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Christopher Columbus, attempting to find a westward path to India from Europe, ran into a large land mass that we know as the Americas. His discovery led to the colonization of peoples from all over and the creation of new countries entirely. This "New World" would change the world forever. It was the spark that turned into the raging flame that is the United States today. -
Founded by the Virginia Company, Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in the New World. Unlike many other religious settlements that would soon come, it was established for business purposes. Jamestown set the groundwork for all future settlements in the Americas and would grow into the major city and area it is today in present-day Virginia. -
The arrival of African slaves was a major event that would shape America's future. Their arrival was what allowed the start of the major slave trade. While it helped America's agricultural economy boom, it would go on to cause major controversy and even start major wars. -
As the first official form of self-government in the New World, the Mayflower Compact signing was a major event in US history. It inspired future generations to seek self-government, which would become the American Revolution. It also created the sediment of a Democratic government, which is what rules America today. -
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As Protestantism reigned supreme in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, Roger Williams set off to find religious freedom. He founded the colony of Rhode Island under the principles of that freedom and it became a safe haven for all types of religions. Williams and the Rhode Island colony paved the way for religious tolerance in America today. -
Led by Nathaniel Bacon, Bacon's Rebellion arose to combat Governor William Berkley's authority. His policies over land and frontier security from Natives enraged the colonists, so they rebelled by attacking Natives and burning Jamestown. This rebellion highlighted tensions between the colonists and Natives and tensions between different classes. -
Due to escalating tensions between the French and British over the Ohio River Valley, a skirmish broke out at Fort Necessity between the British colonists, led by George Washington, and the French and their Native allies. The skirmish marked the beginning of the major war between France and Britain over control of North America. This fight, and French victory highlighted tensions in the region and foreshadowed future conflict. -
As colonists continued to encroach into Native territory in the Great Lakes region and Ohio River Valley, the Natives grew increasingly irritated. This sparked an attack on the English colonists led by Ottowa chief Pontiac, but there was no clear winner. This event shed light on the glaring problem of land disputes in that area. -
Following the Pontiac Revolution, the British felt encouraged to limit westward expansion to prevent further conflict. They came up with this proclamation, which restricted colonial settlement west of the Appalachians. Although it helped the Natives, it only further infuriated colonists with the looming power of England, pushing them closer to the encroaching revolution. -
In an attempt to recover economic losses from the French and Indian War, England placed a series of taxes on the colonies, starting with the Sugar Act. It placed a tax on molasses and sugar, which was a very common good in the colonies. To combat this, people would smuggle those things in and out of the country. This policy angered the colonies and was just another reason to rebel against their mother country. -
The last major act passed was the Stamp Act, which required citizens of the colonies to purchase a stamp for any legal documents. This mostly affected wealthy elites, who were much more powerful than the lower classes, so this act had a greater result than the others. It angered the elites in the colonies, and they were the ones responsible for most of the political decisions being made in the colonies, so it was very impactful. -
The next act passed by Parliament was the Quartering Act, which required citizens to give soldiers room, board, and food. Now, the people in the colonies were having their money taken, and their privacy. This was another major factor in the start of the revolution and angered the colonies even more. -
As tensions rose in the colonies, particularly in larger cities occupied by the British military, protests started to break out. During one protest in Boston, British soldiers opened fire on a group of protestors, killing five and injuring others. An image of the incident, created by Paul Revere, was spread across the colonies and rage along with it. This made the already angry colonies even angrier, inspiring more to support a revolution. -
After England refused to make any changes, a group of patriots called the Sons of Liberty hatched a plan to toss mass amounts of imported tea into the Boston Harbor as an attack on England. This protest made Britain furious and intensified the long-standing tension between the colonies and their motherland. -
Delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies meet to determine an appropriate response to the British policies being imposed. They discussed issues like taxation without representation and the Intolerable Acts, and they ultimately decided to boycott British goods to attack their economy. This was the first collective effort by almost all the colonies to rebel against the British and laid the groundwork and basis for the incoming revolution. -
In an attempt to seize patriot weapons and capture Sam Adams John Hancock, the British set off for Concord, but Lexington's local militia stopped them in Lexington. Just as the militia is about to retreat, a shot is fired, ending in a breakout of fighting, killing or injuring 17 militiamen. This small-scale battle marks the start of the American Revolution and proved the colonies' willingness to take up arms for their freedom. -
Drafted by Thomas Jefferson, this document declared the colonies' separation from England and outlined its reasons. This established America as an independent country and inspired other revolutions worldwide. This document also helped to unify the colonies in their effort, which allowed them to be a greater force militarily and politically. It also laid the foundation for America's Democratic government that still stands today. -
Because of many recent losses and the momentum tipping in Britain's favor, the states needed to enlist help from France. Their victory at Saratoga showed the French the possibility of winning the war, giving them the confidence to join America in its effort. Because of this, America started to regain the momentum, ultimately leading to their victory. -
