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10,000 BCE
Bering Land bridge
People crossed the Bering Land Bridge to arrive in what we today call the Americas. These people came from Asia. They continued to cross the land bridge until up to 5,000 years ago. The people were no longer able to cross because the ice from the the ice ages melted and submerged the land bridge. -
Period: 10,000 BCE to
Beginnings to Exploration
10,000 BCE - 1600AD -
1095
The Crusades
1095-1291
The Crusades were a series of Religous campaigns launched by the Catholic church. Many of the Crusades to the holy lands were unsuccessful and they ended up being religious massacres most of the time between Muslims and Christians. The only positive aspects that came from the Crusades was the Islamic technologies and knowledge that were brought back to Europe such as medical practices. -
1300
Mayans
2000BC - 1500 AD
The Mayans were located in present-day Mexico on the Yucatan peninsula. They continued the traditions of bloodletting from the Olmecs. The Mayans also advanced human sacrifice by pulling out the hearts of the ones being sacrificed. The Mayans recorded their history using Hieroglyphics. -
1440
The Renaissance
1300-1700
The Renaissance was a cultural movement. It was the rebirth after the time of a feudal society in Europe. It occurred from the 14th to 17th centuries. Art was an important part of the Renaissance. Famous Artists include Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Donatello. The Printing press was also invented during this time by John Gutenberg. The Renaissance was an important time in history because there was large developments in science and technology. -
Oct 12, 1492
Christopher Colombus
Christopher embarked on 4 voyages trying to find a quicker route to Asia by traveling west. Instead of discovering Asia he discovered the Americas. His discovery of the New World was significant because it led to many more voyages to the New World and an establishment of colonies. Colombus died believing the Americas were Islands of East Asia. -
1493
The Colombian Exchange
The Colombian Exchange was the exchange of goods from the Old and New Worlds. It was named after Christopher Colombus and mostly benefited the Old World. Fruits, animals, and diseases were exchanged between the two Worlds. The people in the Old World suffered from the diseases and died. -
1517
The Protestant Reformation
1517-1648
The Protestant Reformation began in 1517 due to Martin Luther being upset about the indulgences that the Church was selling. Indulgences were people paying to go to Heaven. Soon people began breaking away from the Catholic Chruch and forming their own chruches. -
The Chesapeake Colonies
The Chesapeake Colonies were located in the Chesapeake Bay Area. The economy of the colony revolved around trade and shipping due to the vast waterways. The Chesapeake Colonies grew and traded tobacco which was the major crop that allowed the colony to survive. -
Period: to
English Colonial Societies
1606 - 1732 -
Development of Colonial Differences by Region
The geography of the three different regions led to differences in the growth of the Colonies. In the North the soil was bad and little farming could be done, so the economy was based on fishing and shipbuilding. In the Chesapeake Bay Colonies, the soil was good enough to grow tobacco and there were plenty of waterways, so the economy revolved around trading and selling Tobacco. Lastly the climate in the South and soil was perfect for crops, so the economy revolved around agriculture. -
Plymouth Colony
First established in 1620 by the Puritans that came over on the Mayflower. They came because they believed the Church of England was corrupt and hated Catholics. The first few years living in the Americas was difficult. The Puritans later known as pilgrims were taught by Squanto how to farm the land and which crops to plant. They also established the Mayflower Compact which was one of the first forms of self-government in America. -
Massachusetts Bay Colony
Established in 1630 by John Winthrop and a group of Puritans that were refugees from England. The town was family oriented and everything was built around the church. The church was the center of the town and everyone lives near each other. Everyone lived a healthy lifestyle meaning they had clean diets and live for a long time. -
Navigation Acts
A series of Acts that the English Parliment passed to limit the trade between the Dutch and the Colonies. The British government regulated trade and also taxed the goods. All the money would go back to England. The Navigation Acts also required that all the goods need to be transported on English or Colonial American ships when being shipped for trade. -
Glorious Revolution
William and Mary of Orange took over the throne from King James II. James wanted a Spanish style colonial government which established new taxes, made England into a dominion, and wanted to ally England and with Catholic France because he was Catholic as well. William and Mary were Protestant and they allowed more power to the parliament. The English Bill of Rights was established and helped balance the power of the government. It also gave the people more rights. -
