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Oct 12, 1492
Columbus Lands in the New World
Columbus and his crew landed in the "New World" and named in San Salvador and claimed it in the name of Spain. They meant to go to the Indies in search of gold, but instead found the New World (which they thought was the Indies) and found gold there. -
Nov 13, 1492
The Spanish Empire
After Columbus "discovered" the New World, the Spanish sent more and more men to go find new lands so they can find more gold. They also went to South America and destroyed civilizations there. -
Nov 13, 1534
New France
Jacques Cartier claimed the land (in present day Canada) for the French and sets up a fur trade. They also help the Hurons (Native American Tribe) with their enemies the Iroquois. The French had a business partner like relationship with the Hurons. -
Jamestown Settlement
Jamestown was founded by English Merchants who thought the location was ideal. The problems with the location appeared later on. During the Starving Time, Captian John Smith and Pocahontas befriended each other and made the Native American-English relationship better. -
The Starving Time in Jamestown Starts
The Starving Time lasted 1 year. It started because there was no available food in Jamestown since no farmers settled in Jamestown. Also because the Native American- English relationship was poor, and the Native Americans were unwilling to give the English food. -
New Netherlands
New Netherlands was a colony for the Dutch used for fur trade. It was founded by Henry Hudson who had set out to find a Northwest Passage. -
New Ansterdam Becomes New York
King Charles II told his brother, Duke of York, James that if James could conquer the Dutch, James could take control of the land. So, James set out and before the fight could even start, the Dutch surrendered because their gun powder was damp and useless. -
France Claims Louisiana
Nine years after Father Marquette and Louis Joliet explored the Great Mississippi, Robert De La Salle claimed everything west of the Mississippi for France. He named it "Louisiana" in name of his king Louis XIV -
Georgia becomes the 13th and final English colony
Georgia was founded by James Oglethorpe and George II to keep people out of the debtor's prison. It was also used to protect the other colonies from the Spanish colony of Florida. Oglethorpe wanted to make it into a perfect society that had no alcohol or slaves and everyone owned a small piece of land. -
The Proclamation of 1763
After the French/Indian War, the British had to come up with a way to keep the colonist and the Native Americans from harming each other, and to do this King George III said that the colonists must stay on the East of the Appalachian Mountains, while the Native Americans stay on the west. This idea was not liked by the colonists and they called King George III, a tyrant. -
The Stamp Act
After the War, Britain was left poor and in need to money, and to do this they decided to tax the colonies for using paper, and for every paper they used they would recieve a 'Stamp Tax'. The colonies were upset that they had no voice at British Parliment and declared "No taxation without representation!”. After the colonists turned violent, the law was appealed. -
The Quartering Act
Because of the Proclamation of 1763, 7500 British troops were sent to the colonies, and needed places to stay. Therefore, they were put up in the colonists households and the colonists had to pay from candles, firing, bedding, cooking utensils, salt, vinegar, and beer. -
The Townshend Acts
Charles Townshend was the next British leader to tax the colonies. His idea was to tax certain goods that came from Britain. The Patriots boycotted these items, while the women instead made their own goods. Eventually, the Townshend Act was repealed. -
The Tea Act
When the Americans boycotted British Tea, the British East India Company was in danger of going broke unless it could sell off the 17 million pounds of tea. Lord North thought that he could trick the Americans into buying the taxed tea, but the Americans knew what was going on. And on the 16th of December, snuck unto one of the boats dressed as Native Americans and poored the tea into the water. -
The Intolerable Acts
In 1774, Britain passed a new set of laws that were 'intolerable' according to the colonists. In response to this the colonies began to unite. However, there were still Loyalists who believed the Bostonians went too far. In September 1774, some 50 leaders from 12 colonies met in Philadelphia, which was refered to as 'First Continental Congress' -
The Siege of Boston
On March 4, the colonist stole the British canons, and aimed them at Boston, even though they had no gun powder. Not realizing their bluff, the British and some Loyalist left to Canada. -
Lexington and Concord
Lexington and Conrod is the battle that started the Revoluntionary War. The first shot is still debated, so no one knows who offcially started the war. -
Second Continential Congress
When the Congress met in Philipedelhpia for the second time, they had to choose who should lead the Boston Militia. The man they chose was GEorge Washington. -
The Battle of Bunker Hill
On June 16, the British marched up Bunker Hill to take the Colonial Forts. After being pushed back twice, the British took Bunker Hill, while they lost 1,000 men. -
The Olive Branch Petition
In July, THe Congress sent a Olive Branch to King George III. He responded by calling them all traitors, and that if they continued with these things they are commiting treason and will be hanged. -
The Signing of the Declaration of Independence
After the British left Boston, Thomas Jefferson started to draft a Decleration of Independence. Then on July 4th, 1776, the Delegates all signed knowing that if they lost the war, they would be accused of treason and hanged. -
The Battle of New York
Soon after the British abandoned Boston, they were ordered to capture New York, and then go to Massachusetts. Lead by General William Howe, the British did just this. By the end, the British had only lost 377 men, while the colonists (who had lost the Battle) had lost 1,047 men. -
Trenton
Just when it looked as if the British were about to win the war, Washington made a plan to take Trenton. Right after the British had had their Christmas feast and were sleeping, the colonists would take Trenton. Washington took 868 prisoners without losing any other colonists. -
Saratoga
Even though the British were outnumbered for this Battle, they still chose to fight. Eventually Burgoyne surrended, and that proved that the Americans can defeat the British, which made other countries want to help the Americans. -
