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1200 BCE
Olmecs
The Olmecs were the first Mesoamerican advanced civilization in the Americas. They had a rich religion which involved the worshiping of gods and bloodletting, or sacrifice. They were also very talented artists and sculptors that created works from stone. Additionally, they were intelligent people who had a long count calendar and understood the concept of zero. They had a strong influence over other civilizations like the Maya and the Aztec -
Period: 1200 BCE to
Beginnings to Exploration
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500
Dark Ages
Also referred to as the Middle Ages, the Dark Ages were a time that set Europe backward. They are called the Dark Ages because historians do not know much about this period compared to others. People during this time were uneducated, the economy was very weak, and the Catholic church had complete educational and cultural domination. The Dark Ages began around the time of the fall of the Western Roman Empire and and the beginning of the Renaissance Era. -
1000
Maya
The Mayans were apart of Mesoamerican civilization and were known for fully developing the only writing system during their time. They were also know from developing a calendar system and the science of astronomy. They sacrificed humans as part of a sacred ritual in order to appease their gods. They were influenced, in part, by the Olmec Civilization. They are known for their art, architecture, and mathematical and astronomical systems. -
1095
The Crusades
The Crusades were wars fought between Christians and Muslims mainly consisting of religious massacres. They combined the ideas of holy war and pilgrimage and those who fought in these wars were granted indulgences. The main goal of the Crusades was to control the "Holy Land," which was Jerusalem. The main Crusades occurred throughout a period of two hundred years. Although they were relatively unsuccessful, knowledge was brought back from the Middle East. -
1325
Aztecs
Of all the native societies, the Aztecs had the largest population of about 20 million. They referred to themselves as Mexica and their empire, Tenochtitlan, was the most similar to European cities. Some Aztecs lived in homes made of adobe brick or stone while others lived in huts.It had a very materialistic culture and had an advanced irrigation system. In 1521, they were overthrown by the Spanish Conquistador Hernan Cortes. -
1346
The Black Death
The Black Death was a highly contagious illness brought to Europe that transformed society. It was responsible for the deaths of approximately 40% to 50% of Europeans and caused a merchant society to form. It is considered to be one of the most devastating catastrophes in history. The Black Death peaked in Europe from 1346 to 1353 and was also known as The Pestilence. It was the second plague pandemic to occur in the Middle Ages and was worse than the first. -
Oct 12, 1492
Christopher Columbus
Born around 1451 to a respected family, Christopher Columbus was an Italian navigator and explorer/sailor. In 1492, he sailed across the Atlantic with three ships, the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria, hoping to find a direct and faster route to Asia but instead "discovered" new land now known as America. He then made three voyages to New World and discovered Hispaniola. In 1505, he died still believing that he had found a faster way to Asia. -
Roanoke
The Roanoke Colony was located in present-day North Carolina, it was considered as part of Virginia at the time. In 1590, its governor, John White, returned from a supply run in England only to discover the disappearance of the entire population, including his family. There was no sign or trace of a struggle, the only clue was the word "Croatoan" which was engraved in a fence. None of the Colonists were ever heard from again and Roanoke became known as the "Lost Colony." -
Period: to
English Colonial Societies
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John Smith
John Smith was an English explorer, writer, soldier and adventurer. He helped establish and govern the first successful colony in America, Jamestown, Virginia in May of 1607. He was able to negotiate a treaty with the local natives and with their help, he was able to prevent the starvation of the colony. Trading was established within the colony and the colonists survived the first two winters in Jamestown because of John Smith. -
Plymouth Colony
Founded in 1620, Plymouth Colony was the first permanent colonial settlement in New England. It was settled by a group of Puritans, or pilgrims, who sailed on the Mayflower in order to separate themselves from the Church of England. They later signed the Mayflower Compact which was the first agreement made for self-governing settlements. The early settlers of Plymouth Colony had a friendly relationship with the Natives and were able to gain their help, resulting in the "First Thanksgiving." -
John Winthrop
John Winthrop was an English puritan who was a leading figure in the founding of Massachusetts Bay Colony, which was the second major colonial settlement in New England. He was selected as the first governor and was involved in all arrangements having to do with financial needs and supplies. Winthrop was known for being very religious and educated. He ruled the colony with an "iron fist," meaning that he was a very strict and serious ruler. -
