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Period: 1492 to
U.S. History: VHS Summer: Lily Jacobson
On this timeline will be the events that occurred between the years 1492 to 1877. These events will only be related to the New World/The United States of America. -
Spain's "invincible" Armada Fleet Decimated by the English Navy
Spain's "invincible" fleet of over 130 ships sailed into the English Channel. Even though they vastly outnumbered the English ships, the Armada fleet returned to Spain with less than 65 ships left. This battle was a major turning point in world history because it marked the beginning of the end of Spanish dominance in Europe and the New World. This battle also marked the beginning of permanent English settlement in the New World. Source: https://www.ushistory.org/us/2.asp -
Jamestown Colony Established
When 144 English men and boys founded the Jamestown Colony, it marked the first successful Joint-Stock Company venture. The eventually positive outcome of the Jamestown colony would be its extremely successful tobacco export. Sources: https://www.ushistory.org/us/2c.asp AND https://www.ushistory.org/us/2d.asp -
American Melting Pot
As early as the 1770s, the American colonies were incredibly diverse. People such as the English, Welsh, Scot-Irish, German, French, Irish, Swedish, Native American, and African populated the colonies. One outcome of this immigration of people from all over the world was America becoming a melting pot, a society where many different types of people blend together as one. Source: https://www.ushistory.org/us/7f.asp -
The Boston Massacre
A mob of 60 angry townspeople approached the custom house in Boston to protest taxation without representation. Reinforcements were sent to the seen, but in all of the chaos and confusion, British soldiers began firing on the crowd without being commanded to by their captain. 5 men were killed including one former slave. This massacre taught the colonists that the British will use any means necessary to keep them obedient. Source: https://www.ushistory.org/us/9e.asp -
Signing of the Declaration of Independence
All of the colonies approved the Declaration of Independence, which outlined a statement of intent, a list of grievances, and a dismantlement of ties with Britain. The vote was 12 to 0 (New York abstained). Source: https://www.ushistory.org/us/10g.asp -
The Legacy of the Declaration of Independence
On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence, a legal document outlining the reason the 13 colonies decided to separate from Britain, was signed. Aside from announcing independence, the Declaration of Independence expressed the ideal and commitment of human equality. While the Declaration of Independence did not immediately lead to equality, it inspired a start on working towards equality and greatly influenced the course of American History. Link: ushistory.org/us/13a.asp -
Philadelphia Convention
Following the Shays' Rebellion, Congress agreed to hold a meeting to consider revising the Articles of Confederation. This meeting is known as the Philadelphia Convention, and in attendance were 55 delegates from 12 states. The outcome of this Convention was the decision to create a whole new energetic government to replace the Articles of Confederation, which would eventually be known as the United States Constitution. Source: https://www.ushistory.org/us/15b.asp -
Federalism/Federalists
After the Constitution was proposed to the 13 states for debate for ratification, Federalism emerged as the political idea of supporting two levels of government. Federalists were people that supported the proposed Constitution and encouraged the states to ratify it as guidelines to establish a strong central government. The outcome of Federalism would be the ratification of the Constitution. Source: https://www.ushistory.org/us/16a.asp -
Eli Whitney's Cotton Gin Invention
In 1794, Eli Whitney developed the cotton gin, a tool that separated seeds from short-staple cotton. Because the slave-based tobacco trade was in deep crisis in the late-18th century, the cotton gin revived slavery in the Old Southwest by making them the largest producer of cotton in the world in the 19th century. The outcome of the revivification of the Old Southwest was the continuation of slavery and harsh violence towards slaves throughout the 19th century. Link: ushistory.org/us/22b.asp -
Presidential Election of 1828
In 1828, Andrew Jackson, a modest, Tennessee planter and military hero, was elected to the Presidency of the United States. Andrew Jackson was running against John Quincy Adams, a wealthy, well-educated statesmen. One outcome of Jackson's victory would be the launching of a new era when politicians try to display how poor/modest they had once been, so they could gain more support. Source: https://www.ushistory.org/us/24a.asp -
Abolitionism/Abolitionist Movement
