-
Stono Rebellion
In South Carolina, tensions were growing between slaves and their owners. Eventually, a group of African slaves took up arms and ravaged through multiple different plantations. They killed slave owners and their families, as well as destroying their land. Eventually the group of rebel slaves were subdued, and their rebellion was squashed. However, it drove fear into the minds of the slave owners because of how many slaves took part in the rebellion. This was the first time slaves had rebelled. -
Albany Plan of Union
Benjamin Franklin told each colony to bring together delegates to discuss the end of benign neglect and the forceful control of the British. Almost every colony brought forth a few delegates except for Georgia. This was the first attempt at Congress within the colonies, and this group would meet multiple times throughout the course of the next few decades. Franklin proposed the Albany Plan of Union which was meant to combine the colonies to stand a better chance at resisting the British. -
Sugar Act
After the costly 7 years, Britain was highly in debt and needed to get lots of money quickly. They turned their focus towards the colonies and began leveeing multiple different taxes, starting with the Sugar Act. This Act put a large tax on molasses, refined sugar, and rum. They taxed all imports and all exports within the country. Many people disliked this tax and fought against it, protesting it. This act was unfortunately the first of many acts to be forced upon the colonists. -
Quartering Act
The Quartering Act was the next major act to be passed after the Sugar Act. This one was even more controversial because it forced colonists to house and care for British troops in their homes or else they would be arrested. The troops would oftentimes be uncaring and uncivilized towards the colonists, as well as spying on them and keeping tabs on people they believe to be suspicious. This act was the last straw for many colonists who wished to have peace and privacy in their lives. -
The Boston Tea Party
In protest against the horrendous acts forced against the people of the United States, a group of people named the Sons of Liberty dressed up to look like Native Americans, and raised a British ship. Led by Samuel Adams, the Sons of Liberty boarded the ship and dumped out all of the tea crates that were inside. The tea fell into the harbor. This was the first major rebellion of the colonists towards the British. They did this because of the Tea Act putting an insanely high tax on tea. -
The Battles of Lexington and Concord
British troops moved towards Lexington to take all of the military supplies that were stockpiled there. They met resistance there, and the first shot was fired in the war. The colonist militia men soon fled to gain reinforcements in Concord. As British troops moved towards Concord, they were ambushed and attacked from all sides in cover. Though the militiamen were heavily outnumbered, they managed to use guerilla warfare to their advantage. This kick-started the American Revolution. -
Common Sense
Writer Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense after fighting in Boston against the British. This propaganda piece was written for the common man to help them rise up and fight for their rights and independence. This leads to many colonists joining the war effort to fight for their own freedom. Later when morale was down, Thomas Paine returned to write American Crisis, which reinspired many troops and reminded them of what they were fighting for. Paine became the messenger of freedom. -
The Signing of the Declaration of Independence
In the Second Continental Congress, each colony sends delegates to meet and discuss what to do with the war. Many delegates were still loyal to the British, while most wanted independence. As the debate went on they agreed to send an Olive Branch Petition to the King asking him for peace, but if he turned it down, they would have independence. The king turned it down, and the Declaration of Independence was signed. Each person that signed it knew they would receive a target on their back. -
Battle of Saratoga
The colonists cleverly outmaneuvered the British and formed a pincer attack to use against them. While British General John Burgoyne intended to meet up with 2 other British armies, but was cut off and surrounded. This was the first major victory against the British for the colonists, and the entire world. The British had never been defeated like that before, and it inspired many other nations to fight back too. This included France, who joined the Revolution helping the colonists. -
The Articles of Confederation
After declaring independence from the British, it became clear that the United States of America needed a governing document to follow. The Continental Congress created the Articles of Confederation. This form of government would have little Federal power, as most of the power would be given to the States. To have most of the governing power in a more local setting seemed logical, however the Articles of Confederation eventually failed, and a new governing document had to replace it. -
