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1492
Colombian Exchange
The Colombian Exchange was an artificial re-establishment of connections thorught the commingling of old and new world plants, animals and bacteria. -
1492
Columbus reaches the New World
Columbus discovered the New World, whose riches over the next century would help make Spain the wealthiest and most powerful nation on earth.Columbus led four expeditions to the New World, discovering various Caribbean islands, the Gulf of Mexico, and the South and Central American mainlands. -
1494
Treaty of Tordesillas
Signed by Spain and Portugal, dividing the territories of the New World. -
1512
Encomienda System
Encomienda was a labor system in Spain and its empire. It rewarded conquerors with the labor of particular groups of subject people.The system was a way of controlling the Natives. -
1532
Rise of the Atlantic slave trade
The Transatlantic slave trade shipped approximately 12 million Africans from West Africa to New World to work on plantations. West africans captured and sold fellow Africans to Europeans. The Portuguese were the first to complete a transatlantic shipment of slaves. -
1542
New Laws
The New Laws were sets of laws for the Indies created by King Charles V of Spain in regard to Spanish colonization of the Americas.The laws were pro-Indian and called for the better treatment and preservation of Indians. They were created in response to the encomienda system, which likened colonial society to feudalism, which was the society in the Old World. -
Jamestown
The first permanent English colony in North America was
Jamestown, Virginia founded in 1607.It was a business venture of the Virginia Company of London who planned to send people to America in the hopes of finding gold and other valuable resources.Jamestown suffered from lack of leadership and the
failure to find gold, which nearly resulted in starvation for
many colonists.Desperation during the “starving time” led some colonists to cannibalism -
Virginia Company Headright system
Gave 50 acres of land to any settler that paid for his own –or someone else’s passage to the New World -
Quebec
Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec as a small trading post in
1608. They maintained positive relationships with the Native
Americans to ensure the survival of the colony. The colony was few in number and all male.The French maintained a prominent
interest in the fur trade. -
New Amsterdam
The Dutch established the seaport at New Amsterdam on Manhattan Island in 1625.New Amsterdam was tolerant of
many religious practices and it became the most religiously and ethnically diverse colony in North America, but it never attracted
enough numbers to compete with the surrounding English colonies. -
The Pequot War
1637 Pequot Tribe (controlled fur trade) killed English fur
trader; Connecticut & Massachusetts sent soldiers in
retaliation. 500 Pequot men, women, and children massacred. All of the tribe was killed or sold into Caribbean slavery -
The Beaver Wars
(supported by the Dutch and English) and the Algonquianspeaking
tribes (backed by the French). The Iroquois were victorious (remember the Huron).The French were motivated to gain the Iroquois as an ally to protect their interests in the fur trade. The Native American societies involved were deeply affected by the wars, while the Europeans competed for control over the fur trade. -
New York
Due to its success as a commercial port city (especially in fur trade), the British invaded and took over New Amsterdam.New Amsterdam was surrendered to the British in 1644 and renamed New York after the Duke of York, who organized its capture. -
Maryland Toleration Act of 1649
Religious toleration for Trinitarian Christians Colonists viewed this as granting religious freedom for Catholics as much as Anglicans (official religion of the crown and dominant religion in Southern colonies). Some criticized tolerance of Catholicism -
Bacon’s Rebellion
In 1675, Virginia settlers sought support from Berkeley in
exterminating all of the colony’s Natives, Berkeley refused.the first example in colonial America in which the citizens themselves attempted to overthrow a government they deemed unjust. -
King Phillips War
In 1675 a massive Indian rebellion erupted against Puritan
colonists. The Native rebellion was led by an Indian chief whom the
colonist called King Phillip (real name =Metacom).The defeat forced Native Americans out of New England. They would never return. -
Dominion of New England
(1686-1689): King James II attempted to merge the New England colonies (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey) into one political
unit. This restricted citizen participation in government in the affected colonies. By combining the colonies, King James II hoped to exert stricter power over the colonies, and limit the scope of power held by the people. The Glorious Revolution ended the Dominion of New England. -
