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May 19, 1215
Magna Carta
This document gave noble men the right to vote. The US based our Constitutuion on some of its principals. -
Roanoke
Sir Walter Raleigh founded the city Roanoke. It was not very successful. When they went to go get help, they came back and everyone was gone. -
Jamestown
Captin John Smith founded the first perminent English settlement in the New World on the Virginia coast. He named it Jamestown after King James. -
House of Burgesses
House of Burgesses was the first representative assembly in the New World. -
Pilgrims
The pilgrims were Puritain separatist who sailed away and landed on Plymouth. They also wrote the Mayflower Compact which set the idea of self-government and majority rule. -
Creating Providence
Roger Williams was fleeing religious persecution from the Massacusetts Bay Colony and found Providence, RI. -
Navigation Acts
England wanted to protect colonial trade so they made so most of their trade would go to England. -
Bacon's Rebellion
Nathanial Bacon led other planters in a revolt against the British Governor William Berkely. This was one of the firdt revolts in the colonies. -
William Penn, 1683
William Penn signs treaty with Delaware Indians and made payment for Pennsylvania lands -
Salem Witch Trails
People of Salem, MA were acussed of being witches and were put on trial. This set the idea of trial by jury. -
Georgia Formed
When Georgia was formed that set up the last of the 13 original colonies. Georgia was mainly used for people in debt. Also Benjamin Franklin published Poor Richard's Almanac -
John Peter Zenger Trial
John Zenger was a publisher who said something in his newspaper about the governor of New York. This set the idea of Freedom of speech. -
Great Awakening
A major thing happened at Enfield,MA. A man named Jonathan Edwards started the Great Awakening. This was a great spiritual awakening that swept throughout the colonies. -
French and Indian War
The French and Indian war began. This was a fight between England and the Indians/French. Also during this time delegates met to discuss a plan of union but was rejected in the colonies. -
Stamp Act
This was one of the many acts passed by Parliment to help repay debts of the French and Indian War. This taxed lumber,molasses, rum, ect. in the colonies. -
Stamp Act
This was also an act to help repay debts. This one required all legal documents to have a taxed stamp on them. Also the Quartering Act was passed which required the colonist to house British troops. -
Townshend Acts
This put a tax on glass, lead, paper, and tea. Later all of the taxes exept the one on tea were repealed. -
Boston Massacre
British soldiers fired into a group of Boston colonist. Five were killed. Used as propoganda against England. -
Boston Tea Party
To protest the Tea Act, boston colonist dumped tea into the river while dressed as Indians. -
Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts were passed to punnish Boston for the Boston Tea Party. Also the first Continental Congress was called in Philidelphia to discuss declaring independence from Britain. -
The First Battles
The Battle of Lexington and Concord started the Revolutionary War. Patrick Henry stated the fomous quote, "Give me liberty or give me death!". The Continental Congress also named George Washington to be Commander in Chief of the army. -
Declaration of independence
The Declaration of Independence was a document that fully declared the colonies independent from great Britain. Also Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense to pursuade colonist to join the revolution. -
Winning Battles
During this year the US had many successful battles including some at Princeton, Ft. Ticonderoga, and cutting off the British escape route. Also during this year the Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation. -
John Paul Jones
John Paul Jones won the most famous sea battle. During the fight when the British Captin ask hi mto surrender he stated the now famous words, "I have not yet begun to fight!" -
Battle of Yorktown
This was the last major battle in the Revolutionary War. When Lord Cornwallis retreated to Yorktown, VA, Washignton and his troops set up a siege. Cornwallis surrendered. -
Treaty of Paris
This treay recognized America independent. This ended the Revolutionary War. -
Problems with the Articles
Shays's Rebellion happend in Massahcusetts and showed that the Articles of Confederation did not have a strong notional government. The started the Constitutional Convention to try and draft a new Constitution. Also, they adopted the Northwest Ordinence which set the orderly growth pattrern for the US. -
Washignton Inaugurated
George Washignton was elected the first President of the United States of America. John adams was elected his Vice President. -
Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights was adopted to the Constitution. This protected citizen's rights. -
Washignton at his Second Term
Washignton was elected again for his second term and had John Adams as his Vice President again. Also, Eli Witney invented the cotton gin wich started the Industrial Revolution. -
Whiskey Rebellion
The Whiskey Rebellion was when Pennsylvania farmers protested a tax on whiskey. -
Washignton's Farewell Address
When Washignton ended his last term he stated in his farewell address that the US should not form political parties because it would split the nation. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
This was a series of acts passed to increase tensions on the "aliens" and weaken the Democratic-Republic party. -
Jefferson and Burr
