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Battle of Lexington and Concord
The Battles of Lexington and Concord were the first two battles of the American Revolution. The Battles are most known for how they started. Paul Revere, Dr. Joseph Warren, and William Dawes rode out of Boston to warn the militia that the British were coming. The "minute men" met the British early in the morning April 19th. Despite loosing the battle at Lexington, the minute men drove the British back from Concord to the Boston Harbor. -
Declaration of Independence
The document signed by leading government officials in colonial America that declared independence from Great Britain. Proclaimed that the thirteen colonies in America ought to be free and independent yet united states. Outlined why the colonists believed they ought to be free by explaining all of the unlawful acts they thought the tyrant King George III had committed against them. Explaining what the king did wrong attempted to rally the remaining loyalists in the States against a common enemy. -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga was the turning point in the American Revolution for the Continental Army. The battle actually consisted of two separate battle that happened eighteen days apart. The English General John Burgoyne led his army to defeat the Americans, but on the second battle General Horatio Gates and Benedict Arnold on the American side, cams out victorious. This battle convinced the French that the Americans might have a chance in winning the war. They then sent troops to help Americans -
Articles of Confederation
First attempt of government in colonial America. The Articles of Confederation did not provide a strong central government or support to the new country. The articles were later abolished and the Constitution was adopted. -
Battle of Yorktown
The Battle of Yorktown was the finial battle in the American Revolution that resulted in an American victory. General George Washington commanded 17,000 troops from the Continental Army and the French Army. Under Washington's command the armies surrounded English General Cornwallis at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. After being trapped there for three weeks, the English finally fought in the field and lost. The finally defeat for the English ended the war. -
Northwest Ordinance
The Northwest Ordinance, acquired on July 13, 1787, was land that the United States got as a result of the Treaty of Paris. We acquired it from the Native Americans. The United States wanted this land the help fulfill the dream of Manifest Destiny.The Northwest Ordinance spread and strengthened the democratic party. It set the precedent for all new states and territories entering the nation. -
Constitution
The document in which the United States government derives all of it's principles and standards from. Written by James Madison in 1787, the Constitution provided the beliefs of a bicameral legislature, consent of the governed, and the separation of powers. It was debated upon being ratified or not because Americans believed it made the central government too strong but, after a Bill of Rights was added, that outlined Americans basic rights and privileges, it was more widely accepted. -
Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights were the first ten amendments to the Constitution. These amendments, or changes to the Constitution, outlined American citizens basic rights and privileges, It was added to the Constitution to combat the fears of a strong central government in the American citizens, as they had only just broken away from the tyranny in England. It clearly stated that citizens of the U.S. had rights such as freedom of speech, right to bear arms, and right to a fair and just trial. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
The Alien and Sedition acts were acts that were passed under John Adams. The Alien acts were passed to limit immigration. The Sedition acts were passed to limit freedom of speech. These were both deemed unconstitutional because they violated the first amendment and were later nullified by the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions. -
The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions, written by founding fathers James Madison and Thomas Jefferson, stated that the Alien and Sedition acts of 1798 were unconstitutional and violated states rights. The legislatures in Kentucky and Virginia took the position that the acts violated their rights and attempted to nullify them. This controversy of states rights continued for over sixty years. -
Marbury v. Madison
Marbury v. Madison was a legal case that established the principle of judicial review. Judicial review stated that the Supreme Court has the authority to interpret the Constitution. Before leaving office John Adams appointed judges who would serve for life. When Jefferson took office and one judge didn't receive his pension, he went to court against the government. The Marshall Courts decision generally strengthened the power of the federal government and opposed states rights. -
Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was President Jefferson's purchase of land west of the United States. France was at war and needed money so they sold the land to the United States for a cheap amount of money. The Louisiana Purchase was also called Jefferson's dilemma because it did not specifically say in the Constitution that a President could purchase land for the country. Jefferson was against this because of his belief of a strict interpretation of the Constitution. He bought the land anyway -
War of 1812 begins
The war of 1812 was America's second war with England. The was was fought because of England's impressment of American sailors, cutting off American trade, and arming native Americans on the western frontier. -
Battle of New Orleans
The Battle of New Orleans is most commonly known as former president Andrew Jackson's leadership ability and heroism. Although the Treaty of Ghent, which end the War of 1812, had already been signed the news did not travel to New Orleans. Americans and Englishmen erupted in one of military's biggest engagements all the while they battle didn't need to be fought. -
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise allowed the state of Missouri to enter the Union as a slave state, under the condition the Maine had to be admitted as a free state. The compromise created an imaginary line that separated slave and free states. The compromise was later considered null and void after the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854. -
Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine was a statement passed by President James Monroe to warn European Countries not to recolonize Latin America. It depended on the British Navy as the US navy hadn't grown yet. It didn't immediately have much of an effect but it served as a purpose for future president's involvement in foreign affairs. The U.S. involvement in Latin American affairs lead to resentment between the two regions. -
Nullification Crisis
The Nullification crisis was a crisis that happened under Andrew Jackson’s Presidency. The state of South Carolina declared that the Tariffs of 1828 and 1832 were unconstitutional. This created the ideal that states have the right to overturn federal law if it harms the state. Andrew Jackson wanted to show that federal law was stronger than state law but, he also did not want to lose the support of South Carolina. Eventually a compromise was reached and the protective tariff was lowered. -
Texas Annexation
The Texas Annexation was land that was acquired by the U.S. from Mexico as a result of the Mexican American War. They wanted the land to add Texas to the Union and to better achieve Manifest Destiny. The annexation was a great example of individualism because Texas was it's own country for nine years after separating from Mexico and joining the U.S. -
Oregon Treaty
The Oregon Treaty was land that the U.S. acquired from England to settle land disputes and to achieve Manifest Destiny. It added three new states to the Union and impacted sectionalism because it made the number of free and slave states unbalanced. -
Mexican Cession
The Mexican Cession, or the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, was land acquired by the U.S. from Mexico in 1848. We got this land as a result of the Mexican American war and to further advance the idea of Manifest Destiny, The treaty added seven new states to the Union. The treaty decreased sectionalism and increased nationalism because it completed Manifest Destiny. -
Declaration of Sentiments
The Declaration of Sentiments was a book written by Elizabeth Cady Stanton that argued the government oppressed women. It outlined the rights that women had as U.S. citizens. It was read at the Seneca Falls convention. -
Compromise of 1850
After America gained all of the land from the Mexican-American war, it was disputed over weather the area gained would enter as free or slave states. It made California become a free state and the territories Utah and New Mexico were determined by popular sovereignty. This ended the slave trade in Washington D.C. but made it easier for southern states to recover fugitive slaves. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncles Tom's Cabin was a book written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. It was an ant-slavery book that spread awareness about the evils of slavery.It is said to have "laid the ground work for the Civil War". -
Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas was the event where both pro and anti slavery supporters were trying to sway votes when the Kansas-Nebraska Act was being debated upon. The pro and anti slavery supporters turned violent with each other and the event became known as Bleeding Kansas. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act proposed the idea that states should use popular sovereignty to determine if the state should be free or slave. This overturns the Missouri Compromise. Both pro and anti slavery supporters tried to sway voting. Things turned violent and the even became known as Bleeding Kansas. This eventually led to the creation of the Republican Party. -
John Browns Raid on Harper's Ferry
An Abolitionist named John Brown led an attack on a federal controlled armory in Harper's Ferry, West Virginia. -
Battle of Fort Sumter
