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Settlement of Jamestown
Jamestown was the first successful settlement in the new world. There had been other attempted settlements but they had all died off. The town was named after their king at the time, James I. The intended purpose of the town was to make the British more wealthy and to be a central area in the new world. -
Slavery Begins in America
The first slaves in America came in a group of about 20-30. They landed at Port Comfort in Virginia. On arrival to the new world, they were traded for food and supplies. The slaves there would slowly replace the indentured servants there because the slave would be much cheaper and could be worked more. -
Mayflower Compact
As the puritans and separatist were fleeing Europe for religious freedom, they needed to make something that would help put a civil society into order. This document was called the mayflower compact and was signed by 41 men aboard the mayflower. This is so significant because it was the first form of self government/government made by the people created for the new world. -
Beginning of Enlightenment Era
The enlightenment was a time where people started to question the things that happened around them. Two of the most popular of them all was Nicolaus Copernicus and Isaac Newton. Copernicus was a mathematician and astronomer. After many observations he decided that the earth traveled around the sun rather then the sun traveling around the earth. Then there was Newton, he was a mathematician and a physicist at the time and created the theory of gravity. -
Beginning The Great Awakening
The Great Awakening was a revival of religion in America. It was mostly focused on everyone having individual religion. One of the main people that pushed this awakening was Jonathan Edwards. His central idea that he preached about was that humans were sinners and God was angry so people needed to ask for forgiveness. -
Molasses Act
The American Colonies were put in place to make the British more money. So they put things in place to try to take as much of that as possible. The Molasses Act put a tax on any molasses, sugar, and rum imported into the colonies from anywhere other then Great Britain. As a result the colonies turned to smuggling. They would pay bribes to the port owners. Sometimes the bribes would be as much or even more then the tax but they still did it just to not give their money to the British. -
Jonathan Edwards "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God"
This was a very influencal speech given by a very popular preacher at the time. His name was Jonathan Edwards and he got super popular because of how passionate he was and his high energy. He preached about how God was angry about people falling behind on religion and they had to individually ask for forgiveness. Through all of his energy he was able to turn America into a more religious society. -
The Albany Congress
The Albany Congress was an idea proposed by Benjamin Franklyn. He said that the thing he wanted to discuss the idea of uniting with the natives, but that was just to get people together. When they arrived to discuss it he actually wanted to discuss the idea of creating their own defense system. They got voted out but it was so influential because it got the idea of some sort of independence into peoples head. -
The French Indian War
The French Indian War also called the 7 Years War was caused when the British wanted to take land from the French in the Americas. The French had territory around the Great Lakes, Louisiana, and Florida and the British owned the 13 colonies. After nine years of war the British won and The Treaty of Paris was signed. This gave all French territory to the British to the east of the Mississippi basically eliminating any more florigen military interference. -
Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 prohibited any of the American Colonists from settling on the land earned in the French Indian War. This seriously angered the colonists because to them they felt like they did a lot to help in the war and deserved it. But to the British they did not do much for the war compared to them. -
The Sugar Act
The Sugar Act was a revisit the the Molasses act. It had the same principles as the Molasses act except that it put a tax on even more items such as wine, coffee, and paper but it made the tax cheaper. The reason they made it cheaper was to match the amount that the smugglers were paying so that they could get the money. The colonists still payed the smuggling price just to be spiteful towards the British. -
The Sons of liberty
The Sons of Liberty was formed after colonist got angry with the mistreatment from Great Britain. They were most angry with taxation without representation. This group was founded by Samuel Adams and John Hancock. Hancock was very rich and could fund their protests or projects and Adams had the silver toughen that could convince people to do things. Working together they were a very powerful duo. The thing the sons of liberty were known for was the mob like mentality they had. -
The Daughters of Liberty
The Daughters of liberty were formed for the same reason as the Sons of Liberty. But in some regards they were more effective. The Sons of Liberty would go and smash and destroy things and it would just get built back. What the ladies did was attack the British economy. They started to boycott all of their manufactured products and making their own. This made it so many people did not have to buy from the British. And wearing homespun clothes advertised that you would not follow the British. -
