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England's first lasting attempt to create a colony in the "New World" (North America). 104 colonists went on a 4 month long journey to this land. The colony was named Jamestown after the current King James I of England. Many challenges were present there such as starvation and disease despite being "successful". -
Around 20 Angolans were kidnapped by the Portuguese. Jamestown colonists then bought them as slaves. This could be viewed as the establishment of slavery in to be America. -
Separatists wanted to become independent from the corrupt Anglican church. 102 settlers take the Mayflower and land in to be Massachusetts. William Bradford led them to founding Plymouth and creating the Mayflower Compact, which was the colonies' first attempt to govern themselves. -
Puritans, similar to separatists, left England to break off from Anglican church corruption. However, they did not want to completely start over. They kept the uncorrupt teachings of the Anglican church and became Puritans. Landing in to be Massachusetts, they established a strict and religious colony called Boston. -
Roger Williams was a Puritan Minister from Salem. He was banished from Salem over disagreements regarding Native American land seizure. Williams had 50 followers that helped him create Providence, a town that would lead to what is now Rhode Island. This town allowed free worship of God. -
The Virginia colony suffered from all the power belonging to the wealthy. Settlers were left unprotected from Native American attacks. Nathaniel Bacon, not nearly alone in his view, wanted land to be taken from the Natives. Bacon started removing Natives forcefully in a movement that Bacon's arrest couldn't even stop, leading to Governor William Berkley retreating to England. -
Paranoia, family disputes, and other social issues led to the Salem witch trials in Massachusetts. In this period, many were hanged for accusations of witchcraft. This climaxed in the hanging of five at once and served as a warning for the rest of America. -
In 1695, Britain passed the Licensing Act, preventing censorship of the press. These new uncensored texts found themselves quickly filling the colonies. This inspired the colonies to start newspaper printing, and the Boston Newsletter was founded. More and more newspaper sources soon followed. -
The Great Awakening would come to cause people to buy in to religion and even more to change their views on it. Focus shifted from fate and predestination to the value of good deeds. Many prominent speakers would emerge, portraying God as angry and unforgiving, or as accepting and loving. -
Paper money in the colonies did not have consistent value throughout. Great Britain passed then this act to forbid New England from issuing their own paper money to pay for debts to Britain. Colonists believed this would prevent establishment of a stable economy since they would be forced to use silver or gold to pay Britain. -
French and British tensions had been rising over land control in North America. George Washington leading a surprise attack on the French at Jumonville Glen sparked this fire. Throughout this multiple-continent war, the French would ally themselves with the natives in an attempt to gain enough strength to oppose Britain. This would ultimately lead to the Treaty of Paris. -
Many believed the colonies to be unorganized and vulnerable as a whole. In the Albany Congress, Benjamin Franklin proposed the Albany Plan. This would bring the colonies together under a more centralized government. The plan was rejected but it got people to think about a centralized government for the colonies. -
This treaty marked the end of the French and Indian War after France's defeat. Britain's land in the colonies doubled and introduced access to the Mississippi. To pay for this costly war, Britain would pass many a controversial act to get the colonies to help pay. -
In another attempt to gain profit from the colonies, Britain passed the Stamp Act. Specifically, Britain wanted funds for the French and Indian war. This act taxed most paper goods from newspapers to marriage certificates. Colonists were outraged as this act was only employed in the colonies. -
Contrary to popular belief, this act does not require colonists to house British troops in their homes. It does, however, require colonial legislatures responsible for paying for and providing proper accommodations for British troops to stay in besides colonists homes. Relations between colonists and troops were already tense and this act only worsened this truth. -
Britain passed these acts in an attempt to make the colonies more sustainable and profitable. Imported goods were taxed in these acts. Colonists did not view this as just with no representation in Britain government. -
Due to tensions continually growing from controversial taxes and acts such as the Townshend acts, colonists were becoming violently angry. This boiled over when a patriot colonist mob started to throw various items at a group of British soldiers. The soldiers fired on the crowd, killing five, and cementing the event as a symbol for rebellion and patriotism. -
