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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta Signed
King John was forced to sign this document as he was confronted by rebellious barons to avoid a civil war. The Magna Carta was created by these rebellious barons to protect their rights and property from the king.
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Mayflower Compact Signed
This document was signed in Cape Cod by 41 of the men that were on the Mayflower to create a peaceful and civil societly as they awaited consent from England to stay there. They had permission to settle further to the south, so they needed a new patent to allow them to settle in Cape Cod.
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Formation of the New England Confederation
This confederation was formed after the Pequot War, in which the colonies weren't well prepared or coordinated. Representatives from Massachusetts, Plymouth, New Haven, and Connecticut met in Boston created the twelve articles of this confederation.
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The French and Indian War Begins
This war to decide who would be the major controlling power in America began with the battle at Fort Duquesne and Fort Necessity. It was an early victory fro the British, losing 1 and 3 wounded while the French lost 11 and 20 as hostages.(Date of Battle of Fort Necessity)
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Albany Plan of Union Announced
The Albany Plan was created to place the British colonies in North America under a more centalized government. It was signed by representatives of the seven colonies, but never was fully carried out.
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Treaty of Paris
This treaty marked the ending of the French and Indian war, or Seven Years War, between France and Britain. It was a harsh defeat of the French and they lost much land of America to Britian.
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Royal Proclamation
This proclamation of King George III prevented colonial expansion to the west of the Appalacian mountains altough they just gained a bunch of land through the Treaty of Paris. Colonists were very angered and felt disrespected since they were the ones who fought the French and Indian war
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Sugar Act
This act forced colonists to pay a six pense tax on imported molases. Colonists evaded this tax, forcing Britain to send in a Navy presence to make them pay the tax.
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The Stamp Act
This placed a tax on all paper goods, like newspapers, offical documents and such. The taxing led to a boycott of all British goods by the colonists that forced Parliament to repeal the Act.
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Stamp Act Congress
This group of men got together and wrote a document that addressed the Stamp Act and the impact of it on the colonists. They proceeded to ask for the repeal of the act.
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Townshend Acts
These acts placed a tax on all impoted goods, like lead, paint, tea, and glass. This led to several colonist revolts and during this time to punish colonists who didn't pay taxes many different methods were used, tar and feathering for example.
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Boston Massacre
This squabble between a patriot mob and British soldiers started by a misfire of a British soldier after being harrased by the colonists. Five colonists were killed after other soldiers started firing.
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Boston Tea Party
After a law that stated that only East India Tea Company tea could be consumed in the colonies this occured. Memebers of the Sons of Liberty, disguised as Mohawk Indians, dumperd 15,000 pounds of tea into Boston Harbor.
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First Continental Congress
Delegates met in Philadelphia to discuss thier response to the Intolerable Acts. They agree to boycott British goods and work towards being self-sufficient. Also they agree to meet in May, of 1775, to take note on progress and determine next steps.
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"Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!"
These was the closing line of Patrick Henry's speechat the Second Virginia Convention. He proposed that there should be a volunteer cavalry or infanrty organized in every Virgina county.
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The Midnight Ride
On this fateful night, Paul Revere, along with Samuel Prescott and William Dawes, rode to warn the colonists that the British army was on its way and to prepare themselves. They were able to ready the colonists, although they were stopped ad various points along the way by British officers and sorts.
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Battles of Lexington and Concord
This was the preliminary war of the fight for independence of the colonists of America. The colonists won this battle as they had less than 100 casualties and the British had over 300 casualities.
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Fort Ticonderoga
Ethan Allen captured this British fort. The fort was a crucial for the British to keep the rebellios colonists at bay, so the colonists decided to capture it.
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Second Continental Congress Meets
After the Battles of Lexington and Concord the Second Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. During this meeting they decided to better organize their milita and break away from Britain.
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Battle of Bunker Hill
This battle mostly took place on Breed's hill, despite the name. After mant attempts by the British the colonists were able to keep a strong hold on the hills. Due to the outage of ammunitian, the colonists had to retreat, leaving the British with a won battle.
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"Common Sense" Published
This pamphlet was written by Thomas Paine. In this document he addressed his contempt of Britain and proposed that the colonies shouldn't be governed by the British.
