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First settlement created in Jamestown, Virginia
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20 African Americans arrive by ship to Jamestown for sale as indentured servants starting slavery in Colonial America; House of Burgesses in Virginia holds its first session as the first legislative assembly in the colonies
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Pilgrims arrive on the Mayflower and founded Massachusetts
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Colony of Rhode Island founded by Roger Williams
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the first Constitution in the US colonies (the Fundamental Orders) adopted in Hartford, Connecticut
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Alice Young is hanged for witchcraft, was the first person in America to be executed for witchcraft
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Maryland Toleration Act grants religious freedom to all Christians living in Maryland
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Bacon's Rebellion which occurred because of little protection from Indians and resulted in the burning of Jamestown
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John Peter Zenger who was accused of putting "false information" (opinions critical of the governor) in his New York Weekly Journal found not guilty; became symbol for freedom of the press
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Beginning of the 7 Years War
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The Treaty of Paris ended the 7 Years War and granted Britain control of all land East of the Mississippi River
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Treaty of Paris, French and Indian War ends, Pontiac's Rebellion, Proclamation Line of 1763
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Stamp Act, first direct tax, The Virginia Stamp Act Resolutions
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Townshend Revenue Act, duties on tea, glass
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Boston Massacre occurs where troops in Boston and a crowd of sailors- crowd knocked 1 soldier and soldiers then fired and killed 5.
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Tea Act, Boston Tea Party formed in reaction to the Tea Act
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American Revolution begins, Battle of Lexington and Concord, Battle of Bunker Hill, George Washington commander in-chief of Continental Army , Second Continental Congress
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Declaration of Independence is approved in 2nd Continental Congress of US in Independence Hall PN (July 4) and also Thomas Paine's Common Sense is issued.
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On Nov 15, Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union are adopted by Continental Congress- serves as 1st constitution of US.
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France recognizes US independence
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Bank of North America incorporated in Philly by act of Congress (purpose: to help stabilize the issuance of paper currency.
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Following the siege of Yorktown, General Charles Cornwallis surrenders to George Washington at Yorktown, Virginia, ending the armed struggle of the American Revolution; Articles of Confederation officially ratified by all states
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Treaty of Paris, formally ending the Revolutionary War, beginning of USA under the Articles of Federation
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The Treaty of Paris was negotiated between the United States and Great Britain, ending the American Revolutionary War and granted the United States independence from Great Britain
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Shay's Rebellion - Daniel Shays, a former Revolutionary War veteran who went bankrupt, led a group of farmers in an armed uprising against perceived economic and civil injustices
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Delegates convene a Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to amend the Articles of Confederation; however, a new Constitution is produced
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US Constitution in effect
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The Articles of Confederation were superseded by the United States Constitution
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President George Washington delivers first States of the Union Address; Washington DC established as US capital; Benjamin Franklin dies
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The states ratify the first ten amendments, creating the United States Bill of Rights
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Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 states that fleeing slaves must be returned to their master
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XYZ Affair- An American diplomatic commission was sent to France to negotiate problems that led to the Quasi War
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Louisiana Purchase- The US bought Louisiana territory from France and doubled the size of their land
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Embargo Act of 1807 passed by Thomas Jefferson to force Great Britain and France to end their policy of impressment and respect US neutrality. Resulted in an economic and diplomatic loss for the US
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War of 1812- "Second Revolutionary War" between US and Great Britain over Great Britain's impressment policy and strict trade
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Treaty of Ghent settles the War of 1812
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Compromise of 1820- Missouri enters as a slave state and Maine as a free state
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Monroe Doctrine- Opposed European colonialism in the Americas
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Andrew Jackson is elected and the era of the common man starts.
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Trail of Tears begins forcing Indians to move from east coast and go west. South Carolina convention passes the Ordinance of Nullification, which was against the institution of permanent tariffs and threatened to withdraw from the union of US.