Due to the Boston Massacre and recent taxes on tea, colonists have more than enough reason to strike back at Britain. Patriots called the Sons of Liberty got together, and dressed as Native Americans, boarded a 3 British East India Company boats loaded with tea, and dumped 342 crates into the ocean. This would lead to the Intolerable Acts. -
These acts were passed by Britain in an attempt to punish the colonies for the Boston Tea Party. Policies included closing Boston's port, outlawing assembling, and introduced high taxes. Patriots rallied together in rebellion, declaring these acts "intolerable". -
Delegates from the colonies met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to discuss unacceptable taxes from Britain. The collective idea from these delegates was to boycott British goods as a result of Britain's taxes. Boycotts officially started a few months later. -
British soldiers entering Concord find 77 militiamen there waiting for them. The British soldiers try to force the militiamen to give up the armory they are guarding, but as they are surrendering, a shot is fired. This causes British troops to open fire, leading to militiamen raising the alarm throughout the colonies in a beginning to the American Revolution. -
Thomas Paine was a patriot author for the colonies. Common Sense was written in support of the Independence movement and rallies many behind it. It becomes a wildly successful and symbolic American text. -
Thomas Jefferson came together with Benjamin Franklin and John Adams to write this text declaring independence from Britain. 56 colonial delegates signed this massively symbolic document. -
A British army group led by General Burgoyne were pinned down and hoping for reinforcements. When supplies became too low to continue holding position, Burgoyne led his troops to move. However, he was spotted by colonial soldiers and defeated in this battle, fueling American hopes for Independence. -
The 13 colonies come together in an attempt to make a document for self-governance. It was not entirely successful but it was a necessary stepping stone for more complex government to emerge. Rights given to national government were very limited in fear of a repeat of Great Britain's abuse. -
Following Britain's loss at Saratoga, a Britain force led by General Cornwallis was led into Yorktown. The colonies had accounted for this and had the French Navy take out the British Navy stationed in Yorktown. This made victory all but impossible for Britain and Cornwallis surrendered, marking the end of the major battles of the Revolution. -
Due to losing at Yorktown, Britain had to acknowledge the inevitability of American independence. After long negotiations, the Treaty of Paris was finally signed. America was an independent country. This allowed America to start to develop and fend truly for itself. -
Daniel Shays was a veteran unpleased with government's treatment of fellow veterans and farmers. He led a group consisting of mostly farmers in a rebellion. This highlighted the government's weakness under the Articles of Confederation as the government could not mobilize a force to halt this rebellion. -
Rivers were massively used for transporting goods but became highly inefficient if boats had to go upstream. The invention of steamboats trivialized which direction the boats "had" to go in. This invention boosted economy and travel abilities of the colonies. -
America needed to correct the overly cautious Articles of Confederation. This correction came in part from the Constitution. The federal government gained many new rights such as the right to implement taxes. Rights were also given to citizens in this massively famous document. -
Congress was faced with the task of resolving disputing claims to land in western territories. This ordinance proposed that 3-5 states should be made from this disputed territory. Each state would have the right to govern itself with a governor. These states did not allow slavery. -
George Washington was massively supported and respected for his outstanding leadership and judgement in the revolution. An election was held in 1788, in which Washington was unanimously voted into office. He got to shape the foundation of America. -
In many ways similar to the first, the Second Great Awakening encourages closer relationships with God and religion. Methodist and Baptist denominations emerged from this movement. The entire country became more religious as a whole. -
James Madison wrote 19 amendments to be considered for the Constitution. 10 were accepted and became the Bill of Rights. Freedoms were guaranteed for citizens in this document such as speech, fair trial, and religion. -
A tax on whiskey angered farmers in Pennsylvania. This tax was both on imported and domestic whiskey. Demand for whiskey plummeted and caused "Whiskey Rebels" to start to assail tax collectors. This showed that the government now had enough strength to enforce laws. -
Cotton farming was labor intensive and increasingly unprofitable. Eli Whitney then invented the Cotton Gin. This trivialized much of the labor required to produce cotton, cementing cotton as the South's major cash crop. -
Despite still holding massive majority and support, Washington declined 2 terms as president out of fear the nation would become too reliant on him. In his farewell address, Washington warned against political parties and foreign involvement. His warnings were left mostly unheeded. -