The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was another Act put in place to squeeze more money out of the colonists. What it did was made it so you had to have a special stamp on all official documents. Birth certificates, death certificates, land deals, purchases on items, etc. This acts specifically affected the upper class people the most because they dealt with the most official things. The upper class also had the biggest voice so as a result this one was seen as one of the worst. -
The Quartering Act
The Quartering Act made it so that a British solder could knock on your door and you were forced to let them stay at your house. They had to be provided with housing, food, and a place to sleep all free of charge. This was a huge invasion of privacy to the colonists. This also meant the government was listening to what all of the colonist were saying. They now knew who they met with and who they talked to. -
The Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was caused when a protest towards British solders got out of hand. The colonist started to throw rocks, sticks, and snowballs. Eventually one of the solders got hit in the head with a rock and started bleeding. It broke out into an all out fight and five colonist were shot. Later the news paper press printed an image of it showing the British Army looking like they were purposely killing tons of colonist. When in reality colonists had started the entire thing. -
The Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was caused by a large group of people called the sons of liberty. They were gathered at a bar one day and decided to go throw a bunch of British imported tea into the water. They dressed up as natives and ran down the streets of Boston then onto ships. They threw 342 chests of tea into the water costing around a million dollars worth of tea. -
The Intolerable Acts
These were the result of the Boston Tea Party. The colonists were seen as little toddlers throwing a temper tantrum and they needed to put their foot down. These acts were called the Intolerable acts by colonists because they saw them as unbearable to live with. They closed the port of Boston, enforced quartering act, then finally took away local assemblies, people had to go to great Britain for trials. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
Some of the most liberty mined people in the colonies start to stockpile guns and powder in a town outside Boston called Concord. In another town the leaders of The Sons of Liberty were meeting at a town called Lexington. The British army saw the opportunity to take captive the leaders and take the stockpile and went for it. Paul Reviver sets out on his midnight ride and get everything saved in time. 70 Minute men run into the 700 troops and an unknown shot is fired. Shot heard round the world. -
Second Continental Congress
A meeting to discuss what they need to do next after Lexington and Concord. It was split into two groups. The conservatives believed that they would not win a war against them and they should push for representation. The other half wanted to fight for independence. Decided on the Olive Branch petition. It stated that they would be loyal if they were given representation. The king saw this as a spit in his face because they are supposed to do what he says no matter what. -
Declaration of Independence
The declaration of Independence was made to separate from the British. It was made during the Second Continental Congress by Ben Franklyn who was only 33 at the time. Borrows a lot of ideas from people around the enlightenment era and Boils down 100 years into a few paragraphs. This is a very powerful document and shows clearly outlined logical justification for separation. -
Battle of Saratoga
One of the major battles in the revolution. Things are not going well for the colonists and they are at a sevier disadvantage. The British plan to go to Saratoga and make that their final blow. The problem is that all of these British armies get stuck in bad terrain. As a result the Americans are able to surround and make one of the Armies surrender. This makes a more level playing field, boosts moral, and provides food and supplies. It also shows that the Americans have a chance at this war. -
Battle of Yorktown
Washington vs Cornwallis. Cornwallis was the best general the British army had. He planned to try to lead Washington's army into a trap. He wanted to do this by moving his army to Yorktown for the winter. Then the Americans would be sat outside that town for the winter near the coast with the Navy. Fortunately Washington knew that their navy had been defeated and the navy there was the French navy. Now Cornwallis was completely surrounded and had to surrender. Last major war of revolution. -
Ratification of Articles of Confederation
This document was created to set up government rule in the newly born America. Sadly it was not very good of one. It was seen as an overreaction to prevent what they experienced with the British control. For one, they were so scared of one person in power that they didn't even have an executive. It also didn't allow the federal government to collect taxes. Then they give the federal government almost no power. Finally it got rid of any standing army they had. This document absolutely sucked. -
Shays Rebellion's
After the war, a lot of farmers who fought in the war were in serious debt they could not pay back. so they got put into debters prison. The problem was that sense they were in jail they could not make money so they sold their farm. These farmers grouped up and took over the courthouse to stop farm forecloses. Without an army or an executive to put down the rebellion, they could just go through and take over courthouses. This shined a big light on the weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation. -
