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The French and Indian War
A war fought between France and Britain for control of much of North America. The Native Americans fought on the side of the french because they wanted the British to leave their land alone. Started in 1756 and lasted 7 years. The heavy taxation on the colonists as a result of the cost of this war was the reason for the start of the revolutionary war. -
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Industrial Revolution
The growth of industry that changed the way the world worked, there was a rapid growth of factory production and many precursors to the products we enjoy today were invented. Began in Britain but traveled to the U.S. in 1790. Helped expand slavery because of the need of workers for the newly made factories and devices. -
The Start of Factories
The start of the system of labor that is factories. Factories divide labor and reduce the skill level needed to make many products, making production much easier. The idea was adopted in Britain and came to the U.S. during the industrial revolution. -
The Boston Tea Party
An event in which the American colonists threw the tea imported from Britain into the sea in protest of heavy taxation on tea among other products. Caused tensions to rise and was the first act of rebellion and drew attention to the possibility of a revolution against Great Britain. In response, Britain made even harsher punishments. -
Revolutionary War
The battle fought between the american colonies and Great Britain for the independence of the US. Britain was surprised that the US actually was able to put up a fight and the first shot of war was known as the shot heard round the world. Started at the battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775 and the battles ended October 19, 1781 with British surrender at Yorktown but the war officially ended with the treaty of Paris in 1783. -
The Consitution
The writing of the constitution, a document drafted when the united states became its own country. Guaranteed certain rights for the people and forged the way for how the government in the united states would work. Was signed by delegated from each state and has been revised before. -
Lewis and Clark Expedition
The first expedition across what is now the western United States, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark set out to explore the Louisiana purchase. They were joined by Native American Sacagawea who served as a translator and guide through some of the journey. One downside to the journey was the spread of disease to many Native American tribes. The expedition set out in May of 1804 and lasted nearly 2 and a half years until September of 1806. -
The Missouri Compromise
An act passed in 1820 that declared that all new states north of the Missouri line would be free states except for Missouri itself and all states south of the Missouri line would be slave states. This was created to ensure that neither free states nor slave states gained the majority in the united states. -
Manifest Destiny
Manifest Destiny was a mindset that appeared in the 1840s, it was the idea that the American colonists had the right to western land, not only that but it was their destiny to explore and take it. This idea spurred western expansion and for the union was a good thing. The major problem with this mindset is it made that think that they had the right to the land of others, they took a lot of land from Native Americans and they thought that they as white men had the right to it. -
Bleeding Kansas
The violent confrontations that took place between southerners and northerners when parties from both sides the crossed the borders into Kansas to help decided whether it should be a slave or free state. More than 50 people died total and the fights lasted until 1861. This caused tensions to rise and ultimately was a preview and one the causes of the civil war. -
The Civil War
A war fought between northern and southern states after the south seceded from the union in response to the election of Abraham Lincoln. Had the most casualties for Americans of any war we have ever fought. The main cause was the issue of slavery but there were more underlying causes that may have helped move along the rise of tensions. Lasted four years and ended with the south surrendering and ultimately rejoining the union. -
The Assassination of President Lincoln
While he was attending the theater, Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, who did it out of anger at the results of the civil war and thought that he would be a national hero. This had an affect on reconstruction because Lincoln was unable to carry out his plan for reconstruction and his vice president choose to go a different way. -
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Reconstruction Era
The period of time after the civil war where they were rebuilding the union and setting the terms for readmitting the south back into the union. Laws were made to protect former slaves and some laws were made that harmed former slaves. Andrew Johnson rejected the plan for radical reconstruction that Lincoln had and he was overruled because of it.