John Adams was allowed to enter presidency in 1797. Adams took issue with French captures of American merchant ships. US diplomats were unsuccessful because they were only met with agents to be known as X, Y, and Z. This caused future conflicts between the US and France. -
These acts collectively made life harder and violated rights of foreigners in America. The minimum time in America to become a citizen was increased from five to fourteen years. Freedom of Press was violated as government critical pieces could not be published. -
Napoleon had offered to sell all of the Louisiana territory he held for $15 million. Despite serious personal grievances concerning the government's right to do such a thing, Jefferson agreed. The size of the US was allowed to double. -
Thomas Jefferson abolished the slave trade originating from the Atlantic. This marked the end of a 400 year long legacy of slave importation and trading. Many would see this as the first step America took towards the end of slavery. -
Francis Scott Key was imprisoned in a British barge during the War of 1812. He witnessed Fort McHenry being bombarded throughout the whole night and reportedly saw the American flag still flying in the morning. This inspired him to draft the Star Spangled Banner, calling it Defense of Ft. McHenry. The song becomes a national symbol for patriotism and fortitude. -
Following the War of 1812, the US had an impressive national debt. Private banks were issuing a steadily increasing stream of notes. This caused inflation, which in President Madison's eyes, necessitated the second national bank. Unfortunately, the bank was unsuccessful with poor management. -
Tension seemed to be ever increasing between the North and South over slavery. The North and South respectively wanted to admit new states as abolitionist or slave-holding. Henry Clay creates a compromise to temporarily halt tensions, admitting Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state. -
Factories had previously not been prevalent or very profitable. James Watt's invention of the steam engine revolutionized this idea. More and more bigger factories began to sprout up all over the country, mostly the industrial north. -
Andrew Jackson, the current President, authorized removal of Natives from east to west. this caused 25 million acres of American farmland to be created from removing Natives. Natives were forced to move in brutal conditions on the Trail of Tears. -
Women were becoming increasingly unhappy with the unequal distribution of rights in the United States. This culminated in a two day convention in New York. 300 people gathered to debate women's rights in what would be seen as the start of the women's suffrage movement. -
This case allowed slave holding in the north. It effectively guaranteed there was no free land for slaves to go in America. The Missouri Compromise was also ruled unconstitutional. This result angered the North and the abolitionists. -
The North was facing defeat after defeat in the Civil War. Lincoln, as president, was waiting for a chance to issue the Emancipation Proclamation to redefine what the Civil War was for. Antietam was more of a draw than Union win, but Lincoln still took the opportunity and issued the Emancipation Proclamation. This largely cemented that the Union's goal was to end slavery. -
Lincoln was assassinated not long after the Civil War ended with the Union's victory. John Wilkes Booth shot Lincoln in the head while watching a play. This led to Andrew Johnson taking office and doing his best to lead the country through its reconstruction period. -
The Civil Rights Act of 1975 prohibited discrimination on the basis of race or language minority status in voter registration, voting, and other election-related activities. The Act required that states and jurisdictions with a history of discriminatory voting practices obtain federal approval before changing their voting laws. The Act also required federal examiners to be present at voting places to ensure that all laws are being followed. -
Republicans and Democrats came to an unwritten agreement in the Compromise of 1877 to resolve the contentious 1876 presidential election. Republicans promised to end Reconstruction by removing federal troops from the South and to give Democrats control of state legislatures. Democrats agreed to accept Rutherford B. Hayes, a Republican, as the election's victor in exchange. The compromise effectively ushered in the Jim Crow era in the South. -
Only four months into his term as president, James A. Garfield, the 20th president of the United States, was gunned down by Charles J. Guiteau. 11 weeks later, Garfield passed away from his wounds. Guiteau's motivation for the murder was his belief that Garfield owed him a political post, which Garfield had turned down. -
A merit-based system was intended to replace the patronage method of selecting government employees under the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act. The Civil Service Commission was created under the act to oversee competitive exams and make sure that appointments to government positions were made on the basis of qualifications and merit rather than political ties. -
William Frederick Cody, better known as Buffalo Bill, was a former buffalo hunter and army scout who created his own Wild West show in 1883. His show featured reenactments of historical events, such as the Battle of Little Bighorn and the Pony Express, as well as live buffalo and Native American performers. Buffalo Bill's Wild West show became an international sensation. -
