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Jun 10, 1215
Magna Carta
Magna CartaThe Magna Carta was a document that king John of England was forced to sign. This document lessened the power of the king and formed a parliment for England. It was written by archbishop Stephen Langston and gave rights to English citizens. -
Mayflower Compact signed
Mayflower CompactThe Mayflower Compact was a document written by the pilgrims coming from England that stated laws and rights for the pilgrims to create a stable society. It said they would create their own government with their own laws. -
Formation of the New England confederation
New England ConfederationMassachusetts, Plymouth,Connetitcut and New Haven met in Boston to coordinate military efforts. They appointed representitives from these colonies. These representitves could declare war and had some power over internal conflicts. -
Royal Proclamation
linkWhen the king of England told colonists that they weren't aloud to inhabit land across the appalachians. This was land they fought in the French Indian war. -
The French and Indian War begins
linkThe war between French and British with Indians on the French side. It was for land west of the appalachians. The British and colonists won this war. -
Albany Plan of Union announced
Albany PlanThe Albany Plan of Union was a plan to unite the people in the colonies to fight in the french and indian war. It had representitives from the colonies and a leader appointed by the kong of England. -
Treaty of Paris
link Treaty ended french indian war. British were given control of land west of the appalacian mountains to the mississippi river. -
Sugar Act
link Tax on sugar by British for the colonies. It was made to help fix British debt and was cheaper than the previous tax on sugar. -
Stamp Act
link This created a tax on paper goods like cards, newspapers and stamps. This upset colonists and so they began to boycott British goods. -
Stamp Act Congress
link This congress met with 9 colonies represented to discuss the stamp act and other problems. They came out still loyal to Britain. -
Townshend Acts
linkThis new act taxed many things like glass, tea and others. The colonists yet again boycotted this and were upst with the British. -
Boston Massacre
link As tensions rose one night a group of colonists were antagonizing British soldiers. These soldiers opened fire and kileed some colonists in doing so. -
Boston Tea Party
link Upset with new taxes on teas colonists prtoested by boarding British Tea ships and dumping tea into the harbor. The British were very upset and acted acordingly. -
First Continental Congress
link All colonies were represnted except Georgia. At this meeting they discused how to act on the new British laws called the intolerable acts. -
Patrick Henry "Give Me Libery"
link Henry wanted each county in virginia to have it's own militia or fighting force. He gave a long speech influencing colonists to do so. -
Midnight Ride of Paul Revere
link Paul revere along with a few other riders took to the road to warn colinists that the British were soming. They got the word out and alowed the militia to get in place. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
link The militia knowing the British were coming took to the woods to launch surprise attacks on the British as the went to and from Concord. They forced the British to create a defense in Boston. -
Fort Ticonderoga
link The Breen mountain boys fought at this fort wining the americans their first battle. The Americans got the artillary and also knew they could beat the British. -
Second Continental Congress meets
link The delegates agreed it was time to take on the British. They made an army and put George Washington in charge. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
link mostly on Breeds hill the colonists fought off British troups twice until they ran out of ammo and were forced to reetreat. Although they won British suffered heavy casualties. -
"Common Sense" Published
link It was a document blaming British for bad things in the colonies a getting people to join the Revolution. It helped spark the colonists to join the fight. -
British evacuate Boston
link Once colonists had cannons the British new they weren't going to be able to hold onto Boston. They got on the boats and retreated to Nova Scotia. -
Declaration of Independence announced
link Drafted on December 2nd it was the fourth that in was announced to the people. The colonies now had a formal statement of why they were rebbelling. -
"The Crisis" published
link These were articles written supportinging the american revolution. It made the american morale much higher. -
Washington captures Trenton
link On the day after christmas Washington snuck up on Hessian truops who had been partying the day before. It was a good win for the American cause. -
British defeated at Saratoga
link The contionental army was able to trap the British at Saratoga. This was the first major win and proved to be the turning point in the war. -
