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Battles of Lexington & Concord
The Battles of Lexington and Concord was were the first battles of the war. British troops marched from Boston to nearby Concord to seize military supplies. This event is known for Paul Revere's ride to alarm the people that the British were coming. Many soldiers were killed and the event of the battle led to a whole war breaking out which is the Revolutionary War. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was written to further the cause of the colonists fight with the mother country and to gain independence.It addressed the loyalists and the concept of limited government, which was based on the ideas of John Locke. With the Declaration of Independence put into effect, Americans could now enter alliance with other nations. The Declaration is important because it has a long lasting effect. Others have adopted our way of getting Independence. -
Battles of Saratoga
The Battles of Saratoga were the turning points in the American Revolutionary War. In the first battle, many British soldiers were killed. The British had about double the amount of casualties that the Continental Army had. In the second battle, Benedict Arnold and his soldiers marched forward on the British. Horatio Gates and his 20,000 men surrounded the British, causing the British to surrender. These battles are important because they persuaded the French to recognize American independence. -
Battle of Yorktown
The Battle of Yorktown was the final battle of the Revolutionary war. The British were defeated. It is one of the most important battles of the war. At the moment, George Washington was the leader of American and French forces along with Comte de Rochambeau that went against General Cornwallis. Washington's army outnumbered the British by a 2 to 1 ratio. Washington led the soldiers to victory, ending the war, -
Articles of Confederation
Under the Articles of Confederation, the United States had a weak central government. The central government didn't have enough power to make certain decisions. Some good things that came along with it was the Land Ordinance, emancipation of slavery, and it set a precedent for the creation of new states. States also acted as independent countries. The Articles of Confederation is important because it was established by the Second Continental Congress as the 1st government of the USA. -
Northwest Ordinance
The Northwest Ordinance was a law passed in 1787 to regulate the settlement of the Northwest Ordinance. It regulated the land beyond the Appalachian Mountains. The Northwest Ordinance is considered one of the most important land acts because it established the precedent for new states to join. The prohibition of slavery in the territory led to the establishment of the Ohio River as the boundary between the free and slave states. -
Constitution
The Constitution came in place to replace the Articles of Confederation. The supporters were the federalists and the Anti-Federalists were against it. Under the constitution, the States would have some power but most power is given to the national government. It is important because it created national and state courts. The national government had powers like creating taxes, regulate interstate and foreign trade, and coin money. -
Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights is considered as the most important rights to the citizens of a country. The bill of rights are the first ten amendments of the US Constitution. They were written by James Madison. They include things like the freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and etc. These are important because they are the base of life, They give people rights that legally cant be taken away from citizens. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
The Alien and Sedition Acts were laws passed by President Adams. They focused on the view of immigration being an issue. The acts were created to try to deport immigrants and prevent them from voting. They were passed because the United States feared having to go to war with France. The Alien and Sedition acts also attacked the freedom of speech and protesting the government. The people seen this as disenfranchising them from their rights. -
Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
The Virginia and Kentucky resolutions stated that the states had the right to nullify federal laws seen as unconstitutional. They were in reaction to the Alien and Sedition acts which went against freedom of speech and other things. They were proposed by James Madison and Thomas Jefferson. The Virginia and Kentucky resolutions also bought up the theory that the states should have more power than the federal government. -
Marbury v. Madison
The Marbury v. Madison case was because of John Marbury not receiving his commission. He was supposed to get the commission right before John Adams left office. Adams appointed Madison to deliver commissions but Marbury didn't get his. The Supreme Court ruled that John Marbury had rights to his commission but the Supreme Court didn't have the power to force the executive branch or Madison to deliver the pardon. This event is a important part of history because it established Judicial Review. -
Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was a land deal between the United States and France. The purchase amounted up to about $15 Million. This about doubled the size of the United States. At first President Jefferson was hesitant about buying the land because the constitution doesn't mention anything about the president getting land. Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark to explore a Northwest Passage. The purchase secured the Mississippi River which was used for transportation of products. -
War of 1812 Begins
The War of 1812 was a War fought between the British and the United States. The British placed restrictions on the U.S. trade and expansion. They also were impressing American seamen. Some main events of the war were The Battle of New Orleans, The Battle of Plattsburg, and the Treaty of Ghent. The Treaty of Ghent ended the war. The treaty stated that all conquered territory were to be returned, and commissions were to be used to settle the boundary. -
Battle of New Orleans
