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Nov 11, 1492
Columbus lands in the Americas
Christopher Columbus lands with his crew and 3 ships in the New World. He claimed the land for Spain and named it "San Salvador." He found inhabitants there (Native Americans), and he thought he has landed in the Indies. -
Nov 14, 1519
The Spanish Empire
After Columbus' arrival to the Carribean (New World), Spain sent more explorers to find more land to claim. The Spanish Empire had a negative relationship with the Native Americans. They enslaved them, and took their land. -
The Lost Colony of Roanoke
An English Noble named Sir Walter Raleigh tried to start a colony on Roanoke Island (off the coast of present-day North Carolina). Native Americans welcomed them and gave them traps for fish, but they were more interested in finding gold and soon ran out of supplies. -
Jamestown: The First English Colony
John Cabot landed on a small island off the coast of Canada. He had thought that he had landed in Asia (like Columbus), instead he found swampy land. He named it Jamestown after King James. -
New France
Jacque Cartier was exploring present day Canada looking for a water passage through North America. Instead he found land towards the north of the New World and named it New France. They survived there by trapping beavers (coureurs de bois). At that time, beaver furhats were very popular in France. -
New Netherlands
Henry Hudson found a water passage in present day New York (Hudson River) and claimed it for the Dutch. In 1629 the first colonists arrived. The English later took this land. -
Starving Time
In the Fall of 1609, Smith was injured and sent back to England. That Winter was the worst for Jamestown; without Pochahontas and Smith there to keep the friendship between the two groups, the Native Americans refused to trade food or supplies. The English died out and the following Spring only 60 of the 500 people were alive. -
New Amsterdam
The Dutch settlement in Manhattan rose to ever 1,000 people as fur trade expanded (coerers de bois). The Dutch West India Company hired Peter Stuyvesant as the colony's new governer. By 1660, the colony had nearly 8,000 people including people from Europeans as well as enslaved Africans. -
Proclamation of 1763
George III of England had told the Colonists to stay east of the Appalachian Mountains to avoid conflicts with the Native Americans (who were living on the west of the mountains). The Colonists however, running out of farm lands and pushed west to try to obtain the lands anyway. After hearing about this, King George sent 7,500 more men to make sure that the Colonists listened to him. -
The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act, a new law enforced by the British Prime Minister Grenville on the American Colonists (since they are the lightest taxed people). It was also enforced due to the large debt leftover from the French-Indian War. The law states that you must buy a stamp for each/any piece of paper you buy (which increases the cost). However, the Colonists were upset, due to no representation which made the phrase "No taxation without representation." Using violence, the Americans acheived freedom. -
The Quartering Act
The Quartering Act was another law enforced on the Colonists, stating that they must give British soldiers a place to stay, food, beer, candles, fire, vinegar, cooking utensils, etc. Providing for the soldiers was basically a tax for them. When the New York Assembly chose not to fund beer, salt and vinegar for the soldiers, the British Parliment didn't let them meet. -
Townshend Act
Charles Townshend, the next British leader, decided to tax the Americans of the most popular items imported there (paint, glass, paper and tea). The Americans, infuriated, decided to boycott the items. The British merchants were losing money and the new head of government (Lord North) decided to repeal the act. -
Tea Act
The Tea Act was a way of Lord North gaining complete control over the tea market by lowering the price substantially. But the Americans saw through it, and when Britain had sent 3 ships full of Tea, a few men in Boston dressed as Mohawk Indians (the people on the sip) and emptied the 90,000 pounds of Tea in the ocean. When the British leaders got wind of what had happened, they were ready to thoroughy punish the Colonists. -
The Intolerable Act
The next series of laws enforced on the Americans, were brutal, down to the point of intolerable. The British were making them pay for the lost tea, have the soldiers be tried in Britain AND that Massachusetts couldn't hold any town meetings. But instead they rebelled, disagreeing to pay and united. They decided to stay united no matter what. -
Lexington & Concord
The British, deciding to take action, made a plan to steal all of the Colonists' gunpowder, which was said to be stashed at Concord. Making the attack a surprise one they went at night, however after being discovered, the Colonists attacked at Lexington and moved the gunpowder to another location. After seeing their possesions on fire, the minutemen attacked. The British, surprised fled the 4,000 angry militiamen. -
The Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress had decided to make a "Continental Army" (a militia made from all colonies combined) with George Washington as the Commander-in-Chief. -
The Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill was the unofficial start of the War of Independece between the British and the Colonists. At the tops of the Bunker and Breed Hills (near Boston) the militiamen built forts (for security reasons). A fresh shipment of British Troops arrived and were told not to attack till their foes were within eyesight. The Colonists had the advantage, until the third time, when they ran out of gunpowder and had to pull back. About 1,000 Brits were killed as well as about 500 Colonists -
The Olive Branch Petition
The Congress sent a letter known as an "Olive Branch Petition" in 1775, asking King George III to end all the quarrels. However by the time the letter reached the King, he declared that the colonies are to be “open and avowed rebellion.” He ordered his ministers “to bring the traitors to justice.” The Colonists then realized that war was the only solution. -
The Siege of Boston
Washington played a trick on the British, claiming that they had 1,800 barrels of gunpowder, however only having 36. After finding heavy weapons and gunpowder, he lead a siege on Boston, scaring away 1,100 Troops and Loyalists into Canada on ships. -
The Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence (later edited by Sam Adams and George Washington), and later was signed by 12/13 Colonies (New York decided not to vote on anything) and was known as the official "break-up letter" between America and Britain. -
Battle for New York
The Americans and British Armies met in Brooklyn, New York for a battle. The Americans were confident, but their lack of experience caused them to retreat against the British (who had a lot of training and greater number of soldiers). In 2 days of fighting the British lost 377 men while the Americans lost 1407. -
Trenton
Washington and his men ambush the British troops in Trenton on the morning of Christmas. When they reached Trenton, the Hessians were asleep. Since they were caught by surprise, they surrendered. Washington captured 868 prisoners without any of his troops dying. -
Ratification of the Articles of Confederation
The AoC were the post-war laws made by the Continental Congress. They gave less power to the Central Government rather than to have strong one because of their fears of a replay of the British Empire. -
Saratoga
Saratoga Springs was the first hope for the Americans. General Burgoyne was on his way to meet General Howe (both British Generals), and on his way, decided to attack Saratoga Springs, despite being outnumbered. Round after round, the Americans held out and eventually, Burgoyne accepted defeat. After this, The Spanish and French decided to help the Americans by becoming allies. Lafayette and Freidrich von Steuben were key members in helping the American Army. -
Yorktown
The French and Americans set a trap for Cornwallis and his troops in Yorktown. The French sent 8,000 troops and 20 warships to join Washingtons Army. The French warships arrived just in time to seal off the entrance to Chesapeak Bay. Thus Cornwallis was cut off from the British Navy. -
Treaty of Paris
In Paris, the representatives of the US and Britain signed a peace treaty. The treaty had three major agreements: the first being that the US would be recognized as an independent nation by Britain. The second was that Britain would give up its claims to all lands between teh Atlantic Coast and the Mississippi River. The thrid part was that the US would return all the rights and land to the Loyalists. -
Shay's Rebellion
Daniel Shay was thrown in jail because he could not pay the debt he has from when he had to borrow money from the government to make produce for the French/American Armies. When he failed to pay it back due to lack of sales of produce (now that the war is over), he was thrown in jail. Now everyone decided to burn down the Courts in order to show Congress that this system is not successful. -
Constitutional Convention
The Constitutional Convention was the "Plan B". After the AoC didn't work, there were 2 proposed plans; the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan. However, there was compromise made between both plans. There would be a "House of Representatives" based on the population of the state (Congress), and the "Senate" (2 reps. from each state). Other laws on slavery, enforcements, etc. -
Ratification of the U.S. Constitution
After the Constitution was completed, ratification (approval) was required from at least 9/13 of the states. The Fed. (Federal Government) highly urged the delegates to vote in favor for the constitution. However, when too many states declined, fearing for their rights, the 13 Ammendments were made. After that they managed to achieve 9+ votes (from the delegates) and put the constitution in power. -
The Louisiana Purchase
Lousiana, a giant strip of land owned by the French. By the 1800's, farmers were settled west of the Appalachians and were sending their crops by the Mississippi to New Orleans (the market and part of Louisiana). However, Napolean, the French ruler had plans to have millions of French farmers in Louisiana to make sugar crops for the slaves in the Carribeans. The U.S. Farmers, afraid that if Napolean shut their port, their crops would have no way to the market. America bought it for $7.5m. -
Spain give Florida to the U.S.