Articles of Confederation signed
articlesThe Articles of confederation are rules created by congress to show the guidelines of Congress. This was the first written government of the United States. -
Winter at Valley Forge, PA
link With the winter coming and the men loosing their pride. Washington took them to Valley forge were he trained them and convinced them to keep fighting. -
John Paul Jones defeats the Serapis
link This was a battle on the sea against the H.S serapis. It lasted about three hours and John Paul and his men came out victourious. -
Benedict Arnold plans found out
link Arnold was giving away american plans for moths. When they found out he was captured but eventually escaped. -
Cornwallis surrenders
link boxed in by French and Americsn troups Cronwallis had no choice but to surender. The Americans won the war. -
Newburgh Conspiracy
conspiracyNewburgh conspiracy was when a soldier was disrespecting the US government because they weren't meeting the army's needs. Washington was able to talk the soldiers down beacuase he made them feel shameful for asking for so much. -
Treaty of Paris
Treaty of ParisThe Treaty of Paris was an agreement signed by the US and Britain that finally gave the US independence. The US payed Brtish debts and in turn Brtian said that the US was independent to the Mississippi river. -
Spain closes mississippi river
mississippiSpain closed the Mississippi to everyone except the Spansih. The americans were very upset with this because the U.S was no longer able to trade up and down the river. -
Land Ordinance
ordinanceThe Land Ordinance created the first public schools for all of the US. It improved US education across the country. Education became more manditiry and these public schools were maintained in every township. -
Shays' Rebellion
rebellionShays Rebellion was started by a revelutionary war vet named Daniel Shay. He was a farmer rebelling against paying taxes in gold and silver and taking of farm land. It put down by the Massachusetts militia. -
Annapolis convention
AnnapolisThe Annapolis convention was a meeting to fix the government of the US. However, the representitves felt like not enough of the states were represented so they asked for another meeting in the future to fix the government. -
Constitutional Convention opens
convention The constitutional convention ws when representitives from each colony came together to fix the articles of confederation. In the end they mad the constitution. -
Ordinance of Religious Freedom
ReligionThe Ordinancce of religous freedom gave people the right to practice whatever religion they pleased without any persecution from the government. This gave people freedom of Religion. -
Northwest Ordinance
northwestThe Northwest Ordinance was made to form some sort of government for the northwest territories. It also gave some laws for the people in these territories. -
The Great compromise agreed to
compromiseIT is when the congress agreed on representatives for the people in the houses. In the Senate each state got two representatives. The house of representatives is done by population in each state. -
Constitution sent to staes for ratification
ratification Once the representitives decided on the constitution they sent it off to the states. The point of this was to show the states and get their aproval before it was put in place. -
Anti-federalist articles appear
anti-fedderalists The anit- federalists were people againtst the constitution. They wrote many articles on how it wouldn't work and what rights it took away for the people. -
Federalists Papers appear
papersThe federalists papers were a group of articles that promoted ratification of the constitution. These papers were mostly supported by people who wanted a strong central government. -
Deleware ratifies
Deleware ratifies The state of deleware had a convention on ratificated the constitution. The december 7th they decided it was best for the stae of delaware to have the constitution. -
Massachusetts ratifies
massachusetts ratifies Massachusetts was kind of split on deciding whether to ratify the constitution or not. They finally did but in the end it was a close vote. -
New Hampshire ratifies constitution
New Hampshire The State of New Hampshire also agreed with the constitution. They were the vote that put the constitution into effect. -
Congress meets for the first time
congressCongress met for the first time in New York. The put the amendments into place. This was the first meeting ever by the congress. -
George Washington elected Presisdent
washington After doing so well in the revolutionary war washington was the people's choice for President. He didn't want to but did it any way. He became the first president of the United States of America. -
Bill of rights sent to states ratification
Bill of rights The Bill of rights was created by congress at a meeting. They wanted to show people's rights to protect themselves from the government. They created this Bill of rights then sent it off to the states to be ratified. -