Anne Hutchinson
Anne Hutchinson was born in England and was one of the early colonists to arrive in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. She was a Calvinist, Puritan spiritual adviser, and Antinomian and was seen as inferior by men because she was a woman. In 1637 she was arrested for breaking the rules of the colony and was banished from Massachusetts. She then fled to New Amsterdam, later called New York, and was killed during an Indian raid in 1643. -
Salem Witch Trials
The Salem Witch Trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions in Massachusetts of people who were accused of practicing witchcraft. They began after a minister's daughter started acting strangely and many others were accused of witchcraft. Hysteria ran through Massachusetts because of this. By the time the trials ended in 1693, more than two hundred people were accused of witchcraft and over 30 people were killed by hanging. -
Act of Union
The Act of Union was passed by the English and Scottish parliaments, this agreement united the two countries. It led to the creation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain. Once this was passed, the New Britain was now an Empire which Parliament was the head of. However, the colonies within the countries still had local control. -
Period: to
Colonial America to 1763
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Sir Isaac Newton
Sir Isaac Newton was born in 1643 in England. He was a mathematician, astronomer, and physicist who is considered to be one of the most recognized scientists in history. In 1689, he was elected to represent Cambridge University, which is where he studied, in Parliament. He is seen as a very important key figure during the scientific revolution and well as during the American Enlightenment. -
Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America and was a symbol of American Enlightenment. He created many inventions but is most known for the discovery of electricity, or more specifically, positive and negative charges and was considered as "man of many talents." He helped draft both the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. He was such big influence that he was later put on the hundred-dollar bill. -
Samuel Davies
Samuel Davies was an evangelist, pastor, and educator who played a critical role during the years of the Great Awakening. He was a minister in Hanover County from 1748 to 1759. His sermons included calls for conversion. He influenced many people including Patrick Henry who went to his sermons when he was young. Davies' also wrote poetry to spread God's word. Davies later passed away in 1761 in New Jersey. -
The Atlantic Slave Trade
The Atlantic Slave Trade was Inter-African slave trade. It provided a new source of labor for Europeans. In the late 1600's, slave trade increased and was led by Spain, Portugal, and Holland. By the 1700's, Britain was the largest slave trading nation, the majority of African slaves were brought to North America between 1720 and 1780. Transportation was provided by slave traders and mostly went from Africa to the Americas. -
French and Indian War
Also known as the Seven-Years War, the French and Indian War took place from 1756 to 1763.It was fought between England, France, and Spain for territory. The war then spread to North America where Britain and the colonies wanted more land in the west. Throughout the war, the French were allied with Native Americans. The Treaty of Paris of 1763 ended the French and Indian War. -
Fort William Henry
Fort William Henry was used starting in 1755. It was located at the end of Lake Champlain which was then a battleground during the war. The fort itself protected two other forts and gave holder command of the Hudson river and northern New York. Fort William Henry was then seized by the french in 1757 during the French and Indian War. -
Treaty of Paris 1763
The Treaty of Paris ended the fight between England and France which was known as the Seven-Years War. As part of the treaty, French rule was ended in North America, ending any foreign military threat to the colonies. Also, Britain was able to take control over French Canada, leaving the French to only maintain Haiti and small islands of Canada. -
Period: to
The Revolutionary War
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Revenue Act
The Revenue act was passed in 1764 and is also known as the Sugar Act. It was a modified version of the Sugar and Molasses Act of 1733, which would expire in 1763. It was a law passed by British Parliament to raise revenue to pay for military costs and expenses.Colonists attempted to resist and voiced their displeasure on the act by challenging parliament. -
The Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre occurred on March 5, 1770 between British Troops and American Colonists in Boston, Massachusetts. It started when a crowd of Bostonian began harassing the British soldiers. The soldiers fired into the crowd with their muskets and killed 5 people. The people fought back using rocks. Tension between the two groups began in 1668 when the troops first appeared in Boston. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a political protest by the Sons of Liberty caused by the Tea Act of 1773. They dressed up as Indians while drunk and sneaked onto the three ships that were in the Boston Harbor. They threw 342 chests of tea into the water and all of it was destroyed. -
Patrick Henry
Patrick Henry was born in 1736. He was an American attorney, politician, and orator. He became famous during a case called "Parson's Cause." Henry is best known for his speech "Give me liberty, or give me death!" During the Continental Congress, he warned others of coming conflict. -
The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson. It was completed on July 2nd and signed on the 4th by 56 delegates of the Colonies. When this was passed, the Thirteen Colonies cut ties with Great Britain and gained their independence. The Thirteen Colonies were also declared as united states. They were now looking for European allies such as Spain and France. -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga became known as the turning point and climax of the Revolutionary War. It was a major victory for American troops and it denied the British the merging of armies. This American victory convinced the French to recognize the cause of the colonies. They supported America's effort in the war, became their allies, and committed their troops and navy to them. -
Period: to
The Constitution
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Massachusetts Constitution
The Massachusetts Constitution is the oldest written constitution. It contained three parts which are a Preamble, a Declaration of Rights and a Frame of Government. It was drafted by John Adams and was modeled for the United States Constitution, which became effective in 1789. Because of the Massachusetts Constitution, the United States Constitution became a model for constitutions of other nations. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation were created in 1777, however, they were not ratified until March of 1781. The Articles were the first constitution of the United States. They were very weak and they had no central government authority for the people to follow. With the Articles of Confederation, the states were had more power than the central government. In March of 1789, the United States Constitution came to place and replaced the Articles. -
Treaty of Paris 1783
The Treaty of Paris of 1783 marked the end of the Revolutionary War. It was signed by representatives of both Britain and the US. It also recognized the United States as an independent and sovereign nation. It established the Northern border between British North America and Canada. Part of this treaty was not honored; Some forts were still occupied by the British and they would not give them up. -
Shay's Rebellion
Shay's Rebellion started in 1786 and ended in 1787. It was an uprising led by Daniel Shay in Massachusetts. People were enraged about the taxes imposed on them so they rebelled against the government, farms were seized which effected everyone but farmers the most. As a result of this rebellion, leaders of the United States realized that they needed a stronger form of government to prevent more situations like this. This is where the US Constitution came into place. -
Virginia Plan
The Virginia Plan was drafted by James Madison and was also known as the "Large-State Plan" because it was meant for the bigger states of the US. This plan came to place along with another plan meant for smaller states when the Founding Fathers gathered in the Constitutional Convention of 1787. It abandoned the Articles of Confederation and had a strong central government when given authority. It also had a single executive, and a second Supreme Court (judiciary) with a two house legislature. -
New Jersey Plan
The New Jersey Plan was introduced by William Patterson during the Constitutional Convention of 1787. It was a plan meant for the smaller states of the United States and instead of abandoning the Articles of Confederation completely, it was simply a modified version of them. This plan had a single legislature and each state only one vote. Also, with the New Jersey plan, the executive was elected by congress. -
Federalists
The Federalist party was led by three main people: Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. They were supporters of the United States Constitution and wanted and strong and powerful central government and less power to the states. In defense of the Constitution, John Jay wrote The Federalist, which is used by the modern-day Supreme Court. They were also against the Bill of Rights and the Democratic-Republican party, who were known as the Anti-Federalists. -
Anti-Federalists
Also known as the the Democratic-Republicans, the Anti-Federalist party was primarily led by Thomas Jefferson. They were a diverse group of people who, unlike the Federalists, opposed the United States Constitution and were more in favor of the Bill of Rights They also were in favor of a loose central government and wanted the states to have more power. In the end, the Anti-Federalists lost against the federalists, but the Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution. -
