-
Jan 1, 1492
Christopher Columbus Discovers America
Christopher Columbus left Spain on his three ships: the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. Although his goal was to sail west until he reached the Indies, he accidentally happened upon the Americas, or the New World. Columbus’s voyages were significant because he discovered the New World and the countless opportunities it provided, such as commerce. -
Founding of Jamestown
Jamestown was founded in Virginia in 1607, thirteen years before the Pilgrims landed in Plymouth. The three ships that carried the settlers were the Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery. The colony was sponsored by the Virginia Company of London and was chartered in 1606 by King James I. Those who settled there hoped to convert the savage Indians to Christianity. The Jamestown Settlement was significant because it was America’s first English colony. -
Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact was signed on the Mayflower on November 11, 1620 by the Pilgrims. It was the first government document of the Plymouth Colony in which the settlers agreed to follow the compact’s rules and regulations in order to survive and maintain order. Most aboard the Mayflower were running away from religious persecution in England. The document is significant because it was the first framework of government to be established in America. -
Bacon's Rebellion
Bacon’s Rebellion was an armed rebellion in the Virginia colony led by Nathaniel Bacon. Bacon and his followers were rebelling against the rule of Governor William Berkeley and the lack of safety being provided regarding Native Americans. Their goal was to drive Native Americans from Virginia was unsuccessful, but their hope to replace Berkeley as governor was successful. The uprising was significant because it was the first rebellion in the American colonies. -
Salem Witch Trials
The Salem Witch Trials began during 1692 in Salem, Massachusetts, after a young group of girls accused several women of witchcraft. Hysteria spread throughout Massachusetts as accusations continued. As more and more people were convicted, the hysteria died down and the public turned against the court. The trials resulted in the hangings of twenty people. These events are significant because they show a shift in the importance of religion before the trials and rationality after the trials. -
Zenger Trial
The Zenger Trial was a legal battle between John Peter Zenger’s New York Weekly Journal and the corrupt royal governor, William S. Cosby. Although Zenger was just the printer, Cosby accused him of libel, the publishing of false statements that are damaging to a person’s reputation. Zenger was charged but eventually acquitted after being found not guilty. The trial is significant because it establishes freedom of the press. -
Coercive Acts
The Coercive Acts, or Intolerable Acts, were a reaction to the Boston Tea Party in which colonists dressed up as Mohawk Indians and threw pounds of tea into the Boston Harbor. The Boston Port Act was the first passed and banned use of the Boston Harbor until the East India Company had been repaid and order was restored. These acts were significant because they were one of the factors leading up to the American Revolution. -
American Revolution
The American Revolution took place from 1775 to 1783, although tensions began in 1765, in which the thirteen American colonies fought for their independence from Great Britain. The battles at Lexington and Concord in April of 1775 signaled the start of the American Revolutionary War. The Peace of Paris ended the American Revolution. The revolution was significant because Great Britain finally recognized American independence. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress meeting at Philadelphia on July 4, 1776. It was primarily written by Thomas Jefferson. The document announced that the thirteen American colonies viewed themselves as separate from the British Empire. Instead, they formed the United States of America. The declaration was significant because it asserted the colonies independence from Great Britain. -
Valley Forge
Valley Forge was the site of the Continental Army’s camp under George Washington during the winter of 1777-1778. Many soldiers died due to the scarce supplies such as food and clothing. Friedrich Von Steuben came along during this time and helped Washington rehabilitate the soldiers and train them to become a sufficient army. This period was significant because although no battle was fought at Valley Forge, it was the turning point of the war. The men were ready to quit but persevered. -
Shays' Rebellion
Shays’ Rebellion were a series of armed uprisings in Massachusetts led by Daniel Shays during 1786 and 1787. American farmers rebelled against tax collections meant to pay off the Revolution debt and foreclosures on farms. The rebels were eventually overthrown. The rebellion was significant because it convinced many people that a stronger central government was needed in order to suppress future rebellions. -
Northwest Ordinance
While the Land Ordinance of 1785 authorized the surveying of the Northwest Territory, the Northwest Ordinance called for the creation of states within the territory. It also allowed the admittance of new states as full equals to the original thirteen states. Slavery would be prohibited in the Northwest Territory. The ordinance was significant because it laid the basis for the government of and state admission into the Northwest Territory. -
Ratification of U.S. Constitution
