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150 BCE
Rome- Conquest of Europe
The main countries conquered by Rome were England, France, Spain, Greece, the middle east, and the North African coastal region. In order to be the greatest empire ever, Rome first had to defeat their enemy the Carthaginians. Around 150 AD they controlled the greatest empire ever seen in Europe. -
100 BCE
Pueblo/Anasazi- Culture
They were Native American people who developed in the beginning of AD 100. They lived in present day Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado,and Utah. The Pueblo/Anasazi people's culture included being hunter-gathers and raising maize and other crops; they also built pueblos, or villages, and to this day descendants live traditional lives. -
1300
The Renaissance
The Renaissance, the period immediately following the Middle Ages in Europe, was a great revival of interest in the classical learning and values of ancient Greece and Rome. The development of technologies such as, the printing press, a new system of astronomy, and discovery and exploration of new continents- was accompanied by a philosophy, literature, and art. Renaissance art captured the experience of the individual and the beauty and mystery of the natural world. -
1400
Olmec- Bloodletting
Bloodletting was the act of piercing a soft body part and collecting the blood. The location was related to a symbolic representation such as, the genitals or tongue. They burned the blood as a sacrifice to gods. -
Period: 1400 to
Beginnings to Exploration
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1440
Aztecs- Human Sacrifice
Human sacrifice was a major part of Aztec worship. They believed they owed blood-debt to gods. A person was to be sacrificed as an offering to the sun god in order to please him. Aztecs did this because they wanted to avoid a disaster. -
1500
Middle Passage
The middle passage was the trade of African American slaves, densely packed on ships, and transported across the Atlantic. The conditions were horrifying and many slaves did not make it through the journey. The voyage took about 3 to 4 months, and during that time, the enslaved laid in rows on the floor chained up. -
1500
Dark Ages- Catholic Church
The dark ages was a period of religious struggles. Christians and Catholics had different perspectives of this era. The roman catholic church dominated the western world and controlled religion, morals, politics, etc. It was led by the pope who established supreme power. The catholic church was theologically sick which led to corruption of it. -
1500
The Crusades- Indulgences
The Crusades was different to other wars because it gave warriors the opportunity of receiving an indulgence. This was a written statement that gave passage to your spirit into heaven. These papers basically said that all your sins are forgiven. -
Virginia- Roanoke
The Roanoke colony was established in 1585. To this day it is one of the greatest mysteries in history. The governor of the colony, John White, returned from a supply trip in England only to find the island deserted. All the colonists had just disappeared and left behind was the word "Croatoan" carved in a tree. -
Triangular Trade
The Triangular Trade was a system that carried slaves, cash crops, and manufactured goods between North America, Europe, and Africa. Each country traded things that were needed by the other and in order for this to work they exchanged goods. It came to an end in the 1800's because there was an introduction of steam powered ships, The American Revolution, and The Abolition of Slavery. -
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English Colonial Societies
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Slavery
Slavery in America began when the first African slaves were brought to the first colony Jamestown, Virginia. It was practiced throughout the 17th and 18th centuries and the slaves helped build the economic foundation of the new nation. -
New England Colonies: Plymouth Colony- Squanto
Squanto, also knows as Tisquantum, was a native american who acted as an interpreter for the pilgrim settlers. The pilgrims didn't know how to survive their first winter and Squanto became a guide for them. He taught them how to grow crops, how to fish, and how to properly plant. -
Proprietary Colonies: Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English soldier and statesman who was elected to Parliament in 1628 and 1640. He had military ability and when war began he established a professional army to serve the English Parliament; it was called the "New Model Army". Cromwell stabilized England and went to Ireland to end the Irish civil war. He hates puritans because of the massacre of protestants in 1641. He was the prime person behind the execution of the King in 1649 and the establishment of commonwealth. -
John Locke
John Locke was an English philosopher and theorist who began the Enlightenment and the development of liberalism. Locke's understanding of knowledge was not something outside an individual but facts from experience. -
Chesapeake Colonies: Maryland- George Calvert
