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Jamestown established
Jamestown was established purely to seek out gold and other riches, with Europeans hoping to find the same success that the Spaniards did. However, because of the lack of preparation, supplies dwindled, and colonists endured starvation and sickness during the harsh winter, killing off nearly 75% of the population.
Source: https://www.history.com/topics/colonial-america/jamestown -
Virginia General Assembly Established
Became Bicameral body, establishing House of Burgesses as one of its two chambers-- the first popularly elected legislative body in the New World. The General Assembly was modeled after english parliament, with members meeting at least once a year with royal governor to decide local laws and to determine local taxation.
source: https://encyclopediavirginia.org/857hpr-e337a6d19cf0113/ -
Manhattan Slave Uprising
Due to the poor treatment of African Americans during the period of Colonial Slavery, many slaves decided to rebel. A group of slaves set fire to an outhouse at the home of Peter Van Tilburgh on Maiden Lanen, signaling to other slaves to begin the revolt. The Slave Codes were created as a result to limit the behavior of slaves
Source: https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/revolt-by-enslaved-africans-in-new-york/ -
Beginnings of American Enlightenment
Beginnings of Enlightenment which would go on to influence the colonists to start a revolution against Great Britain. Strengthened in later years by thinkers such a Locke and Rousseau, as well as Thomas Paine who wrote "Common Sense," a document persuading colonists to fight for independence.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Enlightenment -
Period: to
Seven Years' War
Left England in massive debt and led to Proclamation Act of 1763. Also caused England to begin to increase revenue and control over colonies, increasing tensions that will lead to the American Revolution.
Source: https://www.history.com/topics/france/seven-years-war -
Stamp Act
Britain's first direct tax on the colonists after the Sugar Act (1764) and Quartering Act (1765), the Stamp Act placed taxes on legal documents and other items. This angered the colonies, mostly because it wasn't passed with the consent of colonial legislatures.
source: https://www.history.com/news/the-stamp-act-riots-250-years-ago -
Boston Tea Party
Members of Sons of Liberty dumped tea into Boston Harbor to protest the Tea Act (1773). Even some colonists were against this, as it was considered destruction of private property and too radical at the time. Led to the Intolerable Acts (1774) meant to punish the colonists.
Source: https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/boston-tea-party -
First Continental Congress
A response to the Intolerable Acts, where all the colonies (except Georgia) sent representatives to meet in Philadelphia to discuss the situation. They aimed to repair relationships with England, and at this point, the idea of revolution was still very radical
Source: https://www.bostonteapartyship.com/continental-congress -
Period: to
American Revolution
Influenced by Enlightenment ideas and resentment towards the British after being taxed without consent, the colonists began a revolution for their independence. The battle of Lexington and Concord mark the beginning, while the Battle of Yorktown concludes the war with a victory for the colonies
Source: https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/american-revolution-history -
Battle of Saratoga
This battle marked a major turning point in the American Revolution. After the battle, France decided formally ally with the colonists, lending money, weapons, naval support, and soldiers.
Source: https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/battle-of-saratoga -
Treaty of Paris 1783
Ended the American Revolution, and England was officially required to recognize the US as independent. The boundaries of the US were also defined, and the British had to surrender posts in US territories.
Source: https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/treaty-paris -
Shay's Rebellion
After the war, the economy suffered a postwar depression, and the farmers were hit particularly hard, causing some farmers in Massachusetts to lead a rebellion demanding thing such as lower taxes and the end of imprisonment for not paying debt. The government was too weak to put the rebellion down, increasing awareness regarding the problems under the Articles
Source: https://www.history.com/topics/early-us/shays-rebellion -
The Constitutional Convention of 1787
A meeting between delegates of the states solely to revise the Articles of Confederation. Compromises were made between the states regarding representation in Congress, finally ending in the Great Compromise.
Source: https://edsitement.neh.gov/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/2019-05/constitutional-convention.jpg?itok=rc2IhJ7v -
Cotton Gin Invented
With this new invention by Eli Whitney, it was possible to produce a thousand pounds of cotton a day. As a result, slaves were used to cultivate millions of pounds of cotton, increasing the amount of slave labor in the US.
