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Battle of Lexington and Concord
The Battle of Lexington and Concord was a battle between the colonists and the British army. This battle started the American Revolution. This battle was known as the "shot heard around the world." -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was made for the colonists to declare independence from Great Britain. It was written by Thomas Jefferson. This is because Britain was not treating the colonists fairly and looking out for their wellbeing. When the government does not ensure the wellbeing of the people, the people can make their own government. -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga was a battle during the Revolutionary War, and it was the turning point of the war. This battle signalled to the French that the colonists had a chance at winning the war. This led to French declaring war against the British, and providing military and financial aid to the colonists. -
Articles of Confederation
This was the first form of government the Americans had after becoming independent from Great Britain. The Articles of Confederation gave the state governments more authority than the national government. This was a weakness that was proven by the Shays' Rebellion. Although this form of government helped establish the Northwest Ordinance, the basis for the creation of states. -
Battle of Yorktown
The Battle of Yorktown was the last battle of the American Revolutionary War. The Battle of Yorktown led to the the discussion of the British surrender and the end fighting in the war. -
Northwest Ordinance
The Northwest Ordinance was one of the biggest strengths from the Articles of Confederation. This ordinance helped new states join the Union and enter on equal terms to the original 13 colonies. This land acquired by the signing of the Treaty of Paris from Great Britain. It added the states of Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana. -
Constitution
The Constitution's creation was a response to the weakness of the Article of Confederation. The Constitution helped strengthen the power of the national government, and weakened the state government. For instance, the ability for only the national government to coin money. The Federalists and Anti-Federalists made a compromise in order for the Constitution to be ratified, where the Anti-Federalists would agree to ratify it if they got the Bill of Rights to protect their rights. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
The Alien Act restricted immigrants' citizenship and freedom of speech. This act was passed by the Federalists, or more specifically Adam's Administration and Federalist Congress as a response to the XYZ Affairs. -
The Bill of Rights
The Articles of Confederation failed to be an effective form of government, and they created the Constitution. The Federalists wanted to ratify it, but the Anti-Federalists’ fears of the government being too powerful hindered them. So, the Federalists and Anti-Federalists came to a compromise that the Anti-Federalists would support the ratification of the Constitution if the Bill of Rights were passed. These laws protected the people from a too powerful central government. -
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Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions
The Virginia and Kentucky Resolution was written by James Madison and Thomas Jefferson to nullify the Alien and Sedition Acts because they thought it was unconstitutional. They thought it was unconstitutional because it went against the first amendment, which protected citizens' freedom of speech. The Alien and Sedition Acts restricted political speech and immigration. This act went against the first amendment and states’ rights. -
Marbury v. Madison
A court case that was ruled by Supreme Court Justice John Marshall. This court case that ruled the judicial branch had the power of judicial review, which gave the Supreme court the authority to interpret the Constitution and determine if laws were constitutional. This case also increased the power of the national government. -
Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was land that bought by Thomas Jefferson from France When buying this land, Jefferson was hesitant because it was unconstitutional, but he bought it anyway. It added the states of Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, Oklahoma, and other states. This purchase set a precedent for future land acquisitions. It also helped gained access to the Mississippi River as a highway to world markets. -
War of 1812 Begins
The British capturing US soldiers, forcing them to work for British companies, and taking over US ships caused the War of 1812 to begin. The United States attempted and failed to control the British through the Embargo of 1807. The war resulted in a tie. -
Battle of New Orleans
The Americans, lead by President Andrew Jackson, win the Battle of New Orleans. This was fought against the Native Americans in Southeastern part of US. -
Missouri Compromise
In 1819, there were an equal amount of slave and free states. But, Missouri applied as a slave state, so the number of slave and free states was imbalanced. In return, Maine was added as a free states and a line was drawn at 36 degrees/30 degrees for the expansion of slavery. Any state that was below that line was a slave states, and any state above was a free state. -
Monroe Doctrine
President Monroe passed the Monroe Doctrine to prevent the European countries from recolonizing Latin American. The Monroe Doctrine was the reason for future presidents like Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson to get involved in their affairs. This lead Latin America to feel resentment to toward the United States. -
Nullification Crisis
The federal government passed a very high protective tariff that angered the South. John C. Calhoun tried to nullify the tax, and stated that South Carolina would not pay. A compromise was made which lowered the tariff because Andrew Jackson did not want to lose the South's support. Although, South was forced by to pay it and the issue about states' rights still were not fully resolved. -
Texas Annexation
The United Stated annexed the land of Texas after they won the Mexican-American war. The annexation of Texas increased sectionalism because it caused the debate over the expansion of slavery to increase. -
Oregon Treaty
The land of Oregon was occupied by the Americans, Spanish, and British until the Adams-Onis treaty, which ended the Spanish claim of the territory. Though, the Americans and British began to have conflict. This conflict led to negotiations of the border, and soon the US gained control south of the 49th Parallel, avoiding war. The states acquired were Oregon, Washington, Idaho, parts of Wyoming and Montana. -
Declaration of Sentiments
Women activists who were inspired by the creation of the Declaration of Independence composed the Declaration of Sentiments. They created the Declaration of Sentiments and presented it at the Seneca Falls Convention quoting that "all men and women were created equal." -
