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Aug 3, 1492
Christopher Columbus Expedition
Columbus's voyages initiated the European colonization of the Americas, sparking the Columbian Exchange (transfer of plants, animals, and diseases). This drastically altered both hemispheres, leading to both advancements and devastating consequences for indigenous populations. -
Oct 12, 1492
Colombian Exchange
Christopher Columbus, sponsored by Spanish monarchs, arrived in what was thought to be the Westies (Asia) with European goods and began to colonize America. -
Settlement of Jamestown
Jamestown (1607), the first permanent English settlement in North America, overcame early hardships (disease, starvation, conflict) to thrive via tobacco. Its success, though costly for Native Americans, shaped US history. -
The Headright System
The headright system gave land in colonial America to settlers for each person they brought over, encouraging immigration but also creating inequality. The headright system drove colonial growth by giving land to those who brought immigrants, but it also created inequality and shaped Southern society. -
The Enlightenment
The Enlightenment was a European intellectual movement emphasizing reason and individualism, challenging traditional authority, and advocating for natural rights and human progress. It heavily influenced modern democracy. The Enlightenment's ideas of self-governance, natural rights, and republicanism directly influenced the American Revolution and the creation of the US government. The Founding Fathers used Enlightenment principles to justify independence and structure the Constitution. -
The Great Awakening
The Great Awakening (1730s-40s) was a religious revival in the American colonies emphasizing personal faith and emotional experiences. It fostered religious unity, challenged authority, and influenced the American Revolution. The Great Awakening fostered religious fervor, challenged authority, and promoted individual liberty, all of which contributed to the American Revolution. -
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War (1754-1763) was a battle between Britain and France for control of North America. Britain won, expanding its territory but also causing tensions that contributed to the American Revolution. Britain's victory in the French and Indian War expanded its control over North America but also led to increased taxes and resentment, contributing directly to the American Revolution. -
The Albany Plan of Union
The Albany Plan of Union (1754) was Benjamin Franklin's proposal to unite the thirteen colonies under a single government to better defend against the French and Native Americans. It failed because the colonies were unwilling to give up power and Britain didn't want to reduce its control. Though unsuccessful, it's important as an early step towards colonial unity and foreshadowing the eventual United States. though rejected, was America's first serious attempt at a unified government. -
End of Benign Neglect
Salutary neglect was a British policy of loose control over the American colonies. This allowed the colonies to govern themselves, but the end of this policy increased tensions and contributed to the American Revolution. Britain's shift from allowing the American colonies considerable freedom ("benign neglect") to imposing taxes and controls after the French and Indian War caused resentment and ultimately triggered the American Revolution. -
The Stamp Act
The Stamp Act (1765) taxed American colonists on printed materials. The colonists protested ("No taxation without representation"), leading to increased tensions with Britain and fueling the Revolution. The Stamp Act sparked major colonial resistance to British taxation, uniting colonists against British rule and pushing them closer to revolution. -
The Quartering Act
The Quartering Acts forced American colonists to house and supply British troops, fueling resentment and contributing to the American Revolution. The Quartering Act, forcing colonists to house British troops, fueled anti-British sentiment and helped spark the American Revolution. -
The Battle of Concord and Lexington
First battles of the American Revolution. British troops, attempting to seize supplies and arrest leaders, clashed with colonial militia at Lexington and Concord. The colonists inflicted heavy casualties on the retreating British, igniting the war and boosting colonial morale. Colonial resistance proved surprisingly strong, boosting morale and encouraging more colonists to fight for independence. These battles transformed a political dispute into an open war. -
The Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a clash between British soldiers and colonists in Boston, resulting in colonial deaths and fueling anti-British sentiment, contributing to the American Revolution. The Boston Massacre, though relatively small, fueled anti-British sentiment and helped unite the colonies against British rule, pushing them closer to revolution. -
The Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a protest where colonists dumped British tea into Boston Harbor to oppose unfair taxation, significantly escalating tensions leading to the American Revolution. The Boston Tea Party's dramatic defiance of British taxation fueled colonial resistance and significantly escalated tensions, pushing the colonies closer to revolution. -
The Intolerable Acts
The Intolerable Acts (1774) were Britain's harsh punishment for the Boston Tea Party. They restricted Massachusetts' self-governance, allowed British officials to be tried in Britain, and forced colonists to house British troops. These acts enraged the colonists, pushing them closer to revolution. The Intolerable Acts enraged the American colonists, unifying them against British rule and directly leading to the First Continental Congress and the American Revolution. -