In Chicago, there was a violent clash between police and labor protesters known as the Haymarket Riot. The protest was a part of a larger, national movement in favor of an eight-hour workday. When someone detonated a device in the crowd, numerous police officers and bystanders were killed, and the incident quickly turned deadly. The tragedy resulted in a crackdown on labor unions. -
The Dawes Severalty Act of 1887 authorized the US government to break up tribal lands and distribute them to individual Native American households. The act sought to assimilate Native Americans into mainstream American culture by promoting private land ownership and farming. It ultimately resulted in the loss of millions of acres of Native American land and weakened tribal sovereignty. -
The Hull House was a settlement house founded by Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr in 1889 in Chicago. It was dedicated to improving the lives of working-class immigrants by providing social and educational services such as childcare, English classes, and vocational training. It became a model for the settlement house movement in the United States. -
"How the Other Half Lives" is a book by Jacob Riis published in 1890 that exposed the living conditions of the urban poor in New York City. The book documented the inadequate conditions of tenement housing, including overcrowding and disease. The book was influential in prompting social reform and improving living conditions for the urban poor. -
Plessy v. Ferguson was a landmark Supreme Court case that upheld the constitutionality of "separate but equal" segregation laws in the United States. The case involved a black man, Homer Plessy, who was arrested for refusing to sit in a segregated railroad car designated for African Americans. The ruling gave legal sanction to racial segregation and discrimination for several decades. -
The USS Maine was an American battleship that exploded and sank in Havana Harbor. The incident sparked widespread outrage in the United States and fueled calls for war against Spain, which was blamed for the explosion. The sinking of the USS Maine was a key factor in the outbreak of the Spanish-American War. -
Theodore Roosevelt became the 26th President of the United States following the assassination of President William McKinley. Roosevelt was a progressive reformer who championed government regulation of industry, conservation of natural resources, and the promotion of social justice. He was the youngest person to ever become President at the age of 42. -
Big Stick Diplomacy was a foreign policy approach used by President Theodore Roosevelt that emphasized the use of military force to protect American interests abroad. The approach was based on the saying "speak softly and carry a big stick," meaning that the US should use diplomacy to negotiate, but also maintain a strong military presence to back up its words. -
The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur, made the first successful powered flight near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Their aircraft, the Wright Flyer, was a biplane with a gasoline-powered engine and a wingspan of 40 feet. The flight lasted only 12 seconds, but it marked a major milestone in aviation history. -
"The Jungle" is a novel by Upton Sinclair published that exposed the harsh working conditions and unsanitary practices in the meatpacking industry in Chicago. The book shocked the public and led to the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act, which regulated the food industry and improved public health. -
The Model T was a car created by Henry Ford. It was the first car to be mass-produced on an assembly line, which made it affordable for the average American. The Model T was known for its durability, simplicity, and ease of maintenance, and it had a profound impact on American society by making automobile transportation more accessible. -
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded by a group of African American and white activists, including W.E.B. Du Bois and Ida B. Wells. The organization's mission was to fight for the civil rights and equality of African Americans through legal challenges and advocacy efforts. -
The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire occurred in New York City, killing 146 workers, mostly young women. The tragedy was caused by unsafe working conditions, locked doors, and a lack of fire safety measures. It led to widespread public outrage and spurred significant labor and workplace safety reforms in the US. -
The Federal Reserve Act created the Federal Reserve System, which is the central banking system of the United States. The act established a decentralized banking system and gave the Federal Reserve the power to regulate the money supply, issue currency, and stabilize the economy through monetary policy. -
The Lusitania was a British passenger liner that was sunk by a German submarine, killing 1,198 people, including 128 Americans. The sinking was a major factor that led the United States to enter World War I, as it inflamed American public opinion against Germany and sparked outrage over unrestricted submarine warfare. -
