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King James I sends troops to America
King James I granted to the Virginia Company of London all the lands stretching from present-day North Carolina to southern New York. This decision was to honor Queen Elizabeth I. Influenced by the Spanish, the Virginia company dispatched an all-male group with no ability to support itself. -
Steam Engine
The Steam Engine was invented by Thomas Savery and James Watt. The Steam Engine would be powered by Mechanical equipment using steam. This would then get used for transportation. -
Salutary Neglect
Salutary neglect was a product of the political system developed by Sir Robert Walpole. It was meant as relaxing our supervision of internal colonial affairs, royal bureaucrats inadvertently assisted the rise of self-government in North America. To preserve American liberty, the colonists strengthened the powers of the representative assemblies, unintentionally laying the foundation for the American independence movement. -
Quartering Act
The Quartering Act had allowed British troops to knock on a home and be allowed to sleep there no questions asked. Because of this British troops automatically had a home in the American colonies. This act made people need to set their homes for the soldiers the best they could to make them feel welcome. -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a deadly event that happened as a protest against the new tax laws. Those tax laws included the Stamp Act and Townshend Acts. It is considered to be the deadliest outcome to a snowball fight because it started by someone throwing a snowball at one of the soldiers. Then they fought and then the shot heard around the world took place. -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a protest against the new high tax on tea. The protesters dressed up as Indians thinking that no one would be able to tell who they were because of the costume. They managed to dump around 92,000 pounds of tea into the Boston Harbor. In today's money that tea would have costed around 2 billion dollars worth of tea. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was a document that proved the independence of the 13 colonies after fighting against Britain. After painful battles and great strategies, the colonies were able to survive and defeat Great Britain and gained independence which paved a new road for the colonies. It is also considered to be the founding document of the United States. -
Battle of Saratoga
The Battle of Saratoga was considered as the turning point in the Revolutionary War. This battle ended British General John Burgoyne's attempt to control the Hudson River Valley. Because of the great strategies from the American side, the Americans only lost around 330 men while the British lost around 1,135 men. -
George Washington becomes president
In April of 1789, George Washington was elected as the first U.S. President of the United States. He was chosen unanimously by having 69 out of the 69 electoral votes available. George was also a general for the colony army when the battle against Britain was going on. -
Naturalization Act
It increased the amount of time that immigrants had to live in the United States before they could become official Citizens. This meant that it limited the amount of citizens that were close to their citizenship would have to get their citizenship later. This caused a lot of families problems with the law. -
Cotton Gin invention
The cotton gin was revolutionary because it helped speed up the work that slaves had to do. It was invented by Eli Whitney. It would remove seeds from the cotton fiber. -
Pinckney's Treaty
Pinckney's Treaty was the treaty that made Spain surrender. Because Spain surrendered they had to give land to the U.S. in which later turned into Florida and much more. -
Alien Act
This act allowed the president to deport any alien (immigrant) considered dangerous. This meant that Mexicans, Irish people, and German people would essentially have to act civilized, or else they would get booted from the U.S. and back to where they came from. What made this Act crazier is that the president didn't need to ask for any papers or documentation, they could just boot them. -
Sedition Act
This Act made it illegal for newspapers to print any material that was critical of the president or Congress. This meant that if there was something bad that the president did, no one would be able to record it or know about it. This probably kept a couple of things we may never know about presidents again. -
Louisiana Purchase
Thomas Jefferson sent James Monroe to negotiate the purchase of New Orleans for $3 million in scare of losing control of the Mississippi River. At first, Napoleon wasn't interested unless they paid $15 million. This became a tough decision because Jefferson was a strict constructionist. -
Steam Boat (U.S.)