Loss of Massachusetts Charter in 1691
Loss of Massachusetts Charter in 1691: demanded that property ownership, not church membership be requirement to vote – Massachusetts became a royal colony, and all citizens were demanded to allow the free worship of all Protestants, not just Puritans. -
Salem Witch Trials
Salem Witch Trials: In 1692, young girls began to behave strangely after hearing of voodoo from a West Indian servant. They began accusing community members of witchcraft, leading to mass hysteria in Salem and surrounding areas. Twenty were executed in Salem, and the prestige of the Puritan ministers was severely
damaged.The mass hysteria of the Salem Witch Trials highlighted the dangers of religious extremism in colonial America. -
The Wool Act (1699)
The Wool Act (1699) was a restriction placed upon wool production in Ireland that also forbade the export of wool from the colonies. It was intended to exert further control over production in the colonies and raise tax revenue. -
The Molasses Act
The Molasses Act (1733) was a tax placed on imported molasses from non-British colonies. This was an attempt to regulate trade by making British products less expensive than those from the French West Indies. -
Stono Rebellion
A group of slaves took control of a store to arm themselves
with weapons then marched along the Stono River in South Carolina. They were headed to St. Augustine, where the
Spanish promised freedom to slaves who escaped from the British colonies. They marched to beating drums, chanting for ‘liberty” and killed any whites they encountered. The rebellion ended in the
deaths of approximately 24 whites and as many as 200 African slaves as well as stricter slave code laws. -
Seven Year War
Seven Year War: 1763 is a turning point in the relationship between the colonies and England. It involved every European great power of the time and spanned five continents, affecting Europe, the Americas, West Africa, India, and the Philippines. -
Treaty of Paris
Treaty of Paris 1763: England gains French land from Canada to Florida and The Appalachians to the Mississippi River. England gains Florida from Spain. -
Pontiac's Rebellion 1763
Pontiac (Ottawa Chief) forged a western confederation and rebelled against colonists encroaching on their land. Paxton Boys: Western Pennsylvania Scots Irish settlers attacked random Native people. British have to send additional troop’s to stop the rebellion. Led to the British passing the Proclamation Act. -
PROCLAMATION ACT OF 1763
Prohibited colonists from moving west of the Appalachian
mountains Colonists were angry & openly defied the British policy -
Townshend Act 1767
Townshend Act (1767): tax on imports such as paper, tea, glass, etc. – $ would be used to pay royal officials in the colonies (previously
paid by colonial assemblie– Could search private homes for
goods by getting a writ of assistance (rather than a warrant) -
Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo
Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo: officially titled the Treaty of Peace, Friendship, Limits and Settlement between the United States of America and the Mexican Republic, is the peace treaty signed on February 2, 1848, in the Villa de Guadalupe Hidalgo between the United States and Mexico that ended the Mexican–American War. The treaty came into force on July 4, 1848. -
Daniel Shays’ Rebellion
Daniel Shays’ Rebellion: 1786 to 1787; Unfair taxes in MA; Farms foreclosed; Farmers imprisoned as debtors; Shays & 1200 men attacked courts in western MA; State militia put down rebellion; Uprising was a general threat to property; Threat that rebellion could spread to other states; Articles of Confederation viewed as too weak to maintain law and order; Bolstered call for revisions of Articles of Confederation (Constitutional Convention--1787) -
Virginia Plan & New Jersey Plan
Virginia Plan: (Large-states) vs. New Jersey Plan (small-states) for determining representation. Was a proposal by Virginia delegates for a bicameral legislative branch the plan was drafted by James Madison while he waited for a quorum to assemble at the Constitutional Convention of 1787. -
Great Compromise
Great Compromise: (CT Compromise) bicameral legislature. Compromise made by Constitutional Convention in which states would have equal representation in one house of the legislature and representation based on population in the other house. -
New Jersey Plan
New Jersey Plan: Opposite of the Virginia Plan, it proposed a single-chamber congress in which each state had one vote. This created a conflict with representation between bigger states, who wanted control befitting their population, and smaller states, who didn't want to be bullied by larger states. -