The Battle of Yorktown
The Battle of Yorktown was the final major battle of the American Revolution. British General Cornwallis had found himself trapped in Yorktown with colonist soldiers at the outskirts of the town and the French navy in the sea by the town. After bombardments of canon fire, he surrendered in shame, and the war had been won by the American colonists who were now citizens of the United States. However, the struggles for freedom did not end there, as there were still other minor battles happening. -
Treaty of Paris 1783
The British and the Americans met with the French in Paris to negotiate a treaty after the British surrendered. It was decided upon that the United States of America would gain official sovereignty, and that they would be granted all of the lands owned by the British between the Mississippi River and the Atlantic Ocean. Their territory stretched up to British Canada, where the border stopped. However, this treaty was a massive victory for the United States, as it ended the American Revolution. -
Shay's Rebellion
A Revolutionary Soldier named Daniel Shay returned to his land to find himself heavily in debt, as his land had been producing no money while he was gone. He was so in debt, that the only way to pay it back was by selling the land, or he would face prison time. Many other soldiers were facing a similar problem, so they rebelled against the local courthouses in Massachusetts. Since the Articles of Confederation made it so that no army could be created, the raging mob could not be stopped. -
The First Steam Boat
The first Steam Boat was launched in the Delaware River for the members of Congress to see. This invention made traveling the Mississippi River much easier. Before Steam Boats, to sell their goods, people would have to float down the river on a raft towards New Orleans, and then hike their way back to their home. With Steam Boats, they could sell their goods and then go back up the river in their boat, which was much faster than hiking back up. This vastly improved the Midwest's economy. -
The Constitution
After heavy debates between Federalists and Anti-Federalists, the Constitution was eventually signed into law as the new governing document of the United States. As made in the deal, the Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution with 10 Amendments to the Constitution so that the regular person's rights could remain safe under a large amount of Federal power. The document would still be tested numerous times, but it managed to stay strong throughout the entirety of its existence. -
The First President
After the Constitution was made, a President had to be elected. To make sure everything went smoothly in the first election, they chose a national hero, George Washington, because he had suffered through harsh wartimes with his soldiers and was highly respected by the common man and the more distinguished folk. George Washington ended up running for a second term after his first, but to everyone's shock, he announced his retirement from office, saying he would not run for a third term. -
Hamilton's Financial Plan
Hamilton wanted to fix the United States Economy by doing a few things. First, he wanted to accumulate all of the debt into a National debt to free the States of their debt. Then a National Bank would be created to make loans and handle businesses. Finally, protective tariffs would be put on imported goods to encourage growth of the American industry, as Hamilton had a dream of the United States becoming more industrialized. The plan was enacted in 1790 by Congress and reshaped the economy. -
The Invention of the Cotton Gin
In the South, cotton was not a profitable crop to grow because of how labor intensive it was to pick out the seeds. The inventor Eli Whitney sought to solve this problem, creating the Cotton Gin. This made cotton extremely profitable in the South, however, it had a major consequence. Slavery had been on the decline for years, as many people had begun to see the immorality in it. After this Invention, slavery became very popular again, and many black men were back to working in the fields. -
The Whiskey Rebellion
The Federal Government had leveled a tax on whiskey, which was the most important good that people in the North created. This tax favored the rich, allowing them to be almost unharmed financially from this tax. However, for small farmers the tax was devastating. A large number of them got together and rebelled against the tax. In response, Washington led his troops to resist the rebels, but not to kill any of them. This was a test to the Constitution's power and it passed this time. -
The Election of 1800
John Adams had an extremely controversial term that harmed the country in the acts that he passed. Jefferson's victory ended Federalist control of the executive branch and brought forth a new era of Anti-Federalism. Jefferson referred to this election as the "Revolution of 1800," as it transformed the future for the United States. Jefferson helped the common man by getting rid of the whiskey tax and cutting down on military efforts with the navy and the army, undoing a lot of Adams's mistakes. -