Act of Union 1707
The Act of Union 1707 united England and Scotland together, They now became the United Kingdom. Britain and its parliament was the head of the empire. The colonies still had their own local control in the forms of self-governance. The total government now was a Federal system that had central authority with local governemnts. -
Period: to
Colonial America to 1763
1710 - 1763 -
Triangular Trade
The Triangular Trade began in the 16th century and lasted to the early 19th century. It was the exchange of resources, slaves, and finished goods between the Caribbean, Africa, and Britain. This Trade was important in the development of the colonies. The Middle Passage was part of the Triangular Trade and was the path that slaves were brought over to the New World. The slaves were brought to the Caribbeans to work on the Sugar plantations. -
Economies of the Colonies
The Colonies were separated based on the respective regions. The economy in the North was based on fishing, trading, and shipbuilding because the soil was not good enough to farm and they were by the sea. The economy in the Middle Colonies had agriculture and a little manufacturing. The colonies also traded due to the numerous waterways. Lastly, in the South, the colonies revolved mostly around agriculture and cash crops. They had a large number of slaves to do the work. -
John Locke
John Locke was a famous Enlightenment philosopher that wrote about the ideas of government. In his "Second Treatise Of Government," Locke wrote about the unalienable rights and if a government fails to protect them then the people have the right to overthrow the government and create a new one. Locke's ideas inspired Thomas Jefferson and influenced him to write the Declaration of Independence. -
Georgia
Georgia was founded in 1733 by James Oglethorpe. Georgia was named after King George II who granted the charter to Oglethorpe. Georgia was originally a Penal Colony which meant that it was a place for prisoners to rehab. It was also supposed to be a buffer colony between Spanish Florida and the English Colonies but was later seen as a staging point to attack Florida. -
The Atlantic Slave Trade
The Atlantic Slave Trade lasted from the 15th century to the 19th century. The Slave Trade began due to European's need of a source of labor. Africans were stronger and could work longer, so the Europeans began trading for them in Africa and bringing them to the Americas. The Slaves traveled to the Americas through the Middle Passage. The conditions on the ships were horrible and over 10% of them died on the voyage to the Americas -
Virtual Representation
When the Colonies were first established England left the Colonies alone and allowed them to run themselves. This led to the Colonies forming their own legislatures to govern. The Colonies also created their own militias and churches. By the 1760s the British Parliament began enforcing laws on the Colonies and they believed it was unfair. -
The French and Indian War
The French and Indian war began in 1756 and lasted 7 years until 1763. England, France, and Spain fought with each other for more territory. The English wanted more land to the west that belonged to the French, so they fought each other. The Natives sided with the French because if the English won they would be pushed even further west. This war was not only fought in America, but it was fought in India as well. -
Period: to
The Revolutionary War
1763 - 1783 -
Sugar Act
The Sugar Act was a revamped version of the Sugar and Molasses act of 1733. In the Sugar Act, the tax per gallon was decreased so that it can be better enforced, but the colonies were still unhappy. The colonists resisted to pay the tax and began voicing their displeasure by creating petitions. The sparks of the belief "Taxation Without Representation" began to grow. -
Stamp Act
The British Parliament passed the Stamp Act in 1765 to help pay off the debts created by the French & Indian War. A tax was imposed on all paper products ranging from letters to even playing cards. The Act mostly affected lawyers & printers who deal mostly with paper. This Act was enforced more harshly than the Sugar Act colonist could be convicted and tried without a jury. The Stamp Act caused the tensions between the Colonies and Great Britain to grow. -
Boston Massacre
A crowd of Bostonians was mobbing a group of British Soldiers and they were throwing snowballs that had rocks inside. The squad of British Soldiers fired into the crowd and killed a total of 5 people. Paul Revere was on the scene and he began writing propaganda about the British. Many Colonist became outraged and the patriotism began to grow. The English Parliament repealed the Townshend Acts as a response to the Massacre. -
Boston Tea Party
On the night of December 16, 1773, Samuel Adams and a few men from the Sons of Liberty were out drinking. The men became drunk and decided that they should dump the tea. They dressed up as Indians and boarded three ships in the Boston harbor and dumped over 340 chests of tea. This act of defiance was a response towards the Acts the the British Parliament passed and showed that the Colonist were protesting. -
