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Period: 1491 to
Period 1/2: 1491-1763
Native America, European Exploration, Colonization -
1492
The Columbian Exchange
The Columbian Exchange was a period of extensive exchanges between the New and Old Worlds, including plants, animals, diseases, and technology. -
1493
The Doctrine of Discovery
The Doctrine of Discovery is a doctrine created by European Christians in order to assume possession of the New World -
1494
The Treaty of Tordesillas
The Treaty of Tordesillas was an agreement declaring that the newly discovered land to the west of an imaginary line down the Atlantic Ocean would be the property of Spain and land to the east of the line would belong to Portugal. -
1512
The Encomienda System Established
The Encomienda system was a labor system created by the Spanish crown to determine the standing and rank of Native Americans. -
Jamestown
The Jamestown settlement in Virginia was the first successful English settlement in the US. -
Plymouth
Plymouth was the first settlement created in Massachusetts by Separatists who sought to create a religiously pure society. -
Bacon's Rebellion
Bacon's Rebellion was the first rebellion in the American Colonies, fought by Virginia settlers and led by Nathaniel Bacon. -
The First Great Awakening
The Great Awakening was a series of Christian revivals that altered religious beliefs and practices throughout the American colonies. -
The French & Indian War Begins
The French and Indian War began in the colonies when French settlers encroached on land claimed by the British. -
The Proclamation of 1763
The Proclamation of 1763 was issued by the colonists to appease the Native Americans and forbid settlers from intruding their land, -
Period: to
Period 3: 1763-1800
American Revolution, the Confederal Era, and the Early Federal Period -
The Townshend Act
The Townshend Acts were numerous laws and taxes that were passed by the British government and placed on the American colonies. -
The Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a street fight between the British troops and the colonists, due to a protest that had occurred against British rule and taxes. -
The Boston Tea party
The Boston Tea Party was a reaction made by the British colonists on the Tea Act, as they dressed up and dumped chests of tea into the harbor. -
The First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was a meeting held in Philidephpja where 12 of the 13 colonies (Georgia was absent) discussed a response towards the Parliament's Coercive Acts. -
The Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts were a series of laws placed on the Massachusetts colonists to punish them for their acts of disobedience. -
The Battles of Lexington & Concord
The Battles of Lexington and Concord were the first military battles of the American Revolutionary War. -
Common Sense
Common Sense was a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine advocating for independence from Britain. -
The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence is a document written by Thomas Jefferson and adopted by the Second Continental Congress that declares the freedom of the 13 colonies from Great Britain. -
The Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation were created by the Second Continual Congress, they served as the first constitution of the United States and they held the purpose of describing the role of government. -
The Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris formally ended the American Revolutionary War . The peace treaty was signed by both America and Britain and Britain recognized America as an independent nation. -
The Northwest Ordinance
The Northwest Ordinance was written to charter a government for the Northwest Territory and to define the process by which new states could be admitted into the Union. -
The French Revolution
The French Revolution was a social and political revolution in France that limited the power of the monarchy, obtained power for the lower class, and created a constitution. -
The First Bank of the US
The Bank of the United States was first chartered by the US Congress and was proposed by Alexander Hamilton. The purpose of the bank was to handle the debt and financial needs of the new central government that was caused by the Revolutionary War. -
Jay's Treaty
Jay's Treaty was an agreement that solved the still existing issues between the US and Great Britain following the Revolutionary War. -
The Alien & Sedition Acts
The Alien and Sedition Acts were a series of laws that made it possible to remove foreigners, and made it harder for immigrants to vote. -
Period: to
Period 4 Part 1: 1800-1824
The Industrial Revolution, Women’s rights movements -
Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was an acquisition that gave the U.S a large amount of land, encouraging westward expansion. -
Marbury v. Madison
Marbury vs. Madison was a U.S. Supreme Court case that increased the power of the Judicial branch and established Judicial Review. -
The Embargo Act
The Embargo Act was a law signed by Thomas Jefferson that restricted American ships from trading in all foreign nations -
The War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a conflict fought between the United States and Great Britain, it was caused by the restrictions the Britsh had put on U.S. trade and America's desire to expand its territory. -
The Treaty of Ghent
The ratification of the Treaty of Ghent ended the war of 1812 and settled the U.S and Canada border. -
The Era of Good Feelings Began
The Era of Good Feelings was the period following the War of 1812. During this time American citizens had the desire for political unity, as the Federalist Party came to an end. -
Mcculloch v. Maryland
McCulloch v. Maryland was a supreme court case on federal power. This case established that Congress has implied powers and said that the “Necessary and Proper” Clause gave Congress the power to establish a 2nd national bank. -
The Panic of 1819