The Louisiana Purchase
Jefferson wanted to buy New Orleans from the French, as it would greatly enhance the United States Economy. Having access to the port of New Orleans would allow for the Mississippi River to be used to transfer goods to markets within the Midwest, which allowed the Midwest to be more profitable. Jefferson only wished to get New Orleans, but he was offered the entire Louisiana Territory for a very cheap price. This purchase doubled the size of the United States, and added lots of usable land. -
The Embargo Act of 1807
President Thomas Jefferson signed this into law to protect sailors from being attacked out at sea during the Napoleonic Wars. To do this, he stopped having goods exported from the ports on the East Coast. This Act harmed many people and made the economy struggle, as exported goods were one of the main sources of income for the North. This allowed domestic manufacturing to grow immensely in size. However, this act did cause tensions with the British that led to the War of 1812. -
Battle of Thames
One leader of a Native American Tribe by the name of Tecumseh combined the forces of multiple different tribes to fight the Americans. During the War of 1812, he allied himself with the British to take back their lands. In the Battle of Thames in Canada, they, along with the British, were defeated in a devastating battle. This was a massive victory for the Americans. The outcome of this battle soon led to the end of Native American resistance within the Ohio RIver Valley. -
The British Burn the Capitol
During the War of 1812, the British troops marched into the United States Capitol and fighting ensued. Though the fight was brief and the city was soon captured. The British set fire to all government buildings including the White House. Before this, President Madison and his family were forced to escape, but first, the First Lady, Dolly Madison, told people to grab all of the valuable items within the White House, including the presidential portraits, government documents, and far more. -
The Battle of New Orleans
The Treaty of Ghent had already been signed, however it had not reached the country before this battle occurred. General Andrew Jackson got multiple groups of people in the area to help defend New Orleans from a British invasion. He created trenches and hills where shooters would lay down and shoot the British as they come from the sea. This massive victory made Andrew Jackson a public hero, which helped in his presidential election a few decades later. -
Monroe Doctrine
President James Monroe created this Doctrine to protect the newly forming countries in the Western Hemisphere. As multiple different countries were gaining independence from Spain, James Monroe found it necessary to make this doctrine to show the United States' support for these countries, as well as telling European countries to stay away from the area and to stop colonizing it. This act also allowed for United States expansion throughout the North American Continent. -
The Invention of the Telegraph
An inventor named Samuel Morse created the Telegraph to make communication between the country much easier and faster. Wires are connected throughout the country and messages are sent throughout the country using a system of dots and dashes that create letters and words. These telegraph wires were strung out in the North and the South, but as the Manifest Destiny Movement occurred, telegraph wires followed to allow for communication to travel farther. -
The Election of 1824 (The Corrupt Bargain)
John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay, and William Crawford ran a close race for the Presidential Election. No clear winner was decided, so it was to be decided by Congress, which was led by Clay. Jackson believed that since he won the popular vote, he should win the election. However, Adams met privately with Clay and made a deal that would cause Clay to drop out and begin endorsing Adams. This led to Adams winning the election, and Jackson calling it a Corrupt Bargain. -
The Tariff of 1828 (The Tariff of Abominations)
Nearing the end of his uneventful Presidential term, Adams had to pass something to get voters to support him in the upcoming election. He passed this tariff on foreign goods to help Northern and Midwestern factories gain more profit from their goods. However, this caused Southerners to struggle, as they were gaining less profit from their goods that they were selling to foreign markets. This led to Jackson calling it the Tariff of Abominations in his campaign. -
The Election of 1828
After 4 uneventful years in Adams's Presidency, it was a rematch for Jackson, who had spent the entire term campaigning. With the help of Martin Van Buren, he created the Democratic Party, which was the first Political Party created in the United States. There was an overwhelming victory in favor of Jackson. This Presidency was highly favored at the time, but would soon become one of the worst times in United States History, being called the Age of Jackson. -
Indian Removal Act of 1830