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British Evacuate Boston
On this day the British realized that they could no longer hold onto Boston. They evacuated all of their troops and equipment, like cannons, out of the city leaving the colonists joyous and gleeful.
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Declaration of Independence Announced
Although the declaration was approved on the fourth, it wasn't announced to the public until the eighth. This officially announced that America was to be it's own independent country apart from Britain.
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"The Crisis" Is Published
This was written by Thomas Paine about this being "the times that try mens souls." George Washington found the essays to be so inspiting that they were ordered to be read at the Winter at Valley Forge.
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Trenton is Captured
Trenton is captured by George Washington's troops. This was done by a risky, surprise attack, forcing the British to surrender and Trenton being captured.
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Battle of Saratoga
This battle was a turning point in the Revolutionary war. It took place in upstate New York. The Continental Army defeated "Gentleman Johnny" Bourgoyne.
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Winter At Valley Forge
This took place in the winter of 1777 and 1778, and was the lowest point in the battle for Independence. The military trained and lived in harsh conditions until the war picked up again. There were insecurites of people enlisting in the military in this low point in the war.
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John Paul Jones Defeats the Serapis
J.P.Jones was the first famous naval hero. His greatest feat was the defeat of the Serapis in a huge sea batle. He was given a gold medal in 1789 by the Continental Congress for his bravery during the war.
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Benedict Arnold's Plans
Although he was a valiant soldier during the revolution, he began to bargin with the British by 1779. He lost so much during the battle, which seems to be the reason for his bargining but it is still unsure. He offered the British West Point, which then the British handsomly provided for him.
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Articles of Confederation Signed
This was the first attempt at a Constitution for the United States. The Articles of Confederation were put together by the colonies first write up plans for state governments, then Continental Congress worked on a plan for the central government. It took five years for the Articles of Confederation to be approved.
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Cornwallis Surrenders
This happened in Yorktown, Virginia. The British General Lod Cornwallis was forced to surreneder to the Continental Army after a three week attack. This ended a disasterous southern campaign by the British.
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Newburgh Conspiracy
George Washington stood up in front of his officers in Newburgh and expressed his feelings about this anonymous soldier's addresses. This addresses said that the government was trampling on the rights of the soldiers and that the soldiers could just leave America to the British. After Washington's speech, the officers rejected the adddresses and him work with Congress.
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Treaty of Paris Signed
This treaty was signed after a long couple months of hard bargaining and negoteation between Benjamin Franklin, Great Britain, and France. Britain, who was not yet ready to accept America as an independent country finally gave in after these long months and resolved issues such as fishing rights, debts, and property. This formal peace treaty was then signed in France.
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Spain Closes the Mississippi River
Spain closes the Mississippi River and New Oreleans off to forigners. This was essential to the United States commerce as we expanded westward. After a treaty, Spain recognised out rights to use the river and allowed us acess once again.
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Land Ordinance of 1785
This ordianance set the foundation of the American Land Policy until the Homestead Act in 1862. The ordinance states how the land shall be divided, what price land is sold at, as well as surveyal of the land. The sold land didn't bring as much revenue as the settlers didn't have enough money to buy the land at the price set at a minimum of $1.00 per acre.
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Ordinance of Religious Freedom
This ordinance was written by Thomas Jefferson and passed by the Virginia National Assembly. This document was the forerunner for the first ammendment on religios freedom. The document is a statement about sueperation of church and state and the freedom of conscience.
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Annapolis Convention
Lasted from the 11th to the 14th of September. The convention was called to fix the defects in the federal government. The defects that were important for them to fix was the issue of trade and commerce between the states that were greatly independent.
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Shays' Rebellion
This rebellion was led by farmer, Daniel Shays. In Massachusetts, farmers have been unable to pay taxes thus loosing land and having to go to court. Danial Shays decided to take it into his own hands and lead a rebellion against the U.S.
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Constitutional Convention Opens
Delegates of different states met in Philidelphia to discuss the new structure of government. Various plans of the government and over a series of months the delegates compromised and worked together to create the new government.
