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Jamestown Settlement
People from England arrived to the Americas to make money. They faced many Native Americans when they arrived and grew and sold tobacco in that area. -
Start of Slavery
Slavery in America began when the first African slaves were brought to the North American colony of Jamestown, Virginia, in 1619, to aid in the production of crops as tobacco. -
House of Burgesses
The House of Burgesses was the first legislative assembly of elected representatives in North America. The House was established by the Virginia Company, who created the body as part of an effort to encourage English craftsmen to settle in North America. -
Mayflower Compact signed
The Mayflower Compact was the first governing document of Plymouth Colony. The Mayflower Compact was signed aboard the Mayflower ship on November 11, 1620. -
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French and Indian War
The war was fought between the colonies of British America and New France, with both sides supported by military units from their parent countries of Great Britain and France. They fought for land west of the Appalachin and Canada -
Treaty of Paris
Was signed on 10 February 1763 by the kingdoms of Great Britain, France and Spain, with Portugal in agreement, after Britain's victory over France and Spain during the Seven Years' War. The signing of the treaty formally ended the Seven Years' War, known as the French and Indian War in the North American. -
Proclamation of 1763
Was issued October 7, 1763, by King George III following Great Britain's acquisition of French territory in North America after the end of the French and Indian War/Seven Years' War. In which it forbade all settlers from settling past the Appalachian Mountains. -
Stamp Act
Was an act of Great Britain that imposed a direct tax on the colonies of America and required that many printed materials in the colonies be produced on stamped paper produced in London, carrying an embossed revenue stamp. -
Boston Massacre
An incident on March 5, 1770, in which British Army soldiers killed five male civilians and injured six others where British troops had been stationed in Boston. This angered many colonists and made people hate the British. -
Boston Tea Party
A political protest by the Sons of Liberty in Boston, on December 16, 1773. The demonstrators, some disguised as American Indians, destroyed an entire shipment of tea sent by the East India Company. -
1st Continental Congress
Was a convention of delegates from twelve colonies (Georgia was not present) that met on September 5, 1774, at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was called in response to the passage of the Coercive Acts (also known as Intolerable Acts by the Colonial Americans) by the British Parliament. -
Lexington and Concord
The Battles of Lexington and Concord were the first battle of the American Revolutionary War. They were fought on April 19, 1775, in Massachusetts within the towns of Lexington, Concord, Lincoln near Boston. -
2nd Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that started meeting in the summer of 1775, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, soon after warfare in the American Revolutionary War had begun. -
Declaration of Independence
The thirteen American colonies, then at war with Great Britain, wanted themselves as thirteen newly independent sovereign states, and no longer a part of the British. They wanted to form a new nation called The United States of America. -
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Gabe Prosser Revolt
Planned a slave revolt in Richmond Va, but was eventually caught and hanged. -
Articles of Confederation
Was a document signed by the 13 colonies that established the United States of America as a confederation of sovereign states and served as its first constitution. It was the weakest government for America as it barely have powers. -
Battle of Yorktown
Was a decisive victory by a combined force of American Continental Army troops led by General George Washington and French Army troops led by the Comte de Rochambeau over a British Army commanded by British lord and Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis. -
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Critical Period
Period when the Articles Of Confederation was the government. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris, signed on September 3, 1783, ended the American Revolutionary War between Great Britain and the United States of America. -
Land Ordinance of 1785
The immediate goal of the ordinance was to raise money through the sale of land in the largely unmapped territory west of the original states acquired after the end of the Revolutionary War in the 1783 Treaty of Paris. -
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Shays Rebellion
A rebellion when farmers were outraged by the taxes the constitiution had made. -
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Annapolis Convention
Was a national political convention held September 11–14, 1786, at Annapolis, Maryland, in which twelve delegates from five states gathered to discuss and develop a consensus about reversing the protectionist trade barriers that each state had erected. -
The Great Compromise
Was an agreement that large and small states reached during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that in part defined the legislative structure and representation that each state would have under the United States Constitution. -
3/5ths Compromise
Was a compromise reached between delegates from southern states and those from northern states during the 1787 United States Constitutional Convention. The debate was over if, and if so, how, slaves would be counted when determining a state's total population for constitutional purposes. -