Invented by Robert Fulton, He drove the first Steam Boat named the Clermont upstream from New York City to Albany. This helped prove the commercial possibilities. Now from this invention would would be able to move up and down stream with ease in order to transport goods. -
Embargo Act of 1807
Great Britain and France were at war, and Jefferson was finally able to establish a good trading relationship. Because of the War Jefferson opted to stay Neutral but to make sure we didn't show a side we supported more, Jefferson had to place an embargo on all foreign goods. -
Battle of Thames
British and Indian forces teamed up to defeat American forces that were stationed in Canada. Tecumseh's death had ended the resistance in the Ohio Valley. The Indian resistance ending was big for the American troops because this had meant that they had to worry less about a thrid group. -
Burning of the Capitol
The British were able to invade the U.S. and then they marched to the Capitol (Washington D.C.). After a brief fight the city surrenders and nearly all government buildings are razed. Dolley Madison becomes a national hero for going back and saving a portrait of George Washington. -
Star Spangled Banner
The Star Spangled Banner was written by Francis Scott Key, who was a prisoner on a British Barge who witnessed the bombardment of Fort McHenry. In the Morning he observed that the American Flad still flew over the fort. From this, he wrote the poem called "The Defence of Ft McHenry," which would then eventually become "The Star Spangled Banner." -
Treaty of Ghent
This treaty would end the War of 1812. The British would have to give some Northwest territory up to the U.S. and a winner's gift. Both the British and the U.S. agreed to try and end the slave trade. -
Battle of New Orleans
The Battle actually took place after the Treaty of Ghent had been signed but since they didn't get notified they signed it they continued to fight. The American troops, led by Andrew Jackson, had hid behind mounts of dirt and because of this, they ended up suffering a smaller amount of casualties than the British did. The British ended with 2,042 casualties to the 71 casualties from the U.S. -
Election of 1824
In this Election, there were four candidates, Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, and William Crawford. Since no one got a majority of the electoral votes. In the 12th Amendment, it said that the vote would go to the House of Representatives, but Henry Clay was the speaker of the House so he opted out of the race. Adams and Clay meet privately and no one knows what was discussed, and the next day Clay publically supports Adams. -
Tariff of Abominations
This made foreign goods more expensive which affected the economy. Some people tended to buy more goods. This also caused the economy of southern states to suffer. -
Removal Act of 1830
They established a process that would allow the president to grant land from the left side of the Mississippi River to Americans while Indians would give it up. This caused problems for both parties. Native Americans would have their lands shortened and they would complain. This could also danger Americans meeting new people and not knowing what would be possible. -
McCorminck Co. Reaper
This invention was invented by Cyrus McCormick. This would help shorten the amount of time it would take to cut a line of crops down. It would prove to be the best farming tool on the market. -
Sewing Machine
It was originally created by Elias Howe and then later perfected by Thomas Singer. This started as the foundation of the new textile industry that would come in the north. This would then later bring the north to become one of the biggest textile companies. -
Force Bill
Andrew Jackson asked Congress to grant him the ability to use military force to comply South Carolina to accept and follow the law. Henry Clay proposed another Tariff In Congress that would reduce tariffs significantly over the next ten years. Thanks to this South Carolina repealed its ordinance. -
John Deere's Steel Plow
Unlike older plows, the steel plow is heavier, sharper, and more durable. You could combine it with the McCormick Reaper and it would transform the plains into a productive wheat-producing area. Because of this, it had the possibility to feed much of the world. -
Telegraph Machine
Samuel Morse created the telegraph which would allow messages to be sent through a wire. This wire would spread out throughout all over the country. This is also where Morse code was created. -
Dred Scott Case
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled against Dred Scott in his landmark case. He had argued that if slavery was illegal in the state where he and his owner resided, then he could not be a slave because it would violate the law for him to be held. Because of this, it meant that there was no such thing as a free state. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
This treaty would let Mexico withdraw from the War. Because there is always a reward for the other country, the U.S. was able to gain California and other major states like Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, and more. This allowed peaceful negotiations between Mexico and the U.S. -
Seneca Falls