George Calvert, Lord Baltimore, helped found the colony of Maryland. He was a member of the English parliament, served as Secretary of State, and privy counselor for King James I. Calvert aspired to create a free world for English Catholics. King Charles I accepted his petition for a colonial grant but before the charter was granted he died. -
Nathaniel Bacon
Nathaniel Bacon was a Virginia planter who came to lead a rebellion titled, Bacon's Rebellion. He requested the governor of Virginia, William Berkeley, if he could command a militia to pacify Native Americans on the colony's frontier. The governor denied his request to grant the commission. Bacon decided to proceed without the governor's approval and when Berkeley found out, he accused him of treason. -
Glorious Revolution: English Bill of Rights
The English Bill of Rights is an act that Parliament passed on December 16,1689. It created a separation of powers, limited the power of the king and queen, enhanced democratic election, and rose the freedom of speech. -
Salem Witch Trials: Causes
The Salem witch trials began in 1692 when a group of girls, in Salem, Village, Massachusetts, claimed to be possessed by the devil. They accused women of witchcraft and the news spread throughout colonial Massachusetts. A court was formed to hear out the cases and the first woman accused, Bridget Bishop, was hanged. Later on, the public soon began to give an opinion and went against the trials. -
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Colonial America to 1763
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George Whitefield
George Whitefield was a famous religious figure who went to America to preach. His preaching climaxed the religious revival known as the Great Awakening. -
Changes in Agriculture
During the 18th century, new farming systems created an agricultural revolution that produced larger quantities of crops. Before the Industrial Revolution, agriculture workers would work all week from sup up to sun down. It was hard work, but it was also a lifestyle for families. Agricultural work was the highest source of employment back then. Once the Agricultural Revolution came it helped bring innovations and ideas for the Industrial Revolution that altered how farming worked. -
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The American Industrial Revolution
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Treaty of Paris- 1763
This treaty ended the French and Indian War/Seven Years' War between Britain and France. In the treaty it stated that France would give up all their territories in North America, ending any military threat towards British colonies. -
Seven Years War/French and Indian War
The French and Indian War was the North American conflict in a larger imperial war between Great Britain and France, known as the Seven Years War. There was a lot of tension in North America as both the French and British imperial officials and colonists sought to extend each frontier. -
Period: to
The Revolutionary War 1763-1783
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Townshend Act
The Townshend Act imposed on glass, lead, paint, paper, and tea imported into the colonies. Parliament hoped that these taxes would decrease imperial expenses in the colonies, but many Americans saw it as an abuse of power. In 1770, Parliament repealed all the taxes except on tea, which lead to a temporary truce. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre is remembered as a key event in helping to awake the colonial public to the Patriot cause. British soldiers shot at innocent colonists and killed many. This event sparked the American Revolution. -
Boston Tea Party
American colonist dressed up as Indians and raided 3 British ships full of tea. They threw 342 chests of tea overboard as an act of rebellion because of taxation. This event lead to the Coercive Acts and pushed two sides closer to war. -
Dunmore's Proclamation
This proclamation offered the first large-scale emancipation of slaves and servant labor in the history of colonial British America. Dunmore's Proclamation offered freedom to slaves who fled from patriotic owners and served the crown, or British army. His proclamation inspired thousands of enslaved people to seek freedom with Britain throughout the Revolutionary War. -
The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence states the principles on which our government, and our identity, are based. When the Revolutionary War was in full swing, the movement for independence from Britain grew, and delegates of Congress were faced with a vote to solve the issue. It was signed on July 4th, 1776 and written by Thomas Jefferson, this day is considered the birth of American independence. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was the first written constitution of the United States. It was ratified by all thirteen states in March, 1781. Under the articles, states remained sovereign and independent, with Congress not being important. They created a loose confederation and a weak central government, leaving most power with state governments. The Articles didn't last because there was a need for a strong federal government. The Constitution of the Unites States replaced the Articles in 1789. -