Period: to
The New Republic
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George Washington
George Washington was born in 1732 in Virginia. He was elected as the First President of the United States of America during the Election of 1788; he served for two terms from 1789 to 1797. He was practically worshiped by the people and was everyone's choice as president. Before becoming elected, he was a general and commander-in-chief during the American Revolution. -
Whiskey Rebellion
The Whiskey Rebellion began in Western Pennsylvania in 1791 and ended in 1794. A tax was set on alcohol by Alexander Hamilton and the federal government which caused farmers to revolt against it. They made their own whiskey because it earned a large profit and was economically important. President Washington responded by sending an army to put an end to the revolt. The Whiskey Rebellion was the first test of the Constitution which proved that it was strong enough to uphold the government. -
Bill of Rights
Written by James Madison, the Bill of Rights was created in September of 1789 but was not ratified and added to the Constitution until December of 1791. It is made up of ten amendments that protect and guarantee individual freedom & rights to citizens, such as the right of free speech and no quartering of troops. The Bill of rights was mainly supported by the Anti-Federalist party. -
Jay's Treaty
Also known as the Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation, Jay's Treaty was created by John Jay. This treaty was signed by the United States and Great Britain to ease tensions between them after the Revolutionary War. Many Americans (Republicans) were outraged but the treaty was did achieve the goal of sustaining peace between the two nations. -
Pinckney's Treaty
Also known as the Treaty of San Lorenzo or the treaty of Madrid, Pinckney's Treaty was an agreement between Spain and the United States to insure friendship between each other. During this time, Spain had control over the Mississippi River and the treaty allowed for the US to navigate it. It also set the boundary between Spanish Florida and the US. -
John Adams
John Adams was born in Massachusetts in 1735 and later became a a leader during the American Revolution who helped negotiate the Treaty of Paris of 1783. He was a federalist who ran for president against Thomas Jefferson during the Election of 1796. Adams won and served for one term from 1797 to 1801. Before that he was the first Vice President of the United States from 1789 to 1797. -
Period: to
The Age of Jefferson
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Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was born in 1743 and later ran as a Republican during the Election of 1800. He served for two terms as the third President of the United States from 1801 to 1809. He is best know for being the primary author of the Declaration of Independence of 1776. He was also a Founding Father of the United States. Prior to his Presidency, during the American Revolutionary War, he was the governor of Virginia. -
Lewis and Clark
In 1804, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark began expedition through uncharted American territory that lasted until 1806. It was led by Lewis who was an American explorer and the secretary of President Jefferson. He enlisted the help of William Clark, who was an expert map maker and Army officer. The expedition was the first to cross the western part of present-day United States. -
Sacagawea
Sacagawea was the daughter of a Shoshone chief who is best known for helping Lewis and Clark achieve and complete their expedition from 1805 to 1806. She was a translator and survivalist who showed peaceful intentions. She was also very skilled at finding edible plants and had good knowledge over some of the difficult terrain throughout the expedition. -
Embargo Act 1807
The Embargo Act of 1807 was a law passed by the United States Congress and signed by President Thomas Jefferson on December 22. It denied American goods from Britain and France. It effected Britain the most, which cause problems with them. The Embargo Act also prohibited American Trade in foreign ports. -
Cotton Gin
The cotton gin was one of the technological benefits of the War of 1812. It was invented in 1794 and it revolutionized the production of cotton. It made the cotton easier and quicker to produce. It sped up the process of having to remove the cotton seeds by hand. Cotton then became America's leading export to other countries such as Great Britain. -
War of 1812
The War of 1812 began in June of 1812 and ended in February of 1815. It was fought between the United States and Great Britain. It caused Britain to make the attempt to restrict U.S. trade (blockaded American ports) and America's desire expand their territory. During this war, the British took over Washington DC and burned the White House. -
Changes in Transportation
Transportation during the Industrial Revolution included modern roads, steamboats, canals, and railroads. These changes allowed for easy transport of raw materials and goods. Steamboats made it possible to take manufactured goods up a river, canals provided cheaper transportation, and railroads were the fastest mode of transportation and also cheap. -