In order to help with order in the country, the people of the colonies wrote the Articles of Confederation, the first attempt at government in the USA. In this government, states held most of the power because of the colonists' hate for tyrannical leaders. These articles would ultimately go on to fail, but it was important for America to be able to build off of the mistakes of the articles. -
After getting surrounded by Washington and the French, Britain's General Cornwallis, their number one general, surrendered at Yorktown. Because he led Britain's largest army, this was a massive loss for them and effectively eliminated Britain's chances of victory. The surrender sealed America as an independent country and also highlighted the great importance of French help in the Revolutionary War. -
Not only did the Treaty of Paris recognize the United States as its own independent nation, but it also gifted America significantly increased territory in North America. It also created a plan for the repayment of debts owed after the war. The Treaty of Paris set up the nation for success following the war, helping it to develop into a nation. -
During the Revolutionary War, farmers like Daniel Shay went into debt while they were fighting the war. Because the government refused to assist him, he, and many people in his situation, created an army to fight back. Due to the lack of a standing army or strong central government, the government was unable to fight back against this uprising, revealing its weaknesses. Shay's rebellion highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles and prompted the creation of a new government. -
Following Shay's Rebellion, representatives from each state met at the Constitutional Convention to discuss the formation of a new government, finally landing on the US Constitution. This new government included a strong central power, but also a system of checks and balances to keep people from getting too much power. This document fixed many of the flaws of the Articles of Confederation, which is why it still stands as the groundwork for our government today. -
After the formation of the new government, George Washington was unanimously elected as the first President of the United States. Washington, as the first president, established many governmental precedents that have stood until today, including giving an Inaugural Address, only serving for two terms, and most importantly having an advisatory Presidential Cabinet. He paved the way for all future presidents, good or bad, and he did it very well. -
Because the new US government had a strong central power, anti-federalists advocated for a Bill of Rights describing individual rights and liberties. It guaranteed the people fundamental freedoms including speech, press, and many more. This also helped the Constitution to be passed through so the US could move on and start developing. -
In reaction to a tax placed on whiskey, Pennsylvania farmers protested with violent resistance and refused to pay the tax. However, unlike in Shay's Rebellion, the country's strong central power was able to quickly subdue the movement. This showed the superiority of the new US Constitution, solidifying it as our governmental document for years to come. -
Thomas Jefferson's election in 1800, also known as the Revolution of 1800, represented the first-ever peaceful transfer of power from one political ideology to another in the history of the world. The power went from the Federalists to the Anti-Federalists without any violence or conflict. This proved to the world the legitimacy of the new and fragile country, showing the whole world the resilience of the government and the Constitution. -
In an attempt to purchase New Orleans from the French, President Jefferson sent James Monroe to negotiate with Napolean to buy it for $3 million. Instead, Napolean offers the whole Louisiana Territory for $15 million and Jefferson accepts, effectively doubling the size of the country. This purchase opened up America to westward expansion and the vast resources of the area, encouraging growth and development of the US. -
Amidst another war between Britain and France, President Jefferson wishes to stay neutral to maintain positive relationships with both countries. To do that, he passed the Embargo of 1807, which prohibited all foreign trade for the US. Initially, the Embargo devastated the American economy, but in the next decade or two it was evident that it did a good job of fostering domestic manufacturing, which helped America in the long run. -
After years of impressment by the British, interference with American trade, and support of Native American resistance, the US had no choice but to declare war on Britain. The war served as a good test of America's resolve and willingness to defend its honor when disrespected. It proved America was strong enough to fend for itself and earned respect around the world. -
After the signing of the Treaty of Ghent, which officially ended the War of 1812, there was still one conflict, which was the Battle of New Orleans. The news of the end of the war had not reached New Orleans, so Andrew Jackson led his army to battle and prevailed. His victory boosted American morale, showed the resilience of America, and solidified Jackson's national reputation. -
Addressing the balance between free and slave states, the Missouri Compromise allowed Missouri to enter the union as a slave state but also admitted Maine as a free state. It also banned slavery north of the 36 30' latitude line, effectively dividing the nation in two. While this was a temporary fix for the solution, it highlighted the growing tensions between the North and South that would go on to develop into a major conflict. -
To protect the western hemisphere from European interference and influence, James Monroe declared the Monroe Doctrine, which declared the Americas were no longer open to colonization, closing off its borders to Europeans. This document helped the Americas grow its own culture not influenced by Europe and other Eastern cultures. Although not super effective at first, it became a cornerstone of the country's policy, encouraging its influence on its continent. -
Amidst the idea of Manifest Destiny, Andrew Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act in hopes of opening up western land for white settlers. The act forcefully relocated all Natives to land west of the Mississippi River, leading to the deadly trail of tears, with many Natives dying on the dangerous voyage to western America. It hurt the Natives significantly and was a major stepping stone to major conflicts with Natives in the future. -