Massachusetts Constitution
This document remains being the oldest functioning written constitution in effect. It was a model for the Constitution of the United States, which was drafted seven years later. John Adams was the principle author of the Massachusetts Constitution. It is made up of four parts, a preamble, a declaration of rights, a description of the framework of government, and articles of amendment. -
Battle of Yorktown
On this day, General George Washington, commanded a force of 17,000 French and Continental troops to begin the siege known as the Battle of Yorktown. This battle was the most important of the Revolutionary War. -
Northwest Ordinance
The Northwest Ordinance structured the settlement of the Northwest territory and created a policy for new states. In 1890, the Northwest Ordinance proposed that three to five new states be created from the Northwest territory. They said that instead of adopting legal constructs of an existing state, each would have an appointed governor. -
Shay's Rebellion
Shay's Rebellion alarmed politicians throughout the nation of the issue with slaves. A man named, Daniel Shays, lead a rebellion in central and western Massachusetts. Farmers organized their resistance and called special meetings to coordinate protests. Proponents of constitutional reform cited the rebellion as justification for revision or replacement of the Articles of Confederation. This rebellion figured debates over the ratification and framing of the Constitution. -
Constitutional Convention
This convention was held because Americans realized that the Articles of Confederation needed to be modified. The Articles gave congress no power to regulate domestic affairs, no power to tax, no power to regulate commerce. On May 25, 1787, delegates met from different states to establish rules with complete secrecy. -
Three Branches
The three branches of our government are the legislative, executive, and judicial. The separation of powers says that the U.S. Constitution distributed the power of the federal government among these three branches, and built a checks and balances system. It ensured that no branch would have too much power. The legislative branch has the power to make the laws, the executive branch has the power to enforce the laws, and the judicial branch has the power to apply and interpret the laws. -
Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution. The Constitution's supporters realized it was important to have the bill of rights so that the Constitution may be ratified. The Bill of Rights officially became part of the Constitution in December 1791. They consisted of rights to the people such as, freedom of speech and the right to bear arms. -
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New Republic
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The Constitution
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Whiskey Rebellion
The Whiskey Rebellion was a tax protest in the U.S. during the presidency of George Washington. The "whiskey tax" was the first tax imposed on a domestic product by the new formed government. This event was an uprising of farmers in Western Pennsylvania who did not like the tax enacted by the federal government. -
Bank of the United States
This idea was proposed by Alexander Hamilton and the bank was established in 1791. It was to serve as a repository for federal funds and as the government's budgetary agent. It was well managed and profitable but critics charged that the bank's budgetary caution was constraining economic development. -
Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive Slave Acts were federal laws that allowed the capture and return of runaway slaves within territory of the United States. The first slave act authorized government to seize and return escaped slaves to their owners and impose penalties on anyone who aided the slaves. Widespread resistance lead to the Fugitive Slave Acts of 1850, which added further provisions of runaway slaves and even harsher punishments. These acts were among the most controversial of the early 19th century. -
Jay's Treaty
Jay's treaty closed off several issues between the United States and Great Britain. It ended the problems that remained after the treaty that ended the Revolutionary War, the Treaty of Paris, 1783. This treaty averted the two countries from having another war. -
Washington's Farewell Address
Washington departed the presidency with a characteristic sense of how to take dramatic advantage of the moment. He used his departure to publicize one final major statement. -
XYZ Affair
The XYZ affair was an incident in which french agents attempted to get a bribe or loan from U.S. diplomats in exchange for an agreement that they would no longer attack american ships. -
Free Black Communities
During the nineteenth century, Philadelphia and the region surrounding it came to contain free black communities that were very vibrant and influential in the United States. The free African Americans around confronted the persistent power of slavery in that region. Also, many free Africans looked outward and became leaders in this national fight. Free blacks fought the stigma that they were trying show themselves as the same as white people. -