Period: to
The American Industrial Revolution
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Panic of 1819
The Panic of 1819 was the first major economic depression in United States History. Banks failed, agriculture prices collapsed, and the economy rapidly declined. It was is considered to be one of the worst depressions that has ever occurred. Nearly everyone was effected and banks, houses, and farms were foreclosed. The financial problems were caused by war and international incidents. -
The Second Great Awakening
The Second Great Awakening began around 1800 but did not pick up until around 1820. It emphasized religious romanticism, meaning that it tried to make something involving religion look good. Secularism and deism were rejected, nature is most likely the center point of the Second Great Awakening, and morality was taken over by politics and economics. -
Period: to
Cultural Changes
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Charles Grandison Finney
Charles Grandison Finney was born in 1792 in Connecticut. In 1818, he began to study law. He later became an American minister and leader during the Second Great Awakening in the Unites States. Finney has been called the "Father of Modern Revivalism." -
Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith was an American religious leader. He was the founder and leader of of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and Mormonism. In 1823, he found golden tablets written in an ancient language. He claimed that God had appeared to him and later published the Book of Mormon. -
Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine was part of President James Monroe's annual message to the United States Congress on December 2, 1823. It declared that Europe should not intervene in Latin America. It also opposed European Colonialism in the Americas. According to Monroe, Europeans were required to respect the Western Hemisphere. -
Period: to
Age of Jackson
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Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States. He served for two terms from 1829 to 1837 and was considered to be a military hero. He first ran for president in 1824 but lost to John Quincy Adams. He ran as a "Common man of the people," this helped him gain the support needed to win the election. He earned the nickname "Old Hickory" and was known to take part in many duels. -
John C. Calhoun
John C. Calhoun was born in 1782 in South Carolina. He served as Vice President of the United States from 1825 to 1832 and helped establish the Second Bank of the United States. He also served and U.S. Secretary of War and, for some time, as Secretary of State. Additionally, he was against abolitionism. -
Presidency of John Q. Adams
John Quincy Adams served as the sixth President of the United States, beating Andrew Jackson, for one term from 1825 to 1829. During his presidency, he was opposed by the Jacksonians in Congress. He proposed a national program that included federal funding for a system of canals, roads, and the creation of a National University. -
Sing Sing
During this time, prisons that are "hard core" had started. Sing Sing Correctional Facility was one of these prisons located in New York. Prisoners were isolated and were housed at night and would work by day. This penitentiary was opened in 1826 but was not completed until 1828. It is now operated by the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. -
Davy Crockett
Davy Crockett was born in 1786 and was later known as a symbol for the common man. In 1827 and in 1829 he was elected to Congress as a Democrat. He returned to Congress again in 1833 as a Whig. Along with Andrew Jackson, he was part of the Age of the Common Man. -
Election of 1828
The Election of 1828 was the first example of modern campaigning. This election was between Andrew Jackson and John Quincy Adams. Jackson decided to use a new strategy by promoting himself as being of humble origins. He supported democratic values and started the modern Democratic Party. They both began to use personal attacks against each other by claiming that the other is a womanizer. It could possibly be considered worse than more recent elections. -
Spoils System
The Spoils System is where the bureaucracy if replaced by supporters. It first began during Andrew Jackson's Presidency in the Jackson Administration. Jackson chose people who supported him instead of people who were actually qualified and educated for the positions. -
Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe was born in 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts. He was an American writer, editor, and poet. He is one of the most celebrated writers ever known and is best known for his poems and short stories. He was part of a movement called transcendentalism and his most famous stories were of mystery and horror. When he was 24, he married his 13 year old cousin and passed away when he was 40. The cause of his death is still unknown. -
First Police Forces
The first modern police forces were established in the 1830's and the 1840's. It was created because there were tensions that needed to be dealt with, specifically, racial tensions. There were also problems with overcrowding in the population, political discourse, and religious conflicts. -
