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The Salem Witch Trials were a dark part of early American history that were rooted in beliefs and practices of Puritan colonists that were driven by religion, fear, and personal disputes. They showed a strong influence of religion and displayed a need for a legal justice system to control the fear and mass hysteria. The Trials serve as a lesson of dangers with intolerance and persecution. The Trials took place between Feb 1692 and May 1693. -
The signing of the Declaration of Independence was signed in the Pennsylvania State House in 1776. Representatives from the thirteen colonies which included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and John Hancock declared the independence from British rule. It was motivated by the need to preserve freedom from being under the British rule. It laid the groundwork for democracy, liberties, and the pursuit of happiness for everyone. -
The Trail of Tears tragically took place between 1838-1839 that involved the forced expulsion of mainly the Cherokee Nation and other tribes from their ancestral homes from Georgia and the southeast to modern day Oklahoma. It took place due to the Indian Removal Act implemented by President Andrew Jackson who was followed by his VP turned President Martin Van Buren who was in charge during the Trail of Tears. It shows their resilience and still contributes to talks of retribution with the U.S. -
Harriet Tubman was a remarkable woman who had courage and resilience and desired freedom for herself and her family and others above all else. She escaped and guided many enslaved people to their freedom by being a conductor in the Underground Railroad between 1850 and 1860. Her commitment and relentless dedication to free as many people as she could reflected core principles. Her life and legacy continue to inspire and show the value of freedom and the values of justice and human dignity. -
The Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1 in 1863 and was a major event in the development of the American Identity. It declared the freedom of all enslaved people in the Confederate States. It significantly influenced the foundation of American Identity where it conveyed the ethics of liberty, equality, and freedom. It set the stage for everyone to have more inclusivity and treat everyone with equality.