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Jamestown Founded
In early 1607, 104 English men and young boys arrived in the Americas in search of a place to begin a new life. After months of scouring land, they found the perfect spot. On May 13, 1607, the men and boys chose Jamestown, Virginia to be their new home. The settlement was named after their king, James I, in the hopes that he would be pleased with them. Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in North America. -
John Quincy Adams Born
John Quincy Adams was born July 11, 1767, in the Massachusets village of Braintree. Adams grew up the son of a president and spent most of his early days tending to the family's land and getting an education. -
Boston Massacre
Tensions were running high between colonists and the Brits following the implementation of the Townshend Acts, a series of taxes on goods and services in the colonies to help Britain pay war debt. The colonists displeasure with the troops reached a boiling point on March 5, 1770, when protesters pestered the red coats until they'd had enough. British soldiers opened fire, killing five colonists in what came to be known as the "Boston Massacre". -
Boston Tea Party
Following the passage of the Tea Act in the colonies by British Parliament in 1773, an already angry group of colonists became even more enraged. On the night of December 16, 1773, Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty boarded three British cargo ships disguised as Native Americans and dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor. They were charged with treason, and by order of the outraged king, the men were tarred and feathered. The protest paved way for the Coercive Acts, and eventually war. -
The Shot Heard Round the World
Following Paul Revere's infamous warning, Colonial minutemen began assembling to meet the Red Coats under the command of Capt. John Parker. Scouts were sent to scope out the location of British forces but were arrested. This led to an advancement by the 250 British soldiers and a re-assembly of the 77 minutemen. When the two sides met, a shot was fired. Colonists believed it was a minuteman, but we still do not know for sure. This was the shot that started the Revolution. -
Declaration of Independence Signed
The final domino to fall in the start of the revolution was the meeting of the Second Continental Congress, who on July 4, 1776 signed arguably the most important document in American history. The congress convened in Philadelphia and from there managed all aspects of the revolutionary war. As the war continued the Congress began inching closer and closer to independence. Finally, on July 4, they felt the time was right to declare it. -
Battle of Charlotte
It wasn't a victory for the Colonial Army, but a statement was made. Cornwallis and his British troops entered Charlotte holding a bit of a grudge since the community was the first government body in America to declare independence from the Crown. Red Coats and heavily outnumbered Blue Coats battled in the center of the city on September 26, 1780. Cornwallis's men eventually won, but the Colonists tenacity in battle made a mark on Cornwallis, dubbing Charlotte a "Hornets Nest of Rebellion." -
Traveled to St. Petersburg as secretary/translator for Francis Dana
At age 14, John Quincy Adams was already fluent in many different languages. As a result, the president's son was sent on numerous diplomatic trips across Europe due to his linguistic skills. Adams traveled to St. Petersburg with Francis Dana as his secretary and translator, in order to build a diplomatic relationship between the United States and Russia. -
Battle of Yorktown Begins
On September 28, 1781, Gen. George Washington led his group of 17,000 French and Continental Troops into Yorktown, VA and began the Battle of Yorktown. This later came to be know as the Siege Of Yorktown due to the length of bombardment by the Continental and French armies on the 9,000 British troops stationed at Yorktown. It was on this day that Washington's troops had fully encircled Cornwallis's men and blocked any route of escape. This Battle eventually led to Cornwallis's surrender. -
Treaty of Paris Signed
Shortly following Cornwallis's surrender at Yorktown, the Second Continental Congress sent a five member delegation to negotiate a treaty with Great Britain. John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, Thomas Jefferson, and Henry Laurens were sent to negotiate a treaty. The treaty was signed on September 3rd, 1783. It recognized American independence and stated Britain would cede to the US all territory in between the Allegheny Mountains to the east and the Mississippi River to the west. -
JQA Begins Studying at Harvard
As a young boy, Adams was already ahead of most of his peers and many of his instructors in his knowledge and comprehension. He had traveled the world on diplomatic trips and was far superior to his fellow students when it came to what he knew. His advanced level of learning led him to begin studying at Harvard University in the fall of 1785, where he soared and finished his studies within two years. -
French Revolution Begins
After months of turmoil both inside Parliament and among the French people, the common people had had enough of their lack of say in government. On July 14, 1789, rioters stormed the Bastille fortress in an attempt to acquire gunpowder and weapons. This event, now a national holiday in France, is widely considered as the start of the French Revolution. -
Adams Appointed Minister to the Netherlands
Just three years removed from opening his own law practice, Adams earlier diplomatic trips caught the eye of President George Washington. Washington knew the linguistic skills and diplomatic experience Adams possessed, and in 1794 appointed him Minister to the Netherlands. This was the first time Adams was appointed to a cabinet position and it helped stamp his claim in the political scene. "...it would put John Quincy in a key listening point in Europe's swirling diplomatic cosmos" (Unger 82). -
Adams Gets Married
Adams always had an eye for women, and after traveling across Europe he had met many. However there was one woman that he had his heart set on. He fell in love with the British-born daughter of an American merchant and council. On July 26, 1797, John Quincy Adams married Louisa Catherine Johnson, and the two were a perfect match. "The day before yesterday united us for life. My recommendation of her to your kindness and affection I know will be unnecessary" (Unger 105). -
French Revolution Ends
On November 9, 1799, frustrated to their wits end with their leadership, French Revolution leader Napolean Bonaparte staged a coup. Bonaparte's coup abolished the Directory set forth years earlier and he established himself France's "first counsel." -
England, France Sign Treaty of Amiens
On March 25, 1802, England signed the Treaty of Amiens with France. The treaty was basically a pact of neutrality and peace, with both nations agreeing that they would not go to war with one another. The treaty also had no significant territorial provisions, and is considered by many to be the beginning of the first peacetime environment in Europe in nearly 10 years. -
Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was a land deal negotiated between the United States and France. It was the largest single land deal in American history, with the US acquiring nearly 827,000 square miles of land west of the Mississippi River for $15 million. -
War of 1812 Begins
A day after both the Senate and House of Representatives voted to go to war with England, President Andrew Jackson signed into law a declaration of war. On June 18, 1812, following a series of dust-ups between British and American ships, The stars and stripes had had enough and declared war on England. The War of 1812 was on in full force. -
Adams Elected President
On February 9, 1825, John Quincy Adams journey to the top of the political mountain was complete. After a hotly contested election, Adams was elected by the House of Representatives after the Electoral College failed to elect a true winner. By rule of the 10th Amendment, the election of president was delegated to the House. "John Quincy's victory appalled many American political leaders, who called it 'a mockery of representative government" (Unger 238). -
John Quincy Adams Inaugurated as President
On March 4, 1825, John Quincy Adams was officially inaugurated as the sixth president of the United States. Adams alienated many in Congress in his inaugural address, in which he bluntly set forth his policy. Adams identified the main objective of his administration, which was to open and expand trade relationships with South America and the Caribbean colonies. -
Adams Loses Re-Election Bid to Jackson
After one of the most volatile and anger-fueled presidential campaigns in American history, it came time for voters to decide, for the second consecutive election, between Whig John Quincy Adams and Democrat-Republican Andrew Jackson. When all the votes were tallied and the electoral college did its constitutional duty, Jackson emerged victorious. Why? Simply because there was an overwhelming majority of people who were disgusted with Adams following the controversy four years earlier.
