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Jan 22, 1492
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus receives the funding for his first Atlantic voyages from the Spanish monarchs which sets in motion the first explorations of North America and prompts European colonization later. -
Apr 22, 1500
Iroquois Confederacy
The Iroquois Confederacy is believed to have been established between 1450 and 1600, though some sources argue for earlier dates. The Confederacy made of six Native American Tribe in Northeastern America is believed to be the oldest participatory Democracy in history. -
Dec 22, 1503
Spanish Encomienda
The Encomienda system in Spanish colonial America involved grants from the Royal Crown to conquistadors, governors, or soldiers that allowed them to take legal control over land or a certain number of Natives. The Encomenderos (receivers of the grants) would use the system to exact tribute from the Natives through forced labor. -
(2) Jamestown
Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in America founded by the London Company. The settlement officially established English presence in North America and paved the way for future exploration and colonization. -
North American Slave Trade
The first African slaves arrived in North America in 1619. Now apart of the Atlantic Slave trade, it greatly decreased the number of indentured servants travelling to America and helped to establish the governance of the southern colonies. -
French Fur Trading Colonies
Drawn to North America by the establishment of the North American fur trade, the French began to colonize the areas around Canada. The French established some of the most peaceful relations with Native Americans. -
The Great Awakening
The first Great Awakening saw the cultivation of multiple new ideas that became prominent in colonial culture. One of the prevailing ideas was the notion that State rule should be treated as a contract with the people. This challenged the original thought that people were solely to be ruled over with little participation. -
Seven Years War
The Seven Years War, known also as the French and Indian War, began as a conflict over the Ohio River Valley territory between the French and English. -
(3) Proclamation of 1763
After the victory of the Seven Years war, English colonists made attempts to settle west of the Appalachian mountains only to be met with fatal resistance by Native Americans. King George III issued the proclamation banning westward expansion, which ultimately began the severing of the political relations between the colonies and Great Britain. -
Sugar Act
The Sugar act was one of multiple Acts passed by British government that heavily taxed American colonists to make up for the debt after the French and Indian war. The effect of "Taxation without Representation" instilled bitterness in the colonies and fueled the impending revolution. -
American Revolution
The American Revolution was fought for the freedom of Americans from the rule of the British. The patriot colonists were supported by the French until victory on September 3, 1783. The revolution saw the Declaration of Independence and the creation of a new Government for a new nation. -
Signing of the U.S Constitution
The United States constitution was a revision of the original Articles of Confederation which instilled the initial basis for our form of democratic government, fundamental laws, and basic individual rights. -
(4) Two Party System
The Election of 1796 was the first time in America that presidential canidates ran for office as part of different organized political parties, which saw the creation of the two-party system that America continues today. The first opposing parties were Democratic-Republicans and the Federalists. -
Enlightenment
The age of Enlightenment, much like the First Great Awakening saw the mass spread of new political opinion such as Republicanism, Liberalism, and Conservatism. This movement acted as a catalyst to the formation and editing of the new American government system by the People. -
Abolition
Though prevalent through earlier dates, the matter of Abolition dramatically increased as a popular issue during the Second Great Awakening. The abolition movement saught to federally ban the slave trade and free already owned slaves, which was incredibly opposed in the southern states. -
Republican Motherhood
Along with abolition came the call for Women's Rights. In the 1800's women were second-class citizens, but the idea of Republican Motherhood was a step forward. This idea of the importance of maternity in the nation allowed for reform in the access of education for women and led to the path of feminism and greater women's rights. -
Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine was adopted by the American government, allowing for the policing of the Western hemisphere by the USA. It stated that further European attempts at interfering in the hemisphere would be viewed as aggressive acts and require US intervention. -
Indian Removal Act
The act passed by president Andrew Jackson allowed for "negotiations" with Indian Tribes for their removal to the west in order for Americans to settle past the Mississippi River. The policy was met with much resistance and increased the tensions between American Indian tribes and the federal government. -
(5) Manifest Destiny
The idea of Manifest Destiny in the United States led to the creation of many policies that advanced western settling. Indian Removal and Relocation onto reserves was popular policy. It also led to political debates about the expansion or suppression of slavery in the new territory. -
Mexican American War
The idea of Manifest Destiny led President James K. Polk to declare war on Mexico based on a border skirmish about the Rio Grande. U.S expansionist mindset led into the war to expand the American border across about one-third of Mexican territory through the annexation of Texas and through buying the territory north of the Rio Grande. -
Know Nothing Party
In the period of the 1850's during a large movement of European immigration, a strong sense of nativism in America led to the creation of the Know Nothing party. This party's goal was to keep political power out of the hands of immigrants for fear of job competition, anti-catholicism, and other reasons. -
Compromise of 1850
The compromise of 1850 was instituted in an attempt to quell growing hostilites between the Northern and Southern states in regards to the matter of Slavery growing westward. The Compromise stated that California would become a free state, the Fugitive Slave Law would be upheld, there was to be popular sovereignty in Utah and New Mexico, the slave trade in Washington D.C. was abolished, and the federal government would assume Texas' debt. -
Election of 1860
The election of 1860 saw the election of Abraham Lincoln. Though Lincoln had stated he'd had no quarrels with slave states, South Caroline seceeded within a month of the election. The rest of the Southern states that formed the Confederacy soon followed which ultimately led to the outbreak of the Civil War. -
(6) American Civil War
