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Battles of Lexington and Concord
The Battles of Lexington and Concord were the battles that started up the Revolutionary War. British troops marched to Concord to seize an arms catch and Paul Revere sounded the alarm to call the colonial minutemen to counterattack. At Lexington, another fight broke out and the British ended up retreating. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress and ended up severing the ties between the colonists and Great Britain. When the colonists declared themselves as an independent nation, they could officially form an alliance with the Government of France to get aid from the French in the war against Great Britain. A lot of John Locke's ideas are expressed in the Declaration of Independence. -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga was a turning point in the American Revolution. The British troops attacked on September 19, winning the initial battle at high costs. When British troops attacked again on October 9, the British was forced to retreat. He ended up surrendering, convincing the French government that American could potentially win the war. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was the first written constitution that established how the American Government was run. The Articles established a weak central government that mostly prevented the states from conducting foreign activity. Despite this, the Articles of Confederation was weak because it didn't allow the government to tax the colonies, there were no courts and the government couldn't solve domestic problems. -
Battle of Yorktown
The Battle of Yorktown was the most important battle in the American Revolution, signifying the end of the American Revolution. At Yorktown, the American and French troops surrounded the British troops and bombarded them until the British surrendered. When American troops began to prepare for another attack, the British surrendered beforehand and the battle was ended. -
Northwest Ordinance
The Northwest Ordinance was adopted by the Second Continental Congress and created a way of governing the northwest territories. The Northwest Ordinance established a precedent for how territories would become states; once a territory reached a certain population, they could apply to be approved as a state. It also established a bill of rights guarantee for each new state. -
The United States Constitution
The Constitution was the document that ended up replacing the original Articles of Confederation. This constitution established the national government and fundamental laws while also guaranteeing basic rights for the nation's citizens. Like the Declaration of Independence, John Locke's ideas, as well as other philosophical thinkers, influenced the foundations of the Constitution. -
Alien Enemies Act
The Alien Enemies Act was part of the laws passed in the Alien and Sedition Act. It was passed during John Adams presidency and allowed the president to deport 'aliens' of a foreign country that was at war with or threatening the United States. -
Sedition Act
The Sedition Act was another act passed during John Adams presidency that silenced any complaints or bad talk in regards to the United States. It was intended to protect the United States during World War I. -
Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights are the first ten amendments within the Constitution. James Madison wrote the amendments as a response to the anti-federalists complaints about the Constitution not protecting their rights sufficiently. -
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Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions were political statements that were drafted where the Kentucky and Virginia legislatures shed some light onto how the Alien and Sedition Acts were unconstitutional. They were written by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. The resolutions settled that the Alien and Sedition Acts were unconstitutional because they infringed on the reserved powers of the states. -
Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was a purchase made to expand further westward to make a bigger profit for the Union. Thomas Jefferson, the president that made this purchase, struggled with this purchase because of the constitutional ties with this purchase. The Louisiana Purchase was bought from France and used to bring in more profit. -
Marbury v. Madison
Marbury v. Madison was a court case resolving James Madison's and his refusal to deliver a letter for an appointed judge William Marbury. The court came in Marbury's favor and set the precedent for judicial review. With this ability the Supreme Court is now able to determine whether or not an action or law is unconstitutional. -
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a conflict between Great Britain and the United States. Great Britain attempted to restrict the United State's trade with France, as Britain thought it would interfere with the current war going on between Britain and France. -
Battle of New Orleans
The Battle of New Orleans was the last major battle of the War of 1812. General Andrew Jackson, with the American forces, successfully countered the invading British army. This battle was important because it led up to the country receiving control over New Orleans. -
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was an event in which north and south United States were having disputes over the integrity of balance between slave and free state. Missouri would break this balance and thus the Missouri Compromise was created which made use of the 36°30° line. This line specified that all states north would be considered a free state and all south would be considered slave state. -
Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine was conceived by President James Monroe explicitly stating that European countries that meddled with independent states of either of the Americas would be a sign of conflict with the United States. It also stated that the United States would recognize European colonies and refuse to interfere with their affairs. -
Nullification Crisis
The Nullification Crisis involved an economic low during the 1820s. South Carolina was heavily damaged; in finding something to blame, the Tariffs of 1828 and 1832. South Carolina declared these as unconstitutional and unenforceable in their new doctrine Ordinance of Nullification. In response, Congress passed the force bill escalating the tension. Luckily, a compromise was made and the Ordinance of Nullification repealed. -
Texas Annexation
The Texas Annexation was when the Republic of Texas was being annexed into the United States of America. Originally, Texas was declined for annexation due to the territory disputes that could arise and the issue of the balance between free to slave states in the United States. The annexation of Texas ended up leading into the Mexican-American War, which, afterwards, Texas joined the country as a slave state. Texas was officially annexed after the Mexican-American War. -
Oregon Treaty
The Oregon Treaty was a treaty that was signed as a compromise between the United States and Great Britain to solve territory issues. Great Britain and the United States had troubles determining who controlled the Oregon territory so the Oregon Treaty was signed as a form of compromise. -
Mexican Cession