The Ratification of the Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was (were?) drafted after the Revolutionary War. The congress made state government higher than national government, wrote laws for the new territories, and things of that nature. They did not make a central government, so no man could rule as a tyrant. -
Yorktown
This was the final battle of the war. General Cornwallis had control over Yorktown, to defeat him, the Americans used hit and run raids to tire them out. Then, the French had blocked the docks, so the British couldn't flee. -
The Treaty of Paris
After the Battle of Yorktown, the Prime Minister and the British public decided that they had enough of the war, but King George wanted to keep fighting. The British and Americans had decided to make a Treaty that would be signed in Paris. It had three parts: that Great Britain agreed to recognize the United States as an independent nation, that Britain gave up its claims to all lands between the Atlantic Coast and the Mississippi River, and that the United States would give back the property. -
Shay's Rebellion
Shay's Rebellion was started by farmer, Daniel Shay, Shay and other farmers who were veterans were given loans during the war, but after the war they started to be in debt. After numerous farmers and veterans were arrested for debt, Shay and others started a rebellion, attacking courthouses and arsenals. -
Constitutional Convention
The Constitutional Convention happened because Congress felt the need to either rewrite or tear up the Articles of Confederation. This Convention was kept a secret so the people could not protest. James Madision (the Father of the Constitution) took more than 600 notes during the Convention -
The Ratification of the Constitution of the United States of America
The Constitution was written after the Congress realized that the articles of confederation were flawed, and would not work. The Constitution includes plans for a new governement, with three branches. the Judicial Branch, the legislature, and the Executive Branch. The Constitution doesn't address slavery, because if they banned slavery, the South would have become their own Union. -
The Louisiana Purchase
The United States bought the Louisiana Territory from Napoleon in 1803. Napoleon had taken Louisiana back from Spain and had plans to settle the territory with French farmers. Then, his plans changed, for the slaves in the French Caribbean colony had revolted, so there was no need for the farmers. Also, France and Britian were near war, and instead of losing Louisiana, he just sold it to the United States. -
Spain gives Florida to the United States
After getting Louisiana, the United States was set on getting Florida which was controlled by the Spanish. When the States offered to buy Florida, the Spanish refused. Meanwhile, there were raids going on in Georgia, so Andrew Jackson was sent to push them back into Florida, but despite orders, Jackson also marched into Florida. After this, Spain feared war and sold Florida to the United States. -
The Indian Removal Act.
The Indian Removal Act was a law signed by President Andrew Jackson in 1830. This law made Native Americans all move to one section of the United States, so the white men could move into more, new land. -
Trail of Tears
The Trail of Tears is what happened after the Indian Removal Act. It is when the Native Americans were forced to move South, so the other people could take their land and farm. -
Texas is Annexed
In 1827, Stephan Moses had turned his father's land into a colony that had attracted 300 families. This colony started attacting more and more people until the Mexicans and colonists both started getting angry. This lead to battles (such as the Alamo) between the Mexicans and the colonists. Soon, Texas gained it's independence and was annexed to the United States. -
Oregon Treaty
In 1819, Oregon was claimed by Russia, Spain, Great Britain, and the United States. After Russia and Spain dropped out, Britian and the US shared Oregon for a few years. When Lewis and Clark went to Oregon, they mapped out a trail, which was soon made an easier trail by Jedideiah Smith. Then, more and more people started to go West to Oregon and claim land. With more people going, they risked war with Britian. So they thought to split in half. But then, a treaty was made giving Oregon to the US. -
War with Mexico
Polk had his eye on more territories, such as California and New Mexico, but both were in control by Mexico. He offered to buy both territories, but the Mexicans refused. And to make matters worse, Texas and Mexico couldn't agree on a border. All of this caused a war between Mexico and the United States. The war ended on February 2, 1848, with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. -
Abolitionists want to stop slavery in D.C
Obviously, both the Northeners and the Southerners wanted D.C to be different things and if D.C ("the nations captial) became free, then most states would see slavery as bad because the capital bans it. The Northeners wanted this, however Congressrefused to consider anti-slavery petitions, angering the Northeners, who wanted to abolish slavery everywhere. -
California applies for admission of a free state.
California applied for admission into the US as a free state, which the northerners were all for. But the southerners opposed this because it would upset the equal balance of free and slave states. And it would result in anti-slavery bills getting passed. -
The Fugitive Slave Law
The Southerners were always angered when Northeners helped fugitive slaves, and their revenge was getting the "Fugitive Slave Law" passed. This angered many Northeners because they simply didn't want to enforce this law. They would even warn the slaves to run when slave catchers came to the towns. -
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was elected as President of the United States on Nov 6, 1860. He was a Republican, and the Republican Party was filled with anti-slavery people. Him winning the election made the Southerners unhappy because they knew that Lincoln would try to enfore a slavery ban, and they knew that they would no longer have power to shape events. -
The Civil War
The American Civil war started for many reasons (many of which are stated in Events before this one), and eventually, the southern states couldn't take it and secceded from the United States and became the Confederate States of America. Then, in 1861, the Confederate states attacked Fort Sumter, starting the fighting that would take place for the next 4 years. In 1865, the war ended with the Battle of Gettysburg and Lincoln delievering his famous Gettysburg Address.