Trail of Tears
The Trail of Tears was part of President Andrew Jackson's Indian Removal Act. It forced the Cherokee Nation to leave and give up their land. It was a difficult and deadly journey to the new "Indian Territory" which is now present-day Oklahoma. Thousands of Cherokees died while relocating to this area. -
Nat Turner's Rebellion
Nat Turner's Rebellion began in Southampton, Virginia and was led by Nat Turner, an African-American slave and preacher. It was the only effective and sustained slave rebellion, the goal was to encourage slaves to revolt against their owners. Including freed slaves, the revolt consisted of approximately seventy-five people. With weapons they had acquired, almost sixty white people were killed, including women and children. -
Yeoman Farmers
Yeoman Farmers were middle class southerners who aspired to be like Planters who were at the top of society. Some Yeoman farmers relied on planters, while others resented them. Also, of the entire Yeoman population, only 25% of them were owners of slaves. Between them, there was a communal effort, meaning that they would help each other. -
Planters
Planters were at the top of society, above Yeoman farmers and tenant farmers. They were a group of class and they were very conservative. Most of them did not own slaves. Those who did owned only 1 through 9 slaves and very few had more. -
Tenant Farmers
Tenant farmers were the lowest class of Southern society, below Yeoman Farmers and Planters. In this group, white supremacy was encouraged. Also, this group had the majority of white people, between 30% and 50% of them were white. -
Telegraph
The Telegraph was developed in the 1830's and 40's by Samuel Morse. It provided a major change in long-distance communication. It was also was the first form of communication to be able to send messages through wires and electricity. The messages were sent through Morse Code, which was also created by Samuel Morse. -
Panic of 1837
Like the Panic of 1819, the Panic of 1837 caused the economy of the United States to decline. It occurred during the Presidency of Martin van Buren and although he inherited the bad economy from the previous president, the people still blamed him. This earned him the nickname "Martin van Ruin." The Panic of 1837 lasted until the mid-1840's. -
Manifest Destiny
The term "Manifest Destiny" was used to express that the United States were destined to stretch from coast to coast. This expansion would involve the progress of individual economic opportunity. The term was first used in 1845 by John L. O'Sullivan. During the migration, many went to Oregon for new opportunities and was known as the "Great Migration." -
Period: to
Westward Expansion
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Sam Houston
Sam Houston was an American politician and soldier from Virginia. in 1832, he moved to Texas and became commander of the local army. He helped gain Texas' independence with his victory at the Battle of San Jacinto. He was then elected as its President in 1836 and 1841. He then served as senator when Texas became a state. -
Mexican-American War
Also known and the Mexican War, the Mexican-American War lasted for two years from 1846 to 1848. It was the first U.S. armed conflict fought on foreign soil. Mexico was politically and militarily unprepared while the United States believed that the nation is destined to stretch from coast to coast. The war resulted in the issue of slavery growing in new territory and a proposal to end slavery in territory acquired from mexico. -
Battle of Palo Alto
The Battle of Palo Alto was the first major battle of the Mexican-American War. It occurred shortly after the United States formally declared war on Mexico. It was an American victory led by General Zachary Taylor, the Mexican troops were led by General Mariano Arista. This battle took place near present-day Brownsville, north of the Rio Grande. -
Wilmot-Proviso
The Wilmot-Proviso was a proposal to ban slavery in territory that was acquired from Mexico as a result of the Mexican-American War. While the North was for it, the South opposed it. David Wilmot, a congressman from Pennsylvania, proposed this amendment to the bill because he was afraid of the addition of a new slave state. -
Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee was a military officer. He was a great American general during the Civil War and Mexican-American War. He helped the United States defeat Mexico during the Mexican-American War, some say that he won it almost single-handedly. During the Civil War, he was one of the great military generals, giving the South an advantage over the North. However, he later went on to surrender at Appomattox Courthouse. -
Period: to
Sectionalism
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California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began in 1848 and ended in 1855. It Started when James W. Marshall found gold Sutter's Mill in California. Thousands of peoples migrated to California in hopes of becoming rich. In 1849, around 14 thousand people migrated and by 1852, around 200 thousand people had migrated, which was when mining for gold began. Until then, gold was very easy to find. -
