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Jan 1, 1492
1Columbian Exchange
The Columbian Exchange was the exchange of crops, animals and diseases between Asia, Europe and Africa. This event was significant because it caused the world to be connected and would change the world forever by setting up the stage for the age of colonization. -
Feb 3, 1492
1Spanish colonization of the Americas
The Spanish landing in the Americas and began to subject native populations, establishing an encomeinda system and introducing diseases that devestated populations. This is significant because it set the tone for how Natives would always be taken advantage of and treated unfairly throughout history. -
Mar 22, 1492
1Middle Passage
Europeans would import enslaved Africans to the Americas by the middle passage. This would significantly cause racial population mixing as more cultures were introduced to the Americas. This would also lead to slavery and African Americans would be subjected to this unfair system of labor for hundreds of years. -
Apr 22, 1492
1Caste System
The Spanish caste system was a way for the Spanish to account for its multiracial population. The caste system had slaves at the bottom and the more european a person was, the higher they were on the system. This would set up how racial disparities would exist throghout history as people of other cultures would interact and how European/white blood would always be preferred and ranked higher among other races. -
Period: Jan 1, 1495 to
Period 1
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Apr 22, 1512
1Encomienda System
The encomienda system was used control Indian populations and was used by the Spanish as a way to obtain labor from them and support their plantation-based labor. This is significant because it would also set the scene as to how the natives would be abused throughout US history. -
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Period 2
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2Navigation Act of the 1660s
These acts were a series of laws that restricted the use of foreign ships for trade between every country except Britain. This was significant because it would lead to the American Revolution as well as straining relations between the US and Britain. -
2King Philip’s War
This was a conflict between the native people and the colonists. This was significant because it significantly limited the prominence of native people and set the scene for European encroachment on native land. It also led to a greater European-American identity. -
2Bacon's Rebellion
Was a rebellion of the indentured servants. This caused colonists to see how unprofitable indentured servants were and caused them to seek other forms of labor. -
2Pueblo Revolt
This event was a rebellion of the Pueblo people against the Spanish conquistadors and their rude treatment of them. This is significant because it would cause Spanish to relax their dictatorship over the native people. -
2Stono Rebellion
This was a significant slave rebellion during this period. This was significant because it caused slave owners to see slaves as dangerous and would lead to harsher treatment of slaves. -
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Period 3
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3Declaration of Independence
This declared the US as a independent nation from Great Britain. This was significant because it proclaimed that they were no longer under British rule and were their own nation. The ideals in this document would be used to represent freedom and would be copied throughout US history concerning foreign and domestic disputes. -
3American Revolutionary War
The war between the US and Britain would end in America becoming their own country and obtaining independence from Great Britian. The war is significant because it caused America to become their own country and later a world power. It would also spark other revolutions such as the French revolution. -
3US Neutrality Proclamation
This declared the nation neutral in foreign conflicts during this period. This was significant because it set the stone for the foreign policy that the US would try to follow when foreign conflicts emerged for years. -
3Citizen Genet Affair
Genet attempted to undermine the US's position of neutrality. This was significant because it would strain relations between US and France. -
3XYZ Affair
This was an incident of blackmail that almost led to war between the United States and France. This scandal was significant because it would strain relations between the US and France. It lead to the passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 -
Period: to
Period 4
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4Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was the Louisiana territory purchased by the US from France. The Louisiana Purchase was significant because it caused debates over slavery and showed how the US expanded by acquiring foreign territory. -
4Embargo Act of 1807
It made exports from the United States illegal. This act was significant because its motives were to force Britain and France to respect their policies during the Napoleonic wars which shows the foreign, diplomatic issues between the US and the European nations. -
4War of 1812