The Battle of New Orleans was the last major battle of the war of 1812. It happened after the treaty of Ghent was signed. It was a huge victory of the US. Neither sides were aware of the Treaty being signed. At the time, Andrew Jackson was a leader of the military. The US was outnumbered but the American wounded about 2,000 British soldiers. Though the battle didn't effect the outcome of the war, it gave Andrew Jackson the support he needed for his presidential election in 1828. -
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was made to keep a balance of slave states and number states in the Union. It also was made to defuse sectional and political rivalries. It allowed Missouri to enter as a slave state as Maine entered as a free state. Slavery was prohibited in new states north of the southern border of Missouri. The Missouri Compromise remained the law of the land until it was negated by the Kansas-Nebraska act of 1854. -
Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine was a foreign policy that was created by President James Monroe to prevent European countries from colonizing in the western hemisphere. President Monroe also stated that the US would not interfere with the European powers. The United States didn't have a big enough military force to enforce the policy and Monroe understood that. The Monroe Doctrine is important because it created a sphere of american influence through foreign policies. -
Nullification Crisis
The Nullification Crisis was a confrontation between South Carolina and the federal government. It was in reaction to the tariff of 1828 which is referred to as the Tariff of Abominations. The tariff taxed imported manufactures to try to reduce foreign competition. John C. Calhoun saw nullification as a way to prevent a rebellion or secession. The debate on nullification stretched back to the presidential election of 1828 in which Andrew Jackson was elected. -
Texas Annexation
The Texas Annexation is the process of the US gaining Texas as a state. Texas gained independence from Mexico in 1836. Most people who lived in Texas were in favor of the United States annexing Texas. The US was hesitant about annexing Texas because of the issue of slave and free states. They also wanted to avoid a war with Mexico. After time, the US annexed Texas, leading to the Mexican-American war which the US won. -
Oregon Treaty
The Oregon Treaty set the boundary between the United States and Canada. The agreement was between Great Britain and the United States. A popular slogan for the Oregon Territory gained from the treaty was "54° or fight". This was said by James K. Polk. The states gained from this treaty were Oregon, Washington, Idaho, parts of Montana, and part of Wyoming. The Oregon Treaty is on of the parts of the Westward Expansion. -
Declaration of Sentiments
The Declaration of Sentiments is a document signed in 1848 by 68 women and 32 men. It was created to advocate women's rights. It was written by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and presented at America's first women's rights convention, in Seneca Falls, NY. It was based on the structure of the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration of Sentiments marked the start of the Women's rights movement in the United States. -
Mexican Cession
The Mexican Cession was the result of the Mexican-American war. After the war, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was passed which gave the United States land. States that were gained from the Mexican Cession were California, Nevada, Utah, most of Arizona, and about half of New Mexico. The Mexican cession is important because it was a part of the westward expansion. There were many ways that the United States expanded west and the Mexican Cession was an important one. -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 consisted of five laws that dealt with the issue of slavery. California tried to join the Union as a free state but that would potentially throw off the balance between free and slave states. Henry Clay introduced a series of resolution to create a compromise and avert crisis between the North and South. Through the Compromise of 1850, the Fugitive Slave Act was amended and slave trade in Washington D.C. was abolished. -
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin is a anti-slavery novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. The novel opened people's eyes about the issue of slavery. The book also is seen as a factor in influencing the Civil War. The book became very popular through out this time period. The book popularized all of the stereotypes that Stowe heard of black people facing. -
Kansas - Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act was made to allow the people in the territories of Kansas and Nebraska to decide for themselves whether or not to allow slavery within their borders. In the Kansas-Nebraska Act, Stephen Douglas proposed popular sovereignty to decide whether the states would be slave or free. Popular sovereignty is the principle that allows the people of the area to decide how everything will operate. The act repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820 that prohibited slavery north of 35 30'. -
Bleeding (Bloody) Kansas
Bleeding Kansas is the term used to describe the violence during the settlement of the Kansas territory. The events were in reaction to the possibility of slavery extending into new territories due to the Kansas-Nebraska act which overruled the Missouri Compromise's boundaries. In protest, some radical abolitionists attacked and murdered white southerners in protest. Bleeding Kansas foreshadowed the violence that would come over the future of slavery during the Civil War. -
John Brown’s raid at Harper’s Ferry
John Brown's raid at Harper's Ferry was a slave revolt organized by John Brown. Brown and his group attacked and seized the federal armory and arsenal. They captured a few hostages including slaves. After a while, the word got out and Brown and his men were surrounded by US Marines. Ten of the men were killed including two of his sons. After all of this, Brown was tried for treason and murder. He was found guilty on November 2nd. -
Battle of Fort Sumter
