-
In 1619, the first Africans arrived in Chesapeake as a trade deal to the Virginians; the "twenty Negars" were sold as cargo off of a Dutch ship, eliciting the beginning of slavery in America (Oakes, et al. 71). At the end of the century, slave trade increased greatly due to the increase in life expectancy of African slaves (Oakes, et al. 71). Following the arrival of Africans, slavery later became a vital role in economy of the colonies (Oakes, et al. 71).
-
Bacon's Rebellion began on June 23rd, 1676 with an elite leader, Nathaniel Bacon, who sought justice for Virginia's freedmen and revenge on all Indians (Oakes, et al. 101). The escalation of conflict was prompted by Indian retaliation on Virginians (Oakes, et al. 101). The revolt ended in 1677, where Bacon had died and Berkeley (Bacon's opponent) was removed from office (Oakes et al. 101). Bacon's Rebellion elicited Indian dispersal as well as Virginia as a slave society (Oakes, et al. 100).
-
King George's War began on May 3rd, 1744 between Britain/Austria and France/Prussia and lasted until 1748 (Oakes, et al. 163). King George's War marked the beginning of the weakening French position over the Indians in North America; the instability that resulted from the war was one of the underlying causes of the French and Indian War (Oakes, et al. 165).
-
The French and Indian War (also known as the Seven Years' War) began on May 28th, 1754 as a part of the imperial war between France and Great Britain over securing claims in North America (Oakes, et al. 166). Virginia and other American interests were involved, and the war continued until the French surrendered and Britain gained advantages of eastern colonial territory (Oakes, et al. 170). The Treaty of Paris officially ended the French and Indian War on September 3rd, 1763 (Oakes, et al. 171).
-
The Boston Massacre occurred on March 5th, 1770 as a result of British government attempting to enforce legislation on Boston and the tensions and rioting that followed (Oakes, et al. 182). The textbook considers the Boston Massacre a "culmination of months of scuffling between young men and adolescents and soldiers" (Oakes, et al. 182). The massacre occurred between citizens of Boston and seven soldiers, leaving 11 injured men and 5 dead (Oakes, et al. 182).
-
The First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia on September 5th, 1774, with delegates from every colony except Georgia (Oakes, et al. 187). They met for seven weeks as they "laid the foundation for the first national government" (Oakes, et al. 187). Actions of the Congress included, but are not limited to: boycotting imports and exports from colonies to Britain and vice versa, and adopting the "Declaration of Rights" as a collection of almost every colony's expressions (Oakes, et al. 187).
-
The Bunker Hill battle occurred on June 17th, 1775 between American colonists and Britain over colonial independence (Oakes, et al. 194). John Quincy Adams served as an eyewitness to the battle in Charlestown (Unger 3). Those that were wounded or died in the Bunker Hill battle included: 1,000 soldiers, 92 officers, and 370 colonists (Oakes, et al. 195). The battle at Bunker Hill is considered "one of the bloodiest battles of the Revolutionary War (“The Battle of Bunker Hill: Now We Are at War").
-
The Declaration of Independence followed a series of conflicts between Britain and American colonists (Oakes, et al. 194). The Declaration of Independence was also influenced by Thomas Paine's pamphlet called "Common Sense," which pushed for a fresh start in American government away from British rule (Oakes, et al. 197). The Declaration of Independence was unanimously voted upon by Congress, and was adopted two days later on July 4th, 1776 as a symbol of American liberty (Oakes et al. 197).
-
Shays' Rebellion was an extreme protest against the states' attempt to increase taxes and seize lands in order to pay off state debts (Oakes, et al. 212). In 1786, Revolutionary War captain, Daniel Shays, led farmers in Massachusetts to shut down courts to prevent the collection to debts; this protest continued until 1787 (Oakes et al. 211). Shays' Rebellion "persuaded nationalists to consider strengthening government" and helped lead Congress to introduce the Constitution (Oakes, et al. 218).
-
The Constitution was ratified on September 17th, 1787 as a "product of many compromises," and is considered to be "one of the most influential documents in the history of the world" (Oakes et al. 218-221). Key provisions of the Constitution included: president chosen by the Electoral College, two houses in Congress, judicial branch in government, numerous powers of Congress, states guaranteed a republican form of government, and evaluation of state disputes by Supreme Court (Oakes et al. 219).