The Second Great Awakening
During this time, the people started to use the church for social change. They did this because everyone gathered there and they could try to get people on their side. They talked about things like the temperance movement or the big two, abolitionism and women's rights. The church also started targeting women to attend their church. This is because she would be the one to be able to spread down the churches beliefs to her children. -
Pinckney's Treaty
Prior to this treaty, the Mississippi and port of New Orleans was controlled by the Spanish. This treaty opened up the Mississippi and port to Americans. Sadly this was only a 30 year treaty. It was very important because now America could sail all the was from the north to the south on both sides. This made communication and trade that much more effective. -
George Washington's Precedency
After the war George Washington was elected to be the first president of the united states. He was picked to be the first because he was able to lead America to victory against the British. He served 8 years in office till he decided to resign. He did this because he was getting old and didn't want to die in office because it might make it look like the presidency should be a life long thing. When he did not want that. -
Marbury V. Madison
This was a very important supreme court case. It established the idea of judicial review. This meant that the court had the power to strike down laws if they felt they needed to. This could include things like if they feel it goes against human rights. -
The Star Spangled Banner
This stared as a pome called "The Defense of Fort M'Henry" Written by a guy named Francis Scott Key. He was a prisoner of the British and witnessed the 12 hours of bombardment on the Americans. When he woke up the next morning, he saw that the American flag was still standing. This made him very happy and inspired him the write this pome. A few years later it turned into the song we all know now today. -
Industrial Revolution
The biggest thing that came from the industrial revolution was steam power. Specifically the steam engine and the steam boat. The steam boat made it much easier to do trade because now people could sail not only down the Mississippi but now they could come back up that way. This made it so trade could happen much faster in some areas. Another thing that came out of it was telegraph machine. This greatly improved communication in the US. -
The Mexican American War
There was caused by a land dispute between the US and Mexico. Texas had annexed themselves from Mexico and got put into America so we could keep them safe. Then America and Mexico went to war. There was a land dispute about a part of Texas. The president at the time sent in a group of men to make a camp and the Mexican military killed them. This gave America the ok to go into all out war with Mexico. Some people think the president knew this would happen and did it to complete a promise he made. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
This was the treaty made after the Mexican American war. What it did was give Texas, Nevada, Arizona, and California to America, and created the Rio Grande Border. The most important thing that came from this was getting California. This is because now America was a Bi-Costal nation. This meant amazing things for the economy. They were now able to trade with the entire world instead of just Europe. -
American Indian Boarding Schools
The boarding schools were created as a way to Americanize the natives. They would take children from their tribes at the age of 6. At the boarding schools they were forced to cut their hair, have an American name, learn English, and wear American clothes. They were also often abused at the schools. By the time they got out at the age of 16, they were more American then Indian because their whole childhood they were forced to be American. -
Battle of Antitam
The Battle of Antietam is the single bloodiest day in American history. Even up to present day. This battle left 23,000 solders dead or wounded. The Union claimed victory but neither side truly won that day. This battle did allow the Union to push back Confederates and also gave Lincoln the opportunity to put in place the Emancipation Proclamation. -
Homestead Act
At this time, the west was very empty and unproductive. At the same time the east was very over populated. People didn't want to just move to the west so Lincoln found a way to push people to do it. The homestead act gave a faimly 160 acres of free land in the west as long as they followed a few conditions. They had to live on the land, they had to improve upon it, and they had to make it productive. This was to prevent rich people from taking land and reselling it for more money. -
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation happens after the Union "victory" after Antitem. This document freed only the slaves that were in the south. Sense the south separated, it meant Lincoln didn't actually have the power to do that. So he then makes a deal where if they come back they can keep the slaves. Shows that the war wasn't about slavery but preserving the union. None of the states came back so now the war was about preserving the union and freeing slavery. -
Lincolns 10 Percent Plan
Lincolns Ten Percent Plan was put in place as a way to slowly move the confederates back into the union. It gave pardons to any leaders in the confederate states, 10% of a states population had to be sworn under oath to be loyal, and the states had to make a new constitution that made slavery illegal there. This made a lot of the people in the union mad because it didn't seem harsh enough. Just like a slap in the wrist. -