The Panic of 1819 was a major financial crisis in the U.S. It consisted of sectionalism, banking failures, and agriculture decline. -
The Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was meant to create a balance between slave and non-slave states. The compromise admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state. -
The Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine declared that the U.S. should take part in European affairs and that Europe shouldn't be involved in the U.S and Latin American affairs. -
Gibbons v. Ogden
The Gibbons v. Ogden case expanded the power of Congress and the federal government, while also limiting the interstate commerce clause. -
Period: to
Period 4 Part 2: 1824-1848
Westward expansion and Evolution of political parties -
Tariff of Abominations
The Tariff of Abominations was a tariff made to protect Northern industries. South Carolina considered this to be unconstitutional. -
The Indian Removal Act
The Indian Removal Act removed civilized Indian Tribes from their territory to reservations westward, -
Nat Turner's Rebellion
Nat Turner's Rebellion was a slave led rebellion where a group of slaves attempted to overthrow and kill planter families. It ended unsuccessfully with the execution of many slaves. -
The Second Bank of the US (vetoed)
Andrew Jackson vetoed the recharter bill of the Second Bank of the U.S. due to the fact that he believed it was a threat to the traditional ideals of American societies. -
The Nullification Crisis
The Nullification Crisis was a sectional crisis created by South Carolina's 1832 Ordinance of Nullification. -
The Whig Party
The Whig Party was a political party formed by the people who opposed the Democrats and Andrew Jacksons' leadership style. The Whigs believed in a strong federal government. -
The Panic of 1837
The Panic of 1837 was a financial crisis in the US that created a major recession, this was caused by Andrew Jackson's policies regarding the bank. -
The Trail of Tears
The Trail of Tears was a result of the Andrew Jackson Indian Removal Act. The Trail of Tears was the name of the route that the Cherokee were forced to travel on during this time. -
Period: to
Period 5: 1844-1877
Westward expansion, Immigration, The Civil War, Reconstruction -
U.S. Annexation of Texas
Texas was annexed by the United States in 1845, this made Texas the 28th state. -
Mexican-American War
The Mexican-American War was fought between the U.S. and Mexico. The war helped America to further its "manifest destiny" concept and to expand its territory across the entire North American continent. -
The Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was an attempt to ease the tensions between the free and slave states by passing a group of five laws. -
The Fugitive Slave Laws
The Fugitive Slave Laws required that slaves be returned to their owners, even if they were in a free state, and that the federal government was responsible for finding and returning escaped slaves. -
The Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act allowed the people who lived in the territories of Kansas and Nebraska to decide for themselves whether or not to allow slavery within their borders. -
Fort Sumter
The Battle of Fort Sumter, where the first shots of the American Civil War were taken. This battle took place in the harbor at Charleston, SC. -
The Homestead Act
The Homestead Act was a U.S. law that allowed a settler to acquire as much as 160 acres of land by living on it and taking care of it for 5 years. The act promoted westward expansion. -
The Emancipation Proclamation
Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, and ordered to free slaves in 10 states. This lead to total abolition of slavery in the United States. -
The Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg marked a turning point in the Civil War and showed that the Union had won over the confederacy. -
Lee's Surrender at Appomattox
Appomattox Courthouse was the location of the last major battle of the Civil War. General Lee decided to surrender his troops to General Grant. -
The Freedmen's Bureau
The Freedmen's Bureau was created by Congress during the aftermath of the U.S. Civil War to aid newly emancipated slaves by providing food, clothing, care, and legal support. -
Period: to
Period 6: 1865-1898
The Gilded Age, Industrial Age, Migration (immigration), Segregation -
The Civil Rights Act of 1866
The Civil Rights Act of 1866 declared that all persons born in the U.S. were now citizens, without regard to race, color, or previous condition. -
Labor Unions
Labor Unions were a union of skilled workers who sought to improve working conditions and increase pay. -
The Reconstruction Acts of 1867
The Reconstruction Acts of 1867 placed the South under military occupation and set up 5 temporary military districts. -
Transcontinental Railroad
The Transcontinental Railroad connected the east and the west coasts, making it easier for people to travel a long distance in a short period of time. -
Social Darwinism
Social Darwinism was a theory about social classes and natural law. It justified the poor treatment of the lower classes. -
The Gilded Age
The Gilded Age lasted from the 1870s - 1890s, this time was the age between the Civil War and WWI when the economy grew rapidly and individuals were able to use monopolies. -
The Second Industrial Revolution
The Second Industrial Revolution caused the expansion of electricity, petroleum, and steel. This time period is also known as the Technological Revolution. -
The Panic of 1873
The Panic of 1873 was a financial crisis that began due to major international economic problems, it began in Europe and resulted in a national depression. -
The Compromise of 1877
The Compromise of 1877 was an unwritten deal that settled the disputed 1876 U.S. Presidential election and ended the Reconstruction Era. -
The Great Railroad Strike of 1877
The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 was a strike led by RR workers due to cut wages. This made it harder for transportation to occur. -
The Jim Crow Laws