3/5th Compromise
3/5ths Compromise: Representation & slavery. Compromise in which one slave was determined to equal 3/5 of a person when considering the population of a state. -
Northwest Ordinance
Northwest Ordinance: plan to divvy up the western territories of America by parceling the land into rectangular sections to be auctioned off to land surveyors; once an area achieved a population equivalent to the smallest pre-existing state, it could apply for statehood; this plan would help to create states all the way to the Pacific, but also served to divide free and slave states further. 1787 -
The Federalist Papers
The Federalist Papers: instigated by Alexander Hamilton and written by several other prominent men, it was a collection of 85 essays written in support of the ratification of the Constitution. -
Bill of Rights
Bill of Rights: First 10 amendments to the Constitution, a series of limitations on the power of the US Federal gov't, protected the natural rights of the people. Not included in the original Constitution, but later added. -
National Bank
National Bank: Private bank made by Robert Morris that would hold gov't cash, lend money to gov't and issue currency. Was expected to turn a profit for Morris and shareholders, but it depended ultimately upon a secure income for the gov't. -
Whiskey Rebellion
Whiskey Rebellion: 1794 to 1795; Farmers in western PA refused to pay federal excise tax on whiskey; Attacked tax collectors; Farmers compared tax to Stamp Act of 1765; Washington Called for 13,000 troops to suppress the rebels; Rebels dispersed, ceased rebellion; Put the force of the government behind the Constitution; Government could enforce the law; Constitution protected law/order; Hamilton's idea of an energetic national government prevailed. -
War of 1812
War of 1812:U.S. must defend its neutrality (Impressment).Defend national honor. British forts on U.S. soil. Tecumseh & other natives supported by British. Desire for Canada. -
Hartford Convention
Hartford Convention (1814): New England Federalist considers possible secession. War was over, Federalist fade away. -
Nullification Crisis
Nullification Crisis (1828-1832): South Carolina votes to nullify the Tariff of 1828 & 1832. Jackson orders federal troops & Compromise Tariff of 1833 (“Olive Branch and the Sword”). -
Nat Turner
Nat Turner (1831): Revolt in Virginia killed 60 people 1831; Slaves wanted freedom; Nat Turner saw "vision" and attacked whites in Southampton County, VA; Turner, 70 slaves, & 55 whites killed; Turner caught; he was executed & hundreds of slaves were punished; Frightened South; Tightened slave codes; Restricted freedom for all blacks in South; South began to aggressively defend slavery as "positive good" -
Lecompton Constitution
Lecompton Constitution: The Lecompton Constitution, the second constitution drafted for Kansas Territory, was written by proslavery supporters. The document permitted slavery (Article VII), excluded free blacks from living in Kansas, and allowed only male citizens of the United States to vote. 1857 -
Dred Scott Case
Dred Scott Case: The case goes to Supreme Court in 1857. Roger Taney was the Chief Justice (a Southern Democrat) and he ruled that African Americans are not citizens of the United States and therefore, could not sue. Since slaves are property, they could not be taken away (Constitution). Congress could not make laws regarding slavery in the territories. Makes the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional. 1857 -
Secession
Secession: South Carolina votes to secede in December 1860. Eventually 7 southern states leave the union before Lincoln even takes office. See him as a sectional President hostile to slavery. Confederate States of America is formed and Jefferson Davis chosen as President. President Buchanan does nothing to stop secession. From November 1860 to March 1861 does not believe secession is legal. -
Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter: 7 southern states had already left the Union before Lincoln took office in March 1861. Lincoln’s Inaugural Address pledged NOT to interfere with slavery. No right of secession. Lincoln says sending provisions to Fort Sumter. Not reinforcements Confederacy attack Fort Sumter in April 1861. This marks the beginning of the Civil War. -
Anaconda Plan
Anaconda Plan: Winfield Scott’s plan to use U.S. Navy to blockade Confederacy and take control of Mississippi River. 1861 -
Emancipation Proclamation
Following the Battle of Antietam Lincoln decides to move forward with announcing emancipation. Emancipation Proclamation was justified as military necessity. Declared slaves free in rebel territory (Confederacy). Impact: Strengthened the moral cause of the North. Not just a war against secession- against slavery. Helped keep Europe from aiding Confederacy.
