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Jamestown
England's first successful colony, Jamestown, is established. The Virginia Company sent settlers over such as John Smith and they overcame starving times to survive. -
Pilgrims
Pilgrims settles in the Plymouth colony after they left England because of religion issues. In the new colonies, the Pilgrims searched for religious freedoms that were not available to them in England. -
Slavery
Slavery begins to appear in the colonies. It became preferred besides indentured servants because they were cheaper and they were not given a contract to be released. -
Manchu
The Manchu people come to power in China. Until 1911, they will continue to rule the country. -
Isaac Newton
Isaac Newton develops the theory of gravitation. He will also determine that white light is full of colored rays and calculus. -
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War, also known as the Seven Years War, was a fight between Indians and the French against Britain. The war ended with the Treaty of Paris and a British victory. -
Steam Engine
James Watt perfects the invention of the steam engine, which improved factory output greatly. The engine is capable of outworking an individual person multiple times. -
Revolutionary War
The colonists take Britain to war for independence and the sovereignty of America. Through many battles, Britain finally surrender and America is recognized as a free nation. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
John Quincy Adams and his mother watch from a nearby hilltop as their family friend gets killed during the battle. After the battle, "Abigail led her frightened seven-year-old son home, and together they recited the Lord's Prayer" (Unger 17). The horrific battle haunted John Quincy for the rest of his life. -
Declaration of Independence
The Revolutionaries write a document declaring American independence. It was written by Thomas Jefferson with many ideas coming from the philosopher John Locke which gave the people natural rights. -
Trip to France
"John Adams was no more eager to leave his family than Abigail was to see him go, and to John Quincy's dismay, his parents decided he should accompany his father on the voyage" (Unger 24). During the voyage to France with his father, John Quincy is frightened when they had a close encounter with an enemy ship. -
James Cook
The British explorer James Cook is killed in Hawaii. He was a Captain in the royal Navy back in Britain. -
Boarding School
In France, John Quincy is enrolled in boarding school by his father. There, he studies Greek, Latin, geography, mathematics, writing, and drawing. While in school, he is also reunited with his friend Jesse Dean. -
John Quincy joins Dana
John Quincy, age 16, and his brother Charles journey to Russia where John is to become Francis Dana's secretary and interpreter. Dana believed John was the perfect man for the job. "It was an incredible choice, but Dana-like most people who talked with John Quincy Adams-often forgot he was talking to a mere boy" (Unger 45). -
Harvard
John Quincy Adams goes for an interview for his admission to Harvard with Harvard president Joseph Willard. Willard denies John Quincy's admission at the time, making John Quincy feel like a failure to his father. -
Shays' Rebellion
Shays' Rebellion was an uprising in Massachusetts when Daniel Shays got together rebels who wanted a change in the perception of economic rights. The farmers involved did not like the taxes being collected or the way debt was being handled. -
Constitution
The Constitution was written to establish a new government in the new nation. It includes the Bill of Rights and the rules for how the new nation was to govern the people of America. -
Haitian Revolution
The Haitian Revolution becomes one of the largest and successful slave rebellion. Together, they ended slavery there and French control as well. -
John Quincy becomes American minister to Holland
John Quincy is appointed American minister to Holland, the position his father once held. This made both of his parents very proud and it was a major turning point in his career. -
John Quincy gets married
John Quincy marries Louisa Catherine Johnson who wanted to marry him immediately. John Quincy thought it better if they waited until he had the funds to support a proper minister's wife. -
President John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams is elected President of the United States. He takes office and claims he does it for the good of the people and not for himself.
