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Sep 30, 1492
Columbus to America
Colombus sailed to the new world. He thought he had landed in India but he was realy in the Carribean. He sailed for Spain. -
Period: to
salutary neglect
a period where England ignored her colonies, -
Virginia House of Burgesses
This was the first legislative body in the colonies. It was based on Parliament and was bicameral. It functioned as a council for the royal governor. -
The Mayflower
In 1620 the Mayflower set sail for the new world. It was occupied by puritans and seperatists. Settled in Plymouth bay. -
Thanksgiving
In the fall after a very harsh winter, the pilgrims and the Indians had a feast together. It was the first thanksgiving. -
Massachusetts Bay Colony
The Massachusetts Bay colony was created when non-separatists got a royal charter. John Winthrop was the leader of the colony. He was a well off attorney and manor lord in England. -
Maryland
Maryland was created by royal charter in 1634. It was a proprietory colony that was created to make money. It was a haven for Catholics. -
Harvard College
Harvard was the first institution of higher education in the colonies. It was located in the New England colonies. -
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Pequot Wars
The settlers had a war with the Pequot indians. The settlers set their buildings on fire and killed them. An uneasy peace followed this war. -
End of salutary neglect
In 1763, England stopped ignoring its colonies. This was because England was in major debt from a war. England turned to the colonies to make them some money. -
Proclomation act of 1763
The proclomation act siad that nobody could settle past the Appalachain Mountains. Its purpose was to control the colonists, practically give the fur trade to the crown and to redirect the population. The colonists only had a mild reaction to this. -
Sugar act
This was a tax on sugar and molasses. It was to help pay off the debt accumulated by the 7 years war. It was unsucessful, losing about 100,000 pounds a year. -
Currency act
This act put an end to colonial money printing. It also said that taxes were to be paid in gold and silver. -
Stamp act
The stamp act made people buy stamps because they had to be on a lot of items. It was a visible tax that affected everyone. This act really made the colonists angry. It caused the creation of the sons of liberty. -
Quartering act
The quartering act said that British troops could be quartered just about anywhere in the colonies. -
Stamp Act Congress
This gathering was to get the stamp act repealed. 9 colonies attended this meeting. They emphasized the right to tax themselves and not be taxed by others. -
Townshend acts
England wanted money so they passed the Townshend Acts. These acts put a tax on lead, paint, glass, and tea. These acts started some protests inthe colonies. Non-importation acts were stregthened, imports greatly reduced in the north, but increased in the south. -
Townshend acts repealed
The townshend acts were eventually repealed all except for the tea tax. -
Boston Massacre
During a protest, British troops fired on the protestors and killed a few of them. This started commitees of correspondence. These commitees gave the colonists a place to be heard and a base of support. -
Gaspee Affair
Thier was a british trade ship off the coast of Rhode Island. The sons of liberty burned the ship and arrested the ships captains. parliament launched a full investigation of this but no evidence was found. -
Tea Act of 1773
This act was to save the British East India Company. It gave them o monopoly. This act put merchants out of business and decreased smuggling. -
Boston Tea Party
The sons of liberty decided to protest the Tea Act by dumping 10,000 pounds of tea in the boston harbor. They also dressed as indians when they did this. This was to provoke England to take unwise action. -
Continental Congress
The first Continental Congress was called by commitees of correspondence. The congree passed the Suffolk Resolves which urged people to defend thier rights. This congress also set up a non-exportation agreement enforced by the sons of liberty. -
Intolerable Acts
These acts were a reaction to the Boston Tea Party. They closed the Boston harbor, shut down colonial government, and moved trails to unwanted places. It also strengthened the quartering act. This made the colonists really really angry. -
Bunker Hill
This was a battle that was won by the patriots out of sheer brilliance. The commander told his men not to fire until they saw the whites of the enemies eyes. This caused them to be more accurate and not use as much ammo. -
Common Sense
Thomas Paine wrote an article about how it was common sense to separate for England. It sold 150,000 copies in the colonies and was very popular. -
declaration of independence
The Declaration of independence was the document that declared our freedom from Britain. -
XYZ Affair
Tallyrand sent 3 low ranking officials to meet with the high ranking US officials. They want the US to pay a $250,000 bribe. This didn't make the US very happy. " Millions for defense but not a cent for tribute." -
Yorktown
The British were cornered in Yorktown, Virginia and were forced to surrender. The Patriots were blocking the land and the French were blocking the sea. This brought an end to the major fighting in the war. -
Articles of Confederation
This was our country's first constitution. It had many flaws and onlhy a few gains. They didn't last too long before they were thrown out and the real constitution was created. -
Land ordinance of 1785
Division of the Northwest between 3-5 states and adoption of the township system. -
Barbary Pirates
North African pirates had started pirating during the crusades. They seized US ships causing the creation of the US navy. -
Whiskey Rebellion
A rebellion in West Pennsylvania because of the excise tax. Washington gathers a ridiculously large number of troops to put down the rebellion to make a statement about national supremacy. -
Jay's Treaty
Jays treaty said that the british must vacate the forts in America, but the US must pay the pre revolutionary debt. This treaty was not liked by republicans. -
Pinkneys treaty
Treaty between the US and Spain. Signed because Spain felt threatened by the US and Britain. It gaev the US the right of deposit at New Orleans. -
Adams election
John Adams was elected to be the 2nd president of the US. He beat Jefferson by all of 3 votes. With Jefferson being his VP, many problems arose. -
Algeria war
Algeria declares war on the US. US had already paid a 1 million dollar randsom to stop pirate attacks. USS philadelphia was taken over then burned by Americans to keep pirates from using it. William Eaton captured the city of Derna. -
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President Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was elected as president in 1801. He served 2 terms in office. He bought he louisiana territory from the French in one of the biggest land deals of all time. -
Louisiana Purchase
The US bought the Louisiana Territory from France for a mere $15 million. this purchase doubled the size of the US. The land was bought at about 3 cents per acre. Federalists opposed the purchase based on it constitutionality. -
Marbury vs Madison
A famous court case the justified judicial review. This means that the supreme court has the final say on what is constitutional or not. -
Chesapeake Incident
The Chesapeake ship was seized by the British within sight of the American coast. This was the last straw for the US. The British captured an African American, one British deserter, a Maryland citizen, -
Embargo of 1807
This act restricted all foreign trade to stop impressment. The citizens weren't very happy about this. -
James Madison elected
James Madison was elected to be our fourth president. He was the Secretary of State under Thomas Jefferson. He was stubborn and didn't really inspire people. -
Non Intercourse Act
This act replaced the embargo act. It reopened trade with the whole world except Britain and France. -
Macons Bill #2
This bill replaced the Non-Intercourse Act. Between Britain and France whoever dropped their trade laws first would be able to trade with the US while the other would be embargoed. This bill favored Britain.