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Northwest Ordinance of 1787
This document that was passed by the Second Continental Congress set out a government for the Northwest Territory. It also set out a method for admitting in new states into the Union and a bill of rights for the territory.
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The Great Compromise is Agreed To
This compromise provided us with a duel system of congressional representation. In this compromise it was decided how many seats a state would have in the House of Representatives, all states would have the smae number of seats in senate, as well as the term length of the senators and other importants parts of congressional representation.
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Constitution is sent to the States for Ratification
After the Constitution was sent to the states for ratification, debates grew between the Federalists and Anit-Federalists. These debates were carried out through the press, in person, and conventions until th Constitution was finally ratified.
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Anti-Federalists Articles Appear
This is when the very fist Anti-Federalist articles appear. This one was by Centinel about responsibility and checks, it opposed the Federalist articles #10 and #51.
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Federalist Papers Appear
This is the date when the Federalist #10 was published in the New York Packet. These papers were originally newspaper articles that were published in support of the constituition which then got published into a book for the first time in 1788.
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Delaware Ratifies the Constitution
Delaware was the first state to ratify, or make officially valid, the Constitution. Nine out of the thirteen states had to ratify the Constitution for it to become official.
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Massachusetts Ratifies the Constitution
Massachusetts was the sixth state to ratify the Constitution. John Hancock did have some terms that he made clear before they did ratify the Constitution that he wrote in a letter.
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New Hapmshire Ratifies the Constitution
New Hampshire was the ninth state to ratify the Constitution. After they ratified it, the Confederation Congress began operating under the Constitution.
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Congress Meets For the First Time
Congress met for the fist time in Federal Hall in New York City. They then proceeded to elect a door keeper, secretary, and chaplain, or minister, once the minimum number of delegates got there.
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George Washington is Elected President
After each of the sixty-nine electors cast their two votes, the ballots were officially counted on April sixth. George Washington had the most ballots, sixty-nine out of one hundred and thirty-eight. He was then inaugurated on the thirtyith of April.
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Bill of Rights Sent to the States for Ratification
The First Federal Congress proposed this document to the state legislatures. Articles three through tweleve became known as the first ten ammendments of the Constitution, also known as the Bill of Rights.
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Bill of Rights Ratified
Articles three through tweleve were finally ratified, but the first two articles weren't. The articles were ratified by 3/4 of the state legislatures in the United Stated.
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Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions Written
This document, or rather documents as they were two seperate documents, were written by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. They were written in favor of states' rights and opposed the Alien and Sedidation Acts.
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Hartford Convention
This was held during the War of 1812. They debated about the power the federal government over the states and the conduct of the war. New England greatly protested this war, leading to this convention being held.
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Missouri Compromise
As the country began to grow, the issue of keeping slave states and free states balanced became an issue leading to this compromise. This brought Missouri into the Union as a slave state and Maine into the Union as a free state. They also added the 36' 30' line, above which no slavery could exist.
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Tariff of Abominations
This tax was passed on this dat. It was an incresed and protective tax on all imported goods, and the first one at that. This helped protect the industries in the North, but didn't do anything to help the South.
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South Carolina tries to Nullify
John Calhun came up with the idea of nullification of laws in a state when he realized that he would need it when he started to rethink his postion of power. He gave the new bill to Congress and on this day the tariff was no more in South Carolina.
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Abolition of Slavery Act
This was an act in Britain to end slavery, which was many years earlier than when America started to campaign against slavery. This ended the slave trade for Britain and was controversial, but still preceded any actions of the U.S. against slavery.
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Texas Declares Independence fron Mexico
After a conference discussion independence, Texas resolved to become the independednt Republic of Texas. 58 members signed a document that accepted the resoulution.
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James Polk Elected
He was elected on this day to be the 11th president of the United States. He was a not well-known leader of the Democratic party, but campaigned vigorously and ended up winning.
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Mexican War
After tring to negotioate with Mexico about the confusion about where the borders of Texas were, President Polk had to send General Taylor into battle to fox the problem since the Mexicans wouldn't negotiate.
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Wilmont Proviso
After the Mexican War, David Wilmont came up with this document that said that no slavery or involuntary servitude would take place in the land won by the war. This divided congress when he intoduced it to the legislation. <a
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California Enters the Union
After a lot of complications balancing slave states and free states, California entered the union as a free state on this date. This is going to lead to more complications, as there are now more free stated in the Senate.