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Constitutional Convention
Took place from May 25 to September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to address problems in governing the United States of America, which had been operating under the Articles of Confederation following independence from Great Britain. Although the Convention was intended to revise the Articles of Confederation it was later decided among James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, was to create a new government rather than fix the existing one -
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
The ordinance created the Northwest Territory, the first organized territory of the United States, from lands beyond the Appalachian Mountains, between British Canada and the Great Lakes to the north and the Ohio River to the south. -
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Washington's Presidency
George Washington was the first president of the United States. -
Judiciary Act of 1789
Judiciary Act of 1789 sets up the court system -
Bill of Rights signed
Is the collective name for the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution. Proposed to grant the Anti-Federalists wishes who had opposed Constitutional ratification, these amendments guarantee a number of personal freedoms, limit the government's power in judicial and other proceedings, and reserve some powers to the states and the public. -
Cotton Gin
Invented by Eli Whitney, separates the seeds from cotton more easily, made slave use increase. -
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Adam's Presidency
John Adams won the election of 1796, he defeated Thomas Jeferson of the Democratic Republicans. -
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Jefferson's Presidency
In the Election of 1800, Thomas Jefferson defeated John Adams of the Federalists, this was the first peaceful transfer of power from one party to another. -
Louisiana Purchase
Jefferson bought land from the French , it doubled the size of the U.S. -
Marbury vs.Madison
Case where Marshall declared a law unconsitutional, it was important because it established the power of judicial review. -
The War of 1812
British interferes with American shipping and also aids Indians in the west. Madison calls for war which was supported by the south but the north opposed the war. -
McCulloch vs. Maryland
Case when Marshall upheld the federal governemnts right to establish a bank, said a state couldnt tax the bank due to national supremacy. -
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Susan B. Anthony
One of the strong leaders of the Women's Suffrage Movement. -
Missouri Compromise
Divided the Louisiana Purchase at 36o, 30', the north of the line was free and the south of the line had slaves. -
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Age of the Common Man
Time when democracy in the U.S. expanded and more people got involved in the electorial process. -
Gibbons vs. Ogden
The court overturned a steamboat monopoly, it confirmed the governments power over commerce. -
Monroe Doctrine
Warned Europe against future colonization in the AMericas and interference in any independant country in the western hemisphere. -
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Jacksons Presidency
Jackson personified the democratic spirit of the age , he appealed to common man voters, not the wealthy aristocrats. -
Indian Removal Act of 1830
Forced all Indians east of the Mississippi River to move to Indian territory. -
Nat Turner Revolt
A slave revolt that took place in Southampton Va, 200 slaves where killed during the revolt. -
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Battle of the Alamo
The Alamo was an old mission house, Texans fortified themselves there, Mexican general Santa Anna attacked with superior force. -
Battle of San Jacinto
The battle where Texans won Independance, led by Sam Houston. -
US annexes Texas
Texas joins the United States and becomes the 28th state. -
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The Mexican War
President James K Polk urged this war, the US wanted the southwest and Mexico didnt want to sell, the US easily defeated Mexico and gains the southwest. -
Reservation System
Indians were forced off their lands onto smaller and smaller reservations. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Book by Harriet Beecher Stowe, portrayed the evils of slavery, was widely read and increased support in the North for abolition. -
Dred Scot Case
A slave named Dred Scot sued for freedom after being taken into free territory by his owner. The supreme court ruled that African Americasns aren't citizens so had no right to sue, Congree had no right to ban slavery in the territories . This case overturned efforts to limit the spread of slavery. -
Election of 1860
Abraham Lincoln a Republican was elected Presidents of the United States, the main issue is about Slavery. -
Battle of Fort Sumter
Confederates fired on Union ships that were there to resupply Fort Sumter, this was the first battle of the civil war. -
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Battle of Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter was located in South Carolina but remained under Union control. Confederates fired on Union ships that were there to resupply Fort Sumter, this was the first battle of the Civil War. -
Homestead Act
Law that gave free public land in the West in 160 acre plots. -
Battle of Antietam
Lee went North and lost in this battle, Grant pushed deep into Confederate territory. Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation after thi battle. -