President Woodrow Wilson signed legislation creating the National Park Service, which was responsible for protecting and managing the national parks and monuments of the United States. The agency was established to preserve and protect the country's natural and cultural resources and to make them available for public enjoyment and recreation. -
The Zimmerman Telegram was a secret message sent by German Foreign Secretary Arthur Zimmermann to Mexico, proposing a military alliance between the two countries in the event of war between the US and Germany. The telegram was intercepted and deciphered by British intelligence, and its contents were a major factor in the US's decision to finally enter World War I. -
The Red Scare was a period of anti-communist hysteria in the United States that began in 1919 and continued into the 1920s. It was fueled by fears of a communist revolution and labor unrest, as well as the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia. The fear of communism led to widespread government surveillance, arrests, and deportations of suspected radicals and immigrants. -
The 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified, granting women the right to vote. The amendment was the culmination of a long and hard-fought campaign by suffragists, who had been working for decades to secure equal voting rights for women. It was a major victory for women's rights and democracy. -
The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural and intellectual movement that flowered in the 1920s in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. It was characterized by a flowering of African American art, literature, music, and culture, and marked a major shift in the way black Americans were represented in mainstream society. -
The first scheduled radio broadcast in America took place when station KDKA in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, aired the results of the presidential election. The broadcast was made possible by advances in radio technology and marked the beginning of a new era of mass communication and entertainment. -
The Scopes Trial, also known as the "Monkey Trial," was a high-profile court case in which a high school teacher, John T. Scopes, was accused of teaching evolution in violation of a state law in Tennessee. The trial became a national spectacle, pitting scientific modernism against religious fundamentalism and highlighting deep cultural and political divisions in American society. -
The Wall Street Market Crash was a catastrophic event in the US financial system that triggered the Great Depression. On October 29, 1929, the stock market lost 12% of its value, leading to widespread panic selling and a collapse in investment and consumer confidence. The crash marked the beginning of a decade-long economic crisis, which saw mass unemployment, poverty, and social unrest. -
The Bonus Army was a group of World War I veterans who marched to Washington, D.C. to demand the early payment of a bonus that was promised to them but not scheduled to be paid until 1945. They set up camps near the Capitol, but President Hoover ordered the military to forcibly remove them, resulting in violent clashes and the dispersal of the Bonus Army. -
Adolf Hitler became the Chancellor of Germany after his Nazi Party won the parliamentary elections. Hitler and the Nazis used propaganda and intimidation to consolidate their power, and within a few months, they had transformed Germany into a one-party dictatorship. Hitler's appointment as Chancellor was a turning point in world history, leading to the rise of Nazi Germany and World War II. -
The peak of the Dust Bowl occurred in the Great Plains region of the United States, caused by severe drought, poor farming practices, and high winds. The dust storms ravaged the land, killing crops and livestock, and causing widespread economic and social disruption. Tens of thousands of families were forced to leave their homes, leading to mass migration to other parts of the country. -
The Second New Deal was a series of programs and reforms launched by President Franklin D. Roosevelt aimed at providing more relief and reform measures for Americans suffering from the Great Depression. The Second New Deal included programs such as the Works Progress Administration (WPA), the Social Security Act, and the National Labor Relations Act, which aimed to create jobs, protect workers' rights, and provide a social safety net for vulnerable populations. -
The Munich Conference was a meeting held in which Britain, France, and Italy agreed to let Nazi Germany annex parts of Czechoslovakia in order to avoid war. This policy of appeasement was a failed attempt to prevent World War II and is largely considered a blunder. -
During World War II, the US government created a rationing system to control the distribution of goods due to shortages. The rationing program included food stamps which were used to purchase limited quantities of specific foods, including meat, sugar, and coffee. These stamps were distributed to American households to ensure equitable distribution of limited resources. -
Pearl Harbor was a surprise military attack by the Japanese Imperial Navy against the United States naval base in Hawaii. It resulted in the deaths of 2,403 Americans and led to the United States' entry into World War II. -