After a rejected offer on Florida (offered by U.S.) Slave owners in Georgia were angry because slaves sometimes ran away to Florida, as well as Seminole raids on their lands. President Jackson illegally went into Florida with 1,700 soldiers and replaced the Spanish governor with a U.S one. After being asked to try (and remove) Jackson by the Spanish, the cabinet decided rather to send a blunt message to either govern or leave. The Spanish, fearing war,left with $5 million given by
U.S. -
Trail of Tears
The Trail of Tears was the long journey endured by the Native American tribes, as they were forced to migrate from the east of the Mississippi to the west (Oregon). They were given no means of transportation (other than foot), no blankets/clothes and weren't given time to gather all their belongings. The range of distance travelled by the tribes varied from 400 km - 1500 km. It was a gruesome travel where thousands of people died. -
The Indian Removal Act
Jackson, the American President at the time, believed in Manifest Destiny, and felt that the 125,000 Native Americans that still lived East of the Mississippi had to move to Oregon. Despite the tribes adapting to their culture, language and being civilized, Jackson claimed that peace could not be achieved when they are so near. Some groups went peacefully while others unsuccessfully resisted. It was completely unfair and forceful, making the N.A's move from the land that was theirs first -
Texas is Annexed
Texas was a great amount of land owned by the Mexicans. However, they allowed an American, Stephen Austin start his colony in Texas on 3 conditions; they had to become Mexican citizens, become part of the Catholic Church and the people. About 300 families settles in Texas with Mexican settlers. However, it seemed they couldn't live in harmony, and they eventually broke out in fights. The Alamo was the fight between 200 American settlers and about 4,000 Texans. Eventually, America annexed Texas. -
Oregon Treaty
Britain and the U.S. agreed to a peaceful “joint occupation” of Oregon. After the L & C Expedition and the alternate route, thousands of American families from the established eastern settlements moved to the West. In 1843, 1,000 pioneers packed their belongings into wagons and headed for Oregon after finding out about the "Pioneers Paradise." President Polk agreed to a compromise treaty that divided Oregon in half at the 49th parallel,a diplomatic settlement agreed by both the U.S. and Britain. -
War with Mexico
Two days after President Polk’s speech, Congress declared war on Mexico. After about a year of fighting and deaths on both sides, 1848, Mexico and the U.S. signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo; Mexico agreed to give up Texas and a vast region known as the Mexican Cession, including the present-day states of California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico, as well as parts of Colorado and Wyoming in return for $15m. -
Southerners Angry #1
The southerners were angry because there was a ban on slavery in the Louisiana territories. This made a huge amount of land/territories practically off-limits to them unless they decided to give up slavery. -
Northerners were angry #1
During the Missouri compromise, the Northerners were angry because some northern delegates voted in favor for to admit Missouri as a slave state. These people were then called traitors. This highly displeased northerners. -
Northerners Angry #2
The Fugitive law gave no freedom to the slaves and let the Southerners practically prance into their territories and take free men. It is unfair, and the way that they treated slaves were horrible. -
Southerners Angry #2
The book "Uncle Tom's Cabin" made slavery very unpopular in the north and fed more fuel to the already strong fire of the hatred for slavery in the north. It made them look bad. -
Civil War
It started on April 12th, 1860 between the Confederates (the 11 pro-slavery southern states that seceded the Union) and the Union (the remaining anti-slavery northern states). Reasons were the election of anti-slavery president Abraham Lincoln and the arguments between both sides on slavery. The secession was what triggered the war. The confederates surrendered on April 9th, 1965 due to devestated resources.
