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Period: Jan 1, 1492 to
U.S. History
This Timeline shows major events and ideas from U.S. History during the time period 1492 through 1877. It describes each event and idea, and there are even visuals to make it easier to learn and understand the history! -
A Shift in Power
130 ships of the Spanish Armada sailed into the English Channel hoping to end English piracy. It seemed it would have been an easy win for Spain, but the English ships were faster and easier to manuever which allowed them to win the battle. This began the time of permanent English settlement in the New World and the end of Spanish domination.
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The Birth of the Slave Codes
Virginia was the first colony to legally establish slavery. After this, the presence of slavery and the number legalizations of the establishment grew until 1705 when the slave codes were passed.
Source 1 [Source 2](www.ushistory.org) -
The End of France in America
The French and Indian War (1753-1760), also called the Seven Year War, was fought between the French and the Indians against the British and their colonies. This war was one of the first times the colonies acted as a united people to defeat an enemy. The Treaty of Paris, signed on February 10, 1763, ended French rule in the Americas.
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Signing For Our Freedom
On July 4, 1776, the wording of the Decaration of Independence was approved by Congress and signed. We now have Independence Day on July 4th to celebrate our country's freedom!
Interesting Article on Decline of "Americanism" -
The American Identity
In my opinion the American Identity has no definition, because it is constantly changing everyday. This idea was began and has continued to be developed since 1776 during the Revolutionary War when our country was first formed. It is a bond that holds the American people together under one identity.
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Federalism
Antifederalism
Federalism
Federalists were the group of people during the 1780s that were in favor of the Constitution. Among them were Benjamin Franklin and George Washington. They believed democracy needed to be restrained by a strong centralized government inorder for the nation to survive.
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A Beginning and an End
The Treaty of Paris was signed in November of 1783, and it marked the official end of the American Revolution and the beginning of the United States of America. The war started at Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775 and continued until the Siege of Yorktown on October 17, 1781.
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Drafting A Country
Many of the ideas of the 1780s strongly contrasted one another, which made it difficult for the Constitution to be ratified after it was drafted in 1787 by a group of national leaders in Philadelphia. It was finally law in the spring of 1788.
[Source](www.ushistory.org) -
The Continuation of Slavery
With Eli Whitney's invention of the cotton gin, slavery became increasingly popular. Some historians say that without it slavery may have disappeared. Therefore, the invention of the cotton gin created increased cruelty to slaves and a deeper seperation between the north and the south.
Source (USH, 27a) -
Electing a New Nation
Thomas Jefferson, Democratic-Republican, ran against John Adams, Federalist, in the 1800 election and won. This was the end of Federalism and the beginning of the Virginia Dynasty which consisted of many new ideas for America. This time increased the power of the people and the more true definition of democracy.
[Source](www.ushistory.org/us/20a.asp) -
An Industrialized America
Robert Fulton sailed the first commercial steamboat in 1807, this sparked trade and transportation and future technological developments to come. Others like John Deere, Cyrus McCormick, Samuel Morse, and others invented many more things to improve American society.
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The Death of a Generation
On July 4, 1826, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both passed away. This marked the end of America's revolutionary generation and the end of the Federalist and Republican parties.
[Source](www.ushistory.org/us/24.asp) -
The Underground Railroad
Starting in 1830 until the end of the Civil War, there were 3,200 men and women who worked on the Underground Railroad to help slaves make a safe passage to freedom. One of the most famous "conductors" was Harriet Tubman, who was born a slave herself. In her time as a conductor she was freed more than 300 slaves.
Source (USH, 28c) -
The Voice of Abolitionism
William Llyod Garrisson published THE LIBERATOR in 1831 and led the way to freed of slaves. He was a powerful voice in the anti-slavery movement and was respected and loved by many.
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The Western Empire
In the 1840s - 60s, many Americans travelled along the Oregon Trail, heading west. Some were in search of gold, while others just believed it was their right. This idea was know as Manifest Destiny. Manifest Destiny was the belief that Americans had a divine obligation to expand the boundaries of their repulic westward. It was given that name in 1845 by John O'Sullivan.
More On Manifest Destiny -
The Idea of Powerful Women
The 1830s and 40s were the first sugns of Feminism in the United States. Feminism is the advocacy of women's rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men. The first convention for women's rights was held on July 19-20 of 1848 by Elizabeth cady Stanton in New York.
Seneca Falls
US History -
The Compromise of 1850
The Compromis of 1850 was passed in September of 1850. In favor of the North, Caifornia was admitted as a state and the slave trade was made illegal. For the South, Texas received $10 million, the Fugitive Slave Law was passed, and slaveholding was still lega in DC.
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Free?
The Emancipation Proclamation became effect o January 1, 1863. Lincoln simply said that if the Confederat states did not join the Union by then, their slaves would be forever free. However, many people say that it didn't truly free the slaves; they were only free in writing.
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The Assassination
Lincoln was sitting in a box seat watching a play, when John Wilkes Booth got into the box and shot Lincoln in the head from six inches away. The shot was deadly and Lincoln died the next day. Booth jumped out of the box, landed on the stage, and escaped with a broken leg from the jump. He was cornered and killed two weeks later on April 26.
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Radical Republicanism
Radical Republicanism came about in 1866, after the Civil War. It was the belief that the South should be punished for what they have done and that the ruling class in the South should be prevented from continueing their power. Radical Republicans also believed that blacks were entited and deserved the same rights and oppurtunities as the whites. They were also responsible for impeaching Pres. Johnson in 1868.
More on Rad Repubs -
1st to be Impeached
Andrew Johnson was impeached in May of 1868. The Republicans in the House drew up many articles of impeachment and then it went on to the Senate. Joshnson was lucky; he was found not guilty and continued his term by only one vote. He would be the first president impeached and there would be 130 years before Bill Clinton, the next president to be impeached, was impeached.
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The Golden Rule
In 1961, Norman Rockwell's mosaic THE GOLDEN RULE was made public. It is a picture showing all different kinds of people all together in one place, in peace. The "Golden Rule" is written on it: do unto others as you would ahve them unto you. This is a true American ideal.
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