During World War II, the US government forcibly removed around 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry, two-thirds of whom were American citizens, from their homes on the West Coast and placed them in internment camps. They were held without trial or evidence of any wrongdoing, solely because of their Japanese ancestry. The internment was later recognized as a grave violation of civil liberties. -
D-Day was the largest amphibious invasion in history, launched by Allied forces during World War II. It marked the beginning of the liberation of German-occupied France and was a crucial turning point in the war. The successful invasion allowed the Allies to establish a foothold in Europe and ultimately defeat Nazi Germany. -
The United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The bombings killed approximately 200,000 people, most of them civilians, and caused immense physical and psychological devastation. The bombings hastened the end of World War II and ushered in the nuclear age, but also raised ethical questions about the use of atomic weapons in warfare. -
The United Nations (UN) was founded after World War II, replacing the League of Nations. The main goal was to maintain international peace and security, promote human rights, and provide aid to nations in need. The UN is composed of member states that work together to address global challenges through diplomacy and cooperation. -
Levittown was a planned suburban community built after World War II. The first Levittown was built in Long Island, New York and quickly became a symbol of the postwar American dream. It was built using mass production techniques to create identical homes quickly and cheaply, and became a model for suburban development across the United States. -
The US Supreme Court ruled in Brown v. Board of Education that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. The landmark decision overturned the "separate but equal" doctrine established in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) and paved the way for desegregation and the Civil Rights Movement. -
Emmett Till, a 14-year-old Black boy, was brutalized and murdered in Mississippi after reportedly whistling at a white woman. His open-casket funeral and the subsequent acquittal of the two white men responsible for his death became a galvanizing moment in the Civil Rights Movement. -
The Eisenhower Interstate Act created a system of highways in the United States. It was signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and it provided $25 billion for the construction of over 40,000 miles of interstate highways. The act aimed to improve transportation, promote commerce, and enhance national defense by providing a reliable network of roads for military vehicles. -
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was established as a civilian agency responsible for the US space program. It was created in response to the Soviet Union's successful launch of the first artificial satellite, Sputnik. NASA's mission is to conduct research, develop technology, and explore space. Its accomplishments include the Apollo moon landing program, the Space Shuttle program, and the Hubble Space Telescope. -
President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested for the crime, but was shot and killed by Jack Ruby before he could be tried. The assassination sparked widespread shock and grief in the United States, and conspiracy theories continue to circulate to this day. -
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, and gender. It outlawed segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination. It also established the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to investigate workplace discrimination complaints. The act was a major victory for the Civil Rights Movement and helped to end legal segregation in the United States. -
Civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, by James Earl Ray. King was standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel when he was shot. The assassination sparked riots and protests across the United States and contributed to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1968. -
Apollo 11 was the first successful manned mission to land on the moon, launched by NASA. Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin Jr. landed on the lunar surface while Michael Collins orbited above. Armstrong famously proclaimed "one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind" as he became the first human to step onto the moon. -
Five men broke into the Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters in the Watergate complex, leading to an investigation that uncovered a series of abuses by President Nixon's administration. Nixon's involvement in the cover-up was revealed through a series of revelations, including the discovery of tape recordings in the Oval Office. Facing impeachment, Nixon resigned in 1974, marking the only time in U.S. history a president has done so. -
Iranian militants took 52 Americans hostage at the US Embassy in Tehran, Iran, following the Islamic Revolution. President Jimmy Carter's administration attempted to negotiate the hostages' release, but talks failed. The hostages were released on January 20, 1981, the same day that Ronald Reagan was inaugurated as President. The crisis lasted for 444 days.