The war was fought betwen the US and Great Britain due to the unfair policies of the British. The war was significant because it would led to peaceful relations between the two countries for two centuries. -
4Missouri Compromise of 1820
Created a balance between the free and slave states. The significance of the compromise was that it resolved disputes over slavery as they acquired terroties and as the nation expanded. -
4Monroe Doctrine
US foreign policy. Stated hat if Europe interfered with affairs in the western hemisphere, US would intervene. -
Period: to
Period 5
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5Texas annexation
Texas was admitted into the US as the 28th state. It''s addition into the nation would cause foreign disputes between the US and Mexico, leading the Mexican war. It also marked the spread of slavery as the nation expanded. -
5Mexican–American War
War fought between the US and Mexico. The war began over border disputes on river claims that were near both territories. When the Mexican-American War ended, the United States received the Mexican Cession which increased their land mass significantly and expanded the country's territory, contributing to the rise of slavery. -
5Convention of Kanagawa
This was the first treaty between the United States of America, and Japan. This opened up ports of Japan to America allowing them to trade with them. The treaty is also significant because it would influence other sorts of similar treaties. -
Period: to
Period 6
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5alaska purchase
United States purchased Alaska from Russia for a price of $7.2 million. This was significant because it was a step and showed how the US would rise as a great power in the Asia-Pacific region. -
5Burlingame Treaty
Signed between the US and China. The treaty would protect missionaries in China and ease CHinese immigration restrictions. This is sigifiant because it would establish formal relations between the two regions. Also contriuted to the risig Anti-Chinese setiment in the 1870s. -
6Chinese Exclusion Act
Banned all Chinese from immigrating into the US. This was significant because it was the first law that restricted immigration into the United States racially. Also showed the growing nativist feelings of the American people. -
Period: to
Period 7
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6Influence of Sea Power upon History
This novel was an influential book, detailing how to achieve a sea power. Its policies were implemented by many navies. It was significant because it would lead to the WW1 naval arms race due to its popular policies. -
6Americans overthrow Hawaiian KIngdom.
USS-backed Hawaiian planters overthrow Hawaii's queen Liliuokalani. This is significant because it would lead to the end of of the hereditary rulers of the nation and would lead to Hawaiian annexation. -
6Spanish American War
War fought between Spain and the US. Results in US victory. War is significant because it led to US expansion overseas with Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines. -
6Open Door Policy
This policy opened up China to trade to the whole world. This is significant because it helped spread trade to other nations and made them more connected. -
7Roosevelt Corollary
An addition to the Monroe Doctrine, stated that United States would intervene if Europe intervened in American affairs and would us military force if necessessary. Called the Big Stick Diplomacy. This is significant because it showed the US stepping into a role as the world's policeman, trying to maintain peace. -
7Panama Canal Opens
The Panama Canal finished construction and was open for use. This was significant because it facilitated travel in this region and helped connect the Atlantic and PAcific faster. -
7US Occupation of Haiti
Wilson sent the US forces into Haiti to restore order into the unstable country. This is significant because it showed the US role as the policeman in the Americas, trying to spread democracy and maintain peace. -
7WW1
US entered WW1 due to unrestricted submarine warfare, their support of the allies and the Zimmerman telegram. The war was significant for being the first instance of the US starting to abandon a policy of isolationism. -
7Fourteen Points
A series of peace principles set to resolve World War 1. This was signigficant because it would lead to the League of Nations being created which was one of the major organizations to deal with foreign conflicts during the period. -
7US enters WW2
US entered the second world war in reponse to Japan bombing them at Pearl Harbor. This act was significant becuase it allowed the US to rise as a global power and set the stage for the Cold War. -
Period: to
Period 8
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8TrumanDoctrine
Stated that the US would give support to countries or peoples threatened by communism. Led to aid to Greece and Turkey. Showed the US acting as the world's policeman and started what would become the Cold War. -
8Marshall Plan
Stated that the US would help European nations rebuiled financially after WW2. This was significant because it showcased how the US was now a global power and how European Nations would begin to depend on them. Also would lead to the Cold War. -
8US Recognition of Israel
US recognized the new nation the day it declared itself a new nation. Showcased the UN's effect on the world as well as US involvement in the Middle East. -