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Fugitive Slave Law Enacted
This law people search for runaway slaves, which included Northerners eventhough they didn't want to. It made it illegal to help these runaway slaves and if they were captured they weren't allowed to testify in defense or have a jury trial.
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Uncle Tom's Cabin
This was written by Harriet Beecher Stowe and published on this say. It was a very controversial book that attaches humanity to slavery and sympathizes with slaves bringing the issue of slavery right to the surface of all the problems in America.
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Formation of the Republican Party
The Republican party was formed since there was a need of a new political party. The conflict over slavery had grown to bigger proportions and there were lots of pro-slavery political parties, and so, the anti-slavery Republican party was formed.
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Kansas-Nebraska Act
This was introduced by Senator Stephan Douglas who wanted the Chicago to be an important place in the growth of the United States. This opened up the midwest to continuous settlement, so Douglas could build thid giant railroad that he envisioned.
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"Border Ruffians" attack Lawrence
Lawrence was at the heart of Kansas' anti-slavery movement, getting weapons and supplies from abolitionists in the North. When this became known the "border ruffians" stepped in to intervene with the election of Kansas being a slave or free state.
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Charles Sumner is Attacked
He was attacked by Preston Brooks in the United States Senate with his metal tipped cane. This was because at an anti-slavery speech a few days earlier Sumner used language offensive to Southerners, which caused Brooks to viciously attack him.
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Pottawatomie Creek
Here, John Brown and his group of free state volunteers murdered 5 men living along Pottawaromie creek. He thought it was his duty from God to end slavery by any means possible, murder being included.
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Dred Scott Case Decision Announced
The United Stated Supreme Court announced that Sandford had won. They said that a slave, or any black, would never become a citizen of the United States and also declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional, allowing slavery in all states.
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Lecompton Constition Passed
After a first failed attempt to create a constitution under which Kansas would become a state, the second attempt was passed. This was the Lecomption Constitution and said that Kansas would have slavery, but there was lots of controversy and conflicts that came along after it was passed.
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Lincoln-Douglas Debates
These were a series of debates between Abraham Lincoln and Steven Douglas about their beliefs. The main issue and focus of the debates were slavery. Douglas ended up winning the election to Congress, but this made Lincoln a household name and set the stage for him to be nominated to be president.
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Raid at Harper's Ferry
After talking with Frederick Douglass who said this was a suicide mission, John Brown continued on to attack Harper's Ferry. He gat a group of abolitionists and slaves and led an attack on the armory. The attack failed, leding him to be captured and thereby sntenced to death by hanging for his actions.
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Formation of the Constitutional Union Party
This party was formed for the election of 1860 and was short lived. They believed that there should be no talk of slavery and that all the states whould work together and be united in the Union happily again. This was led by John Bell and Edward Everett.
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Democrats Split in 1860
During the election in 1860, the democrats were split over the issue of slavery.Generally there was the North who believed that slavery's expansion should be stopped and the South who believed it should be allowed. So, the party split into the Nothern Democrats and Southern Democrats.
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Election of 1860
This election was mainly between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas, but also there was John Breckinridge and John Bell. Overall 6 out of 10 people in America didn't want Lincoln for president, but he won 60% of the electoral collage, so he won. This led to grest controversy between the North and the South who wanted to sucede from the Union since Lincoln was president.
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Abraham Lincoln Announces Plans for Reconstruction
His plan included a pardon for the South of those who accept emancipation and swear alligence to the Union. He also indroduced his Ten Percent Plan that made the Confederate states have to have 10% of their voter's pledge the oath before being allowed to enter the Union.
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Wade-Davis Bill Receives Pocket Veto
This was created by Ben Wade and Henry Winter Davis who were greatly opposed to Lincoln's plans for reconstruction. They introduced this plan which was approved by the senate, but when Lincoln found out about it a huge confrontation occured on this date and Lincoln vetoed it.
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Abraham Lincoln Re-elected
Lincoln was re-elected with his vice president Andrew Johnson after a close election. He won after an uneasy campaign, as his actions in his previous term didn't please a lot of people.