Seneca Falls Convention
The Seneca Falls Convention occurred in July of 1848 in New York. It was the first women's rights convention in the United States; women wanted the right to vote. Approximately three-hundred men and women attended the convention. It was organized and led by two women who were also known to be abolitionists, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott. -
Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor was a Mexican-American War general and slave owner. During the Mexican-American War, he was sent to dispute territory between the Rio Grande and Nueces River (the border). He later became the twelfth President of the United States during the Election of 1848. He was a no-party man who would campaign in the North for Wilmot-Proviso but would also campaign in the South as pro-slavery. Taylor's views were mostly unknown. -
Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman was an abolitionist and spy for the United States Army during the American Civil War. She was also a conductor in the Underground Railroad. She escaped from slavery in 1849, but she returned to the South in order to help her family and hundreds of others escape slavery through the Underground Railroad. She made at least nineteen trips via the Underground Railroad. -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 consisted five separate bills. It was a series of resolutions introduced by Henry Clay. It stated that California would enter as a free state and that New Mexico and Utah would decide whether or not they enter as slave states. It also stated that Texas would relinquish disputed western lands, the federal government would take over Texas' debt and define its borders, as well as having slave trade banned in Washington D.C. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin is a piece of literature written by Harriet Beecher Stowe in March of 1852. It is an anti-slavery novel that made more Northerners become against slavery. It is fictional and about the lives of slaves on a Kentucky plantation. This book was the result of the publication of Aunt Phillis's Cabin which was used for propaganda for Southern white life. -
Election of 1852
During the Election of 1852, Franklin Pierce, a Democrat and member of Young America, ran against Winfield Scott, who was a Whig. This election is considered to have many similarities to the Election of 1844. The result of the Election of 1852 was the winning of Pierce. He served as the fourteenth President of the United States for one term from 1853 to 1857. After this election, the Whig Party started to fall apart. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed by the United States Congress. It allowed for the populations Kansas and Nebraska to decide whether or not they were to become a slave state (Popular Sovereignty). Southerners were afraid of adding two new free states and wanted to abolish the Missouri Compromise. 36* 30* was repealed because of this act, Kansas chose to become a slave state, and Nebraska decided to become a free state. -
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was a lawyer who ran in the Election of 1860. He then became the sixteenth President of the United States. He is considered to be one of the greatest Presidents in U.S. History, although some find his presidency controversial. In 1862, he introduced the Emancipation Proclamation, which led to the abolition of slavery. In 1865, he was murdered by John Wilkes Booth, ending his presidency. -
Ulysses S. Grant
Born in 1822 in Ohio, Ulysses S. Grant was an American Army General who elected as the eighteenth President during the Election of 1868. He Served from 1869 to 1877. During the Civil War, Grant was a determined leader that had command over all of the armies of the United States. He seized confederate strongholds and railroads in Kentucky and Tennessee, which gave the Union control over most of the states. He was considered a National hero who focused on Reconstruction after the war. -
Women at Work
Throughout the American Civil War, women began working more. They took on the roles of men while they were fighting in the war. This war gave women new roles in positions that were traditionally male dominated. Women were now able to take over teaching positions, become nurses, and take civil service jobs. Also, they would take on jobs such as managing stores, farms, and plantations in the South. Some women would even disguise themselves as men so they could be able to help fight in the war. -
Period: to
The Civil War
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Trent Affair
The Trent Affair was an international and diplomatic incident during the Civil War that took place between the United States and Britain. The name of the affair came from a ship called the RMS Trent. It was a British ship that carried confederate diplomats Europe. The RMS Trent was intercepted by another ship called the USS San Jacinto. The diplomats were captured which causes Britain to demand an apology and Lincoln to release the confederate diplomats. -
