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Period: 1400 to
European Exploration
European Exploration during this time was fueled by three motives: gold, glory, and God. These European explorers sought the possibility to break away from poverty and become wealthy. Additionally, the explorers were looking to find new sources of power, fame, and a rise in social status. Lastly, the explorers were looking to convert the natives to Christianity. -
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Slavery
Slavery began in 1619 in Jamestown, Virginia when 20 slaves arrived from Africa. From that point, 6 to 7 million slaves were brought from Africa to America. Slaves were forced to work and lived long, hard, and miserable lives. The issue of morality concerning slavery eventually led to the Civil War, in which the Union army won against the Confederate army. The 13th Amendment was passed, which abolished slavery. -
Triangular Trade
The Triangular Trade was a trade route that created a triangle between North America, Africa, and Europe. North America traded lumber, furs, sugar, and molasses to Europe. Europe gave Africa guns, iron, and beer. Africa gave North America slaves, and Africa gave Europe gold, ivory, and spices. During this time of trade, there were between 13 and 15 million people that were taken from West Africa. -
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Revolutionary War
The Revolutionary War began in April of 1775 with the Battles of Lexington and Concord. During the war, the biggest problem for the Americans was financing it. After some time, Spain, the Netherlands, and Poland helped the Americans fight in the war. In October of 1781, the majority of the fighting was over. The Treaty of Paris came two years later in 1783, which gave the Americans independence and land west of the Mississippi River. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776 by the Second Continental Congress. With the help of the other delegates, Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. Other significant voices behind the document were John Hancock, Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Adams, John Adams, and Patrick Henry. -
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Articles of Confederation
All thirteen states signed the Articles of Confederation in 1781. Signing this document led to a weak and unsuccessful government. The government was deemed unsuccessful due to a lack of military, financial, and internal power. States were allowed to print their own money and conduct their own foreign policy, which led to many issues. -
Constitution
The Constitution was drafted during the hot summer of 1787 in Philadelphia at the Constitutional Convention. George Washington led the convention. While other notable figures were present at the convention, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay had most of the influence when defending the Constitution in "The Federalist Papers". The Constitution was mainly a list of compromises between the Federalists and anti-Federalists. The Constitution was approved by the states in 1788. -
Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights are the first 10 amendments to the Constitution and were ratified on December 15, 1791. The Bill of Rights was initially thought of as not important, however supporters of the Constitution soon realized its importance. Although James Madison is known to be one of the main authors of the Bill of Rights, George Madison was the one who proposed the idea of amendments and is also known as the Father of the Bill of Rights. -
Invention of the Cotton Gin
The cotton gin was invented by Eli Whitney. While it was a great invention, it led to the increased demand for slaves. Illegal trade was carried on as well. -
Invention of the Steamboat
Robert Fulton, who was an American inventor, constructed the Clermont. Fulton faced much skepticism regarding his prototype steamboat. Fulton's steamboat was 66 feet long and traveled 3-4 miles an hour when traveling against the current. The steamboat was tested on River Seine in Paris. -
Louisiana Purchase
The United States was able to grow and expand by buying the Louisiana Territory. This purchase is known as the Louisiana Purchase. The United States bought this property from France and obtained Florida from Spain. The purchase included 828,000 square miles for the price of 3 cents per acre. -
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Lewis and Clark
President Thomas Jefferson asked Meriwether Lewis to explore the land west of the Mississippi River that was just purchased during the Louisiana Purchase. Lewis asked William Clark to join him on the expedition. The journey lasted 2 years. An enslaved man named York traveled with Lewis and Clark and is often not talked about. -
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War of 1812
In the War of 1812, the United States fought Britain and won against the British. Due to the victory, America was able to strengthen the federal government and diminished any hope of Britain ever gaining control. The War of 1812 is also known as the "Second War of Independence". -
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Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period of time when largely rural societies in Europe and America transformed into industrialized and urban ones. Goods that were hand-made began to be produced in factories. Advancements in new machines and techniques in textiles, iron making, and other industries developed. -
Monroe Doctrine
President James Monroe informed European powers to cease any further attempts of colonization in the Western Hemisphere. President Monroe declared that the United States of America would view any future interference as an act of hostility. The Monroe Doctrine later became a policy and principle that would become a cornerstone of United States diplomacy for generations. -
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Trail of Tears
The "Trail of Tears" is known as the forced resettlement of the Southeastern Indians under President Andrew Jackson. "Custer's Last Stand" was one final battle and attempt to move the Indians off of their reservations after gold was discovered. The Bureau of Indian Affairs was formed in 1849, which forced the Indians to relocate from their reservations to "poor and undesirable land". In 1886, the southeastern Indians surrendered. -
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Manifest Destiny
The United States began to quickly grow and expand with the Louisiana Purchase. The idea of Manifest Destiny grew among the people as well. Manifest Destiny was a term and belief that the United States should own "from sea to shining sea". During this time, Texas gained its independence from Mexico and joined the United States, which created more land that needed to be settled and explored. -