Mexican Cession (Treaty of Guadalupe Hildalgo)
The land acquired from the Mexican were the states of California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. This land was acquired from the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hildalgo after the Mexican-American war. The Mexican Cession helped complete Manifest Destiny because it gave the Americans control of land from coast to coast. -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1859 introduced the principle of popular sovereignty to decide if states wanted to be free or slave states. California was admitted as a free state. Other states acquired by the Mexican Cession would be decided by the people, popular sovereignty. The sale of slaves but not slavery was forbidden on Washington, D.C. The Fugitive Slave Law Act required for northerners to return runaway slaves. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin in published
Uncle Tom's Cabin was a anti-slavery novel written by abolitionist Harriet Beecher Stowe, narrating the struggles and hardships that African American slaves had to face. Uncle Tom's Cabin evoked sympathy through the North and increased their opposition of slavery. -
Bleeding (Bloody) Kansas
After Stephen Douglass proposed the idea of popular sovereignty of states, supporters from both sides to sway the votes, and things got violent. This violent time became known as Bleeding Kansas. This event led to the emergence of a new political party called the Republican Party. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Stephen Douglass proposed the idea of popular sovereignty that allowed states to decide if they wanted to be free or slave states. This contradicted the Missouri Compromise, which states any states north of the 36 degrees/30 degrees line were free states. This caused supporters from both sides to sway the votes, and things began to turn violent. -
John Brown’s raid at Harper’s Ferry
This raid was a revolt led a by slave named John Brown in Virginia. Brown hoped to start a rebellion consisting of armed slaves against abolition. Although, he was captured and hung for actions. Slave owners got defensive over slavery and were suspicious of the North's intentions. The raid ended up further dividing the North and the South. -
Battle of Fort Sumter
The Battle of Fort Sumter was the battle that began the Civil War. The Confederate troops fired on the Union held garrison, and the garrison commander, Major Anderson, surrendered the fort. Then, they were evacuated the next day. -
Battle of Bull Run
The Battle of Bull Run was one of the key battles during the Civil War. The Union had the advantage in the beginning of the battle, but the Confederacy were successful. It surprised those who were unprepared for the large amount people killed in battle and who thought the war was going to end quickly. Lincoln also switched General McDowell to McClellan in hopes the Union would be lead to victory. -
Battle of Antienam
The Battle of Antienam was the single bloodiest day of the war, where 23,000 soldiers were either dead or wounded. General Robert E. Lee led for the Confederates, and the Union was led by General George McClellan. The battle ended in a tactical draw. -
Emancipation Proclamation
This document was passed by President Abraham Lincoln, though it was not effective immediately until Jan. 1, 1863. Lincoln was also hesitant to free the slaves out of fear that the border states would secede because they allowed slavery. This did not free the slaves, it only commanded states in rebellion to free their slaves. He announced the proclamation as a "military measure" against the Confederacy. Because of this document, African Americans were able to fight on the Union's side. -
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Presidential Reconstruction
This reconstruction plan was President Abraham Lincoln's plan for Reconstruction, but he didn't live to carry it through because he was assassinated. President Andrew Johnson stepped in, and continued the plan. When Lincoln was in office, he composed the 10% plan, which made 10% swear an oath to the Union and accept the terms of the Emancipation. Johnson continued the plan by granting pardons to those who swore allegiance to the Union. Although, Congress was not very pleased with this plan. -
Battle of Vicksburg
General Ulysses S. Grant, leader of the Union, finally lays down a blockade after many attempts of capturing the city of Vicksburg. Lincoln believed the capturing of Vicksburg was the key to ending the war. At the end of this battle, the Confederates lose control of the Mississippi River after surrendering Vicksburg and the Confederacy splits into two. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg was a battle during the Civil War. This battle was General Robert E. Lee's first tactical defeat. -
Gettysburg Address
The Gettysburg Address was a speech made by Abraham Lincoln at the Gettysburg battlefield as a dedication to the soldiers who fought in the Civil War. Lincoln describes the Civil War as an effort to satisfy the Declaration of Independence and preserve the nation. -
Sherman's March to the Sea
William Tecumseh Sherman led his forces on a march to the sea from the Tennessee-Georgia border with the total war strategy. With this strategy, Sherman and his forces would destroy everything in their path and this would destroy the psychological will of the South. Sherman's main goal was to capture the port at Savannah, Georgia. -
Freedman’s Bureau established
The Freedman's Bureau, set up by the Radical Republicans, was a group who helped newly freedmen by giving them protection. The Freedman's Bureau also set up schools and helped them gain land. It also assisted them in the negotiation of labor contracts. -
13th Amendment passed
After the Reconstruction, the 13th amendment was passed. This amendment ended slavery. -
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Congressional Reconstruction
The Congressional Reconstruction was the Congress or Radical Republicans' plan. Their plan consisted of punishing the South. They also overturned all of Andrew Johnson's Reconstruction bills, and this impacted his political power. The Radical Republicans were now in power and they continued their plan by passing the Military Reconstruction Act of 1867, which divided the
South into 5 military districts controlled by the US Army. They also forcefully ratified the 14th amendment. -
14th Amendment passed
The 14th amendment was passed after the Civil War, during Reconstruction. The amendment was passed under the Congressional Reconstruction. This amendment gave granted birthright citizenship, equal protection under the law, and punished the South. -
15th Amendment passed
The 15th amendment was passed after the Civil War, during Reconstruction. This amendment granted all men the right to vote. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
The Plessy v. Feguson court case was a very significant case because ruled separate facilities for blacks and whites. It states "separate but equal." This court case upheld segregation and made it legal.