Bill of RIghts ratified
Rights ratified The Bill of right helped people get rights that weren't given to them in the constitution. It was a good addition to the constitution. All the amendments were ratified except for two. -
Virginia and Kentucky resolutions written
linkJames Madison and Thomas Jefferson wanted congress to stop doing things not allowed by the Constitution. This sparked a great debate in the government. -
Hartford Convention Meets During War of 1812
linkThis convention was held to try and contain the power that the federal government was getting. They talked long and came up with some ideas on what to do. -
Missouri compromise
linkThe MIssouri compromise was put in place to keep slavery in the south and even out the balance in the senate. It said no slavery could go past the 36 30 latitude longitude line for all U.S teritories. It also added Missouri as slave state and Maine as free state. -
Tariff of Abominations Passed
linkThis helped industry in the North excel by increasing the price of imported goods. It made the competition in Europen less harsh. -
South Carolina Tries to Nullify
linkWith the tariff in the North the South had less goods and couldn't compete. South Carolina fixed this by making a law that said they did not have to worry about the tariff. -
Abolition of Slavery Act
linkThis law was passed by Parliment in England. It called for the end of slavery and was passed in 1833. -
Texas Declares Independence From Mexico
linkAmericans were allowed to settle in Texas while it was under Mexican rule. When Mexico outlawed slavery the Texans were upset so they left Mexico and joined the United States of America. -
James Polk Elected
linkPolk was president during the mexican war. He secretly wanted the war to hapen to gain land from mexico. He was also invloved in adding Texas as a state. He was the 11th President. -
Mexican War
linkWhen Texas joined the U.S, Mexico arhued with Texas about the border. The U.S entered the conflict and eventually attacked Mexico. The U.S tried to say Mexico attacked but really wanted the war to hapen. The result of the war was the U.S getting Arizona, California and New Mexico. -
Wilmot Proviso
linkThis law allowed slavery in the territories gained in Mexican war in an attempt to regain peace with Mexico. The law howvwer, was never passed. -
California Enters the Union
linkClafornia wanted to be a State. There was a big debate over whether they should join or not because it could disrupt the balance in the senate. They eventually were allowed to join. -
Fugitive Slave Law Enacted
linkThis law was made so there would be no safe haven in the U.S for escaped slaves. It said that everyone had to turn in escaped slaves they found. If they didn't they would be fined and sent to jail. Also alleged escpaed slaves couldn't testify. -
Publication Of Uncle Tom's Cabin
linkUncle Tom's Cabin was written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. It showed the brutality of slavery and forced people to think about ending slavery. It helped the abolishonists cause. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act Passed
linkThe Kansas-Nebraska act instituted by Stephen Douglas was put in place to organize unorganized territory and ultimatley make chicago a main stop on the railways. This act opened Kansas and Nebraska to popular sovernty. This sparked heavy debate and violence in Kansas. -
Formation of the Republican Party
linkThis party was created to stop the spread of slavery. It was partialy formed because of Kansas-Nebraska act. Abe Lincoln also became a member. -
"Border Ruffians" Attack Lawrence
linkOn this day 800 men crossed into kansas and attacked the town of Lawrerence. They had guns and canons and went are destroying newpapers and other building. A few men died that day. -
Charles Sumner Attacked
linkSumner verbaly attacked senator Andrew Butler from South Carolina. The result of this was Butler's nephew Preston Brooks beat Sumner ,almost to death, with a cane. -
Pottawatomie Creek
linkJohn Brown led a group of abolishionists into the town Pottawatomie Creek in response to Lawrence. He killed 5 men hacking them with broad swords. -
Dred Scott Decision Announced
linkScott sued his owner after being moved to a free state for a while then back to a slave state. He was trying to get his freedom. After a few different trials and appeals the U.S supreme court determined that he should not recieve his fredom. The court said that a slave was property. -
Lecompton Constitution Passed
linkThis made it so all slaves in kansas could stay but no more slaves could be added. This made southerners furious and sparked a heated debate. -
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
linkAbe Lincoln and Stephen Douglas ran against eachother for Illinois Senator. They competed in a series of debates which contained a lot of arguments on different topics including slavery.