Yeoman Farmers
Yeoman Farmers were small landowners, the majority of white families in the south, who farmed their own land and usually did not own slaves. These people were often seen as honest, independent, hardworking, and virtuous. To others, they were the ideal Americans because they their work without interruption. Their traditional values made them key figures in the republican vision for America. -
Period: to
The Age of Jefferson
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John Marshall
John Marshall was appointed as the fourth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court by John Adams. He was a Virginia federalists who was not liked by Jeffersonian's. The Federalists eventually died out but Marshall went on with making decisions. John Marshall held some of the most historical court cases. -
Louisiana Purchase
The United States purchased approximately 828,000 of territory from France, doubling the size of the nation. The territory stretched from the Mississippi River in the east to the Rocky Mountains in the west and from the Gulf of Mexico in the south to the Canadian border in the north. Fifteen states were created from the land deal, which is one of the most important achievements of Thomas Jefferson's presidency. -
Hamilton vs. Burr
Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr were political and personal rivals which lead to a duel in 1804. Burr would have been president if Hamilton had not interfered. Later on, Burr ran for governor of New York but yet again Hamilton interfered. He finally challenged Hamilton to a duel. On the day of the duel, in Weehawken, New Jersey, both men fired their pistols. Many think that Hamilton missed hitting Burr on purpose. Burr's shot fatally wounded Hamilton, leading to his death the next day. -
Changes in Transportation
The growth of the Industrial Revolution depended on the ability to transport raw materials and goods over long distances. Innovations in transport such as, the steamboat, railroads, and canals made this possible. These improvements of transportation allowed traveling to be safer and it allowed for goods to be moved more efficiently. -
Winfield Scott
Winfield Scott was one of the most important American military figures of the early 19th century. After fighting in the war of 1812, Scott pushed for a permanent army that adhered to standards of professionalism. He was named commanding general of the U.S. army in 1841. His tactics eventually became apart of the Union's successful strategies. -
Francis Scott Key
Francis Scott Key was an attorney and poet who wrote the lyrics to "The Star Spangled Banner", our national anthem. He witnessed the British attack on Fort McHenry during the war of 1812. The fort lasted the day-long assault, which inspired Key to write a poem. After continual bombing it still stood. Key saw the next morning that the U.S. flag was being flown. The British ceased their attack and left the fort. Key wrote down the words to his poem which relied on visualizations of what he saw. -
Battle of New Orleans
Two weeks after the Treaty of Ghent, which ended the war of 1812, Andrew Jackson achieves the greatest American victory at the Battle of New Orleans. The British marched against New Orleans hoping that by capturing the city they could separate Louisiana from the rest of the U.S. The battle had no bearing outcome of the war but Jackson's victory elevated national pride. The Battle of New Orleans was the engagement between the United States and Britain. -
Panic of 1819
The Panic of 1819 was the first major financial crisis in the United States. Some effects of this panic were banks throughout the country fell, mortgages were foreclosed, and people were forced out of their homes and farms. The falling prices impaired agriculture and manufacturing , which triggered a widespread of unemployment. -
Missouri Crisis
When white settlers in Missouri applied for statehood in 1819, the balance of political power between northern and southern states became the focus of public debate. Missouri already had a large number of slaves and was poised to join the southern slave states in Congress. The compromise of 1820 prohibited slavery north of the southern border of Missouri, but it was permitted in new states to the south. This Crisis failed to settle the issue of slavery's expansion into new western territories. -
Lowell Mills
The Lowell system was invented by Francis Cabot Lowell in Massachusetts. It was designed so that every step of the manufacturing process was done under one roof and done by young adult women instead of children and or men. He got the idea to build textile mills during his trip to Britain in 1811. Britain was the birthplace of industrial revolution and its textile mills inspired Lowell to build similar ones in the United States. -
Second Great Awakening