Abolitionism/the abolitionist movement was the movement to end slavery. The abolitionist movement was started by David Walker in 1829, when he published the book, "Appeal," that called for the termination of slavery. The movement really got going with William Lloyd Garrison in 1831, when he published the book, "The Liberator," which clarified the position of new abolitionists, made him the voice of abolitionism, and gave him much support from freed African Americans. Link: ushistory.org/28a.asp. -
Nat Turner's Revolt
Throughout 1831, Nat Turner, a slave with religious visions, organized a group of 70 slaves to kill white Southerners. He did this in response to one of his visions. The group successfully murdered 75 white men, women, and children. One outcome of these killings was the destruction of the white belief that slaves were happy with their lives or too obedient to undertake a violent rebellion. Source: https://www.ushistory.org/us/27e.asp -
Transcendentalism/Transcendentalists
Definition: Transcendentalism is the belief that people have knowledge about themselves and the world around them that goes beyond logic and senses. The Transcendental Club was formed for people associated with this new way of thinking to be loosely connected. One outcome of this club was the philosophy to urge Americans to stop looking at Europe for imitation and inspiration, but instead be themselves and look to art and nature for the answers to perplex questions. Link:ushistory.org/us/26f.asp -
Texas Declared Independence from Mexico
On March 2, 1836, Texas declared independence from Mexico, so four days later, the dictator of Mexico, Santa Anna, sent 5,000 troops and successfully seized the Alamo. Under the leadership of Sam Houston, Americans were sent to Texas and defeated Santa Anna's forces, so on May 14, 1836, Santa Anna recognized Texan independence. The outcome of the Alamo battle would be Texas boundary disputes, which would eventually lead to the Mexican-American War 10 years later. Link: ushistory.org/us/29a.asp -
Nativism/Nativists
Definition: Nativists are political parties that are anti-catholic and want to extend the time it takes for immigrants to become citizens and voters. One specific party that held these ideals were the Know Nothings. In the 1850s, Nativists won control of many state governments and won the presidency in the 1860 election. Source: https://www.ushistory.org/us/25f.asp -
The Compromise of 1850
By September 1850, Henry Clay's compromise became law. Clay's compromise recognized California as the 16th free state to join the Union, put no federal restrictions on slavery in Utah or New Mexico, gave Texas $10 million for losing it's Mexico boundary claim, prohibited the slave trade, and enacted the Fugitive Slave Law. This law required northerners to return runaway slaves to their owner under penalty of law, which led to conflict between the North & the South. Link:ushistory.org/us/30d.asp -
The Pottawatomie Creek Massacre
On May 24, 1856, John Brown, a timid man and devout Bible reader of whom believed slavery was immoral, organized 7 people from the North to enter the pro-slavery town of Pottawatomie Creek. Brown and his posse destroyed houses and killed 5 people in response to Border Ruffians fraudulent voting in Lawrence. One outcome of this massacre would be a brutal guerrilla war in Kansas, which killed 200 people and destroyed millions of dollars of property. Link: ushistory.org/us/31d.asp -
Battle of Antietam
On September 17, 1862, General McClellan of the Union deployed troops to defend Antietam Creek against Lee's 15,000 Confederate troops. After the Battle, over 22,000 soldiers were killed, wounded, or missing, which is the most Americans killed in a single day in U.S. history. One outcome of this battle was Britain and France's decision not to recognize the Confederacy. Another outcome of this battle would be Lincoln issuing a preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. Link: ushistory.org/us/33e.asp -
Freedman's Bureau Bill and Civil Rights Bill
In 1866, activists in Congress introduced a bill to extend the life of the Freedmen's Bureau and to began working on the Civil Rights Bill. President Andrew Johnson strongly opposed and vetoed both bills citing racist claims as his reasons for vetoing them. Congress was appalled by Johnson's racism and overturned the Civil Rights Act veto. One outcome of this would be amending the Constitution by adding the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments. Link: ushistory.org/us/35b.asp -
White Supremacy
Definition: White supremacy is the belief that white people are superior to those of all other races, especially the black race, and should therefore dominate society. In the late-1870s, white supremacy began to flourish as groups such as the Ku Klux Klan, the Knights of the White Camellia, and the White Brotherhood were created. These supremacy groups aimed to control African-Americans through violence and intimidation. Link: https://www.ushistory.org/us/35d.asp