The Battle of Fort Sumter was the first battle of the Civil War. Fort Sumter is located of the Charleston Harbor in South Carolina. It was held by U.S. Major Robert Anderson in 1860 until a year later after South Carolina succeeded from the Union when Confederate General P.G.T Beauregard attack it on April 12, 1861. The fort was taken by the Confederates until 1865 when it was abandoned after Charleston was captured by Union General William Sherman. -
Battle of Bull Run
The Battle of Bull Run, also known as the Battle of Manassas Junction, is widely know for being the first major on land battle of the Civil War. It began with 35,000 Union troops marching from Washington D.C. to confront 20,000 Confederate forces at the Bull Run river. The Confederate victory was a big moral booster and it shocked the Union as they believed the war would be an easy win. -
The Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam, also know as the Battle of Sharpsburg, was General Lee's attempt to invade the North. It is known as one of the deadliest one day in all of American military history. It was fought at Antietam Creek, Sharpsburg Maryland. Union forces were lead by General George MeClellan. General Robert E. Lee lead the Confederates. Neither side won the battle and it was considered a tactical draw. -
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was a document issued by President Abraham Lincoln that stated "that all persons held as slaves within the rebellious states are, and henceforward shall be free". His purpose in doing this was to get freed slaves to join the Union army. He believed that the freed slaves would show courage fighting in a cause they disagreed with and felt the effects of. -
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Presidential Reconstruction
Presidential Reconstruction was a plan set in place by President Abraham Lincoln and followed up by his successor President Andrew Johnson that forced 10% of the population of each state to pledge allegiance to the Union. It also emancipated slaves in the former confederate states. Congress tried to resist Johnson's plans. -
Battle of Vicksburg
The Battle of Vicksburg was fought in Vicksburg, Mississippi. The Union led by General Ulysses S. Grant and the Confederates led by General John Pemberton. Grant attacked Vicksburg multiple time to try and capture the city. Lincoln believed the capture of Vicksburg could bring an end to the war. The surrender of Vicksburg split the Confederacy in two by the Union taking control of the Mississippi river. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg is known as the the most important battle in the Civil War. General Lee marched his army to Pennsylvania and clashed with the Union army commanded by General Meade. The confederates eventually tore through Union lines but not without many casualties. Lee was forced to withdraw his army on July the 4th. -
Gettysburg Address
The Gettysburg Address was a speech given by President to honor the dead at the bloodiest battle of the Civil War, Gettysburg. Lincoln cited the principles in the Declaration of Independence that all men are created equal. He focused on how important it was to maintain the Union. This was Lincoln's primary goal in the Civil War. -
Sherman's March to the Sea
On November fifteenth General William T. Sherman led around 60,000 Union troops from the Tennessee-Georgia border to Savannah Georgia to capture the port there. He did this to scare civilians of the CSA into submission and to force them to abandon their cities. Sherman used the tactic of total war in his march. -
Freedman's Bureau established
The Freedman's Bureau was a group set up by Radical Republicans to ensure protection for freemen. It set up schools and helped freedmen acquire land. Most freedmen settled on land taken from former plantation owners, although this put freedmen in a position of economic dependence and destitution. They still needed to rely on former plantation owners as cotton prices decreased. The Freedmen's Bureau assisted in the negotiation of labor contracts. -
13th Amendment Passed
The 13th amendment abolished slavery in the United States. -
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Congressional Reconstruction
Congressional Reconstruction was the time period where radical republicans sought to punish former confederates and protect the rights of African Americans. Radical republicans divided the South except for Tennessee into 5 military districts. They believed that the south should be treated like conquered provinces. President Johnson vetoed the reconstruction acts but his vetoes were overturned by congress. Radical Republican voted to impeach President Johnson and missed the impeachment by a vote. -
14th Amendment Passed
The 13th Amendment guaranteed birthright citizenship to people born in America, provided equal protection for all American citizens, and punished former Confederates. -
15th Amendment Passed
The 15th amendment granted African American males the right to vote, -
Plessy v. Ferguson
The Plessy v. Ferguson case was when the U.S. supreme court made the decision that upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the "separate but equal doctrine". What sparked this case was when Homer Plessy refused to sit in a car for African Americans. Plessy v. Ferguson was overturned by the Brown v. Board case.