Lincoln wanted to stop the expansion of slavery and Douglas wanted popular sovernty. -
Raid at Harper's Ferry
linkJohn Brown led a group of around 19 men and took over a federal armory in Virgina. His plan was to spark a slave rebbellion. The slaves did not rebel and eventually the U.S Marines stormed the armory and took down Brown and his men. Five of Brown's men escaped the others were killed or captured. Five townspeople were also killed. Brown was hung for conspiracy and murder a few weeks later. -
Democrats Split in 1860
linkDemocrats from the North and those of the South were at odds over the issue of slavery. For this reason the party split both putting up a canadate for the Presidency in 1860. The North had Steven Douglas while the South had John Breckenridge. -
Formation of the Constitutional Union Party
linkThis political party avoided the topic of slavery. They hoped that it would avoid conflict and everyone could live happy ever after. -
Election of 1860
linkAbe Lincoln won this election with 40% popular vote and 60% electoral votes. The upset southereners because some of the states from the south didn't even have Lincoln on the voting ballet. -
Lincoln announces plans for reconstruction
ABeLincoln felt that it was no time to punish the south. Instead his plan was set on the basis of putting the union back together. -
Wade-Davis Bill Recieves Pocket Veto
BillThis bill was proposed by a radical republican and said that confederates who swore they had never used guns against the union could rejoin. It passed in the house and congress but was vetoed by Lincoln. -
Lincoln re-elected President
AbeLincoln went up against the Democrat George Mcllelan in this election. Abe won the election by a distinctively larger number of votes. -
Formation of the Freedman's Bureau
[Freedmens](www.chesnuttarchive.org/classroom/bureau.html)The freedmans bureau wan an effort to help those in the south get food, clothing and other neccesities because of the war. In this time over 200,000 blacks recieved their first education. -
Assassination of Abe Lincoln
AbeOn this day James Wilkes Booth snuck up behind lincoln in the theatre and shot him. It was a sad day for Americans. -
Black Codes created in Mississippi
CodesThe black codes were an effort by white men to withold civil libirties from blacks. Some of these laws seemingly looked like some sort of slavery. -
President Andrew Johnson Announces Plan for Reconstruction
[Johnson](www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/reconstruction/states/sf_timeline.html)Yet again Johnson was looking for a swear of loyalty from southeners to the union. He gave all those who made this oath back their property except for slaves. -
Ratification of 13th Amendment
13thThis amendment was the one to finally outlaw slavery in the U.S for everyone except criminals. -
Ku Klux Klan Created
KKKThe KKK was one of the first terrorist groups in the U.S. They attcked blacks and others who helped blacks. Their core value was white supremacy and others. -
Civil Rights Act Enacted
RightsThis act protected civil libirties for blacks. Although the President was against it the house was still able to pass the law. -
Reconstruction Acts Enacted
ActsThese acts called for military presence in the south and a new constitution for any confederate state to rejoin the union including other things these states had to do. -
President Andrew Johnson Impeached
ImpeachAndew Johnson fired Secritary of war edwin stanton which the congress deemed to be against the law. He remained President however winning by one vote in the senate. -
Ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment
14thThis Amendment said all who were born in the U.S were citizrns and had the rights to life, liberty and property. This law was not very popular but passed anyway. -
Ulysses S. Grant elected President
GrantGrant befriended the radical republican congess and worked to eliminate the confedercay and gain equality for african americans. -
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Ratification of the 15th Amendment
15thThis amendment gave black men the right to vote. escentially making them politicaly equal to whites. -
Ku Klux Klan Act Enacted
ActThis act was created to end the KKK. It suspended habeus corpus in order to break up the organiztion. It also help people recieve rights they were being deprived of. -
Freedmen's Bureau Abolished
BureauThis Bureau that seemed so helpful had become disliked. So the
secratary of war, now in charge of the bureau, disbanded it. -
Civil Rights Act (1875) Passed
ActThis act allowed blacks equality in transportation and public accomidation. Also they could now serve in juries. -
"Jim Crow" enters the American cultural language
Jim CrowThe Jim Crow laws basically took away all the civil libreties blacks had recieved with the civil rights act. Also it mandated segregation between whites and blacks. -
Rutherford B Hayes elected President
HayesHayes won a sketchy election with Samuel Tilden where he seemed to have recieved extra votes. He was President during the end of reconstruction. -
Last National Troops Leave South Carolina
TroupsAfter a compromise in the south the union decided it was no longer neccesary to keep troups in the south. -
Civil Rights Act Overturned
ActThis act was proved to be unconstituional by the supreme court. It was deemed that it went against the 14th amendment regualting individuals instead of states. -
Florida Requires Segregation in Places of Public
LawFlorida was the first to force segregation in public. With literary tests and the grandfather clause it was hard for blacks to have their voices heard. -
Case of Plessy v. Ferguson
VsPlessy decided to test the courts by sitting in the white car on a train. He argued he was within his 13th and 14th amendment rights of civil equality. He lost the case because of the specific wording in the amendments.
