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Settlers Land at Jamestown
English travelers arrive in Virginia with the intention of setting up a agricultural colony. Most of the immigrants were very poor individuals who went as indentured servants. -
Pilgrims Celebrate First Thanksgiving
Pilgrims in Massachusetts celebrate unity with Native Americans by having a large meal with the indigenous population. This is an early sign of good relations between settlers and natives, but those good relations would not last particularly long with settlers needing more and more land. -
Queen Anne's War Begins
Queen Anne's War was the second in a succession of French and Indian wars between France and Great Britain. The war involved a multitude of tribes who allied with many countries involved. The war was fought over control of territories across North America. Although the war did not lead to many territorial changes, it did result in Native Americans being almost completely wiped out in Spanish Florida. -
Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation was issued after the end of the French and Indian War to establish a boundary for colonist pioneers to adhere to. This is an early sign of discord between British rule and colonial citizens. The colonists did not like British rule interfering with their movement westward. -
John Quincy Adams Born
John Quincy Adams was born to John and Abigail Adams in Braintree, Massachusetts. His father was a very important figure in the American Revolution as well as the fledgling years of the country. Because of this, Adams grew up around the realm of politics and intellectualality. -
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John Quincy Adams' Lifespan
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Lexington and Concord
Militia men first encountered British troops in a violent fashion here. This was essentially the beginning of the war that resulted in American independence. -
Second Continental Congress
After a long string of abuses and discrepencies towards the colonists, it was finally decided to declare independence in July of 1776. The declaration was issued almost a year after fighting began. The original intention was not to declare indepence with the first continental congress, but tensions rose to where it was necessary. Indepence was originally considered a radical idea. -
John Quincy Adams Accompanies Father on Diplomatic Missions
Throughout his early life, Adams would travel with his father to other countries on diplomatic trips. Through his father, Adams began to learn how politics worked while also learning a multitude of different languages. This is the beginning of Adams' life as not only a politician, but as an intellectual. -
Industrial Revolution Begins in Britain
The industrial revolution began around this time in England. It is here where we see the beginning of the world to turn in to an industrial society. -
Surrender at Yorktown
Lord Cornwallis was forced to surrender at Yorktown due to troop fatigue and the colonial forces having assistance from the French military. This results in the Treaty of Paris in 1783, establishing the colonies as seperate from Britain. -
John Quincy Adams Graduates from Harvard
Adams' graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and the intention to practice law after school. He was admitted to bar four years later and shortly after began as a lawyer in Boston. -
Constitutional Convention
In the fledgling years of the country, the government operated under the Articles of Confederation which did not allow for a strong national government and caused numerous irresolvable issues such as Shays' Rebellion. The need for a governmental system that allowed for commerce to be regulated and military to be formed was increasingly apparent to the framers. This need was addressed with the Constitutional Convention. -
French Revolution
The French Revolution took certain ideals from the American Revolution of the 1770s and over ten years abolished the monarchy that ruled for hundreds of years. This was a major player in the rise of Napoleon and the expansion of the French Empire. -
George Washington Elected President
George Washington is elected president under the newly adopted Constitution. Washington had to exercise the power of the Constitution by putting down the Whiskey Rebellion in 1791 which was a major sign that the new backbone of American government was effective where the Articles of Confederation were not. -
John Quincy Adams Appointed Minister to the Netherlands
George Washington appointed John Quincy Adams minister to the Netherlands near the beginning of his second term of office. Adams' experience in law and exposure to the political world through his father was vital in this decision in addition to his intelligence and knowledge of multiple languages. -
James Monroe Appoints John Quincy Adams Secretary of State
Adams was appointed Secretary of State in 1817. This is where he performed some of his more important political actions, including the acquisition of Florida and the Monroe Doctrine. The doctrine effectively removed all immediate British influence from the new nation. -
John Quincy Adams Elected President
Adams is elected president in 1825 by what Andrew Jackson dubs a corrupt bargain. Jackson then spends all of Adams' presidency thwarting all work Adams tries to do and Adams is not reelected. -
John Quincy Adams Returns to Congress
Adams returns to Congress shortly after his term as president. He continues to be an influential force in the legislature for over 10 years. The term gag rule related to the quashing of all slavery talk stems from him. -
John Quincy Adams Dies
Adams passes away due a stroke suffered two days prior. Adams is remembered in history as our most eccentric and intellectual president even while ineffective. -
Compromise of 1850
Poltical tensions were rising, particularly over the issue of slavery, and they had been for around 20 years. When it came to expansion the issue was particularly difficult, would new territories be free or slave. The state of California was one of much demand by both sides of the issue so a compromise was found to where California was admitted as a free state in exhange for stronger pro slavery laws and the slave trade being illegal in DC. -
Abraham Lincoln Elected President/Start of Civil War
Abraham Lincoln was a famous free-soiler Republican who won the presidential election based on the democratic party being split between candidates. Slave states decided to secede based on the new president being so anti slavery and within months the Civil War had begun.