The Second Great Awakening was a Protestant religious revival in the United States. By the beginning of the 19th century, traditional Christian beliefs were held less in favor by numerous educated Americans. The tremendous religious revival that spread westward helped the Christians. The Awakening was marked by an emphasis on personal piety over schooling and theology. This event exerted a lasting impact on American society, more than any other revival. -
Greek Revival
The Greek revival style began with public buildings in Philadelphia in 1820. It became popular for residences all around because of its symmetrical shape, low roof lines, columns and pediments, the style mimicked Greek temples-- and was thought by Americans at the time to embody the concept of Democracy. To this day,many buildings have embodied the Greek structures from back then. -
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Cultural Changes
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Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine was a U.S. policy of opposing European colonialism in The Americas. It was articulated in President James Monroe's seventh annual message to Congress. This document warned European powers not to interfere in the affairs of the western hemisphere. In other words, the United States would not tolerate further colonization or monarchs. -
Election of 1824
The Election of 1824 was the only time the House of Representatives decided on the presidential election. In this election, the Democratic-Republican Party splintered as four separate candidates sought the presidency. The separation had not yet lead to a formal party organization, but later on the faction lead by Andrew Jackson became the Democratic Party. The faction lead by John Adams and Henry Clay became the Republican Party, and later become the Whig Party. John Quincy Adams came to win. -
John C. Calhoun
John C. Calhoun was a prominent U.S. statesman and spokesman for the slave-plantation system of the South. As a young congressman from South Carolina, he helped steer the United States into war with Great Britain and established the second bank of the U.S. Calhoun served as U.S. secretary of war, vice president and briefly as secretary of state. He opposed the Mexican-American war and the admission of California as a free state. -
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Age of Jackson
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Election of 1828
This election was basically a rematch between John Quincy Adams and the man who won, Andrew Jackson. No major candidates appeared in this election and therefore allowed Jackson to consolidate a power base and easy win. Jackson won most of the popular votes in all the east states which gave him the win. -
Spoils System
The Spoils System, also called the Patronage System, was an arrangement that employed and promoted civil servants (government officials) who were supporters of the political group in power. The word "spoils" meant incidental, secondary, or benefits taken by the winner. It was based on removing political opponents from federal offices and replacing them with party loyalists. This was one of the most important events during his presidency because he extended the use of the Spoils System. -
Abolitionist
The Abolitionist movement was the immediate emancipation of all slaves and the end of racial discrimination and segregation. The Abolitionist immediate emancipation distinguished abolitionist from more moderate anti-slavery advocates. Abolitionist ideas increased prominently in Northern churches and politics. It contributed to the regional animosity between the North and South, which lead up to the civil war. -
Nat Turner's Slave Rebellion
Nat Turner was a man who held the most effective, sustained slave rebellion in U.S. history. He was born into slavery and during his childhood, many said he had special talents because he could describe things before they occurred. Turner was a very religious man who believed that God chose him to lead slaves into freedom. On the day of the rebellion, both sides lost people but about 60 white men, women and children were killed. This event was a beginning for slaves to fight for themselves. -
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was a system of people offering shelter and aid to escaped slaves. The exact dates of this operation are not known, but it was around the late 18th century to the Civil War. A woman, Harriet Tubman, became the "conductor" of this operation, leading hundreds of slaves to freedom. Most slaves escaped from border states like Kentucky, Virginia, and Maryland. This system turned out to be very successful and helped out many slaves. -
Trail of Tears
About 125,000 Native Americans lived on millions of acres of land in Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina, Florida. The land was occupied by their ancestors and cultivated for many generations. By the end of the decade, no Natives lived in the southeastern U.S. The Federal government forced them to leave their homes and walk thousands of miles to "Indian territory" made for them across the Mississippi River. This journey is known as the Trail of Tears because it was difficult and deadly. -
Nullification Crisis