The First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress (1774) united twelve colonies to oppose British policies, boycotted British goods, and laid the groundwork for the American Revolution. The Intolerable Acts enraged the American colonists, unifying them against British rule and directly leading to the First Continental Congress and the American Revolution. -
The Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress (1775) acted as the first American government, organizing the army, appointing George Washington, and eventually declaring independence. The Second Continental Congress was America's first government, uniting the colonies, creating the army, and declaring independence, making it essential to the nation's founding. -
The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence declared the American colonies' independence from Britain, listing grievances and asserting the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It's a foundational document of the US and a symbol of freedom globally. The Declaration of Independence declared American independence, established the nation's founding principles of liberty and self-government, and continues to inspire both domestically and globally. -
The Battle of Saratoga
The Battles of Saratoga (1777) were a decisive American victory that convinced France to ally with the Americans, dramatically increasing their chances of winning the Revolutionary War. Saratoga's American victory convinced France to join the war as an ally, providing crucial support that dramatically increased the chances of American success. -
The Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation (1777-1781) were America's first governing document. It created a weak central government, leaving most power with the states, and ultimately proved ineffective. The Articles of Confederation, though ultimately ineffective, were America's first attempt at self-government and highlighted the need for a stronger national government, paving the way for the Constitution. -
Shay's Rebellion
Shays' Rebellion (1786-1787) was a violent uprising by indebted Massachusetts farmers protesting unfair taxes. It exposed the weakness of the Articles of Confederation and fueled support for a stronger national government. Shays' Rebellion highlighted the Articles of Confederation's weaknesses, demonstrating the urgent need for a stronger national government, which directly led to the creation of the U.S. Constitution. -
The Constitutional Convention of 1787
The 1787 Constitutional Convention replaced the Articles of Confederation with the U.S. Constitution, creating a stronger national government with a system of checks and balances. The 1787 Constitutional Convention created the U.S. Constitution, establishing a strong, lasting federal government and shaping American governance to this day. -
Addition of the Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights (first ten amendments) guarantees basic rights like free speech and religion. Adding it was crucial to securing the Constitution's ratification, protecting individual liberties against government overreach, and establishing a balance between government power and individual rights. -
The XYZ Affair
The XYZ Affair (1797-98) was a diplomatic scandal where French agents demanded bribes from US diplomats. This fueled anti-French sentiment, nearly leading to war, and strengthened the Federalist Party's power. -
The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions
The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions argued states could nullify unconstitutional federal laws, asserting states' rights and influencing the ongoing debate about the balance of power between states and the federal government. -
The Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase (1803) doubled the size of the U.S., opening vast territories for westward expansion, securing vital resources like the Mississippi River, and preventing conflicts with European powers. It fundamentally shaped the nation's future. -
Marbury v. Madison
In Marbury v. Madison (1803), the Supreme Court established its power of judicial review—the ability to declare laws unconstitutional. This ruling gave the Supreme Court the power of judicial review, making it equal to the other branches of government in interpreting the Constitution and shaping American law. -
The Embargo Act of 1807
The Embargo Act of 1807 banned American trade with foreign countries to pressure Britain and France. It severely hurt the American economy, demonstrating the limitations of using economic sanctions in foreign policy. -
The War of 1812
The War of 1812 was fought against Britain due to British impressment of sailors, trade interference, and support for Native Americans. The War of 1812 strengthened American independence and national pride, ended British interference, spurred industrial growth, and significantly impacted the nation's development. -
The Battle of New Orleans
At the Battle of New Orleans (1815), Andrew Jackson's forces decisively defeated a larger British army, a major victory even though the War of 1812 was technically over. The New Orleans victory greatly boosted American morale and national pride, solidifying independence and establishing Andrew Jackson as a hero. -
The Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise (1820) temporarily settled the slavery issue by admitting Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, prohibiting slavery north of the 36°30′ parallel. It ultimately failed to prevent the Civil War. -