The Mexican Cession was the official end to the Mexican-American War that was officiated through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. The United States got the Mexican Cession as a result of the treaty that ended the Mexican-American War. The United States had territory from Mexico ceded to them for fifteen million dollars. The Mexican Cession ended up creating more conflict between slave and free states. -
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Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions
The Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions was a document written mainly by Elizabeth Stanton that pushed for women's rights, or equality for women. It was written and presented at the first women's rights convention in Seneca Falls, New York. It is one of the most important documents advocating for women's rights. -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 did a number of things. One, it settled land disputes between New Mexico and Texas; two, it formed California as a free state; three, it created the idea of popular sovereignty which enabled citizens of the states to vote on their interest in slavery; and four, it banned the trading of slaves exclusively. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin was written by Harriet Breacher Stowe as an anti-slavery novel. The novel followed characters living on a plantation allowing the depiction of regular activities slaves must endure. Politically, the book changed attitudes of many people's views towards African Americans and slaves. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed by the United States Congress and allowed for people within the territories of Kansas and Nebraska to decide for themselves whether they would allow slavery or not. The purpose of the act was to repeal the Missouri Compromise and to open up railroads. This act ended up leading into Bleeding Kansas with the border war. -
Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas was a border war in the United States over concern about the legality of slavery in Kansas. Bleeding Kansas was fought between anti-slavery and pro-slavery militants and was one of the lead-ups into the American Civil War. It was ultimately an anti-slavery victory. -
John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry
John Brown's Raid on Harper Ferry was a raid that was led by abolitionist John Brown. It was led against a federal armory in Harpers Ferry and was an attempt to start an armed slave revolt to destroy the institution of slavery. In the fighting, one of John Brown's sons was killed. -
Battle of Fort Sumter
The Battle of Fort Sumter was the first fight of the American Civil War. This battle was what started the war. This was a Confederate win, as the Union army ended up having the retreat from the bombardment of Fort Sumter. -
Battle of Bull Run
The Battle of Bull Run was the first major land battle of Virginia in the American Civil War. It was the first major confrontation and resulted in a Confederate victory. -
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam was the bloodiest day of the American Civil War, having over twenty thousand casualties. This battle ended up being a Union victory and was when President Abraham Lincoln issued his preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. This was the turning point in the war, due to the Emancipation Proclamation. -
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation is a document created during the Civil War that freed all southern slaves in status, but not in reality. It was a strategic move to change the purpose of the war on an international scale. Britain had an economic interest in the Confederacy due to its agriculture. After the proclamation, a new found moral interest was placed into the Union. -
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Presidential Reconstruction
Presidential Reconstruction was the less harsh of the two reconstruction plans. President Andrew Johnson controlled the plan and rejected every attempt at harsh punishment towards the southern states for seceding from the Union. He planned for quick restoration of the original states and didn't offer any protection for newly freedmen in his plans. -
Battle of Vicksburg
The Battle of Vicksburg was a long naval and land battle fought over control of the Mississippi River. Ultimately, the Union won and gained control over the Mississippi River; plus, the Confederacy was effectively split in half due to the battle. In gaining control of the river, however, the Union shut down a lot of outside operations for the Confederacy; such as trade and transportation. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg ended up being the bloodiest battle in the American Civil War, with over fifty thousand casualties. This battle, however, is considered to be one of the most important ones during the Civil War. It is considered a turning point because it was a Union loss that the Union never recovered from. After a victory for the Union, General Robert Lee marched his army to Pennsylvania. -
Gettysburg Address
The Gettysburg Address was a speech given by President Abraham Lincoln after the Battle of Gettysburg. The address specified that the origins of the United States was from the idea that all men are created equal and unified. -
Sherman's March to the Sea
Sherman's March to the Sea was the most infamous campaign of the Civil War, conducted through Georgia by General Sherman of the Union Army. In destroying the Confederate's war resources and demonstrating the strength of the Union, this was the beginning of the end for the Confederates. -
Freedmen's Bureau
The Freedmen's Bureau was enacted during the early stages of reconstruction by President Abraham Lincoln as a way of providing aid to newly freedmen. The Freedmen's Bureau provided food, housing, medical aid and helped freedmen reunite with their families through the agency. It was also a way of trying to settle former slaves on land. -
Thirteenth Amendment
The Thirteenth Amendment was created by Congress after the American Civil War. It declared involuntary servitude - excluding from crime as punishment - as officially abolished. It also enabled Congress to enforce this amendment, mostly for the south, so that people would follow it. -
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Congressional Reconstruction
Congressional Reconstruction was the harsher of the two reconstruction plans. Congress was mostly made up of Republicans, otherwise known as the Radical Republicans, and they wanted a harsher plan for the Southern states reentering the Union. As well as this, the Radical Republicans had a more lenient tone towards the newly freedmen. As an example of this, the Freedmen's Bureau was established. -
Fourteenth Amendment
The Fourteenth Amendment specified who exactly are US Citizens. More specifically, those who were born in the United States, including African Americans, are now officially considered citizens. The Fourteenth Amendment also prevented former Confederate officers from serving in any representative position. -
Fifteenth Amendment
The Fifteenth Amendment officially stated that everyone considered a citizen in the United States now had the right to vote regardless of background and race. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
The Plessy v. Ferguson case was between a part African American man and the state of Louisiana as it pertained to segregation laws. The Supreme Court went in favor of Lousiana setting the precedent of "separate but equal" philosophy; this provided the states with the ability to have segregation laws.