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Period: 1492 to
1492-1887
From before the formation of the United States to the end of the Civil War. Includes important events and ideas that contributed to the development of America up to the end of the Civil War. -
Puritanism
The Puritans wanted to purify the English Church and separate entirely from England because of the discrimination they faced. This idea of separation from England and full religious freedom was one of the main reasons many British people moved to the colonies.
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Jamestown
In the year 1607, Jamestown was the first establishment in the new world made by British colonists. This marked the beginning of British conquest in the new world, starting a rapid change in the newly found land which would eventually lead to the creation of a new nation. -
Beginning of Legalized Slavery
Virginia was the first state to officially legalize slavery in the colonies. This signified the beginning of a long lasting conflict; American slavery. The unjust torture that the African American people had to endure would last for 200 years afterward.
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German Immigration
In the early 1700s, William Penn lured a large number of Germans to the colonies with a promise of religious freedom and opportunity. The Germans moved into Pennsylvania and brought cultural diversity and Lutheranism.
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The Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was one of the many events that pushed the colonists towards a war for independence. Paul Revere's depiction of this event made it clear that the colonists felt like they needed to take the colonies into their own hands and separate from Britain completely.
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The American Revolution
The war for America's independence from Britain. Battles include: Lexington and Concord, Bunker Hill, Trenton and Princeton. The war ended in 1781 and the Americans defeated the British in a final battle in Yorktown, Virginia. -
The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was the legal document signed by the "founding fathers" that declared the United States' independence from Britain. The document included the faults of King George III leadership over the colonies and the basic rights of every "man" in America.
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Federalism
The political idea that a nation's power can be split between a general government and regional power. In America's context, the two powers would be congress and the central government.
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The Beginning of the Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution changed American life and was a huge supporting factor in westward expansion and Manifest Destiny. In order to travel long distances, they had to build railroads and make new machines that could assist and move the growing population.
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The Cotton Gin
The invention of the cotton gin, by Eli Whitney, changed the cotton production industry forever. The machine made harvesting cotton faster, but also relied on slave labor.
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Election of 1800
The election of 1800 was hard-fought and many were divided on federalist ideas and which candidate could protect them. The two candidates were Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. Republicans wanted more state power while democrats wanted more central power. Jefferson prevailed.
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Abolitionism/Abolitionist Movement
The beginning of the 19th century brought a wave of "New-Abolitionist", whose ideals raised questions regarding the productivity of slavery in American society. Abolitionists were considered a minority, and were often times attacked for their views.
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The Election of 1828
Andrew Jackson won against John Quincy Adams in the 1828 election. Jackson stood for the "common man" of America. In his presidency, he contributed to the westward expansion of the United States at the Native Americans' expense. -
Women's Rights
Activists began to realize (around the 1830s) that women were clearly not given the same respect as men in American society. Activists like Abigail Adams, Lucretia Mott, Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton pushed for change in gender roles and general conformity.
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The Mexican-American War
The Mexican-American War was very involved. Quickly, American troops made their way to Mexico City to negotiate. The Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo settled the negotiation; the United States was given Texas, New Mexico and California. 13,000 killed.
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California Gold Rush
In 1848 gold was discovered in California. This drew in a lot of migrants and was seen as a huge opportunity to make money.
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The Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act, proposed by Stephen A. Douglas, was the biggest event that contributed to the start of the Civil War. The dispute over the future of slavery in the United States began to boil. Southern leaders wanted to include slavery in newly-annexed states. Many acts were violated when the Kansas-Nebraska Act was successful.
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The Civil War
Although there were only 4 years of battle, hundreds of thousands of Americans died over the controversy of slavery. The industrial North had to face the agricultural south, which relied on slavery to keep its economy stable. During the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation which freed the slaves (but not officially). The war ended in 1965.
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Andrew Johnson & the Presidential Reconstruction
Andrew Johnson was Lincoln's chosen vice president and when Lincoln was assassinated, Johnson became the 17th president of the United States in 1865. Johnson was known for his pro-slavery position and his lenient attitude toward the reconstructing south. Due to this, southern leaders were able to subjugate freed slaves with rules and regulations that segregated blacks and whites. Johnson was impeached in 1868.
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Compromise of 1877
In the latter part of the Reconstruction period, Rutherford B. Hayes won against Samuel Tildon by the electoral college. Hayes madfe an agreement with democrats to end military occupation in three reconstructing states until the end of the whole Reconstruction period.
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