1st Continental Congress
The 1st Continental Congress was held in response to the Intolerable Acts that was passed by the British Parliament. Delegates from all the colonies except for Georgia were sent to the Congress to speak about what to do. At the Congress, the Colonists denounced the Intolerable Acts and were about to boycott British goods as well. Patrick Henry spoke his famous line, "Give me Liberty or give me Death." -
The Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson was put in charge of writing the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration of Independence was created to declare that the Colonies will separate from Great Britain and become the United and Independent States. The Declaration was a list of grievances toward the British and was used by the Colonists to call for allies to help them fight in the war against Great Britain. The Declaration was finished on July 2, 1776 , but was not signed until July 4, 1776. -
Post Revolution AOC
After the Revolution ended the many weaknesses of the AOC showed through. A problem that came up was that the Articles of Confederation did not have any central authority. There was no one to enforce the rules and the Congress was also weak. The Congress was not able to write treaties and couldn't create any laws because a majority of the states needed to agree upon the law and they did not agree most of the time -
Period: to
The Constitution
1783 - 1788 -
Treaty of Paris 1783
The Treaty of Paris 1783 ended the Revolutionary War. The U.S would now be recognized as an independent and sovereign nation. The U.S gained fishing rights off the coast of Newfoundland and the Northern border between the U.S and Canada was established. The U.S will also gain land to the Mississippi River and both the U.S and Great Britain will have access to the river. -
Enlightenment ideals on America in the late 18th century
In America, people now emphasized an importance of an educated population. Education will now become standardized and kids will be required to attend. This is because the more educated people are the more rational decisions they will make. Also, church and state will now be separated. The church will no longer be running towns and cities anymore. Lastly common citizens will now have a louder voice and will have more opinions to say. -
The two plans of the Constitutional Convention
When creating the Constitution there was a dispute in how each state should be represented. One plan was the Virginia Plan. In this plan it had a two-house legislature and representation of a state would be based on its population. The other plan was the New Jersey Plan. This plan disregarded population and all states would have the same representation.The two plans were combined together and the Connecticut Plan was created.There would be a Bi-Cameral Legislature with a Senate and House of rep. -
Shay's Rebellion
Shay's rebellion occurred between 1787 and 1787. Farmers in Massachusetts were being taxed to help pay the debts caused by the war. They could not pay the taxes, so the government seized their farms. Daniel Shay led Revolutionary veterans and they began to protest. Shay's Rebellion was a test of the Articles of Confederation. It showed that the AOC was weak and they needed to be changed. -
The Great Debate
The Great Debate was a series of protests & debates over how much power the central government should have. The Federalist believed that there should be a powerful central government and they supported the Constitution. The Anti-Federalists believed that the states should have more power and they supported a weaker central government. The Federalist opposed the Bill of Rights while the Anti-Federalists supported it. Both the Constitution and Bill of Rights will end up being passed. -
Issue of Slavery (3/5 Compromise)
When creating the Constitution the Southern States were in favor of slavery while the Northern States were not. When creating the executive branch the issue of whether to count the slaves as part of the population or not came up to have a greater number of representatives. The 3/5 compromise was created to solve the problem. For every 5 slaves, 3 would be counted as part of the population -
Northwest Ordinance
The Northwest Ordinance was the policy of adding new states to the Union. Congress passed the Ordinance knowing that western frontier lands would want to join the Union and will allow it to grow. Each territory that wants to join the Union would appoint a governor and have a legislature. Also, The territory cannot have any slavery. the Northwest Ordinance was one of the first methods of admission to the U.S and it would provide the basis for future admission of territories to the Union. -
Period: to
The New Republic
1788 - 1803 -
Moving the Capitol
On July 16, 1790, Congress declared that Washington, District of Colombia will be the new capital of the U.S. The old capital use to be New York City, but there was too much corruption there, so Congress decided to move the capital. The corruption was caused due to the large markets and since New York was an economic hub people could pay their pay into to the government causing corruption. -