The Nullification Crisis centered around Southern protests against the series of protective tariffs, or taxes, that had been put on all foreign goods. These taxes were made to boost the sales of U.S. products and protect manufacturers in the North from cheap British goods. The South relied on the North for goods, so they saw the tariffs as severely damaging to their economy. -
Election of 1832
The United States presidential election of 1832 saw incumbent president Andre Jackson, candidate of the Democratic Party. It was an easy reelection win against Henry Clay of Kentucky. Jackson won 219 of the 286 electoral votes, therefore defeating Henry Clay. This election was the first time that the parties would hold nominating conventions. The Anti-Masons was the third party to join in this election. -
Temperance Movement
The Temperance movement is a social movement that was against the consumption of alcoholic beverages. It was dedicated to promoting moderation and complete abstinence. The movement's ranks were mostly filled by women who, with their children, had been affected by man drinking. They blamed alcohol for society's demerits such as, health problems, destitution, and crime. -
Battle of San Jacinto
During the war of Texas independence from Mexico, the militia under Sam Houston launched a surprise attack against the Mexican forces. Mexican forces were lead by Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, who was captured during this battle. in exchange for Santa Anna's freedom, Anna signed a treaty recognizing Texas independence. -
Changes in Communication
Back in the 1800s during the Industrial Revolution, poeple had very limited ways to communicate with each other. Communication became easier with inventions such as the telegraph. Before the telegraph, there was the printing press, the most advanced way of communication. A telegraph cable was successfully laid across the Atlantic Ocean which allowed for better communication throughout countries. -
Election of 1840
The election of 1840 saw President Martin Van Buren fight for a reelection against an economic depression and a Whig Party unified for the first time behind the war hero William Henry Harrison. The Whigs rallied with the slogan "Tippecanoe and Tyler, too", they easily defeated Van Buren. The election was unique in that electors cast votes for men who had been or would become president of the United States. -
Edgar Allen Poe
Edgar Allen Poe was a writer, poet, and critic. He was famous for his tales of horror and mystery such as, "The Fall of the House of Usher", "The Tell-Tale Heart", and "The Raven." Some aspects of Poe's life, like his literature, is shrouded in mystery, and the lines between fact and fiction have been blurred since his death. -
Manifest Destiny
The Manifest Destiny was the term for American expansion from coast to coast. It was the belief that American settlers were to expand and move across the continent to spread their traditions and institutions. They were also enlightening more primitive nations and they considered Indians and Hispanics to be inferior and therefore deserving cultivation. Many Americans believe that God blessed the growth of the nation and asked them to work on it. -
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Westward Expansion
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Annexation of Texas
The idea of annexing Texas was popular in the South, but widely opposed in the North. Texas would represent a slave state, but the nature of Texas society would not appeal to cultivated New Englanders. Texas was annexed into the United States, which was admitted to the Union as the 28th state on December 29, 1845. -
Mexican American War
The Mexican American War marked the first U.S. armed conflict fought on foreign soil. It pitted a politically divided and militarily unprepared Mexico against the expansionist-minded administration of the U.S. President James K. Polk believed the U.S. had a "manifest destiny" to spread across the continent to the Pacific Ocean. Mexico lost about 1/3 of its territory in the end. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed on February 2, 1848. It ended the Mexican-American War in favor of the United States. The war began because of a territorial dispute over Texas but the treaty added an additional 525,000 square miles to the U.S. territory. Mexico also had to give up all claims to Texas and recognized the Rio Grande as America's southern boundary. In return, The United States paid Mexico $15 million and agreed to settle all claims of U.S. citizens against Mexico. -
Seneca Falls Convention
In Seneca Falls, New York, a woman's rights convention, the first ever held in the United States with about 200 women attending, took place on July 19. The convention was organized by Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. These two women were abolitionists who met in an anti-slavery convention in London. This convention was advertised as "a convention to discuss the social, civil, and religious condition and rights of woman". This event to the beginning of the Women's Suffrage Movement. -