The first battle of the Civil War took place as the Battle of Bull Run. This made the war official and saw through the destruction of much of the south and the reform of the south's government and state policies. -
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was created by Abraham Lincoln in the midst of the Civil War, declaring "that all persons held as slaves are, and henceforward shall be free." Which put a federal end to the issue of abolition until the southern states succumbed and followed the orders. -
Reconstruction
The period of Reconstruction in the South was aimed to reform the government in the states after the freeing of slaves. New legislature in the states were appointed by Northern officials, though many restrictive laws still passed in response to black freedom. However, northern reserve to settling the issue of equal rights waned into apathy until the end of Reconstruction in 1877. -
Political Machines
During periods of growing Immigration and urban life until the early 1900's, political machines thrived. Politicians made use of them by taking advantage of poor urban immigrants. They would be provided services and jobs in return for political support in elections in order for some officials to keep hold of their office and stances of power. -
Plessy Vs. Ferguson
The case of Plessy Vs. Ferguson put an end to most gains that African Americans achieved after being freed from slavery. The case upheld the doctrines of segregation and Jim Crow laws under the guise of being "separate but equal". -
(7) Spanish-American War
The Spanish-American War ultimately urged multiple sentiments forward by imperialists and anti-imperialists on the subjects of America taking foreign territories to exploit for itself. Many politicians in the period of the debate used either side to gain certain favor, but ultimately policies were adopted that allowed the United States to participate in the following imperial age. -
World War I
The first World War served as an opportunity for America to establish itself as one of the leading world powers next to Europe and in turn gave the US a chance to spread democracy and influence. -
Woodrow Wilson's 14 points
In response to the propositions of the Treaty of Versailles following World War I, President Wilson proposed in an address 14 points that he believed should be included in the treaty. Many of his points greatly opposed the accepted ideas in the final treaty, and led the United States to reject it and refuse joining the League of Nations to assume isolationist policy up until World War II. -
19th Amendment to the Constitution
The 19th Amendment to the US Constitution was ratified in response to the Women's Suffrage movement which was included in the multiple progressive reform movements of the early twentieth century. It officially prohibited the denial of the right to vote to any US Citizen based on the account of sex. -
FDR's New Deal
Franklin Roosevelt's multiple New Deal programs and policies reformed not only American economics during the Great Depression, but also reformed government and political handling of multiple aspects of American life. For example, it introduced the notions of protected banking, social security, federal funding for many projects, and greater intervention with corporations which challenged Laissez-Faire ideals. -
(8) Truman Doctrine/Marshall Plan
Following World War II, the two main powers between the United States and the Soviet Union clashed in a battle of capitalism versus communism. The Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan both involved the containment policy for fear that communism would spread and affect America's democracy. The policies offered aid financially and through military intervention to any nations battling communist control. -
McCarthyism
McCarthyism became a prominent feature in American politics for the worse during the Cold War when Senator Joe McCarthy began to make accusations throughout the government that other politicians were corrupted Communist apologists. After fearmongering all of the American public, McCarthy was dismissed from his political role after the Army-McCarthy hearings that were televised. -
Korean War
Another response to the Cold War, The Truman Doctrine was upheld as South Korea entered conflict with the communist North. The US supported the south, though the war was entirely unsuccessful and ultimately remained divided up into the present. The failure in Korea caused a major upset in the US public who began to doubt the power of the government and military to achieve its goals and promises. -
Brown vs. Board of Education
After nearly a century of grueling battle for civil rights for African Americans, the court case of Brown vs. Board of Education overruled the much earlier case that instigated the "separate but equal" doctrines of Jim Crow laws. The federal courts called for a mandatory end to segregation throughout the south, and thought met with much resistance, the orders were seen through as a grand milestone for new opportunities for black citizens in politics and society. -
Vietnam War
Even more unsuccessful than the Korean war as it resulted in defeat, the undeclared war in vietnam was the most protested of wars in United States histories. President Richard Nixon used the matter of vietnamization to increase his public favor as he pulled troops out of the country. -
(9) Richard Nixon: Watergate
The Watergate scandal of the Nixon Administration sent surges through the American public with new sentiments of distrust in federal authorities. Richard Nixon was the first President to resign after his role in the conspiracy and cover-up came to light. -
End of the Vietnam War
The end of the Vietnam war took place under the presidency of Gerald Ford. Ford was unable to convince congress to provide greater aid to the losing side of South Vietnam. However, after the war, Ford attempted to lessen tensions with the Soviet Union by signing the Helsinki Accords. -
Iranian Hostage Crisis
The Iranian hostage crisis took place under Jimmy Carter's presidency as a response to the accepting of the former Iran Shah as well as a revolt against the constant world policing by the United States. The hostages were released just hours after Ronald Reagan was sworn into presidency, and the crisis is believed to have cost Carter a second term in office. -
Iran-Contra Scandal
Involving the Reagan Administration, an investigation found that the president's administration had been involved in the illegal selling of arms to Iranian forces in an effort by Reagan to get seven American hostages held by Iranians released, while the administration sought to improve relations with Iran and Lebanon to increase US influence in the Middle East. -
The War on Terror
Coined by President George W. Bush after the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center, the war on terror launched the American public and government into a new frenzied fiasco of anti-terrorism policies and ongoing debates on the issue. The September 11th attacks pit American forces against Iraq and Afghanistan in attempts to subdue terrorist organizations. The topic of terrorism led to many reforms in Security policy and has risen again today as a hot topic in politics with ISIS.