Whiskey Rebellion
The Whiskey Rebellion began in 1791 when Hamilton gave the idea to place a tax on Whiskey in order to earn a profit. Whiskey was an important part of the economy and everyone was always drinking it. The farmers were upset and they revolted threatening to attack the city of Pittsburgh. Washington led his army and put a stop to the Rebellion. This Rebellion was the first test of the new Constitution and demonstrated that the government had power to do things now. -
1st Bank of the U.S
The 1st Bank of the U.S was the idea of Alexander Hamilton who was a federalist who supported a strong central government. The purpose of the Bank was to stabilize the economy and the currency. The Bank would be a depository and make loans & it was funded by private investors. Jefferson did not want the bank to be chartered because it would give the central government power, but Washington sided with Hamilton, so the bank ended up being chartered. -
Washington's Farewell address
In Washington's Presidential Farewell address he gave advice on what he wanted for the country. Washington said that he was done after 2 terms of being president. Washington also mentioned that the U.S should avoid conflicts and not be involved in conflicts with other countries. Another thing that he emphasized was to not make any permanent alliances. Aliances were fine as long as they weren't permanent. -
Aliens and Sedition Acts
Due to a threat of a Naval War against France President John Adams signed the Aliens & Sedition Acts. The Alien Act made it harder for immigrants to become citizens and the government had the power to deport people. The Seditions Act made it a crime for people to say any bad things against the U.S or the President and it was used against the Republicans by the Federalists. -
Kentucky Resolutions
The Kentucky Resolutions was an idea of Jefferson. Jefferson was a Republican and he believed that the states should have more power. The Resolutions stated that the States could nullify any laws that were unconstitutional and the state would not follow it. The Resolutions provided a foundation for State's rights and will eventually lead to the reason why the Civil War will be fought. -
Period: to
The Age of Jefferson
1800 - 1824 -
Marbury vs Madison
Marbury vs Madison was the most important Supreme Course Case. This case was caused because Marbury was waiting to get his appointment for the Supreme court, but Madison had burnt the appointment. This case created Judicial Review and set up the modern court that we have today. The Supreme Court now decided if something was constitutional or not. -
Louisiana Purchase
In 1803 Thomas Jefferson purchased Louisiana from France for a total of 15 million dollars. The land cost only 3 cents an acre. By buying Louisiana the U.S now has control of the Mississipi River. The Purchase of the Louisiana also doubled the size of the U.S. The only conflict about the purchase was that it went against Jefferson's views of the government. In order to make the purchase a strong central governnment was required and that went against Jefferson's Republican beliefs. -
Technological benefits of War of 1812
Due to the War of 1812, there was an increased demand for products. This caused there to be an industrial revolution in America. The War caused there to be new innovation such as firearms, steam engines, the invention of the cotton gin, and mass production of goods. The Cotton Gin helped revolutionize cotton agriculture by removing the seed from the cotton more quickly which led to more clothes being mass produced. The mass production was aided by the invention of the steam engines. -
The Star Spangled Banner
Francis Scott Key was the author of the Star Spangled Banner. During the War of 1812 at Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore Francis Scott Key wrote the poem, "Star Spangled Banner." This poem told the story of how America defended the fort and was still standing in the morning. The Star Spangled Banner did not become the national anthem till later on, but it sybolized the Patriotism of Americans. -
Steam Engines
The Steam Engine was created during the industrial revolution. It used steam to create energy and power things. The economy was increased due to the steam engine powering steamboats, trains, and eventually locomotives. The steam engine allowed these forms of transportation to be faster and transport goods across the country at a much faster rate. -
Period: to
Early Industrial Revolution
1815-1850 -
Battle of New Orleans
The Battle of New Orleans was fought after the treaty of Ghent was signed which ended the War of 1812. Andrew Jackson was the general of the army and he led his ragtag army in defeating the British Army. The army was made up of pirates and small militias. The Battle of New Orleans was an unnecessary battle, but it gave the Americans a stronger sense of Patriotism. -
Adams - Onis Treaty