8NATO
Alliance between North America and Western Europe that stated that allies would defend each other when attacked. Led to the Warsaw Pact between the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Was also significant because it showed how nations were establishing friendly relations with each other. -
8Geneva Conference
Conference involving many countries such as the US, split up Vietnam into two regions. This is significant because it would lead to the Vietnam War and showed how the US was very involved in foreign policies throughout the world. -
8Suez Crisis
The US went into the Suez Crisis to defend Egypt and condemn Israel, Britain and France. This was significant for straining relations between the US and the European countries. -
8U-2
an American U-2 spy plane was shot down over the Soviet Union. The incident showed that the US was obviously spying on the USSR. It was significant for worsening their relations during the Cold War and was a great embarrassment for the United States. -
8Peace Corps
Organization meant to help 3rd world counties. This was significant because it showed the US stepping into the role of a peacemaker and trying to involve itself in global issues. -
8Bay of Pigs
Failed attempt to overthrow Castro. This event was significant for leading to the Cuban Missle crisis and embarrasing the US globally. -
8Cuban Missle Crisis
Conflict when the Soviet Union placed missles in Cuba. This event was significant because it showcases peaceful negotiations between the USSR and the US and made the leader of the USSR be seen as weak, which lead to him losing his position. -
8Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
Was a response to the Gulf of Tonkin Incident. It is significant because it gave President LBJ authorization to use military force in Southeast Asia. This would show the start of US involvment in SE Asia. -
8Immigration act of 1965
Made immigration be based on hemispheres. This was significant because it would increase the amount of immigrants entering the US from countires that couldn't before, making the US more diverse, the melting pot. -
8Tet offensive
An attack on Southern Vietnamese by the North. This was significant because it would decrease American morale during the war and would lead to them pulling out of the war. -
8Cambodian Invasion
Nixon invaded Cambodia during the Vietnam war. This was significant because it also decreased American support for the war and it would decrease the morale of the soldiers which would eventually lead to their loss. -
8Camp David Accords
Were treaties signed between Egypt and Israel. These, facilitated by Carter, would help establish peaceful relations in the Middle East and would also raise Carter's global reputation. -
8Iranian Hostage Crisis
Americans were held hostage after a group of Iranian students belonging to the Muslim Student Followers of the Imam's Line, who supported the Iranian Revolution, took over the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. This event was signifiant because it acted as a blow to the US and their influence in Iran and their revolution. -
Period: to
Period 9
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9Iran-Contra
A political scandal which involved selling illegal arms to Iran during an embargo to fund contras in Nicaragua. This was significant in showcasing the US in a negative light on a worldwide stance. -
9Berlin Wall Comes Down
The Berlin Wall came down at the end of the cold war. it symbolized the reunification of Europe and the fall of the USSR as a global power coupled with the US dominating the world. -
9Persian Gulf War
US invaded Iraq due to their invasion of Kuwait, This event showed the US's involvement in the Middle East. Also showed their trend of protecting vulnerable nations. -
9World Trade Center bombing
The first terrorist attack of the World Trade Center involving a truck bomb. Didn't kill as many people as the 9/11 attack. This attack was significant because it showed the escalation of the threat of terrorism and it showed the US that they are completely isolated from the threat of attacks since it was one of the rare attacks on home soil. -
9September 11 Attacks
Al-Qaeda forces hijacked American airplanes and attacked US soil. This was significant because it led to the War on Terrorism as the US began a policy that included searching out terrorists, especially in the MIddle East. -
9Afghan War
Caused by the 9/11 attacks on US soil. US invaded Afghanistan to dismantle Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. The significance of the attacks was that it caused the death of one of the leading terrorist leaders, Osama BinLaden and it also show cases how immersed the US was in affairs in the Middle East and their continuation of the War on Terrorism. -
9Iraq War
US invaded Iraq under the premis that they were harboring nuclear weapons, and to take down Hussein. Led to Hussein being executed and ISIS rising to power. This was significant because it sort of esclated the War on Terror with ISIS and showcased again, the US's tendency to be a policeman for the world. -
9Osama Bin Laden Kiled
The Al-Qaeda leader was finally killed during this time. This event was significant by raising AMerican morale during the war on terrorism as well as setting the work of Al-Qaeda back.