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam was also known as the Battle of Sharpsburg and was one of the most important events during the American Civil War. Within twelve hours of the battle, there were approximately 23,000 casualties and is considered to be the bloodiest single-day battle during the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln had appointed General George McClellan to be in charge of the Union troops. It resulted in the victory of the Union against the Confederacy. -
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was an executive order issued by President Abraham Lincoln starting in 1862 (preliminary Emancipation Proclamation). Lincoln declared that the Proclamation would not go into effect only if the South ended their rebellion. This meant that the South was promised by Lincoln that they would be able to keep their slaves if they would have returned to the Union. Because they did not end their rebellion, the Emancipation Proclamation was passed in 1863. -
Lincoln's 10% Plan
Abraham Lincoln proposed the Amnesty and Reconstruction Plan of 1863 in an attempt to re-unify the United States. It would pardon all Southerners other than officers and officials. They would have to take an oath declaring their fielty to the Union. 10% of states voting population would have to take the vote, earning the plans informal name. During this time, slavery was now illegal. -
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Reconstruction
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Freedmen's Bureau
The Freedmen's Bureau was established by Congress in order to serve as a relief agency in the South and to help former African-American Slaves after the Civil War. Many freed slaves were suffering from disease and hunger. The Freedmen's Bureau food, shelter, education, medical aid, and legal assistance to African-Americans and some poor whites. Also, the bureau tried to settle them in confiscated Confederate lands. It was the main institution for reconstruction. -
Appomattox Courthouse
The Appomattox Courthouse was the location where General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant and the Union; this is where the American Civil War was ended. Lee had decided to surrender in order to prevent unnecessary destruction to the South. Lee surrendered to Grant in April of 1865 and by late June, all of the Confederate forces had surrendered. -
Lincoln's Assassination
Abraham Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes booth, a well-known actor and Confederate sympathizer, in 1865, 5 days after Appomattox Courthouse. Lincoln died one day later. The assassination occurred at Ford's Theater in Washington D.C. while Lincoln was attending the play ''Our American Cousin''. John Wilkes Booth immediately left the scene and days later, he was tracked down and killed by Union soldiers. Lincoln's funeral procession attracted millions on the railroad tracks en route to Illinois. -
13th Amendment
The 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution was passed by Congress on January 31, 1865 but was not ratified until December of 1865. This amendment abolished slavery in the United States, making it now illegal. It states that "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime whereof the party shall have been dully convicted, shall exist in the United States or any place subject to their Jurisdiction." The ratification occurred after the ending of the Civil War. -
Horatio Seymour
Born in 1810, New Yorker Horatio Seymour would later go on to run in the Election of 1868 against Ulysses S. Grant as the Democratic nominee. He lost the electoral votes to Grant. From 1853 to 1854, he served as Governor of New York and again from 1863 to 1864. He first entered politics in 1842 by becoming a member of the New York House of Representatives. -
Election of 1868
During the Election of 1868, Ulysses S. Grant ran as a Democrat and Horatio Seymor, New York Governor, was nominated to run as a Republican. This election showed how racist the whites of the North and the South actually were. It was also the election that made the votes of African-Americans important, they were intimidated by others with violence to keep them from casting their votes. Seymore won the popular vote but lost to Grant with the electoral votes. -
Panic of 1873
The Panic of 1873 was a period that set the United States economy back until 1877. During this time, whites were worried more about themselves and their situations which made African Americans seem less important to worry about. President Ulysses S. Grant was blamed for the issues of the economy, he reduced the efforts of policing the South. This depression caused the employment rate to go down, bankruptcy, the loss of businesses, and helped formally end the era of Reconstruction. -
Election of 1876
During the Election of 1876, Samuel Tilden ran as a democrat and Rutherford Hayes as a republican. Although the electoral votes of this election were unclear, the popular vote was won by Tilden. It is considered to be one of the most controversial and hostile campaigns in US History. Issues of this election included corruption, reconstruction, and the economy. Also, it resulted in the Compromise of 1877. Hayes was given all of the electoral votes and he agreed to end reconstruction in the South.