The Battle of Fort Sumter is most famous for being the place of the first shots of the Civil War, U.S. Major Robert Anderson controlled Fort Sumter in December 1860 following the secession from the Union by South Carolina. The word got out that President Lincoln was about to resupply the fort so Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard attacked Fort Sumter. This created the battle of Fort Sumter, leaving Anderson and his troops to surrender which gave the Confederates control of Fort Sumter. -
Battle of Bull Run
The Battle of Bull Run is also known as the First Battle of Manassas. It is considered as the first major battle of the American Civil War. Union and Confederate armies clashed near Manassas Junction, Virginia. It began when about 35,000 Union troops marched from Washington D.C. to attack Confederates along a small river known as Bull Run. The Battle lasted all day and resulted in about 5,000 casualties. It was considered as a Confederate win, giving the South confidence. -
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam halted the Confederate advance on Maryland for the purpose of gaining military supplies. If the advance went through, it would've been regarded as one of the greatest Confederate threats to Washington D.C. The battle got it's name from the area where the battle took place which was near the Antietam Creek. The Battle ended with over 23,000 casualties. The battle ended the Confederate invasion of Maryland in 1862. -
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was issued by Abraham Lincoln. It changed the legal status of many African Americans. The Emancipation of Proclamation freed all slaves in the confederate states in rebellion against the Union. President Lincoln issued a preliminary Emancipation after the Union victory at Antietam. Naturally, the Emancipation of Proclamation didn't really free anyone. The thirteenth amendment actually freed all slaves by outlawing slavery. -
Battle of Vicksburg
The Battle of Vicksburg was a key strategic battle in the Civil War. The battle gave the union the ability to get a huge piece of land and a naval campaign. The Union received control of the Mississippi River also. This battle was the main thing responsible for the surrender of the Confederacy. The Battle of Vicksburg helped strengthened the power of the Union. This influenced the outcome of the war as a whole. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg was a major engagement in the Civil War. It was a Union victory that stopped General Robert E. Lee's second invasion of the North. The battle of Gettysburg is known as the bloodiest battle of the Civil War because of the number of casualties. It was also known as the biggest battle in North America. The Union had about 85,000 soldiers and the Confederates had about 75,000 soldiers. -
Presidential Reconstruction
The Presidential Reconsruction consisted of the plans of Andrew Johnson and Abraham Lincoln. The goal was to have states join the Union quickly and easily. They also wanted to preserve the Union. After Lincoln was assassinated, President Andrew Jackson implemented a plan that gave the white South a free hand in regulating the transition fro, slavery to freedom. Blacks were still denied any role in the process. -
Gettysburg Address
The Gettysburg Address is a influential speech given by Abraham Lincoln. The speech was given during the Civil War as a way of Lincoln giving out his views on the American national purpose. The speech is known for his phrase, "Four score and seven years ago." This referred to the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4,1776. Lincoln stated that the Civil War was a test that would decider whether such nation, the union sundered by the crisis could endure. -
Sherman’s March to the Sea
Sherman's March to the Sea was also known as the Savannah Campaign. It was a military campaign of the Civil war that went through Georgia led by General William Tecumseh Sherman. Sherman and his troops went out destroying everything that would effect the Confederacy. His march destroyed the economy and transportation networks. This event is considered as one of the most major achievements of the Civil War. -
Freedman’s Bureau established
The Freedman's Bureau was established to help aid freedmen and families. They helped people with food, housing, medical aid, schools, finding their families, and legal assistance. The agency was very important for the Reconstruction period. The Bureau encouraged former big plantation to rebuild and for freed blacks to work for them. The Bureau wasn't always perfect because some jobs called for trained whites but they wouldn't treat the former slaves. -
13th amendment passed
The thirteenth amendment was ratified in 1865. This amendment ended slavery in American states. Even though the thirteenth amendment abolished slavery, there was still things like Black Codes and Jim crow laws that prohibited and discriminated against African Americans. -
Congressional Reconstruction
During the Congressional Reconstruction era congress tried to overtake President Johnson as he tried tried to continue what Lincoln started after Lincoln's assassination. They tried to go against and veto everything President Johnson tried to do, making it hard for him to continue. Through the congressional reconstruction, suffrage for all men was gained, the fourteenth amendment was ratified and the military reconstruction act was passed. -
14th amendment passed
The fourteenth amendment stated that anyone born in the United States will receive citizenship. This amendment also applied to former slaves who were freed after the civil war. -
15th amendment passed
The fifteenth amendment was passed to prohibit the federal government and each state from denying any citizen the right to vote based on race or color. There were things like poll taxes, the literacy test, and other things that prevented blacks from voting even when they were free. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
Plessy V. Ferguson was a big U.S. Supreme Court decision that basically made it legal to have segregation. The case was backed up by the terms separate but equal. This meant that the African-Americans and whites could be separated but they still should be equal. The case was bought to trial because Homer Plessy refused to sit in the train cart reserved for blacks. Plessy argued that his constitutional rights were disobeyed by this action but the Supreme Court disagreed.