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Period: Jan 1, 1492 to
US Colonial History
From the arrival of Colombus on the shores of the New World to the end of the Reconstruction Era, this timeline shows the formation and development of the new nation of the United States of America. Today, this nation is one of the most power countries in the world with over 300 million citizens. -
House of Burgesses established
http://www.worldbookonline.com/advanced/article?id=ar264440 The House of Burgesses was the first elected governing body in the British colonies. The House of Burgesses was part of the larger General Assembly in Jamestown, a colony established by the Virginia Company of London. The General Assembly consisted of Governor George Yeardley, his council, and the House of Burgesses. Each Virginia settlement elected two burgesses, totaling 22 delegates. -
Plymouth Colony established
http://www.worldbookonline.com/advanced/article?id=ar435620 35 of the 102 colonists who crossed the Atlantic Ocean on the Mayflower were pilgrims. Having already fled to the Netherlands from religious persecution in England, the pilgrims used a London stock company to finance their voyage to the New World. Unlike the Jamestown settlers, the pilgrims were not motivated by greed, and instead worked hard to survive in their new home. -
Proclamation of 1763
http://www.worldbookonline.com/advanced/article?id=ar446940 The Proclamation of 1763 strictly forbid colonists from settling past the Appalachian Mountains. Issued only a few months after the end of the French-Indian War, the proclamation was meant to prevent future violence between Native Americans and white settlers. Colonists were outraged by the proclamation because it required the presence of British troops to be enforced. -
First Continental Congress
http://www.worldbookonline.com/advanced/article?id=ar131500 The First Continental Congress met in Philidelphia and consisted of delegates from every colony except Georgia. The Congress wrote the Declaration of Rights, which demanded that colonial assemblies be in control taxation and trade. The Congress also established an absolute policy of nonimportation from Brtiain. The First Continental Congress demonsrated to King George III that the colonists could organize and rule themselves. -
Federalism
Federalism is a system of government where power is divided between national and provincial governments. Federalists often favor a strong central government. More about federalism in U.S. history: http://www.history.com/topics/federalist-party -
Constitution is Ratified
http://www.worldbookonline.com/advanced/article?id=ar131000&st=us+constitution#s4 In order for the Constitution to be ratified, 9 out of the 13 states had to ratify it by acheiving majority vote at a convention held within each state. On June, 21 1788, New Hampshire became the 9th state to ratify the Constitution, therefore putting it into effect. The Congress still awaited the approval of New York and Virginia, two of the most powerful states, who had not yet voted. -
Democratic-Republican Party
The Democratic-Republican Party believed in a weaker central government with stronger state governments as well as individual rights and freedoms. More about the Democratic-Republican Party in US history: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/duel/peopleevents/pande09.html -
Louisiana Purchase
http://www.worldbookonline.com/advanced/article?id=ar331960&st=louisiana+purchase In 1803, Napoleon sold 2,144,476 sq. km of land West of the Mississippi River to the United States for $15 million. Napoleon needed the money to fund the Napoleonic Wars, and the United States wished to gain access to the Mississippi River, a valuable river for trade. After the purchase was approved by Congress, the United States gained thousands of kilometers for natural resources and living space. -
Vesey's (Theoretical) Revolt
http://www.worldbookonline.com/advanced/article?id=ar584110 In 1822, Denmark Vesey, a black freedman, planned a revolt involving thousands of slaves that would have attacked Charleston, South Carolina. The plan was leaked to a plantation owner, causing a special tribunal to be held. 35 people, including Vesey, were hanged and 37 others were sold to Cuba. While the revolt did not take place, it scared South Carolina into passing more restrictive laws limiting slave rights. -
Indian Removal Act
http://school.eb.com/levels/high/article/42295 The Indian Removal act of 1830 gave the president the authority to move Indian tribes from valuable land within the United States to reservations in the West. Andrew Jackson promoted and used this policy to resettle many Indian tribes. After a few tribes refused to be move, the U.S. military was used to force them to resettle. This lead to the "Trail of Tears", during which many Cherokee Indians died. -
The Whig Party