The Second Great Awakening
The Second Great Awakening (1790s-1840s) was a period of religious revivalism that fueled major social reform movements, including abolitionism and women's rights, and significantly impacted American politics. -
The Monroe Doctorine
The Monroe Doctrine declared the Americas off-limits to European colonization and asserted U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere, shaping U.S. foreign policy for decades. -
The Election of 1824 (Corrupt Bargain)
The Election of 1824 was a controversial election between John Q. Adams and Andrew Jackson. A deal was struck between Adams and Speaker of the House Henry Clay, known as the corrupt bargain. Adams won the presidency and implemented policies that supported a strong central government. -
The Election of 1828
The Election of 1828 was won by Andrew Jackson. He sought to recreate old Jeffersonian ideals. Jackson's campaign was considered the first modern political campaign. He utilized tactics such as mud-slinging and presidential debates to entice voters. -
The Trail of Tears
The Trail of Tears (1830s) was the forced relocation of Native American tribes from the Southeast to Oklahoma, resulting in thousands of deaths. It represents a dark chapter of American history, highlighting broken treaties and the devastating impact of westward expansion on Indigenous peoples. -
Mexican- American War
The Mexican-American War (1846-1848) resulted in the U.S. gaining vast territories in the Southwest, fueling economic growth but also intensifying the debate over slavery and contributing to sectional tensions leading to the Civil War. -
The California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush (1848-1855) spurred massive westward migration, rapid economic growth in California and the West, and California's statehood, but also caused environmental damage and social problems. -
The Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 temporarily eased tensions over slavery but ultimately failed, further fueling sectionalism and contributing to the Civil War. -
The Kansas- Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854) allowed residents of Kansas and Nebraska to decide on slavery through popular sovereignty, effectively repealing the Missouri Compromise and escalating the conflict over slavery, contributing to "Bleeding Kansas" and the Civil War. -
The Battle of Fredricksburg
The Union's devastating defeat at the Battle of Fredericksburg (1862) significantly prolonged the Civil War, boosted Confederate morale, and led to a change in Union leadership. -
The Dred Scott Case
The Supreme Court ruled against Dredd Scott in a 5/9 majority. Scott was arguing that he was now free, seeing as his master had moved to a free state. The Supreme Court's ruling proved that no state was truly a free state. -
The Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation (1863) declared freedom for slaves in Confederate territory, transforming the Civil War into a fight for freedom and weakening the Confederacy. -
Battle of Bull Run
The Battle of Bull Run was one of the first serious engagements of the Civil War. It was a Confederate victory, which shocked the overconfident North. North citizens were so confident in their prospects, that civilians went to spectate the battle. -
The Homestead Act
The Homestead Act of 1862 was Lincoln's attempt to stimulate westward expansion. He offered an allotment of land to any settler who would improve their land within a given amount of years. Although initially popular, this task proved difficult within the temperamental terrain of the west. -
The Battle at Shilo
The Battle of Shiloh (1862) was a brutal, inconclusive Civil War battle with high casualties, highlighting the war's cost and marking a turning point in the Western Theater. -
The Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam was the single bloodiest day of the Civil War. After a string of North losses, they finally obtained a victory as the Confederacy retreated. Although they won, the North sustained more casualties than their counterparts. Lincoln grappled onto this victory, and spun it as a cause to support the Civil War. -
The Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg (1863) was a decisive Union victory that marked the turning point of the Civil War, halting Lee's invasion of the North and significantly increasing the likelihood of Union success. -
The Gettysburg Address
Lincoln's Gettysburg Address (1863), a short but powerful speech, redefined the Civil War as a fight for national unity and equality, becoming a defining statement of American ideals. -
Surrender at Appomattox
The surrender at Appomattox Court House (1865) ended the Civil War, preserving the Union and beginning the long process of Reconstruction. -
Transcontinental Railroad
The Transcontinental Railroad (completed 1869) connected the East and West coasts, fostering national unity, economic growth, and westward expansion, while also contributing to the displacement of Native Americans. -
The Battle of Little Bighorn
Custer's last stand- The Battle of Little Bighorn was one of the major battles of The Indian Wars. The Natives beat American troops in a devastating victory. This loss sparked more animosity within the states, sparking more anti-native ideologies. -
The Dawes Act
The Daws Act of 1887 allowed Native Americans to claim individual homesteads if they followed the same rules laid out in the Homestead Acts. All land that was not claimed by Natives was then declared excess and allotted to any white settlers who wanted to claim it. The Dawes Act effectively shrunk Indian territory and aided in the destruction of Native life and traditions.