The Jim Crow Laws were sets of laws that segregated African Americans from the Whites. These laws limited opportunities for African Americans. -
The Pendleton Act of 1881
The Pendleton Act created a system where federal employees were chosen based upon competitive exams. -
The Interstate Commerce Act
The Interstate Commerce Act was created to limit the monopolistic practices of the railroad industry. -
Sherman Anti-trust Act
The Sherman Antitrust Act was a law designed to fight against oppressive monopolies and regulate competition between enterprises. -
The Pullman Strike
The Pullman Strike was a nationwide railway strike that caused riots and property damage to take place which severely disrupted railroad traffic and transportation. -
Plessy v Ferguson
Plessy vs Ferguson was a supreme court case that dealt with racial segregation. It set a precedent and was the "separate but equal" ruling. -
The Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris was the peace treaty signed by both Spain and the United States that ended the Spanish-American War. This officially established the U.S. as a world power. -
The Spanish- American War
The Spanish- American War was a battle between Spain and America over the territories of Latin America and the Far East. The war resulted in Cuba's independence, and the U.S. furthering the expansion of their territories. -
The Annexation of Hawaii
The United States asserted that it had legally annexed Hawaii. -
Period: to
Period 7 Part 1: 1898-1918
American Imperialism, World War I, Progressive Era -
The Open Door Policy
The Open Door Policy was a policy proposed by the U.S. where all nations would have equal opportunities to trade in China. -
The Philippine- American War
The Philippine- American War was fought between the US and Spain. It resulted in Cuba gaining its independence and the US annexing Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. -
Taft's Dollar Diplomacy
Taft's Dollar Diplomacy was designed to give Americans economic opportunities while also further U.S. interests overseas. -
Moral Diplomacy
Moral Diplomacy is the system where support is given only to the countries whose moral beliefs match those of the nations. -
The Federal Reserve Act
The intent of the Federal Reserve Act was to create financial stability. The act created the central banking system of the United States. -
The Panama Canal
The U.S. built the Panama Canal to have a quicker traveling route between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. -
World War l
WWI was a global war that began in Europe in 1914 and lasted till 1918. -
Clayton Anti-Trust Act
The Clayton Anti-Trust Act provides further clarification and additional points to the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 based on the topics of unethical business practices. -
The Harlem Renaissance
The Harlem Renaissance was an African-American cultural movement. It celebrated African American traditions and -
The Sedition Act
The Sedition Act made it a crime to use "disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language" about the government of the U.S. -
The Influenza Epidemic
The Influenza Epidemic was a deadly influenza pandemic that infected over 1/3 of the world population during 1918. -
Period: to
Period 7 Part 2: 1918-1945
Progressive Reforms, World War ll, The Great Depression -
The Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was created to officially put an end to WW1 and to solve the problems made during it. Germany was forced to accept the treaty. -
The Red Scare
The Red Scare was a fear of the Communist revolution. Immigrants were the main targets along with many others. -
Women’s Suffrage
The women's suffrage movement was the struggle for the right of women to vote and run for office. -
Prohibition
National prohibition of alcohol was done to reduce crime and corruption along with many other issues. -
The Immigration Act of 1924
The Immigration Act was the establishment of a quota system that limited the number of immigrants allowed into the United States. -
The Great Depression
The Great Depression was the worst financial crisis in U.S. history, it occurred after the stock market crash. -
The New Deal
The New Deal was a response to the Great Depression. During this time the nation began to recover along with its people, as the new programs set for the federal government to play a key role in the economic and social affairs of the nation. -
The National Industrial Recovery Act
The goal of the National Industrial Recovery Act was to lower consumer prices in hopes to stimulate spending. -
The Agricultural Adjustment Act
The Agricultural Adjustment Act reduced agricultural production by paying farmers to not plant anything and to kill extra livestock. The purpose was to raise the value of crops. -
The Good Neighbor Policy
The Good Neighbor Policy was FDR's foreign policy of encouraging better relations with Latin America by using economic influence. -
The Wagner Act
The Wagner Act gave workers more power through the right of collective bargaining and forming unions. -
The Social Security Act
The Social Security Act created a federal safety net for the elderly, unemployed, and disadvantaged American citizens. -
The Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a military strike by the Japanese against the United States, this attack lead up to the entry of the United States into World War II. -
The Manhattan Project
The Manhattan Project was a secret research and development project of the U.S to develop the atomic bomb. It brought the U.S. into an atomic era and lead them into a victory over Japan. -
D-Day
D-Day is also known as the Invasion of Normandy. This attack started when the Allied Forces attacked the German forces. The allied forces' victory marked a turning point in WW2. -
The Yalta Conference
The Yalta conference was a meeting held during World War II between the allied nations. The meeting was held to plan out what will happen post-war. -
The Panic of 1893
The Panic of 1893 was a major economic depression that began due to railroad companies over-extending themselves which led to bank failures.