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush was the discovery of gold nuggets in the Sacramento Valley. This is one of the most significant events to shape American history during the first half of the 19th century. As the news spread, thousands of prospective miners traveled from far lands to look for gold. By the end of 1849, the population in California was about 100,000 which came from only about 1,000 in the beginning. $2 billion dollars worth of metal was extracted from the area during the Gold Rush. -
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Sectionalism
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Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 consists of five laws passed that dealt with the issue of slavery. In 1849, California requested permission to enter the Union as a free state, potentially upsetting the balance between free and slave states. Henry Clay introduced a series of resolutions in an attempt to seek a compromise and avert a crisis between the north and south. As part of the Compromise of 1850, the fugitive slave act was amended and slave trade in Washington D.C. was abolished. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
The book, "Uncle Tom's Cabin", was written by Harriet Beecher Stowe in 1853. This book highly influenced England's views on the American deep south and slavery. The novel was promoting abolition and was banned in the South because it humanized slaves. -
Bleeding Kansas
This term is used to describe the period of violence during the settling of the Kansas territory. The Kansas-Nebraska Act overturned the Missouri Compromise's use of latitude as the boundary between slave and free territory and instead, using popular sovereignty, decreed that residents determine whether the area be free or not. Pro-slavery and free states people went to Kansas to try and influence the decision. Violence erupted from both sides so that is why it is called "Bleeding Kansas." -
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln, a self taught lawyer, legislator, and vocal opponent of slavery, was elected the 16th president of the U.S. Lincoln proved to be a great military leader and strategist. His most famous piece of oratory is the Gettysburg Address. He accomplished many things while being president of the United States such as abolishing slavery. Unfortunately, Lincoln was assassinated but he was made a martyr to the cause of liberty. He is seen as one of the greatest presidents in U.S. history. -
Guerilla Warfare
This is a form of irregular warfare in which a small group uses military tactics such as, ambush, sabotage, raids, hit and run, and petty warfare to fight larger group, or traditional military. -
Union Blockade
The Union Blockade was a naval strategy used by the United States to prevent the confederacy from trading. The whole of the coast of the southern states were subjected to a naval blockade to prevent the south from importing essential war supplies and provisions or exporting of goods to Europe. This blockade played a significant role in the defeat of the Confederate States of America in the Civil War. -
Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee served as a military officer in the U.S. army, a west point commandant and the most legendary general of the Confederate Army during the Civil War. In June 1861, he took command of the Army of Northern Virginia, which he lead for the rest of the war. His army achieved many successes including his greatest victory in the bloody battle of Chancellorsville. In 1863, he invaded the north but was defeated at the Battle of Gettysburg. Lee remains a revered figure in the American south. -
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant commanded the Union army during the American Civil War. He also served as the 18th president of the United States from 1869-1877. After winning the civil war, Grant became a national hero, and the republicans nominated him for presidency. During the war, Grant was an aggressive and determined leader, and that is why he was in command of all U.S. armies. He focused to reconcile the north and south while also attempting to protect civil rights of new freed slaves. -
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The Civil War
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Twenty Negro Law
The second conscription act passed on October 11, 1862. It exempts from the confederate draft one white male for every 20 slaves held on a plantation. The purpose of this provision is to ensure that enough white males remain behind to prevent slave revolts. They did this because president Lincoln announced the Emancipation Proclamation which may encourage salves to revolt against owners. -
Gettysburg
In 1863, General Robert E. Lee launched his second attack on northern states. He sought to capitalize on recent Confederate victories and defeat the Union army on northern soil. The opposing forces collided in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on July 1st. Lee did not win the battle and both sides suffered great casualties. This Battle was considered the most important engagement of the American Civil War. -
Emancipation Proclamation