Seneca Falls was aimed to give women rights. Because of Seneca Falls, women's rights conventions became annual. Important women include Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Caty Stanton, and Susan B. Anthony. -
Compromise of 1850
While some wanted to see the institution of slavery expanded and protected, others were just as adamant about seeing it abolished. California entered the Union as a free state and strict fugitive slave laws were enacted nationwide. The Slave Trade (not slavery) is abolished in Washington D.C. -
Homestead Act
It says we will give you free land to expand. You can't just claim it, but you need to move to it and improve the land. You need to be engaged in agriculture and if you were engaged with the rules, you would get the deed to the land. -
Pacific Railway Act
This Act would create the transcontinental railroad. Lincoln hired two companies to compete against each other. They would ger paid in cash for every mile that they did. -
Morrill Land Grant Act
This Act was passed by Abraham before he was assassinated. It stated that we would give each state a land grant to establish a public university. This land grant was also federal land. -
Wade-Davis Bill
Most Republicans in Congress, many of them Radicals, felt that Lincoln's plan was too lenient on the Southern Rebels. 50 % of the states voters had to serve oaths of loyalty to the Union. Only non-confederates were allowed to vote and hold political offices. -
Sand creek Massacre
This battle was the massacre of the Cheyenne in which American troops invaded. It was also an encampment of Cheyenne families hoping to find peace. A proclamation was sent out to the Native Americans to go to Fort Lyon to get supplies, this resulted in them getting shot. -
Freedmen's Bureau
The Freedmen's Bureau is created to help newly freed blacks transition to a life of freedom. They did this by starting schools, negotiating labor contracts, and security loans, helping finance and purchase land, and providing legal aid. This helped many blacks because it took the worry off of many. -
14th Amendment
All people born in the U.S. were full citizens. All people who were naturalized (completed the immigration citizenship process) were full citizens. All U.S. states were required to protect U.S. citizens with full protection through the laws and the legal process. -
Johnson's Impeachment
Congress passed the Tenure of Office Act Which meant that the president couldn't remove some military officials without congressional approval. This was to protect some Radical Republicans in Johnson's cabinet. Johnson went ahead and removed Secretary of war Edwin Stanton. The House impeached Johnson but the Senate fell one vote short. -
15th Amendment
Recognizing from the election of 1868 that African Americans needed the Right to vote, Republicans quickly had the 15th Amendment pushed through Congress. It prohibited any state from denying any citizen the right to vote regardless of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. -
Yellowstone National Park Establishment
Yellowstone became the first national park to be federally protected. This happened because of an act of Congress that was signed into law. Since this happened after the Civil War this allowed people to know about the western lands and the beauty that there is. -
Civil Rights Act of 1875
Congress passed and Grant signed the Civil Rights Act of 1875. The Act banned discrimination in public accommodations. However, the act was not enforced by Presidents after Grant, when the military occupation ended. -
Battle of Little Bighorn
This battle ended in a victory for the Cheyenne and Lakota. They were able to out-strategize George Custer and his army that was heading into battle. After the battle the Native Americans lost no more than 100 people to the over 250 the American troops had. -
Munn V. Illinois
The Supreme Court affirmed that states could regulate key businesses, such as railroads and grain elevators, that were "clothed in the Public interest." This changed how many people were able to use the public utilities that they were able to use. It was also described as a conflict between federal government against private companies. -
Election Crisis
It would seem as though 100% of the South voted for Tilden. The North Questioned the validity of the results given so a recount was initiated for South Carolina, Louisiana, and Florida. After the recount, all three states went to Hayes. An Election Commission was held with 5 Democrats, 5 Republicans, and 5 Supreme court Justices. Hayes would later be named president. -
Dawes Act
The Dawes Act allowed the president to break up reservation land that was often occupied by Native Americans. This ended up hurting many families and tribes it started to break up Native American culture. Some consider this a great move the U.S. because this broke up many tribes so they would be able to eliminate them easily. -
Massacre of Wounded Knee
This was a massacre of approximately 150-300 Lakota individuals by a U.S. army that was in the area. The Lakota started doing a Ghost Dance hoping that this would help them get their land back but the Americans misinterpreted it and thought it was something else. Because they thought it was something else they felt pressured that they had to do something and it lead to the massacre.