Led by enslaved preacher Nat Turner, Turner's Rebellion was a significant uprising by a group of slaves in Virginia where they killed 60 white people. Turner hoped to inspire others like him to do the same, and although the rebellion was quickly suppressed, it instilled fear in many slaveholders in the South. In response to this, slave laws were made harsher and stricter to try to prevent any other uprisings from happening. -
The Battle of the Alamo happened during the Texas Revolution. A small group of Texians tried to defend the Alamo, a mission in San Antonio, from a much larger Mexican army led by General Santa Anna. After nearly two weeks of fighting, the Texians were defeated, and all the defenders were killed. Even though they lost, the battle inspired others to continue fighting, which helped Texas win its independence later that year. -
After gaining independence from Mexico in 1836, Texas had been its own sovereign republic, but it was struggling. They had economic issues and security problems, and they did not know how to deal with them, so they sought annexation into the United States. The annexation was controversial because it entered the Union as a slave state, but it went through. It increased America's territory and increased tensions between the US and Mexico. -
After the annexation of Texas, there was a dispute over the boundaries of Texas. This dispute on Texas's southern border led to a skirmish, which President James K. Polk used as an excuse to declare war on Mexico. The war would lead to America gaining vast amounts of western land, which would encourage citizen's westward expansion. -
After two years of fighting, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo officially ends the war. The terms of the treaty gave the US about 500,000 square miles of western land, which would encourage people to expand westward. All the new territory sparked controversy over whether it should be slave or free territory, further highlighting the tensions between the northern and southern US. This controversy would eventually lead to the much larger conflict known as the Civil War. -
In an attempt to resolve tensions between the North and South, Congress passed the Compromise of 1850, which did four main things: admitted California as a free state, abolished the slave trade in Washington D.C., enacted strict fugitive slave laws nationwide, and decided states to be ruled under Popular Sovereignty. While this delayed the Civil War, it did not do much to stop it, as the Fugitive Slave Act intensified tensions in the country. -
To be fair, Congress passed the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which stated that Kansas and Nebraska would decide to be slave or free with popular sovereignty, not the 36 30' line from the Missouri Compromise. This led to many abolitionists and pro-slavery supporters rushing into Kansas to sway the vote, leading to many violent conflicts in the state, known as "Bleeding Kansas". So, the act unintentionally deepened divisions within the country and made each side even more hostile towards each other. -
When traveling to a free northern state with his owner, Dred Scott tried to get his freedom for the reason that in a free state, he is free. His plea was taken all the way to the Supreme Court where Judge Roger Taney declared that Scott was not a citizen, so he had no right to sue in a federal court. This ruling was detrimental to blacks all across the country and infuriated abolitionists in the North. The decision even further divided the country, contributing to the start of the Civil War. -
John Brown, a passionate abolitionist, in an attempt to incite slave rebellion, attempted to raid and rob a federal armory in Harper's Ferry. His plan was to get weapons and ammo and spread them to slaves all around to create an army of slaves. Although his plan was thwarted and he was captured and executed, the attempt intensified divisions in the country, as the North praised him and the South hated him. -
The election of 1860 marked a major cause of the Civil War. When Lincoln was elected, the South was scared and devastated, leading to almost all the Southern states seceding before he was able to take office. Their secessions paved the way for the Civil War, as they no longer had to be loyal to the Union. -
Located in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, Fort Sumter was a Union fort located in the South. Feeling threatened by it, the Confederates attacked the fort, effectively starting the Civil War. Fort Sumter was forced to surrender, uniting the North in an effort to fight the Confederates. This battle resulted in the enlistment of 75,000 volunteer soldiers to suppress this rebellion. This would set the stage for the bloodiest conflict in American history. -
Issued by Abraham Lincoln, the Emancipation Proclamation declared all slaves in Confederate Territory to be free. Before this, Lincoln was only focused on reuniting the country, but this shifted the focus of the war to abolitionism and helping blacks. It also allowed African Americans to join the war effort, strengthening the power of the Union. This proclamation was the first attempt to fully abolish slavery and paved the way for the later 13th Amendment, which permanently abolished slaver. -
The war was effectively ended when Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant after a series of Confederate losses. As Lee was the foremost leader of the Confederate military, his surrender marked the end of the Confederate effort even though the war was technically not over. The war resulted in the abolishment of slavery and the reunion of the states even though there were still major social divides. This set up the country for an era of Reconstruction. -
In an attempt to help incorporate blacks into society, the 14th Amendment was ratified. The amendment granted citizenship to anybody born or naturalized in the United States, even former slaves. This provided freedmen with equal protection under law to whites and attempted to prevent states from taking away the liberties of anyone. This was the cornerstone of Reconstruction, trying to incorporate freedmen into American life as best as possible. -
To decide the controversial election of 1876, there was a compromise made. This compromise gave the Republican candidate Rutherford B. Hayes the presidency but required the removal of federal troops from the South. Without troops in the South, the North had no means of enforcing any Reconstruction laws, effectively ending Reconstruction.