http://www.worldbookonline.com/advanced/article?id=ar600640 The Whig party that existed in the 1800s was formed in opposition to President Andrew Jackson. Different parties banded together in opposition, including the some Democratic-Republicans and Anti-Masonic party members as well as many National Republicans. The Whigs of the 1800s opposed the democratic Jacksonian doctrines. Formerly, the Whig party represented the opposition to the Tories, loyalists who opposed American independence. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
http://school.eb.com/levels/high/article/38276 The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848 ended the Mexian-American War. In the treaty, Mexico paid the United States $15,000,000 for 525,000 square miles of land in Arizona, California, western Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah. The outcome of the Treaty was a civil war in both Mexico and the United States. Mexicans felt unsure about their country's independence and Americans continued to feel tension over the issue of slavery. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin is published
http://www.worldbookonline.com/advanced/article?id=ar574280 Uncle Tom's Cabin was first published in installments in 1851 in National Era, an abolitionist magazine. Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe, the book exposed the harsh realities of slave life to many Americans. Northerners felt more hostility towards Southerners, and the Southerners were insulted by the horrible truth. The book was meant to inspire a peaceful end to slavery, but instead incited violence and raised tensions -
Gadsden Purchase
http://school.eb.com/levels/high/article/35784 Also known as the Treaty of La Mesilla, the Gadsden Purchase was the $10,000,000 purchase of 30,000 additional square miles in southern Arizon and New Mexico. This sale is known as the sale of Mesilla Valley in Mexican history as the territory in northern Mexico was called La Mesilla. The Gadsden Purchase was named after James Gadsden, the US minister to Mexico. -
Peace Democrats
http://school.eb.com/levels/high/article/26201 Also called the Copperheads, the Peace Democrats were a political group of Northerners who opposed the war. Unlike many other Northerners, they believed that the North should negotiate with the South. The Peace Democrats were mainly from the midwest because the people had larger ties to the South. The Peace Democrats gained a negative reputation, as many considered them to be treasonous even though none of their actions were disloyal. -
Battle of Antietam
http://www.worldbookonline.com/advanced/article?id=ar024560 The Battle of Antietam was the bloodiest day in American History. The Union army, lead by General George B. McClellan, faced the Confederate army, lead by Robert E. Lee. There were a total of almost 5,000 soldiers died and 19,000 others were wounded. The battle took place in Maryland at Antietam Creek. Lincoln was so diappointed with McCellan following the battle that he soon after appointed Burnside to lead the Union troops. -
Emancipation Proclamation
http://www.worldbookonline.com/advanced/article?id=ar179440 The Emancipation Proclamation was a document issued by Abraham Lincoln that ended slavery in the United States. As of it's issueing, all slaves in both the Union and the Confederacy were free. African Americans were also now allowed to become Union soldiers. I believe that the Emancipation Proclamation embodies the American identity because it declared what was right despite backlash and gave liberty to all. -
15th Amendment
http://www.worldbookonline.com/advanced/article?id=ar196160 The 15th Amendment granted every American male the right to vote regardless of race. This amendment was considered to be an outrage by many Southern states, who passed laws that got around the amendment. For example, some states passed grandfather clauses that permitted voting only if you or your ancestors had the right to vote on or before January 1st, 1867. These laws were not struck down until the early to mid 1900s. -
Civil Rights Act of 1875
http://school.eb.com/levels/high/article/603692 The Civil Rights Act of 1875 stated that African Americans must recieve equal treatment on public transportation as well as fair accomodation on juries. Race could no longer be a factor in whether a person were denied goods or services. This act was essentially struck down in principle by the Supreme Court decision of 1883 that stated that neither the 13th nor the 14th amendment banned racial discrimination. -
The "melting pot"
The term "melting pot" is often used to describe the unique mix of cultures that exists among the United States citizenry. The term "melting pot" became widely used after the first performance of "The Melting Pot", a play by Israel Zangwill, in 1908. The play details the life of a Russian-Jewish immigrant family. Here is an article debating the reality of this term: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/meltingpot/melt0222.htm