After many people in the South and Midwest began demanding that the Native Americans be relocated from their lands, Jackson passed this act to protect them by sending them to new lands. Though his actual intentions were to remove them from their lands to have Americans begin using it, as he had a distaste for the natives. This led to the Trail of Tears, a long, forced march where Indians were moved from their homelands to the West of the Mississippi River, in modern day Oklahoma and Kansas. -
The Creation of the Liberator
This was when the first issue of the Liberator was published. This newspaper that was published by William Lloyd Garrison and spoke out against slavery in favor of the Abolition movement. Every month a new paper was released about the successes of abolitionism and the horrible mistreatment of slaves in the South. Southern slave owners rebelled against this paper company multiple times until eventually burning it to the point where it could not come back. Even so, this was a major influence. -
Panic of 1837
Due to Jackson's distrust of the Federal Banks, he withdrew all of the money from them and put it in state banks. This caused the second biggest economy crash in United States History, causing many people to struggle to get by. Many people became unemployed and prices for necessary items skyrocketed. This was also in part to how Britain had stopped buying as much goods produced in the country. This left a distaste to President Martin Van Buren, and caused him to not get reelected. -
Annexation of Texas
Texas was producing very little for Mexico, so they offered American citizens to come farm their land and become Mexican citizens. Many Americans took this as an opportunity to gain wealth, but they agreed with Mexico's new constitution, making them want independence. They split into the war party and the peace party, until the United States offered to let them join the Union. This led to the Battle for the Alamo, and the Mexican-American War, where Texas and other territories joined the Union. -
The Discovery of Gold in California
A man named James W. Marshall discovered gold within California. In hopes of getting extremely rich, a mass migration occurred towards California. Very few ended up becoming rich from this however, and most people ended up stuck in California, as they did not get any gold and did not have the money to make the trip back. The people would settle in temporary towns until gold was discovered in a different location in California, and then they would abandon the town and move over there. -
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
This Treaty ended the Mexican-American War. This Treaty was signed with the agreement that the United States would gain the disputed land within Texas, causing the border to be at the Rio Grande River. The United States were also granted Arizona, New Mexico, and California, with the latter being a major score for the American people. Although the territories of Arizona and New Mexico was largely unusable desert, California bordered the Pacific Ocean, making the United States a bicoastal nation. -
Seneca Falls Convention
This convention was organized by women across the country to organize their efforts in fighting for women's suffrage. This event was started by two women named Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Carly Stanten, who became major players in the women's suffrage movement going forward. In this convention they created the Declaration of Sentiments which stated how women had been locked out of equality within the Union and that they were to demand equal rights within the Union going forward. -
Compromise of 1850
California was trying to enter the Union as a free state, angering many Southern slave states, as this would go against the Missouri Compromise. To solve this issue, Henry Clay brought forth a new compromise that would make California a free state, but also pass new fugitive slave laws so that Northerners had to send runaway slaves back to their owners in the South. This caused tensions to rise further between the two sides because neither were content with what they got from the compromise. -
Dred Scott Decision
After his owner had moved them into a free state, a slave by the name of Dred Scott attempted to sue for his freedom under the defense that slavery is illegal in free states. However, the court case ruled that since he was bought in a slave state, he would remain a slave in the free state. This angered many Northerners as it destroyed the entire purpose of having free states. It also would harm them politically, as slave owners can pour into the state and vote against the Northerners. -
The Election of 1860
Abraham Lincoln ran for the newly created Republican Party in the Presidential Election. He won in a landslide due to the Democrat party having been split in half into the Northern and Southern Democrats. In the South, the distaste for Abraham Lincoln being opposed to slavery caused many states, starting with South Carolina, to secede from the Union. This led to a Civil War, and Lincoln spending a majority of his Presidency pulling the Union back together again. -
Emancipation Proclamation