Emancipation Proclamation
Freed slaves in the rebelling states. The effects were that the New Northern war aim is abolishing slavery not just restoring the Union. Discouraged foreign intervention. -
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Battle of Vicksburg
This battle was taking place in Mississippi, Grant wins, this cuts the Confederacy in half. -
Battle of Gettysburg
Lee pushed North into Pennsylvania,3 day battle where Lee had to retreat. This was the turning point of the war. -
Gettysburg Address
Short speech by Lincoln dedicating cemetary. Lincolns key points was that the US was one nation, not separate states. -
13th Amendment
A law abolishing slavery. -
Appomatix Court House
Lee surrendered and urged Southerners to accept surrender and unite as Americans. -
Lincolns Assassination
Lincoln was killed by John Wilkes Booth shortly after the war. -
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Reconstruction
Process of restoring Southern states to the Union and determining the position of African Americans. -
Reconstruction Act of 1867
The North put the South under military control. -
14th Amendment
Prohibited states from denying equal rights to any American especially gave citizenship to blacks -
15th Amendment
Gave voting rights to African Americans -
Knights of Labor
A union founded by Uriah Stevens. -
Election of 1876
A republican Rutherford B. Hayes becomes President when a compromise was reached between the North and South. -
Assimilaton Policy
Plan under which Indians would be forced to adopt American culture -
Chinese Exclusion Act
Banned entry of almost of all Chinese. -
Haymarket Square
The Knights of Labor protested in Chicago, bombs went off near police and 8 strikers were convicted. -
American Federation of Labor
The founder of this labor union was Samuel Gompers, had a craft union and used collective bargaining. -
Dawes Act
This act's goal was to americanize the Indians, they did this by breaking up reservations and dividing them into smaller individual plots, and legally abolishing tribes. -
Sherman Anti Trust Act
Prevented any business structure that restrained trade, its goal was to outlaw trusts or monopolies. -
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Progressive Movement
Early 20th century reform movement, it used the government to institute reforms to fix problems caused by industrialization. -
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Jim Crow Laws
Established separate facilities for whites and blacks. -
Homestead Strike
A Strike that erupted into a gun battle at the Carnegie Steel Plant. This strike was formed after the Plant Manager Henry Frick cut employees pay -
American Railway Union
Founded by Eugene V. Debs, they had railroad workers and an Industrial Union. -
Pullman Strike
Railroad workers started nationwide RR boycott, fed. govt ended it. -
Plessy Vs. Fergusan
The Supreme Court said the Jim Crow Laws was separate but equal, it did not violate the 14th amendment. Upheld Jim Crow Laws of segregation. -
Treaty of Paris 1898
U.S. annexed Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Phillippines. Cuba became free. -
Spanish-American War
Cubans rebelled against the Spanish rule, U.S. eventually goes to war against Spain -
Open Door Policy
Gave all nations equal trading rights in China and urged foreighners to obey Chinese laws. -
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Boxer Rebellion
A group of Chinese Rebels that tried to remove foreign influence, it failed. -
Platt Amendment
U.S. asserted the right to intervene in Cuban affairs. -
Roosevelt Corollary
TR added this to the monroe doctrine, it reminded Europe not to interfere . It said the U.S. would use force to protect its interests in Latin America -
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Great Migraton
Period from 1910-30 when many African Americans moved from the rural South to Northern Cities. -
17th Amendment
Voters can elect Senators now, not state legislatures. -
16th Amendment
Congress has the power to lay and collect tx from incomes. -
Federal Trade Commision Act
Creates FTC and investigates business practices. -
Panama Canal finished
TR encouraged Panama to break from Columbia, they succeeded. Panama gave the U.S. rights to build a canal, it connected the Atlantic and the Pacific. -
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WWI
War erupted in Europe, 2 sides one called the Allies that consisted of Britain, France, Russia, etc. The other side was called the Central Powers and consisted of Germany, Austria Hungary, a stalemate developed. -
Clayton Anti Trust Act
Expands Sherman Anti Trust Act, outlaws price fixing and exempts unions from Sherman Act -
U.S. enters WWI
The US remained neutral for 3 years until Germans sunked US neutral ships, the Zimmerman Telegram, and the US also had close ties to Great Britain. -
14 Points
Wilson's peace plan, its goal was to eliminate the causes of war. -
18th Amendment
The prohibition of alcohol in the US, this made it illegal to consume and sell it. -
Treaty of Versailles
Peace treaty at the end of WW1, forced Germany to take blame for the war. -
Harlem Renaissance
Explosion of black intelleactual and cultural life. -
19th Amendment
Women now have the right to vote. -
Immigration Restriction Act
Put a quota of how many immigrants could come from each country, it allowed more from Old Immigrant areas than New Immigrant areas. -
Scopes Trial
TN teacher John Scopes was tried for teaching evolution, this trial sparked a national debate over evolution. -
CIO
New Union that formed during the Great Depression. -
