-
1492
The Settling of the Americas
In 1942, Christopher Columbus sailed across the ocean to find a route to the Indies and failed miserably. Yet, his failure was ultimately a victory when he discovered a vast new land that would later become known as America. Though America was already home to natives, it quickly became populated after Columbus's discovery and was infused with Europeans looking for a fresh start. -
Establishment of the New World
The establishment of the New World created an outlet for persecuted English colonists to escape to for more freedom. It was the beginning of America but they still had a long road ahead of them. -
The Growth of Colonial America
The growth of colonial America was due, in part, to the religious freedom that it provided for its new-comers. America represented a place where colonists no longer had to be persecuted based on religion. Though some colonies were founded on that basis, such as the Puritans, it was a far different environment from their homeland where people were provided free will. This was another stepping stone in America’s road to liberty. -
French and Indian War
Following the war, Colonists were outraged with the British government because of the decisions they made to make up for their war debt. I believe this was a step in the direction of liberty for colonists because without the subsequent events, colonists would not have felt compelled to push for independence from Great Britain. The French and Indian war was the exact push they needed to begin fighting for change. -
Colonial Resistance
The events of colonial resistance were an imperative reason that led to the liberty of America. They began to cut ties with their European counterparts and eventually became their own nation. -
Constitutional Convention
The creation of the constitution is imperative to Americas freedom and that still stands true today. -
First Presidential Election
I believe that giving citizens the right to vote is the ultimate practice of liberty for citizens. Because the constitution gives the government so much power, it is important for citizens to have the right to appoint government officials in order to balance the power. -
Ratification of the Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights ultimately gave many freedoms to citizens that the constitution did not necessarily touch on. The creation of this document pushed America further in the direction of liberty. -
Lewis and Clark Expedition
Though the mission was successful, Lewis and Clark were not able to fulfill all of Jefferson’s hopes; however, they were able to bring back reports about the geography, plant, and animal life of the western region. This information solidified the idea of western expansion and created a vast movement of liberty for American citizens. The west provided the new possibilities for citizens and the option to bring more people to America now that there was more room. -
The Civil War
Though the name permits a peaceful war, it was not. There were many battles fought and lives lost. There was a long struggle between each side due to their constant disagreement of slavery among many other issues. This resulted in many years of battle and an ultimate victory for the Union. -
The Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was a monumental part of American liberty because it called for the freedom of those who were not free in this country. Thus, almost every American citizen was on the path to true liberation.