Source: https://billofrightsinstitute.org/essays/eli-whitney-and-the-cotton-gin -
American Identity
The idea of an 'American Identity' became popular after Michel-Guillaume De Crevecoeur, a French settler, came to America. Nonetheless, the idea of an American Identity is something that Americans stand for and believe in.
Source: https://theyorkhistorian.com/2018/03/27/the-development-of-america-identity-and-the-language-of-revolution/ -
Marbury vs Madison
When Marbury sued the new secretary of state, James Madison. Parts of the Judiciary Act of 1789 was declared unconstitutional, and the case established the idea of Judicial Review. It was a massive expansion of judicial power.
Source: https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/blog/marbury-v-madison-and-the-independent-supreme-court -
Period: to
Era of Good Feelings, Nationalism
Following the War of 1812, there was a huge increase in Nationalism in the US. They had survived two battles against Britain, and after the Louisiana Purchase, they had expanded their territories west quite a bit.
Source: http://www.americanhistoricalstaffordshire.com/history/era-good-feelings -
Indian Removal Act
The forced removal of the Native Americans from their homes as the US expanded westward. Andrew Jackson even ignored Supreme Court rulings to protect the Cherokees and forced them on the Trail of Tears, where nearly 1 in 4 Cherokees died.
Source: https://brewminate.com/from-plymouth-to-the-indian-removal-act/ -
Nat Turner’s Slave Rebellion
Nat Turner organized about 70 slaves that rampaged across plantations and murdered about 75 men, women, and children. They gathered supporters as they went, but when their supplies ran out, they were caught and killed. There was an increase in slave patrols and more repressive slave codes as a result.
Source: https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/nat-turner -
Panic of 1837
Andrew Jackson, as President, decided to destroy national banks and ordered the withdrawal of funds. He split these funds into smaller, more loyal, “pet” banks. However, this led to the collapse of the economy and a period known as the Panic of 1837.
Source: https://www.britannica.com/event/Panic-of-1837 -
Oregon Treaty
A treaty between the US and England that settled the Oregon Dispute. The area had previously been joint occupied under the Treat of 1818, but England gives up the territory in 1846. Both sides earn something- England gains more fishing rights in Vancouver Island and Americans begin to flood into the new territory as they continue to expand west.
Source: http://projects.leadr.msu.edu/usforeignrelations/exhibits/show/manifest-destiny/oregon-treaty-1846 -
Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo
Ended the Mexican-American war with a victory for the US. As a result, Mexico lost over a third of its territory with regions like Arizona, California, New Mexico, and many others. Furthermore, it gave up all claims to Texas and the Rio Grande was recognized as the southern border.
Source: https://www.history.com/topics/mexican-american-war/treaty-of-guadalupe-hidalgo -
Battle of Antietam
A pivotal war during the Civil War that strengthened the moral cause of the North- giving them a purpose in fighting this war: to end slavery. This battle also gave Abraham Lincoln the confidence to officially issue the Emancipation Proclamation. This also gave the union new soldiers in the form of escaped African American Men.
Source: https://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/battle-of-antietam -
Freedmen's Bureau
Implemented after the civil war. It was created initially to provide aid to freed slaves, but eventually turned to education, teaching many slaves to read.
Source: https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/freedmens-bureau -
Emancipation
President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation during the Civil War between the union and the confederacy. The proclamation said that all slaves in the states in the confederacy, which were where the most slaves resided, were free.
Source: https://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plans/emancipation-proclamation-freedoms-first-steps -
Beginnings of Reconstruction
Reconstruction was an era after the civil war. During this time, America slowly rebuilt the nation, working to end slavery leading to massive social, economic, and political change
Source: https://www.britannica.com/event/Reconstruction-United-States-history -
First American Impeachment
President Andrew Johnson was one vote short of the 2/3 the Senate needed to remove him as president. Although it didn't happen, this served as the first time a president was (nearly) impeached, and indicated a shift in power to Congress. Source: https://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/andrew-johnson