The Adams - Onis Treaty was between the U.S and Spain. It defined the boundary between Spanish Florida and the U.S. The U.S wanted Florida, so they sent Andrew Jackson to attack the Florida Seminoles. Spain eventually signs the treaty and cedes Florida to the U.S and recognizes its claim to Louisiana. -
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state. The 36 30 parallel line was formed and established that everything below would be a slave state and everything above would be a free state. This would provide a balance between slave and free states. The Missouri Compromise would only be a temporary solution to the conflict of slaves. -
Cotton Gin
The Cotton Gin was invented in 1794 by Eli Whitney. This invention allowed the removal of seeds from cotton to be a quicker and easier process. The Cotton Gin increased slavery because now that Cotton is easier to process more cotton is now grown and more slaves are required to pick the cotton. The Cotton industry increased drastically in the South by the 1820s. -
American System
The American System was continued by John Quincy Adams during his presidency. During his presidency, Adams continued the tariffs on imports of foreign goods in order to grow the industry in America. These tariffs would be used to make internal improvements such as the building of more roads and canals to make trade more efficient. The creation of the 2nd National Bank was also a part of this economic plan. -
Period: to
Cultural Changes
1820 - 1850 -
Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine was signed by President James Monroe. The Spanish Empire in the New World was crumbling and the U.S wanted to influence these new areas so they passed the Doctrine. The Doctrine was a foreign policy that stated no European intervention will be allowed in Latin America. In return the U.S won't interfere with any European colonies. -
Election of 1824
This Election was primarily between John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson. Both parties were roughly equal in the popular vote and the electoral vote, so the House of Representatives would choose the President. Henry Clay, a speaker in the house would convince them to vote for John Quincy Adams and in return, Clay was appointed the Secretary of State by Adams. This became known as the corrupt bargain. -
Period: to
Jacksonian Era
1824-1840 -
Election of 1828
In the Election of 1828, the presidential candidates were John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson. In this election, both candidates would say bad things and spread rumors about one another. This election is one of the dirtiest elections in the History of the U.S. Jackson would eventually win the election in a landslide by winning a majority of the popular vote because he ran as a common man. -
Railroads
The Railroad System was created by George Stephenson. The System increased the speed of transportation from one location to another. It also increased the transportation of goods. Now people can travel across the country in a matter of days. The railroads were very efficient and they were also very cheap. -
Telegraph
The Telegraph was invented in the 1830s by Samuel Morse. The invention of the Telegraph made it possible for messages to be sent across the world in a matter of seconds. Lines were laid across the country and people would use Morse Code to send messages to each other through a series of dots and dashes. The Telegraph revolutionized the way people who are far away from each other communicated. -
Trail of Tears
The Trail of Tears was the name of the path that the Cherokee Indians took to leave Georgia. The Indian Removal Act of 1830 forced the Cherokee to be relocated to Oklahoma, so all the Cherokee Indians marched from Georgia all the way to reservations in Oklahoma. Thousands of the Cherokee would die on the way to Oklahoma. -
First Police Forces
Due to the Industrial Revolution, many people would move to the cities and overcrowding would soon be a problem. There would be racial tensions, religious conflicts, and political discourse. This would cause increased crime in the cities. The First Police Forces would be created to keep the peace. -
Mormons
The Mormons or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was founded by Joseph Smith. Smith believed that God was speaking to him to fix the Christian Church. Then Smith found golden tablets that he could only read and understand. He would go around preach and start the Mormon religion. The Mormons would face harsh persecution and they would travel west to Salt Lake City in Utah, -
Nat Turner's Rebellion
This rebellion was led by Nat Turner. Turner grew up and taught himself to read and he was a religious man. He believed he was destined to somehow stop slavery because it was a horrible thing. After a few visions and seeing an eclipse Turner and a few men started their rebellion and marched around plantations killing slave owners and their families. The Rebellion caused slaves in the South to live harder conditions and the creation of laws that forbid them from owning guns and learning. -
Nullification Crisis