The U.S. Constitution was drafted to replace the Articles of Confederation. The Constitution was drafted at the Constitution Convention in 1787 at in Philadelphia. The Articles of Confederation provided for a weak central government and the Constitution was meant to provide a strong central government. The Constitution was drafted at the Constitution Convention in 1787 at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. It was significant because it established America’s national government. -
Eli Whitney's Cotton Gin
Eli Whitney invented the Cotton Gin in 1793. His invention was one of the primary inventions of the Industrial Revolution and was widely used in the south prior to the Civil War. The cotton gin separates cotton fibers from their seeds producing more than human labor. Whitney’s Cotton Gin was significant in the 18th and 19th century because it increased the need for slave labor on large plantations even though its intentions were to reduce this necessity. -
Whiskey Rebellion
The Whiskey Rebellion was a result of Alexander Hamilton’s plan to place an excise tax on whiskey. The tax was created to make money in order to reduce the national debt incurred during the Revolution and discourage drinking in America. It was mainly resisted by farmers and those whose crops would suffer. The rebellion was significant because it showed that the new national government had the ability to suppress resistance to its laws and proved the longevity of the Constitution. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
The Alien and Sedition Acts were signed into law by President John Adams in 1798 as a result of the French Revolution. The Naturalization Act increased American residency time needed to become a citizen to fourteen years. Another, the Sedition Act, was made to decide the difference between freedom of speech and trying to overthrow the federal government. The four acts were significant because they blurred the lines between freedom of speech and attacks on the federal government. -
Election of 1800
The Election of 1800 pitted Federalist John Adams and Democratic-Republican Thomas Jefferson against one another. Both candidates attacked one another through the press. Jefferson won the election. The election also resulted in the creation of separate ballots for president and vice president. Jefferson and Aaron Burr had received the same number of electoral votes, but Jefferson eventually secured the presidency. The election is significant because Jefferson was elected the third president. -
Louisiana Purchase
Thomas Jefferson purchased the Louisiana Territory from France, under Napoleon Bonaparte, in 1803. The Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the United States. It is significant because Jefferson changed from having a strict interpretation of the Constitution to a loose interpretation. Many people questioned whether the purchase was constitutional, even Jefferson himself. -
Marbury v. Madison
The Marbury v. Madison case occurred when James Madison refused to deliver a judicial commission to William Marbury. Marbury had been appointed Justice of the Peace by Adams, but his commission was not delivered. Therefore, he petitioned the Supreme Court to force Madison to deliver the commission. John Marshall was Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court. The case is significant because it established the power of judicial review, wherein the court determines whether a law is unconstitutional. -
War of 1812
The War of 1812 occurred between the United States and Great Britain. It was caused by impressment of American sailors by Britain and the Embargo Act of 1807, which ended all exports from America. Aggressive Warhawks, such as John Calhoun and Henry clay, had demanded war against Great Britain. The war resulted in America’s economic independence and a decline in Federalism. It was significant because Great Britain finally recognized America as an independent nation. -
South Carolina Exposition and Protest
The South Carolina Exposition and Protest was written by John Calhoun, the vice president of both John Q. Adams and Andrew Jackson. The document spoke out against the “Tariff of Abominations,” which raised the tariff on imported manufactured goods. He denounced it as unconstitutional and urged states to declare it null and void. It is significant because it proposed nullification, the idea that a state should have the right to cancel a federal law it considered unconstitutional. -
Nat Turner's Slave Rebellion
Nat Turner’s Slave Rebellion took place in Southampton County, Virginia in 1831. The rebellion was led by a slave named Nat Turner. This event was different from other uprisings because the rebel slaves killed around 60 whites. The rebellion was put down after a few days, and those accused of being involved were executed. It was significant because this rebellion produced the highest number of fatalities caused by any slave uprising. -
Trail of Tears
The Trail of Tears was the forced removal of 16,000 Cherokee Indians from their lands east of the Mississippi River to Oklahoma. It was part of Andrew Jackson’s Indian Removal Policy. 8,000 Indians died on the journey. The trail is significant because of the devastating effects it had on the Native American population during the time. -
Seneca Falls Convention
The Seneca Falls Convention was a women’s rights convention held in Seneca Falls, New York from July 19-20 in 1848. Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton were two women who organized the event. The convention presented the Declaration of Sentiments along with a set of resolutions. Each of the resolutions passed except for suffrage. The convention was significant because it increased the rights of women and other reform issues.