The 1800 Presidential campaign was a unique one. Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr had the same number of electoral votes. Acording to the Constitutio, the House of Representatives had to vote to see who became President. After 36 times Jefferson finally won the Presidential seat. -
Marbury vs. Madison
In this supreme Court case it set up the idea of Judiciary Review. This helped balance out the three branches. Also the Louisiana Purchase was bought from France and nearly doubled the size of the US. -
Lewis and Clark Exposition
This was an exposition to search the unexplored Louisiana Purchase. President Thomas Jefferson ordered Meriweather Lewis and William Clark to get as much infromation as the can. -
Embargo Act
This act banned all trade with foreign countries. This badly hurt the US economy. Also Robert Fulton made the first trip on a steamboat which was part of the Industrial Revolution. -
War of 1812
The War of 1812 had three main causes, 1. Britain interfered with US shipping, 2. Britain captured US sailors and Ships, 3. Britain was arming Indian raids. This was the last war with Britain. -
Battles in the War of 1812
US naval Captain Oliver Perry won the battle of Lake Erie and Thames but failed in other Canadian invasion attempts. -
Final Battles
With British forces advancing towards the Capital, they burned everything down including the White House. As a witness to this, Francis Scott Key wrote the words to our national anthem "The Star Spangled Banner". Later that year, after a US naval victory at the Battle of Champlain, US and Britain signed a peace treaty ending the War of !812. -
Getting Florida
Spain gave the US Florida. -
Monroe Doctrine
President James Monroe said that there should be no European interference with the Americas. -
Webster-Hayne Debate
This was a debate between two senetors arguing over nullification. this was a famous topic around the country. -
Abolitionism Starts
Abolitionism is starting to get into peoples minds, abolitionism is the abolishment of slavery. Nat Turner in Virginia led a slave rebelion. -
Trail of Tears
Cherokee Indians were forced to walk the Trail of Tears form their homeland in Georgia to Oklahoma. -
Telegraph
The first message was sent through the telegraph invented by Samuel F.B. Morse. This inproved the communication between the states. -
Mexican War
The mexican war started over the annexation of Texas. each countr had a different version on were the Border should be. A treaty was signed in1848 that gave the US Texas, California, and other territories. Also the US got some land in Orgeon territory from Britain. the term Manifest Destiny was used a lot. -
Gold Rush
Gold was discovered in California and everybody who wanted to get rich went there. This was known as the California Gold Rush. -
Compromise of 1850
This Compromise proposed by Henry Clay was to admit California as a free state and make Utah and New Mexico territories. also the made the Fugitive Slave Act which tightend down on runaway slaves. Also the slave trade in DC was ended. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Harriet Beecher Stowe published the best selling book Uncle Tom's Cabin. This book portrayed slavery as brutal and immortal. This book was popular in the North but not in the South. -
Republican Party
The Republican Party was formed becase some did not agree to the Kansas-Nebraska act. Later the Repuclican Party became a big influence in the North. Also, the Gadsen Purchase was made with Mexico witch gave the US land for Manifest Destiny. -
Dred Scott vs. Sanford
Dred Scott was a slave who was moved to a free state. After his owner died, he went to the Supreme Court and declared his freedom since he was in a free state. The Supreme Court ruled against him because he was not a US citizen. They also siad that Congress could not ban slavery in any territory and clared the Missouri Compromis eunconstitutional. -
Attack on Harper's Ferry
Abolitionist John Brown and 21 followers attack the arsenal at Harper's Ferry to try and rally slaves to fight for themselves. Many were killed and Brown was hanged for treason. -
Election of 1860
Abraham Lincoln was elected President. even though he said he would not abolish slavery, the south did not like him. -
Civil War Starts
With abraham Lincoln as president, 7 southern states had suceded with Jeferson davis as their President. The Battle of Fort Sumter was considered the first battle of the Civil War. by then 11 states had suceded. -
Battle of Antietam
With the Union winning battles and taking over New Orleans, the Union was one step closer to splitting the Confederacy. But in western Maryland the bloddiest battle in US history happend. The Battle of Antietam both sides lost over 2,000 men. Even though it was a Union victory, no one really won. -
Battle of Gettysburg
After Abraham Lincoln issued the Emacipation Proclomation which freed all slaves, came the turning point in the Civil War, the Battle of Gettysburg. This was a major Union Victory and then Abraham Lincoln gave his famous Gettysburg Address. Also, Confederate troops surrendered to General Ulysses Grant at Vicksburg, Mississippi which split the Confederacy apart. -
End of War
General Robert Lee surrendered to General Ulysses Grant at Appomattoix Court House ending the Civil War. Five days later Abraham Lincoln was shot watching a play at Ford's Theater by John Wilkes Booth. Also the 13th Amendment took place wich abolished slavery. -
14th Amendment
The 14th Amendment gave every person born in the US citizenship. (including former slaves) -
15th Amendment
The 15th Amendment gave all men the right to vote. (including former slaves) -
American Red Cross
Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross.