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Herbert Hoover
Believed in Rugged Individualism, called for more individual effort and was against direct government aid to the needy. -
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The Great Depression
Time of severe economic hardship in the United States. -
Black Tuesday
The Stock Market crashed. -
Dust Bowl
Horrible drought on the Great Plains -
Fair Labor Act
Sets maximum work hours and minimum wage. -
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Crushed Hoover in the election of 1932 and promised a new deal. -
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New Deal
FDR's programs to deal withe the Depression. -
FDIC
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, insures bank deposits and regulate banks. -
Wagner Act
Protected workers rights to form unions and engage in collective bargaining. -
Social Security Act
Provides safeguards for workers. -
Non Aggression Pact
Stalin and Hitler agree not to attack each other. -
War In Europe Begins
Germany invaded Poland from the West, as a result France and Britain finally declare war on Germany to stop German Expansion. -
Germany Invades Russia
Germany turned on the Soviet Union and invaded them for Soviet Oil fields. -
Pearl Harbor
Japan surprise attacks Pearl Harbor base in Hawaii and targets the Naval Base and also crushes US Pacific Fleet. -
US declares war
Congress declares war on Japan and joins WW2 at FDR's request. -
Selective Service Act WW2
5 million voulenteered to be in the Military when the US joins WW2. This system drafted 10 million more men into the Military. -
Miracle of Midway
The US navy beats a larger Japanese force and ended the threat to Hawaii. -
Korematsu Vs. US
Korematsu sued the US for making his race in America to be forced to live in Internment Camps. The Supreme Court allowed internemnt. -
D-Day
The allies lands in German occupied France, led by Eisenhower, troops faced many heavy casualties but this was successful. -
Battle At The Bulge
German takes a counteroffensive, the Allies soon recovered. -
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Division of Germany
East Germany became communist & remained under Soviet domination, West Germany was temporarilly under US, British and French occupation. -
V-E Day
Allies from West and Soviet Union from East overran Germany, Germany Surrendered. -
Hiroshima A Bomb
The US bombs Hiroshima to make Japan surrender. -
Nagasaki A Bomb
Days later after the bombing of Hiroshima, the US bombed Nagasaki, Japan finally surrendered finally ending WW2. -
Nuremberg Trials
The allies convicted remaining Nazi's for their crimes during WW2. -
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Cold War
The uneasy peace after WWII, marked by a rivalry between the US and the Soviet Union. -
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Berlin Airlift
The Societs blockaded West Berlin, the US flew in supplies. -
Marshall Plan
Massive US financial aid package to rebuild Europe's economics -
NATO
Defensive alliance among the US & Western European countries, their main goal was to prevent Soviet invasion of Western Europe. -
Communist takeover of China
Mao Zedong tookover China as a communist, the US feared of the Soviets and Chinese world domination, but they became rivals. -
Korean War
North Korea invades South Korea, the US led a United Nations force to aid South Korea, the Chinese forces then aided North Korea. The war ended in a stalemate. -
Eisenhower
Got elected in 1952 and reellected in 1956. -
Julius and Ethal Rosenberg
Gave atomic secrets to the Soviets, they were both electrocuted. -
Warsaw Pact
Alliance among Soviet Union & East European countries. -
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Vietnam War
US stepped in to help South Vietnam from getting invaded from Communist North Vietnam. -
Sputnik
The Soviet launched this into space becoming the first country to launch something into space. -
U2 Incident
Francis Gray Powers was shot down while spying over the Soviet Union. -
JFK
Was elected in 1960, was part of the Bay of Pigs invasion, Cuban Missile Crises, and the Berlin Wall. -
OPEC
raised oil prices -
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Berlin Wall
Stalin placed a wall separating East Berlin from West Berlin. -
Cuban Missile Crises
The Soviets stationed nuclear missile in Cuba, JFK demanded their removal & blockaded Cuba. -
JFK Assassination
JFK was assassinated in Dallas TX by Lee Harvey Oswald, shook America's confidence. Began a period of internal strife. -
Election of 1968
Nixon got elected to be President. -
Nixon's Presidency
Nixon made a thaw in cold war tensions, signed a SALT treaty to limit nukes with USSR. -
Detente
Temporary thaw in Cold War tension -
Nixon in China
Nixon was exploiting the rift between China and the Soviet Union, he hoped to get China on the US's side. -
Watergate Scandal
5 Men from Nixon's reelection committee got caught breaking into the Democratic Campaign Headquarters. -
Moscow Summit
Nixon met with Soviet Leader Brezhnev, signed the SALT treaty. -
Panama Canal Treaty
Carter gave Panama Canal control back to Panama. -
Carter's Presidency
Worsening economy, had the Camp David Accords, Panama Canal Treaty , Detente collapses. -
Camp David Accords
Peace talks between Egypt & Israel. -
Iran Hostage Crises
52 Americans were taken hostage in Iran. -
Reagan's Presidency
Had Reagonmics where he cuts taxes, and pressured the Soviet Union. -
Reagan's Berlin Wall Speech
Challenged the Soviey Union, told Garbechev to tear down this wall. -
Fall of The Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall was torn down. -
Soviet Union Collapse
Turned into Russia & 14 other countries.