The Nullification Crisis occurred between 1832-1833. Congress raised the import taxes with the Tariff Act of 1832 to fix the problems created by the Tariff Act of 1828. South Carolina was heavily affected because it would hurt Southern agriculture. John Calhoun the VP would nullify the law by taking the Kentucky Resolutions further. The Webster-Hayes debate would establish that states could judge the constitution, so a convention was held and Congress scales back the tariff and the crisis ends. -
Election of 1832
The Election of 1832 was primarily between Henry Clay and Andrew Jackson. Jackson would once again win the election with a majority of the popular vote. Jackson would will because of his Bank Veto Speech. His speech appealed to the Common man and laid out Jackson's vision for American democracy and explained why he would veto the rechartering of the National Bank. -
American Anti-Slavery Society
The American Anti-Slavery Society was a group of people including Fredrick Douglas & William Lloyd Garrison who wanted to put an end to slavery. They wanted to end slavery, but also give African Americans equality in society, economic, and political areas. The AASS would go through the South and North and gain up to 100k supporters. -
Whig Party
The Whig Party was established in 1834. They were formed to oppose Jackson's Democrats. The leader of the Whig Party was Henry Clay and they were known for being anti-elitist. They would taunt Jackson as being a king. The Democrats saw them as a party of Aristocrats. The party would last until 1852 before the declined and fell apart -
Temperance
The Temperance movement was started and encouraged by women. Temperance is the movement of stop drinking alcohol. Women encouraged this because during this time Men would always be drunk and sometimes they would beat their wives. The movement promoted the negative and immoral effects caused by alcohol to recruit others to the cause. -
Prisions
Due to the 2nd Great Awakening, the idea of a Penitentiary was created. Prisons were supposed to be a place where people would be placed to reform by experiencing isolation. People who had mental illnesses were sent to prison as well in order to get better before they returned to society. -
Transcendentalism
Transcendentalism is a philosophical movement where people believe in becoming independent self-reliant on others. They also believed that knowledge comes from Imagination because political parties and religions were corrupt. The movement also focused on nature and its purity. Though the philosphers believed that other people's beliefs were corrupt they did not disrespect them. -
Battle of San Jacinto
The Battle of San Jacinto was important because it was the last battle of the war that Texas won their independence. The Battle was fought in Sang Jacinto. Sam Houston led the Texas army on a sneak attack when the Mexican army was taking a siesta. The battle was over within 20 minutes and the Texans Won. Santa Anna was also captured after this battle when a few Mexican Solidiers saluted him as he was in disguise. -
Iron Plow
John Deere invented the Iron Plow in 1837. His invention made it easier for farmers to cultivate the soil more quickly. The plow was used in the Mid-West of the nation to break up the hard soil. The invention of the plow would increase agriculture in the South. -
Nature
During the Industrialization, Northern States began to build parks in their cities. These parks were made to benefit the Urban areas. The parks provided a place for workers and people to get away from work and relax. By being in the cities it was easily accessible for everyone and would help people recover from the stress that they experience in their working lives. -
Period: to
Westward Expansion
1840 - 1848 -
Election of 1844
The Election of 1844 was between Henry Clay from the Whig Party and James K. Polk a Democrat. The primary issues at the time were slavery and westward expansion. After Polk won the election he emphasized the expansion of the nation from the east coast to the west coast. Polk supported slavery and wanted to expand the nation to increase slavery. -
Manifest Destiny
The Belief that Americans had the God-given right for America to extend from the East Coast to the West Coast. This belief encouraged many people to continue migrating West and establish towns and cities along the way. The phrase "Manifest Destiny" was created by John L O'Sullivan. The belief of Manifest Destiny eventually led to the removal of Native Americans from their lands and the war with Mexico. -
Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail was the path that many pioneers took from Missouri to Oregon. The pioneers took this trail following the belief of Manifest Destiny. The pioneers who traveled west were mostly poor people looking for a chance for a new life in the West. The trail was long and hard it crossed mountains and the great plains. Many of the pioneers would not survive the long journey initially. -
Annexation of Texas
At First, Texas was a part of Mexico. After the colonists who settled in Texas held their revolt and won, Texas became a Republic for a few years. After a few years if struggling Sam Houston wanted Texas to join the Union. Members of Congress were unsure to allow Texas to join the Union because it was a slave state, but after discussion Texas became the 28th state of the Union. -
