-
Northwest Ordinance
It was an ordinance for the government of the territory of the US. It was one of the most important legislative acts of congress. Rufus King soon drafted the Northwest Ordinance. -
Louisiana Purchase
It encompassed about $600 million acres of territory in North America. The US purchased it from France for $15 million. One of the best real estate deals in America. -
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was a law congress passed to make Missouri a slave state and Maine a free state. This kind of messed up the balance of free and slave states. But this had maintained the balance between the north and south in the senate. -
Monroe Doctrine
With the Monroe Doctrine, The US would not be able to start wars with European powers. It is one of the best policies put towards the Western Hemisphere. The US would not tolerate any more colonization from European nations. -
Period: to
Nullification Crisis
The crisis led to the battle between unionism and states rights. This led to the Civil War. It had also revealed divisions between the North and South. -
Texas Annexation
The US annexed Texas in 1845. The annexation of Texas actually was the reason behind the Mexican-American War. In the US, politics struggled to decide on making Texas a free or slave state. -
Oregon Treaty
A treaty between Britain and the US. It was signed by James K. Polk. Its purpose was to set the border between the US and Britain. -
Mexican Cession
Mexico gave over 500,000 square miles of the territory to the US. In exchange, the US gave Mexico $15 million. This was basically a peace treaty between Mexico and the US. -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 overturned the Missouri Compromise and left slavery with no result. This had 5 separate bills. They had all been passed by the US Congress. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
It reversed the Missouri Compromise. It allowed slavery back in the remaining areas of the Louisiana Purchase. It allowed settlers to decide if they want slavery in the new lands or not. -
Battle of Fort Sumter
Union forces surrendered Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. The surrender led to a standoff. After things cooled down, Confederates were allowed to create a hole in the blockade in the union. -
Battle of Bull Run
The Confederates won the first battle. With the Confederates winning, the south gained confidence and shocked the north. They made the north realize the war wouldn't be easy for them to win. -
Emancipation Proclamation
This granted freedom to slaves in the Confederate states. Freedom would only come to slaves if they won the war. Although it didn't free all slaves, it did free most in 10 states. -
Battle of Antietam
This was the bloodiest single day in history. Many people have died and many have laid covered in wounds. This gave Lincoln a reason to move the Emancipation Proclamation forward. -
Battle of Gettysburg
This was a turning point for the war. Lee planned to invade the north and tried to end the war. 1/3 of his soldiers were dead or hurt. -
Gettysburg Address
A speech Lincoln gave for the dedication of soldiers. He paid tribute to the Union soldiers who risked their lives. They had fallen to bring equality to all men. -
Battle of Vicksburg
After working on capturing the city, Grant starts the Vicksburg battle. This had divided the confederacy into two. Lincoln felt this would cause an end to the war. -
Period: to
Presidential Reconstruction
This basically laid out the process for getting southern states back into the union. It also allowed former slaves national citizenship. Black men then had the right to vote. -
Sherman's March to the Sea
Union General William T. Sherman led about 60,000 soldiers to march 285 miles from Atlanta to Savannah, Georgia. This march was to scare Georgia's population into forgetting the Confederate cause. It destroyed civilian and military targets. -
13th Amendment passed
The 13th Amendment abolished slavery. The US could no longer have slaves. They can only be handled if they have to be punished for crimes. -
Period: to
Congressional Reconstruction
This supported newly freed slaves. It abolished slavery and gave black Americans equal protection. It also granted sufferage to black men. -
14th Amendment Passed
This amendment granted citizenship to every person born in the US. This included former slaves. It guaranteed all citizens "equal protection of the laws" -
15th Amendment Passed
This amendment granted African American men to vote. It can't be denied by the US. It was a milestone for civil rights. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
It upheld racial segregation under the "separate but equal" document. It had remained in effect until it was reversed. It provided funds to educate all white children in the county while it only did half for the colored schools.