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Aug 3, 1492
Christopher Columbus
On August 3rd, 1492, Italian-born explorer Christopher Columbus embarks on the first of many voyages for European expansion. He is given three ships under his command, the Niña, the Pinta and the Santa Maria, by Queen Isabella of Spain. Columbus mistakingly thinks he lands in the East Indies, which is where the inaccurate term for Native Americans, "Indians" stems from. In actuality, Columbus lands in the Caribbean, but dies thinking he reached his goal destination of Asia. -
The Founding of Jamestown
Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in the Americas. It was founded on May 14, 1607 by the London Company, and named after the current English king, James I. Life was incredibly difficult for the colonists and during what is called the “starving time,” a population of 500 declined to 61 in nine years. This town is of great importance because it opened the portal to further English colonization and expansion into the Americas. -
Tobacco Economy
Tobacco was a lifesaving crop for the early colonies. First introduced by John Rolfe in Virginia, but soon spread to numerous other colonies. Tobacco especially flourished in the South, where it would be utilized as a currency and seen as a foundation of the economy. Tobacco had its downfalls, it was a boom and bust cash crop and had periods of great success and great failure. Tobacco was immensely important to the colonists as a source of income, and its success saved Jamestown from starvation. -
Birth of American Slavery
The labor intensive cultivation of the cash crop tobacco created a demand for cheap labor. Indentured servants were living out their sentences, and the colonists jumped on the opportunity of the significantly cheaper alternative, African slaves. As the supply of indentured servants decreased, the colonists turned to the use of African slaves. Slavery would become a massively important and highly debated topic for many years in the colonies and later in the United States of America. -
“Act Concerning Religion”
Maryland’s “Act Concerning Religion” was a revolutionary law which granted religious freedom for all Christians. Laws of this type were incredibly rare during this time period, and many rival Christian religions despised each other. This was a massively important law which set the groundwork for the foundation of freedom that later the United States of America would be based on. -
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The Enlightenment
The Enlightenment was a period of time where the thought process of people was radically changed. It began in Europe and was a time of philosophy, questioning, and deep thinking. The primary belief throughout the Enlightenment is that humanity and the morals of mankind are governed by a natural law. When introduced to the colonies, the Enlightenment played an important role in styling the words used in the American Revolution. -
Bacon’s Rebellion
Bacon’s Rebellion was sparked by Nathaniel Bacon who played to the poor Virginian farmers’ resentment of Governor William Berkley. The farmers were frustrated with the governor’s lax nature regarding the Native Americans living close to their farms. Bacon’s Rebellion was the first colonial rebellion, and uprooted the class system. The importance of this rebellion is that it caused slavery to be defined with racial ties as a way to “give something” to the poor farmers to appease them. -
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7 Years War
The 7 Years War was a war fought between the allied French and Native Americans and the colonists and British. The results of the war gave the British victors control of all French land on the continent, and the British deported all French from the continent. The costs of the war caused tension between the colonists and the British. The British and colonists had conflicting views over why the war was fought, and felt the opposite group should pay for the war debt. -
Quartering Act
The Quartering Act of 1765 was a law passed by Parliament stating that colonists were required to feed, house, and care for British soldiers in their own homes, at their own expense. The colonists felt this act was a huge invasion of their rights and privacy, and fought the issue fiercely. The colonists were so strongly against laws of this manner that they would be strictly forbidden in the third amendment of the Bill of Rights. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was sparked by resentment regarding British troops sent to Boston to enforce the Townshend Acts. The actual incident was started when British troops fired upon a group of men who had been repeatedly harassing the British troops. Five civilians died, and news of the events that took place quickly spread throughout the colonies. The Boston Massacre was an act of violence that erupted due to the culminating resentment regarding the many taxes and acts imposed by the British. -
First Continental Congress
On September 5th, 1774, 56 members from 12 of the 13 colonies met in Philadelphia in response to the Coercive Acts. The delegates from every colony except Georgia met in Carpenter's Hall to discuss a resolution to the current situation with England. The delegates gathered very briefly to write an appeal to King George III regarding the Intolerable Acts. The Congress agreed to the forming of a Second Continental Congress if their royal petition was unsuccessful. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
The battles of Lexington and Concord were the monumental first battles of the American Revolution, fought on April 19th, 1775. The battles were motivational to the Americans, since the British’s original intention of arresting Sam Adams and John Hancock was foiled, they secured their supply of gunpowder, and they also had a significantly lower death toll than the British due to the use of guerilla tactics. -
The Declaration of Independence
A compilation of many previous drafts from various men of well- off social standing, the Declaration of Independence is exactly what the name entails – a written-out statement of separation and autonomy from England. Written officially and signed by many “founding fathers” such as Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and of course Thomas Jefferson, this extraordinary piece of history was one huge leap among the colonies, followed later by others, to achieve their desired goal of independence. -
The Articles of Confederation