Election of 1848
The Election of 1848 was between Zachary Taylor, Martin Van Buren, and Lewis Cass. The main issue of the election would once again be over Slavery. Zachary Taylor from the Whig party would eventually win the Election after he demonstrated his modern approach to slavery. Taylor would win the popular vote and end up winning the election. -
Period: to
Sectionalism
1848 - 1861 -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed on February 2, 1848. The Treaty ended the Mexican-American War and will settle the border dispute between the U.S and Mexico. The U.S would gain 525,00 miles of land. Mexico would also officially give up Texas to the U.S and the boundary between the U.S and Mexico would officially be the Rio Grande river. -
Seneca Falls Convention
The Seneca Falls Convention was the first convention towards the fight for women's rights in the U.S. It would be the start of Woman's Suffrage movement. Some Key Women a part of the Convention were Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Jane Hunt. At the Convention the women would experess their grievences and demmands for their rights. -
California Gold Rush
When people heard that Gold was found in California everyone across the nation began traveling to California in hope of becoming rich. The population of California would increase dramatically as people continued to come to find gold. Since the selling price for gold was high many people would try to come to strike rich. Many people who ventured to California would not make it to California because it was a long path with Mountains and the Great Plains in the way. -
The Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was a series of people that would help Slaves escape to the North where they would have freedom. The Abolitionist would help slaves move between the safe houses until they reached the North. These brave individuals were in danger of being punished if they were found harboring slaves, but they continued to run the Underground Railroad and save many lives of African American slaves. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin was written in 1852 by Harriet Beecher Stowe. The book addressed the very controversial topic of slavery. The book showed the cruel life that slaves experienced and portrayed slavery as an inhumane thing. The book led people in the North to hate Slavery even more and help grew a passion for ending slavery. "Southern Life as it is" was written in response to Uncle Tom's Cabin and showed that slaves were treated with genorousity. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas- Nebraska Act was signed by Congress on May 30, 1854. The Act allowed for people in the Kansas and Nebraska if they wanted slavery in their territories or not. The Act also repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820 which stated that there would be no slavery in any territory above the 36 30 parallel. The North was not supportive of the Act because it allowed Slavery up in the Northern areas. The South on the other fully supported the Kanas-Nebraska Act. -
Dred Scott vs Sanford
Dred Scott vs. Sanford was a supreme court case. Dred Scott was a former save tries to sued his new master. He believed that since he was in free territory and his old master died he was now a free man. The Supreme court eventually ruled that slaves weren't citizens, so they cannot sue people. The case also ruled that Congress can't regulate slavery in territories. -
John Brown's Raid
John Brown's Raid began on October 16, 1859, and lasted until October 18, 1859. John Brown was an Abolitionist who believed that God called him to destroy slavery. John Brown would invade Harpers Ferry with 18 men and take control of the town and the arsenal. He thought that slaves would come and grab weapons and rebel along with him, but they did not come. Robert E. Lee would quickly end the rebellion and all the raiders were hanged. Brown would be a martyr in the North, while the South is mad. -
Neutral States
The Neutral states or border states were neutral in the War. These states did not leave the Union but did not pick any sides either. The North and South both tried to gain the influence of these states. These states made up 80% of production for the South, so the South needed these states. The North wanted control of these states to limit the supplies of the South and it also allowed the North aces to rivers in the Midwest and kept Washington D.C from being surrounded. These states had slavery. -
Clara Barton
Clara Barton was helped distribute food and medical supplies to the troops in the war on both sides. She was a nurse, suffragist, and humanitarian who founded the American Red Cross. She worked throughout the entire war. After the war, she helped bury men and marked their graves and identify missing solidiers. -
Period: to
Civil War
1861-1865 -
Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter is located in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina it was a coastal garrison. Fort Sumter is where the first shots of the American Civil War were fired. The fort would be controlled by the Union until P.G.T Beaugard fired artillery at the fort and eventually took it over. After this event Lincoln declared the South was in a state of rebellion and 75,000 men were sent to end the rebellion. -
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was given by Lincoln on January 1, 1863. The Proclamation declared that slaves would be free unless the rebellion ends on January 1, 1863. This proclamation gave the North a morale boost to fight. This proclamation also stopped the British from allying with the South in the war because this made the war about slavery and the British already ended slavery in their Empire. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg began on July 1, 1863, and lasted for 3 days. This Battle was the most important and bloodiest battle in the War because it was the turning point for the North. The South would end up losing half of its troops in this Battle. After the battle, Abraham Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address regarding the death of the soldiers in the battle. The Gettysburg Address became known has one of the most famous speeches in American History. -
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant would, later on, become the Commander of the Union army in the Civil War. He graduated from West Point and fought in the Mexican-American War. His reputation as an aggressive commander would motivate Lincoln to appoint Grant as the Commander of the Army on March 10, 1864. Grant would lead the North to win the war and he would later become the president of the U.S. -
Carpetbaggers
The term Carpetbaggers was used to describe Northerners who would come South during Reconstruction. The Carpetbaggers came in pursuit of economic profit or political power. They were portrayed as lower class people with little education. However, these Carpetbaggers were well-educated and they were members of the middle class wanting civil and political rights. -
Black Codes
The Black Codes were a series of laws that were created by Southern states in an attempt to limit the civil rights and economic opportunities of African Americans. Some restrictions include outlaw of interracial marriage and serving on juries. Many states also required African Americans to sign yearly labor contracts in order to work or they will be at risk of being arrested or unpaid labor. -
Period: to
Reconstruction
1865-1876 -
Appomattox Courthouse
Ulysses S. Grants army sieged Robert E. Lee's army at Petersburg/Richmond. Lee's army eventually was forced to leave. On April 9, 1865, Lee surrenders to Grant and by the end of June, all Confederate forces surrender and the American Civil War comes to an end. The surrender was signed in the Appomattox Courthouse and -
Lincoln's Assassination
Five days after the Appomattox Courthouse when President Abraham Lincoln was attending a play at Ford's Theater he was assassinated. Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth. Lincoln would finally die the next day. During his funeral procession millions of people gathered by the railroad tracks to bid him farewell. -
13th Amendment
The 13th Amendment abolished any form of slavery or involuntary servitude. The amendment was ratified on December 6, 1865. This Amendment was created hoping that slavery would never exist in America again. Though later things similar to slavery such as "sharecropping" would be created and it would be contreversial. -
Election of 1868
This Election was between Ulysses S. Grant and Horatio Seymour. Grant was selected in the North because he led the North to victory in the Civil War. Grant would represent the Republican party. In the South and Democrat party, Horatio Seymour would be selected because there were no better options. Grant would win the popular vote by a small margin, but he swept Seymour in the Electoral votes and would become the 18th president of the U.S -
Black Friday Scandal
The Black Friday Scandal began with Jay Gould and Jim Frisk's plan to corner the gold market. The gold standard stopped when the government put greenbacks into circulation. This caused gold to lose its value. Frisk convinced President Grant to not use gold to buy greenbacks. Gould would then buy all the Gold and the price of god would grow. Grant eventually discovered the conspiracy and buyback greenbacks bringing the price of gold down and causing many to go bankrupt -
Sharecroppers
Sharecropping was a system used by free African Americans to receive housing. African Americans would work on an owner's property to produce crops in return the African Americans would receive housing and for payment, crops would be paid to the owner. The African Americans would often fall in debt to the landowners for renting equipment and they would be forced to continue to work. -
Compromise of 1877
The Compromise of 1877 was created to help fix the issue over the election between Rutherford B. Hayes and Samuel Tilden. Hayes ended up in the lead of the election with an extra 20 electoral votes. The Democratic Party was outraged and accused that the Republicans were cheating. This compromise would end the Reconstruction Era.