Westward Movement
Following the trail of Lewis and Clark, many people left their homes in the east and sought new opportunities in the west. Thanks to the idea of "Manifest Destiny" and the Missouri Compromise, millions of pioneers desired to move west. Manifest Destiny encouraged these individuals to move and claim their new land in the west because it was the "God-given right". Also, the Missouri Compromise did not apply to the new land territories in the west, so many relocated to avoid the issue entirely. -
Dred Scott Decision
The Supreme Court ruled that Dred Scott was not a free man. Even though Scott had been taken to a free territory, he did not have the right to sue because he was not considered a citizen. Scott was still considered a slave. The ruling led to the Missouri Compromise, which banned slavery from some states, was unconstitutional. -
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Civil War
The Civil War began in Fort Sumter in South Carolina during the presidency of Abraham Lincoln. The Civil War was fought between the North and the South, also known as the Union army and Confederate army. The Union army was led by General Ulysses Grant. The Confederate army was led by Generals Robert E. Lee, "Stonewall" Jackson, and J.E.B. Stuart. -
13th Amendment- Abolition of Slavery
The 13th Amendment was ratified in 1864 after the Civil War. This amendment to the Constitution abolished slavery. However, African Americans were still not yet allowed to vote. The 13th Amendment states: “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.” -
14th Amendment- Equal Treatment Under the Law
The 14th Amendment was ratified in 1868 during the Reconstruction Era. and granted citizenship to all people that were born (or naturalized) in the United States. This amendment also covered formerly enslaved people. The 14th Amendment guaranteed “equal protection of the laws" to all citizens. -
15th Amendment- Voting Rights for Black
The 15th Amendment was adopted into the Constitution in 1870. This amendment was intended to protect the voting rights of African-American men after the Civil War. The 15th Amendment states: “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” -
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World War I
Known as the "war to end all wars", Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire fought against Great Britain, the United States, France, Russia, Italy, and Japan. 16 million lives were lost. New military technologies were introduced including tanks, machine guns, and drones. The peace treaty called the Treaty of Versailles ended the war between Germany and the Allied Powers. -
19th Amendment- Voting Rights for Women
The 19th Amendment was ratified on August 18, 1920. This amendment granted all American women the right to vote. The women's suffrage movement began in 1848 and was organized by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott. Susan B. Anthony was another notable woman that contributed to this movement. -
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Great Depression
The Great Depression was caused by the crash of the stock market in 1929. This economic depression caused widespread unemployment, bankruptcy, and financial ruin for many people and families. Franklin D. Roosevelt was the president during this trying time. In response to this devastation, FDR created the New Deal programs. -
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New Deal
The New Deal was created by Franklin D. Roosevelt after World War II. FDR explained that this plan was a "use of the authority of government as an organized form of self-help for all classes and groups and sections of our country." Some of the programs included in the New Deal were Federal Credit Unions, U.S. Travel Bureau, Social Security Act, and much more! -
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World War II
Before the United States entered into World War II, Hitler signed treaties with Italy and Japan in hopes to continue and execute his plan of world dominance. The United States did not enter World War II until Japan attacked and bombed Pearl Harbor, which is a harbor in Hawaii. FDR and Harry Truman were the presidents during this time. A devastating amount of 45-60 million people were killed, including the 6 million Jews that were murdered in Nazi concentration camps now known as the Holocaust. -
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Korean War
When Korea became involved in a civil war, the United Nations chose to step in and intervene. The United Nations defended the south from the communists. The war resulted in a division of Koreas, which became North Korea and South Korea. Present-day North Korea is known as a communistic country, and South Korea is referred to as nominally democratic and is often run as a military dictatorship. -
Brown vs. Board of Education
This court case outlawed the phrase "separate but equal". The decision also went away with legal segregation, although de facto segregation still remained in numerous places. Efforts at black registration and integrating schools resulted in church bombings and other violence against black citizens. -
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Vietnam War
Lyndon B. Johnson was the president during the Vietnam War. The Vietnam War is America's longest war that was never officially declared as a war. The Vietnam War sparked antiwar protests, and it is America's most controversial war, due to several issues like the corrupt leaders of South Vietnam, disapproval of chemical warfare, and the disproportion of soldiers being the sons of the working class. -
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Montgomery Bus Boycott
The Montgomery Bus Boycott began when a black Alabama woman named Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat in the neutral section of the bus to a white man. Parks was arrested, which sparked the Birmingham bus strike. The strike was led by a young minister named Martin Luther King, Jr. who went on to contribute more to the black community in later years. -
"I Have a Dream" Speech
This speech was delivered by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Washington, D.C. at the 1963 Freedom March. This speech conveyed Dr. King's visions and hopes and dreams that he had for the future of society. Dr. King emotionally and beautifully expressed that his dream was for racism to cease and for all people to live and love in unity. -
September 11 (9/11)
On September 11, 2001, a terrorist attack struck the Twin Towers in New York City, New York. Four total airplanes were hijacked. Two of the planes targeted the Twin Towers. The third plane hit the Pentagon in Virginia. Lastly, the fourth plane crashed in a field after civilians took over control. George W. Bush was the president during this time.