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Black Codes created
These were created to replace the control that the South had lost over the slaves after the Emancipation. It was highly restrictive for the African Americans, who thought this was basically as bad as slavery if not worse.(exact date not found)
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Formation of the Freedman's Bureau
This group provided assistance to whites in poverty and thousands of former slaves in the Southern States in the years following the Civil War. It was established to take on the relief effort and the social reconstruction that would make the freedpeople citizens.
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President Lincoln's Assassination
On this day, while at Ford's Theater with his wife, President Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth behind the left ear. He didn't die instantly, but the morning after.
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Andrew Johnson Announces Plans for Reconstruction
After Lincoln was assasinated on April 14th, Johnson had to assume duties of President meaning that he had to carry on with Reconstruction. His plans were more forgiving to the South which didn't please Congress, which eventually led to his impeachment.
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Ratification of the 13th Amendment
This was the first of 3 very important amendments to end the racism in the United States. This amendment abolished slavery in all states.
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Ku Klux Klan Created
This was a group created by former Confederate soldiers and generals and were a terrorist group that used force and fear to weaken the political power of the Southern African Americans and the Radical Republicans.
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Civil Rights Act Enacted
This act granted citizenship and rights that white males had to all men in the United States. It had no distinction of race or color, so all men had equal opprotunities.
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Reconstruction Acts Enacted
This act split the southern states into 5 sections, each under control of a Northern general. It also forced the stated to select new state delegates, make new state constitutions, ratify the 14th Amendment, and have equal rights for everyone.
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Andrew Johnson Impeached
This was very important in the development of Reconstruction, because his plan of being kind to the South didn't agree with what the rest of the government was looking for. So they set up a case against Johnson, to impeach him, which they did but were unable to remove him from office by one vote.
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Ratification of the 14th Amendment
This amendment was a very important in working towards the goal of equality of everyone in the United States. It gave citizenship to all, both state citizenships and U.S. and also said that all laws must be applied equally, so one might not get harsher treatment than another for the same crime.
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Ulysses S. Grant Elected President
Grant won the election by a landslide, he won the electoral college votes 214-80. He was greatly suppored by the African Americans who could now vote.
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Hiram Revels Elected to Senate
He was the first African American to be elected into the Senate. This was very important in the road to equality for all and influenced other African Americans to run for government positions.
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15th Amendment Ratified
This was the final of 3 acts that really started changing the U.S. in terms of segregation and racism. It garunteed the right to vote regardless of color or previous condition of servitude.
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Ku Klux Klan Act Enacted
This was also known as the Enforcement Act of 1871. This suspended the writ of habeas corpus so that they stop the Ku Klux Klan that was terrorizing the South.
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Freedman's Bureau Abolished
This was the most criticized and unliked tool of Reconstruction. It was disbanded and handed over it's duties to the war department to take over.
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Civil Rights Act Passed
This act declared that African Americans to be treated equally in public places, such as transportation or businesses. It was later declared unconstitutional in 1883.
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Jim Crow Laws
These were a series of laws that allowed for segregation public places in towns. The laws also made fun of African Americans through "Jim Crow" by stereotyping them.(exact date unknown)
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Last Troops Leave South Carolina
This happened after Hayes was elected president and he ordered for these troops to leave. This was nearing the end of formal Reconstruction. (no exact date found)
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Rutherford B. Hayes Elected President
In the most debated and controversial election, Hayes won by a very slim margin although he lost the popular vote. He was a Republican who kept Reconstruction moving, taking troops out of the south and more.
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Civil Rights Act Overturned
This happened after the Civil Rights Cases that tried the Civil Rights Act. One of these was the Plessy v. Ferguson case that deemed "seperate but equal." (no exact date found)
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Florida Requres Segregation
More Information Here!</a>They required segregation in all places, which include schools, restrooms, resturants, businesses, churches, and more.(no exact date found)
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Plessy v. Freguson Case
This case was when Plessy took a seat in a white train car when he should've been in the black train car and was arrested for not moving when instructed. Plessy lost the case to Ferguson and the verdict deemed "seperate but equal."
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