The initial “constitution” of the United States, the Articles of Confederation was a much weaker version that only aided the government for certain, specific purposes for only a short period of time. Having stated that Congress was the main driving power of the government (and could only perform a very selective amount of duties), a more informative and organized Constitution providing a much more complex governmental system was crucial for our country’s personal and international effectiveness. -
The Rising of Political Parties
Since the controversy over the Constitution’s ratification was so grand, two political parties formed as a result. Federalists, comprising of many of the founding fathers such as George Washington, Ben Franklin, and Alexander Hamilton to name a few, were for the ratification of the Constitution and strong central government; the Anti-Federalists, on the contrary, were opposed to the ratification and favored the voice of the people. -
The Northwest Ordinance
The Northwest Ordinance, as the name implies, took the ten districts that made up the Northwest territory and instead merged it into one, big chunk of a territory that could later on be divided and proportioned once statehood was reached. Not only did it prevent slavery in the Northwest, it set the standard for statehood itself as well – going on to say that a population of 60,000 was necessary in order for land to be officially recognized as a state. -
The Constitution of 1787
One of the most profound documents in all of American history, the Constitution of 1787 set the foundation of the United States government. James Madison, one of the most influential individuals in the creation process, was one of the thirty-nine delegates who had signed it on September 17, 1787. Cleverly devising up a system of “checks and balances,” one of the main aims of the Constitution was to find a proper balance between too much “governmental power” and too much “people power.” -
George Washington
Arguably the most prominent figure in American history and a recognizable name among roughly all U.S. citizens, George Washington was the “father of our country” and first president of the United States of America. Born on February 22nd, 1732, this prestigious man made history being the commander-in-chief in the American Revolution and sealed it with his courageous step to take the presidency on April 30th, 1789. -
The Creation of the Cotton Gin
Invented on March 14, 1794 by Eli Whitney, the cotton gin soon became all the rage. It enabled cotton, one of the most dynamic resources in the South, to be produced faster and more efficiently. This resulted in plantation owners possessing more slaves as a means to generate more income. -
John Marshall and Decisions of the Marshall Court
John Marshall, the first chief justice to serve in the Supreme Court of the United States of America, aided indefinitely in the development of the judicial branch of the government. Decisions such as those made in Fletcher V. Peck and McCulloch V. Maryland which dealt with contracts and implied powers still are upheld, even today. -
The Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase, which was America's purchasing of a huge chunk of the Northwest from France for roughly sixty million, opened up an entirely new territory to the Americans. This purchase allowed for more settlements, more farming for crash crops, and ultimately, more land that the United States could officially proclaim as their own. -
The War of 1812
Because of many struggles with the British, of but not limited to their impressment of American citizens, their pacts made with the Native Americans to go against expansion into the west, and limits with trade, the United States declared war on Britain on June 18, 1812. Ending with the Treaty of Ghent, this war helped further declare the United States as having an individual national identity apart from Great Britain. -
The Missouri Compromise
Devised as a means of settling ongoing disagreements between the states who were for and the states who were against slavery, the Missouri Compromise in 1820 divided the country by the 36/30 parallel as a means of settling the disputes. The states below the line were allowed to have slaves; the states above, however, were not. -
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Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a turning point for the American society and economy. Technological innovations led to a boom in factories, and combined with more effective transportation systems, revamped the American economy. This led to a wealthy ruling class and a poor working class, and ultimately the formation of the middle class. -
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The Rise of "King Cotton"
A declining tobacco and rice economy in the South led to the surge of cotton cultivation. Short-staple cotton could be grown in a variety of climates and soils, unlike other crops. It could also be processed quickly due to the invention of the cotton gin. This led to a ruling planter class, and another great expansion of slavery in the South, which further divided it from the North. -
The Monroe Doctrine
A profound proclamation of independence and resounding expression of nationalism, the Monroe Doctrine had stated what many Americans had on their minds for years. Written by James Monroe, this document essentially said that America is no longer open to further colonization by European countries, and any attempt to pursue such matters will result in a declaration of war. -
Erie Canal Finished
The Erie canal was the first canal built in the U.S., and was the greatest construction project up to that point, taking eight years to construct. Its influence on American society and economy was profound, creating a more effective shipping and transportation route to the Great Lakes region, and its success led to the construction of many others. -
Inauguration of Andrew Jackson
On March 4th, 1829, Andrew Jackson was inaugurated as the seventh president of the United States. He changed the presidency forever by making the federal government stronger. His presidency also influenced the way political parties and campaigns operated, which has had a profound influence in the politics of today's world. -
1st American Railroad
The technological innovations of steam-powered engines led to the development of a railroad system. The first railroad in the U.S. was bult by the Baltimore Ohio company in 1830. This had a profound effect on the American economy and society, as transportation and shipping became much more efficient by cutting the time of travel by more than half. -
William Llyod Garrison and Abolitionism
The already established Abolitionist movement was greatly helped by the efforts of William Lloyd Garrison, firstly by starting his own anti-slavery newspaper, "The Liberator." The movement believed that slavery should be immediately, not gradually abolished. The movement became divided however, with some calling for violence and others for peace, and faced fierce opposition, mostly from the South. -