-
The French Revolution began on July 14th, 1789, as the people of France stormed the Bastille after tension arose about the absolute monarchy ("French Revolution"). This event began a ten-year revolution to reject the power of the monarchy (Oakes, et al. 250). In the end, while the French Revolution intended to bring liberty and equality in France, it actually resulted in a loss of liberty, as the revolution resistance ordered for the execution of over 18,000 people ("French Revolution").
-
As the economy continued to grow in what was previously called Saint-Domingue (now called Haiti), exploitation of slaves increased, which led to a massive rebellion on August 22nd, 1791 (“The United States and the Haitian Revolution, 1791-1804"). The slave rebellion in Saint-Domingue in 1791 is noted as one of the only successful slave revolutions up until that point (Oakes, et al. 363).
-
Haiti's independence was declared on January 1st, 1804 ("Haitian Independence"). Haiti became the first black republic under the leadership of a former slave, Francois-Dominique Tossing-Louverture (Oakes, et al. 252). French discontentment with Haiti's independence led other countries to isolate Haiti, which contributed to Haiti's impoverishment later on ("Haitian Independence").
-
Shortly after James Madison became president, he asked John Quincy Adams to serve as the U.S. minister plenipotentiary to Russia (Unger 146). The request was quickly followed by acceptance, and John Quincy Adams and his family left Boston for St. Petersburg on August 5th, 1809 (Unger 148). During his time, he reported to the U.S. government on foreign affairs and relations on Russian soil. He served in Russia until he requested to be recalled in 1814 (Unger 174).
-
John Quincy Adams served as America's chief negotiator in the creation of the Treaty of Ghent, which was signed on December 24th, 1814 (Unger 174). The negotiations established peace and ended the Anglo-American War of 1812, which proved to be a rather pointless and costly war between Great Britain and the United States (Unger 175).
-
In 1819, John Quincy Adams joined Louis de Onis of Spain to create the Adams-Onis Treaty in negotiation over the U.S. acquisition of East and West Florida and fixation of the U.S. boundaries (Bevans). On February 22nd, 1821, the treaty was ratified and John Quincy Adams was recognized for procuring Florida and expanded the East Coast nation (Unger 209). John Quincy Adams noted the transaction as "the most important of my life...an event of magnitude in the history of this Union" (Unger 209).
-
John Quincy Adams' political philosophy played a large part in the Monroe Doctrine. Adams proposed the prevention of further American colonization by European power to James Monroe (Unger 218). On December 2nd, 1823, Monroe quoted Adams' proposal verbatim in his inaugural address, which was later recognized as the Monroe Doctrine (Unger 218).
-
The Election of 1824 consisted of four candidates: Jackson, Adams, Crawford, and Clay (Oakes, et al. 304). The lack of majority in the Electoral College led the election to be turned over to the House of Representatives (Oakes, et al. 304). John Quincy Adams was elected on February 9th, 1825 after only one ballot from the House and served only one term in office (Unger 236). Jackson labeled the election a "corrupt bargain" because of Adams' accused unfair ties with Clay (Oakes, et al. 304).
-
Free Africans who were kidnapped and transported to become slaves were later brought to trial for murder of the ship captain (Unger 288). John Quincy Adams defended their freedom in the Supreme Court case; Adams argued that "justice...is the constant and perpetual will to secure every one his own right" (Unger 291). After months of pleading in the captives' defense, the Supreme Court granted them freedom, which was documented as a notable success for John Quincy Adams (Unger 294).
-
The House presented a resolution regarding abolition to abridge free speech (Unger 274). John Quincy Adams fiercely objected the Gag Rule, which prevented the discussion of the abolition of slavery (Unger 274). Shortly after Adams was reelected into the House, they eliminated the Gag Rule on December 3rd, 1844 ("The House 'Gag Rule'"). The defeat of the Gag Rule, as a result of Adams' efforts, "was the first victory the North would win against the South and the slaveocracy" (Unger 303).
-
In the month prior to his death, he grew very weak and was unable to continue many of his political activities (Unger 308). After serving sixteen total years in the House of Representatives, John Quincy Adams suffered a stroke and died on February 23rd, 1848 (Unger 309). Adams died in the Capitol where he loved at the age of 80 years old, surrounded by fellow congressmen and Henry Clay (Unger 310).