After the Union victory at Antietam, president Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that slaves in the rebellious states shall be free. When it took place, it freed 3.1 million slaves of the nation's 4 million. The Emancipation was a turning point in the war because it transformed the fight to preserve the nation into a battle for human freedom. -
Conscription Act
During the Civil War, the U.S. Congress passed the conscription act which produces the first wartime draft of U.S. citizens in American history. The act called for registration of all males between ages 20 and 45. There were exemptions but the fee was $300 or finding someone who would substitute for you. There were bloody riots because people were angered that draft exemptions were granted to wealthy citizens. The last military draft occurred during the Vietnam War. -
Lincoln's 10% Plan
President Lincoln argued that rebels had seized southern state governments and created a facade known as the confederacy. First, Lincoln offered a presidential pardon and amnesty to any rebel who vowed loyalty to the U.S. Second, when any state in rebellion had 10% of its voters, a new state government could be formed and recognized. Finally, he encouraged states that returned to pro-Union rule to create policies in dealing with free blacks so long as they have not returned to bondage. -
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Reconstruction
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Sharecroppers
The southern economy was in disarray after the abolition of slavery and the devastation of the Civil War. There was conflict between many white landowners because they were attempting to reestablish a labor force. During reconstruction, the conflict over labor resulted in the sharecropping system, in which black families would rent small plots of land in return for a portion of their crop, to be given to the landowner at the end of the year. -
Black Codes
In the United States, the Black Codes were laws passed by Democrat-controlled southern states. They ended in 1877 because of Reconstruction after the Civil war. These codes were designed to restrict freed blacks activity and ensure their availability as a labor force now that slavery was abolished. For example, some states required them to sign yearly labor contracts and if they didn't they could be arrested. These codes were unfair for African Americans around and the north helped end them. -
Election of 1868
The Election of 1868 was the first to take place during the Reconstruction time. Three former confederate states were not yet restored to the Union so therefore they could not vote in this election. Horatio Seymour and Ulysses S. Grant ran against each other; the Republican being Grant and the Democrat Seymour. Grant was a very popular man in the north due to his efforts in winning the Civil War so Seymour did not really have a chance against him. -
Enforcement Acts
The Enforcement Acts were three bill passed by the United States Congress. They were criminal codes which protected African-Americans' right to to vote, to hold office, to serve on juries, and receive equal protection of laws. If states failed to act, the laws allowed the federal government to intervene. the target of the acts were the Ku Klux Khan, whose members were murdering many blacks and some whites because they voted, held office, or were involved with schools. -
Election of 1876
The United States presidential election of 1876 was one of the most disputed presidential elections in history. Samuel J. Tilden was running against Rutherford B. Hayes. Tilden beat Hayes with popular votes but what made him lose the election were the electoral votes. There were 20 disputed electoral votes from 3 states, Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina. the 20 disputed votes were ultimately awarded to Hayes after a bitter legal and political battle, therefore Hayes won the election. -
Clara Barton
Clara Barton was an American nurse, suffragist and humanitarian who is best remembered for creating the American Red Cross. When the Civil war began, she independently organized relief for the wounded, and often bringing her own supplies to the front lines. When the war ended, she helped locate missing soldiers, including identifying the dead at a prison in Georgia. She founded the Red Cross in 1881 and then continued her humanitarian work throughout foreign wars and domestic crises. -
Jim Crow
Jim Crow laws were state and local laws that enforced racial segregation in the southern United States. They represented a formal, codified system of racial apartheid that dominated the American south. The laws affected aspects of daily life, mandating segregation of schools, parks, drinking fountains, etc. In other words, blacks received "separate but equal" treatment under the laws. The Jim Crow system was upheld by local government officials. -
The Great Debate
There were two sides in the Great Debate, the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists. The Federalists wanted to ratify the constitution while the Anti-Feds did not. One of the issues the two parties debated concerned the inclusion of the Bill of Rights. The Federalists were the first political party and lead by Alexander Hamilton.
