union was expecting a large win due to their many advantages going into the war. However, despite those sentiments, the Union lost the Battle. This made the Union fully realize the gravity of the war, and see the South as a serious opponent. -
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A Act passed by the United States that granted 160 acres of land to any family willing to move West. This happened during the Civil War, but we saw most of the major immigration into the West post-Civil War. The Act allowed many people to make lives for themselves as individual farming families. The invention of the Miracle Plow was also integral to the farming community in the West. -
The Battle of Gettysburg was fought in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and it ended with a Union victory. It was on this battlefield where president Abraham Lincoln delivered his very famous Gettysburg Address. This speech by Lincoln redefined the war in the North, and made it now primarily about social justice, not just about bringing the Union back together. Everyone now knew that slavery would come to an end if the Union won. -
Following the Battle of Antietam, Lincoln got the leverage he needed to release the Emancipation Proclamation. The Proclamation essentially gave the South an ultimatum. It started that any state willing to rejoin the Union would be allowed to continue slavery, while any state who wouldn't join the Union would lose the right to slavery once taken over by the Union. This made it so that the South was under pressure to win the war or they would now lose their rights to slavery. -
A critical win in the Civil War for the Union. The Battle ended the very long Vicksburg campaign where the Union was attempting to capture the Mississippi. When the Union won, they had officially gained full control of the Mississippi, effectively splitting the Confederacy in half. This was an integral part of Scott' s Anaconda Plan to "squeeze" the South. This made the Union be able to wage total war on the Confederates. -
After an aggressive campaign in the North, Robert E. Lee is defeated and is forced to retreat back to the South. Ulysses S. Grant gives chase and eventually was able to corner Lee at Fort Appomattox. It was here where the Civil War officially ended. Shortly after, the North would have to begin the Reconstruction period, and help the South rebuild their destroyed economy and social systems. -
After the ending of the Civil War, many were outraged that slavery would end. One of these people was John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated Lincoln at Ford's Theater. Lincoln was the first president to ever be assassinated, and it marked a dark event in American history. This happened shortly after Lincoln created his 10 percent plan. This was the first Reconstruction plan that Radical Republicans thought was too lenient. -
The Thirteenth Amendment officially outlawed all slavery in the United States. This was an incredibly important event in American history, and it marks the end of a long and immoral practice. Happened shortly after the end of the Civil War. This Amendment prompted the South to put in many racial segregation laws such as their Black Codes. The new population of freedmen created many new problems for the US, as none of them owned land or had jobs. This started the new period of Reconstruction. -
After the Civil Right Act granted all black people citizenship and offered some protection against Black Codes, the Republicans wanted a more permanent solution. Using their supermajority in Congress, they passed the 14th Amendment, which granted all people born in the United States citizenship and the protections that came with it regardless of race. This did, however, raise some awareness for women's suffrage, as many women felt like they should be included in the Amendment, but weren't. -
Andrew Johnson's impeachment was the first ever impeachment in American history. Johnson had went against many of the radical Republican's Reconstruction policies, but they were able to overturn his vetoes because they had a super majority. They impeached him after he fired his Secretary of War without Congressional approval. However, the Senate didn't vote him out of power, so he remained in office, just without power. -
After the Election of 1868, Republicans realized it could be a huge asset to them if black men could vote. Because of this, they passed the 15th Amendment, which stated that states could not restrict anyone's right to vote based on race. This was directly after President Johnson's impeachment, so Republican power was incredibly influential in the federal government. Due to this Amendment, the South would pass many laws that would still restrict primarily blacks' right to vote. -
Shortly after the Civil War, America completed the building of the Transcontinental Railroad. Trade could now be completed from coast to coast faster than ever. The railroad made trade and business accessible in every part of the United States and opened up new industry opportunities in the West. Railroads now became the indicator of economic well-being for a town. The United States increased its trade with Asia due to this as well. -
These were a set of laws that created segregation between whites and blacks. The laws made public facilities be different depending on race. Generally, white facilities would be a lot nicer than colored ones, which created a social divide between races. The South was able to enforce laws like this because the military occupation of the region had ended. They also said it was constitutional since they were "separate but equal". -
Native American resistance to being moved onto reservations increased the tensions between the US and Native populations. This culminated in the American-Indian wars where various massacres of Native People occurred. One of the most important Battles was the Battle of Little Bighorn. It was a major victory for the Native Americans, but it unfortunately ended up giving the US government the leverage they needed to justify sending more troops into Native American territories. -
Also known as the "corrupt bargain", the Compromise of 1850 arose after very questionable election results. The election was between Samuel Tilden and Rutherford B. Hayes. When the results came in, 100% of the popular vote went to Tilden in the South. The North demanded a recount and the recount ended with multiple Southern states flipping to Hayes. The South felt this was also unreliable, and were outraged. Hayes was elected, but military oversight of the South was ended, ending Reconstruction. -
The Dawes Act was the American government's attempt to integrate Native Americans into society. It was similar to the former Homestead Act, where the government would grant 160 acres of land to any Native family willing to leave their tribe. However, this land would come out of the reservations, so it really didn't help the Natives at all. The tribes didn't see land ownership as individual like Americans did. They saw it as something the tribe owned together, this many did not take the offer. -
Due to Indians being moved on to increasingly smaller reservations, the morale in the Indian community was lower than ever. The Ghost dance movement was a result of an effort to boost morale. The movement consisted of tribes going back to their traditions, and performing the dance. They thought this would please their gods, and the spirit of the buffalo would return to drive out the white man. However, this scared the US government and they banned the dance. -
Supreme court ruled in Plessy v. Ferguson that all separate but equal accommodations were constitutional and conformed to the 14th Amendment. This was incredibly angering to Reconstructionists, as the facilities were never equal, so the ruling was untrue.The ruling essentially justified the segregation of public facilities and would become commonplace in the United States until as late as the 1950s.
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