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first permanent settlement at Jamestown
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large numbers of Africans are brought by force as slave trade
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The Glorious Revolution
this revolution limited the power of the king in Britain. The American colonists closely observed theses changes and claimed the right to act as local parliaments -
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French and Indian War
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Royal Proclamation
It restricted the colonists from settling new land -
The Currency Act
It made it illegal to print paper money in the colonies -
The Quartering Act and the Stamp Act
The Quartering Act forced the colonists to provide food and housing for the royal soldiers. The Stamp Act taxed all legal papers, licenses newspaper and leases -
The Tea Act and Boston Tea Party
It intended to create a monopoly of tea trade with America and to protect the East India Company from imminent bankruptcy.
The colonists refused to pay the taxes and they dumped into the water a whole cargo of tea that had arrived to Boston harbour. -
Intolerable Acts (George III)
George III decided to suppress the rebellion by force and Parliament passed the “Intolerable Act”. The result was a closer tie between the thirteen original colonies, who outraged by the acts gathered at the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia in September 1774. -
First Continental Congress in Philadelphia
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American Revolutionary War
The British government understood this was a rebellion and decided to defeat it by force. At Lexington, they met armed colonists who were called Minutemen because they could be ready to fight in a minute. With this small fight, the War for Independence began. -
The Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson was the main writer of the Declaration of Independence and it was inspired by the Enlightenment ideas. It told the world of a new nation and its beliefs about human freedom. It argued that political rights are basic human rights and are universal. -
Treaty of Paris
It recognised the existence of the Federal Republic of the United States and turned the 13 colonies into states, but the job of becoming one nation remained. -
Constitution (written)
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55 delegates met in Philadelphia
In May 1787, 55 delegates met in Philadelphia (including George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson). They knew about history, law, and political theory. They understood colonial and state government. Most did not think the Articles of Confederation worked very well. They proposed a constitution describing a new form of government based on separate legislative, executive, and judicial authorities. -
Constitution (ratified)
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Constitution (effective)
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George Washington (1st president, unaffiliated)
George Washington became the first president of the United States on April 30, 1789. He had been in charge of the army -
Bill of Rights (10 amendments)
After the Constitution was accepted, some Americans said it did not list the rights of individuals. Hence 10 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were added. -
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John Adams (2nd president, Federalist)
Adams was the nation's first official Federalist president. John Adams and Alexander Hamilton led the Federalists. Their supporters included people in trade and manufacturing. They believed in a strong central government. Most of their support was in the North. -
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Thomas Jefferson (3rd president, Democratic- Republican)
Jefferson led the Republicans. Their supporters included many farmers. They did not want a strong central government. They believed in states having more power and had strong support in the South. -
Louisiana is bought from France
The U.S. doubled in size when it bought the Louisiana Territory from France in 1803 and Florida from Spain in 1819. From 1816 to 1821, six new states were created. Between 1812 and 1852, the population tripled. -
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James Madison (4th president, Democratic- Republican)
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James Monroe (5th president, Democratic- Republican)
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Florida is bought from Spain
The U.S. doubled in size when it bought the Louisiana Territory from France in 1803 and Florida from Spain in 1819. From 1816 to 1821, six new states were created. Between 1812 and 1852, the population tripled. -
Monroe's Doctrine
An important addition to foreign policy was the Monroe Doctrine. President James Monroe’s announcement of solidarity with newly independent nations in Central and South America was a warning to Europe not to seek colonies in Latin America. -
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Abraham Lincoln (16th president, Republican)
Less than a week after the South surrendered, a Confederate sympathizer killed President Lincoln and Vice President Andrew Johnson became president with the job of uniting the country. -
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Civil War
The South claimed the right to leave the United States, also called the Union, and form its own Confederacy. President Lincoln led the Northern states. He was determined to stop the rebellion and keep the country united.
The North had more people, more raw materials for producing war supplies, and a better railway system. The South had more experienced military leaders and better knowledge of the battlefields because most of the war was fought in the South. The war lasted four years. -
the North withdrew its army from the Southern states
When the North withdrew its army from the Southern states white Southerners regained political power and began to deprive Southern blacks of their new rights. Southern blacks were free, but the local laws denied them their rights. They had the right to vote, but the threat of violence made them afraid to use it. Southern states introduced “segregation,” a system that required blacks and whites to use separate public facilities, from schools to drinking fountains.