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Trail of Tears
From 1831 to 1840, the American effort to remove Native Americans from their land grew and continued. During this period a majority of "the Five Civilized Tribes" were expelled to Oklahoma and other new Indian territories, while suffering vast casualties. -
Nullification Crisis
The Nullification Crisis was an important and controversial for the United States during the presidency of Andrew Jackson. South Carolina, upset with tariffs, decided to nullify them without consent of the federal government. Jackson responded by gradually repealing the tariffs, and establishing that the federal government could use military force to ensure that acts of Congress were followed out. -
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Panic 1837
The Panic of 1837 was the worst economic depression up to this point in American history. It was also the first and only time in American history that America was out of debt, but not for long. An excess of federal funds, and the speculative nature of the economy, led to bank failure, a rise in unemployment, and prices began to fall. -
Massachusetts Board Of Education
The first secretary of the Mass. Board of Educaion was the education reformist Horace Mann. The goal was to provide children with the opportunity of education. It was based on the belief that education was the only way to preserve democracy. By widening the curriculum and establishing schools for teachers, other states began to follow suit by building schools of their own, although some were not as effective as others. -
Brooks Farm Established
The Brooks Farm was an experimental community founded in 1841 with transcendentalist ideas. It was a community where people could leave society and have a chance for self-realization, while at the same time sharing work duties and leisure activities with members of the community. Although the community was destroyed by a fire in 1847, it still was etched in the minds of Americans. -
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The Oregon Trail
Thousands of pioneers travelled the Oregon Trail westward in the search for gold. Many lives were lost along the trail, but those who made it made history by being some of the first to live west of the Mississippi. Having people on the western side of the continent United States was able to start creating boarders, and become what we now know as the United States. -
The Republican Party
The Republican Party was formed by a group of men who were against the continuing import of slaves and slave states becoming a part of the union. Most of these men had been a part of either the Whig party of the Northern Democrat parties. This new party had a clear goal and a clear idea of what they supported and what they did not support. -
Dred Scott Decision
The case of Scott v. Sandford is one of the most controversial court cases in American history. Dred Scott was a slave taken by his master to a free state, which he believed made him free. Instead the court ruled that slaves were not citizens, had no right to bring a case in court, and that slaves were property which could not be taken from their masters. -
Lincoln elected President
Lincoln was elected president on Nov, 6th 1860. Supported by the Republican Party and the people of the United States he was able to bring peace at least to the north. The southern states did not like his ideas or plans for the United states bring on what became our civil war after the south seceded from the Union Was called "Honest Abe" due to him humble upbringing and his honesty he gave to the nation. He was assassinated on Good Friday at the theatre by John Wilkes Booth. -
Confederate States
The Confederate States began to secede from the Union in 1860 shortly after Abraham Lincoln was elected president. South Carolina was known to be the leader of the Confederate states, and they all wanted to keep importing slaves and using them on their plantations. The south loved their lifestyle and did not understand why the northern states didn’t stay out of their business. They wanted to be free to do the things that they wanted and the Union government even tried to work on a compromise wi -
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The Battle of Gettysburg
Confederate General Robert E Lee lead his troops across the Pennsylvania boarder looking for supplies. When they reached the town of Gettysburg they found Union troops on the outreached of the town. In the days to follow many lives were lost but it was also the turning point of the war. If the Confederate troops would have stayed on the defense like they had during the whole war we might have ended up being two different countries within the same continent. -
Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee was a general for the Confederate Army during the Civil war. He struck fear into those whom he commanded, but he also believed that his troops were invincible. Lee won many battles for the Confederates but lost a very crucial battle at Gettysburg. Lee was final captured in Richmond, Virginia where he met with the Union general Grant and signed over his surrender along with what was left of his troops. -
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14th & 15th Amendments
The 14th and 15th amendments were added to the Constitution after the Civil war. The 14th amendment gave all those who were born in the United States automatic citizenship and the protection of the government. The 15th amendment was writen so the the state and federal governments could not ddeny suffrage to any citizen on account of "race, color, or previous condition of servitude" meaning all those of color from african american could not be denied due to the color of their skin. -
Grant Elected President
Grant was elected president in 1868. He did not know anything about politics or being a president and he tended to turn to Congress for help making decisions. Many people did not like his time as president. Unfortunately a series of poor investments would sour Grants name after his reelection in 1872. Grant also went through many cabinet members during his time as president due to his lack of political knowledge and his military like command. -
Ida B. Wells
Ida B. Wells was a black woman journalist who published a series of articles after three of her hometown friends were lynched in Memphis. Her writings started an international anti-lynching movement, and gained support from both the North and the South. She wanted to gain a federal anti-lynching law that would give the national government the authority to punish those responsible for the lynchings.