After the extremely bloody Battle of Antietam, Lincoln made one of his most famous speeches, called the Emancipation Proclamation. This speech stated that all Confederate States that were to give up then and rejoin the Union would keep their slaves, but any state that had to be taken by force would have all of their slaves freed. Despite this threat, not a single Confederate state reentered the Union, so when they lost the war and were forced back in, they lost all of their slaves. -
The Battle of Vicksburg
Major Ulysses S. Grant laid siege to Vicksburg, the last Confederate fort along the Mississippi River. Taking control of this city would complete the Anaconda Plan and take full control of the Mississippi River, cutting off Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana from the rest of the Confederacy. This Anaconda Plan had already been putting significant strain on the South's economy and military, and its completion only made it worse for the Southerners. This victory also pushed Grant into being a general. -
The Battle of Gettysburg
Confederate General Robert E. Lee brought a force of men to invade the North to get them to submit. This led to many areas in the North wanting to stop the war and let the Confederacy gain independence. This battle ended up being a major turning point in the war, as the Union won, stopping all advances of the Confederate Forces into the Northern States, and leaving Lee's forces in a weak state that would be difficult to restore. -
The Sand Creek Massacre
As tensions between the Natives and white citizens of the United States grew, some tribes became afraid of attack. The Cheyenne tribe went to the United States government for help, in which they were told to live by Sand Creek. A group of Colorado militia men invaded their camp by the creek, murdering many women and children while the men were out hunting. This event highlighted the cruelty against the Natives, and made many other tribes, as well as a few Americans, fearful of their safety. -
The 14th Amendment
After the Civil Rights Act of 1866 was passed, Congress, which was dominated by Radical Republicans, realized they needed to make it more permanent, because Democrats could undo it if they took back control of Congress. So they passed the 14th Amendment, which made it so that all citizens born on US soil or went through naturalization were protected by laws and legal offices. This amendment had to be ratified by a Southern territory to become a state, making it harder to regain statehood. -
The Transcontinental Railroad is finished
After Lincoln passed the Pacific Railway Act of 1862, the two companies, the Union Pacific Railroad Company and the Central Pacific Railroad, worked hard to create the biggest railroad to have ever been built, spanning from the East of the United States to the West of it. In Promontory, Utah, a celebration was held as the last spike, which was made of gold, was put into the railroad. This project was costly, but would greatly impact the economy for all of the United States of America. -
Yellowstone National Park
The land in the West was developing at unprecedented rates. Many people became worried about how all of the natural land would be destroyed in the area. After speaking to Congress, the first National Park was created in Wyoming by Ulysses S Grant. While the land of Yellowstone was protected, many people did not understand that, so military soldiers had to be sent to enforce the protection laws. Nevertheless, the National Park System was a huge development for the United States environment. -
The Election of 1876
This was the second electoral crisis in the United States, as it was clear that both sides committed voter fraud, so the results were unclear. The South had 100% of the vote towards the Democratic Party, and after a recount, South Carolina swapped to Republican, which was unlikely to occur. So a committee was brought forth to decide, with a majority being Republicans. Rutherford B. Hayes, the Republican candidate was made President, and the South got the end of the military districts. -
The Dawes Act
As tensions between the white men and the Native Americans grew, the Dawes Act was passed to try to "help" natives. This act was similar to the Homestead Act, but specifically made for Native Americans. It would give them land that they had to farm and improve with their family. This bill was forced onto many natives to destroy their tribal nature, and make them more family oriented. They were attempting to get rid of Native American culture and replace it with the culture of the white man. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
This was a court case about how segregation was against the 14th Amendment's protections and rights granted to its citizens. It was decided in a 7-1 vote that segregation was constitutional if it was "separate but equal." However, there was no equality. The white people would gain brand new, top of the line schools, restrooms, and more, while the black citizens would get their rundown hand me downs. This decision caused almost a century of segregation and discrimination against black citizens.