Wade Davis Bill
This was created by the congress after Lincolns 10% plan because they didn't think it was harsh enough. It made it so 50% of a states population had to be sworn under oath and only the non-confederates could vote and have political power. This was not approved by Lincoln because he saw it as too harsh. Neither of them would approver the others bill so nothing got passed till Lincolns assassination. -
The Sand Creek Massacre
At the time there was a native American reservation put in place by the Government right next to a military fort. One day a man named Chivington and his commanded army stumbles upon this place without knowing it was a reservation. They attacked the camp killing 148 natives, over half of which were women a children. "I killed all that I could" one officer said later after the Massicare. This goes to show how little of a chance the natives stood against America. -
Sherman's March to the Sea
This was a march through the south conducted my General Sherman after he got the ok to use total warfare. He marched through the sound burning towns, killing livestock, and just creating a path of destruction. This broke the back of the south and is seen as what lead them to surrender. The march began in Atlanta and ended in Savanah. They even split into different rows so they could make an even bigger path of destruction. -
Freedmen's Bureau
The Freedmen's Bureau was created to try to held newly freed salves start a life in America. One thing they did was set up working contracts. The problem was that they could easily be taken advantage of. Because many of them could not read, they would be signing contracts blindly. This resulted in things lie low pay, long work days, and the contracts could exist for the rest of their lives. -
54th Massachusetts
One of the first and most prominate colored regiments during the Civil war. Black solders were in completely separated regiments, paid less, and forced to do more labor intensive tasks. This was things like cooking, dinging trenches, and constructing fortifications. To many of the blacks they felt like they were being used as slave labor. Some of the black regiments were used to liberate plantations. This might comfort the slaves there and help save them. -
Fetterman Massacre
This was seen as the worst military loss in the against the natives before Little Big Horn. Along the trail of Bozeman Trail were forts to keep people safe from natives. One of these forts was called Fort Phil Kearny. One day 2,000 natives hid along side the trail while their leader Crazy Horse and ten other men approached the fort. When they got close a shell was fired and they pretended to fun. Just like planned 80 men followed them straight into the ambush and all of them were killed. -
Purchase of Midway Islands and Alaska
This idea was pushed by a man named William Hennery Seward. A lot of people thought it was stupid and even shunned him for thinking it was a good idea because that place was a wasteland. But Seward had big plans for it. After they were purchased, he turned the islands into coal refueling stations for steamboats. This made travel time a lot shorter because they didn't have to go off course to refuel. They also found abundant amounts of gold and sliver there. -
Battle of Littlebig Horn
People of the Soux tribe in the Great Plains seriously resisted moving into reservations. So as a result an army was sent there to kill them led by General Cluster. When they got there it was seriously underestimated how many there were.3,000 natives attacked Cluster and all 200 of his men. Reinforcements were called in but they did not get there in time. Within an hour him and all his men were killed. This win for the natives angered America and within five years they natives were in control. -
Imperialisum
Imperialisms is defined as the extending of power and influence through military power, political power, or economic means to countries, territories, or people beyond natural boarders. America did this by extending their open markets. This meant that America could trade with more people and spread their influence. This allowed America to become a much stronger nation because they had tons of profits and more ideals then many other countries. -
Roosevelts Rough Riders
Before Teddy commanded his troops, he was the undersecretary of the navy. He pushed for the war with Spain for a long time and when he heard it was actually going to happen he wasn't able to fight. So he demoted himself as a commanded then went and found his own troops out west. He picked these western cowboys because they already knew how to shoot, ride, and were all-around tough already. -
De Lôme Letter
Cuba had been resisting Spain because they wanted independence. So Spain was tourturing and killing tons of Cubans. America steps in and makes a compromise on both sides. Cuba would stop revolting and Spain would stop killing. America felt really good about what they had done. One day a letter is delivered to the white house from Spain. In the letter it talks about the president calling him weak and how they would not go along with the compromise. He wasn't meant to see it. -
Massive Explosion of USS Marine
The USS Main was the best battleship of its time. It was incredibly big and expensive. This battleship was sent to Cuba to protect them from Spanish attacks. One day in the middle of the night it completely exploded by unknown origins. The explosion killed 260 Americans and was heard of across America. The Americans thought that the Spanish had done it and declared war on them.