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Publishing of Webster's Dictionary
Noah Webster was a teacher and lawyer who published his first dictionary in 1828. He later updated it in 1840. The first dictionary included American spellings and American slang, most of his definistions were based on the bible. Webster established rules for spelling, grammar, and reading as well. This was significant to American society and culture because it was the first time someone had actually published rules for the English language, not British. -
Election of 1828
John Quincy Adams ran against Andrew Jackson in 1828. Jackson represented the common people while Adams represented group of "privileged," wealthy Easterners. This was a very heated election, because these two went up against each other in the last election. And Jackson believed the elction of 1824 was stolen from him. This election was significant to our country's history because it was the first time a president won an election of the expansion of voting rights for Americans. -
Beginning of the Trail of Tears
The Trail of Tears started was the name for the journey that many Native Americans took from their land to a place known as the Indian Territory in the 1830s. Many Indians, including women and children, died on the Trail of Tears. The Trail of Tears was significant to our country because it was the first time Americans actually pushed the out the Indians from their homes. -
Lowell Massachusetts Girls Labor Strike
In 1836, young female workers in factories and mills in Lowell, Mass. endured poor living and working conditions. The Lowell Girls formed a labor union to seek better conditions and eventually went on strike, starting other strikes across the eastern US. This was significant to our culture because it raised awearness for poor working conditions and they did this by banding together, which was key. -
Battle of The Alamo
The Alamo is in San Antonio Texas and was a mission that became a key symbol of the Texas Revolution. The Texan volenteer army was defending the Alamo against Santa Anna's entire Mexican army. On March 6, 1836 a final battle broke out and even though the rebels were completely out numbered, they fought with courage until the very end. This was important because it changed the tides of the war and became a rallying cry for Texans for the rest of the war. -
Death of Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith was the founder and leader of The Church of Latter Day Saints or Mormons. Mormons say that God renewed the gospel through the prophet Joseph Smith. Smith along with his brother, was killed by a mob on June 27, 1844. The Church of Latter Day Saints see Joesh Smith as a martyr. This was significant to American culture because his death marked the turning point for the Latter Day Saints movement to Utah and led the Mormans to a new leader Brigham Young. -
Irish Potato Famine
One of the main sources of food in Ireland was the potato. In 1845 a disease attacked the potato, causing a famine. The Irish Potato Famine killed between 1.5 and 2 million people by 1854. This forced many Irish people to leave their homeland. The Irish who came to America became city-dwellers or worked low-paying jobs. This was a significant event because it decreased Ireland's population, increased immigration to the US, and began a nationalist movement. -
Frederick Douglass Publishes Autobiography
Frederick Douglass was an African American slave who bought his freedom. In 1845 Douglass wrote an autobiography called "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave". It became a bestseller and many people couldn't beileve a former slave could write so well. This was significant to American culture because Douglass showed people that slaves were capable of being educated. -
Thoreau Writes "Walden"
Henery David Thoreau, who was educated by Ralph Waldo Emerson, lived in a time when Americans took pride in being part of a growing culture. In 1845 Thoreau moved to Walden Pond near Concord and lived in a cabin. Thoreau wrote about his life in the woods and believed people should live a more simple life. This was significant to our culture because his work also encoraged peaceful protest against the government. -
End of The Mexican War
The American War with Mexico was over the annexation of Texas as a U.S. state and the desire for the US to move westard. The war of Mexico ended when the Americans took control of Mexico city. General Scott lead the American army to victory. TheTreaty of Guadeloupe Hidalgo gave the US the northern parts of Mexico. This was important because it gave us more land to expand to and continue to fulfill "Manifest Destiny". And it gave the US our countries borders. -
Beginning of the Gold Rush
When James Marshall first discovered gold in California, people from all over rushed to California to try and do the same. Miners found so much gold that it could have paid for the Mexican War 100 times over. Thosands set out to try and make their fortunes. The Gold Rush is what populated most of California, provided ecenomic growth, and changed the West Coast forever, this is what made the gold rush so important to our history. -
Seneca Falls Convention
The Secena Falls Convention was a meeting held in 1848 to discuss and address women's rights. It was created by Elizabeth Stanton and Lucretia Mott and was the first time women gathered to demend that they should be treated equal to men on all things, including voting. This was an important event in our history because it started a women's rights movement that led to women being able to eventually vote.
