-
1492
Columbus's Effects
The exchange of diseases, ideas, food crops, and populations between the New World and the Old World following the voyage to the Americas by Christopher Columbus in 1492. This leads to both good and bad for Europe and the Americas. -
Jamestown is Settled
The settlers of Jamestown came for financial opportunities not religious freedom unlike the Pilgrims who sailed for seeking religious freedom. Jamestown became the first permanent English settlement and in its first 5 years the death rate was over 80%(commonly called the starving time).
They were not prepared for the trip when they came and they learned to survive from watching Native Americans. They learned to grow taboo while it became the first major cash crop of America. -
The 1st Great Awakening
People started to believe church was boring and didn't have much purpose. The New Lights begin teaching that faith is given atomically and that it didn't matter who you were no matter your status. Causes people to start to question the concept of equality. Big Leaders of the Great Awakening were George White field and Jonathan Edwards. Outcomes of the Great Awakening were a Birth of deep religious convictions, encourages equality and questioning of authority like Britain's rule. -
Albany Plan
Britain was taking a hands off approach except their trade as they didn't need all their focus. Colonies do things themselves figuring it out making them feel independent. All the colonies send delegates to the Albany Congress they begin talking about allying some native american tribes. Instead they put forth the Albany Plan of Union to join the colonies together He knew it would be fought in the colonies. Even though it fell it was the first time it was given thought that we should be combined -
Effects After the French and Indian War
Our Opinion
We believed that we stood up for the British sending our sons. We gave our finances to Great Britain, we gave our materials believed we would be seen as equals to the British.
British Opinion
Beloved we were cowards on the battlefield, because we used guerrilla tactics. Not sacrificed to provide for war effort and colonial assemblies were stingy. Colonies were not equal to them. The costly war needed us to be made more profitable British Troops stayed in the colonies to enforces new. -
Fighting Back
The colonies begin Political Actives Speeches, inflammatory writings like newspapers and pimples letters, Riots like; Sons of Liberty Boycotts, Daughters of Liberty Boston Massacre (1770), Boston Tea Party (1773).
Empire sticks back by in acting The Intolerable Acts -closing port of Boston. They Outlawed assembles took control of government, royal officials accused of crimes tried in England, Quartering Acts are enforced Trade commerce regulated, and high taxes enacted. -
Lexington and Concord
The colonists were preparing for a potential war putting the weapons in Concord. This was a HUGE chance to strike a major blow to the colonists thoughts of war. When the British arrived 70 militia men outnumbered out matched stayed. A shot was fried causing British soldiers to fire. The militia men raised alarms that the British reached Concord, then the weapons were moved. The British were then faced with 1,500 militiamen who harassed them all the way to Boston. The Revolution had begun -
The Fighting Situation
The British are well trained, well equipped, and often outnumber the colonists on the battlefield. The colonies are handed defeat after defeat. British seize New York Boston. The Continental Army militia often take up defensive positions but are continually pushed back. Congress struggles to get colonists to commit to the army, fund the army, and supply the army. -
Yorktown
After a grueling campaign through the southern colonies, General Cornwallis retreated to the coast of Yorktown, Virginia for the winter and the protection of the Royal Navy Cornwallis was not aware however that the French navy had defeated the British fleet at the Battle of the Capes in September. When Cornwallis arrived at Yorktown, he found the French navy at his back and the American army before him. Cornwallis surrendered with no other options. Ended major fighting in the Revolutionary War -
Freedom at Last!
The Treaty of Paris 1783 officially ends the Revolutionary War .The newly created United States of America are granted all British lands between the Atlantic Ocean the Mississippi River and north to British Canada. -
Issues with Authority...
Our first government document is the Article of Confederation which had no executive, no standing army, no taxing authority, limited authority decisions require 100%. Shay Rebellion, he rally's people in western Massachusetts. Then they take over local courthouses. Grows into a military then they march to East Massachusetts. It exposed the Articles weakness. In turn they create the Constitution. -
George Washington's Major Events
Washington established the Court System; the supreme court, the Presidential Cabinet. He helped Hamilton’s Financial Plan which payed off the war debt of states. Raised the federal government’s revenues through tariffs and taxes also created the national bank. Events that happened were the Whiskey Rebellion (1794): [First time Government taxed a product], The French Revolution (1789-1793): [Neutrality – the U.S. would not side with any European country in wartime], Pinckney’s Treaty (1795). -
Period: to
Under Washington
-
XYZ Affair
In order to repair relations with the French,(Now president) John Adams sends diplomats to negotiate a treaty. The French demand a bribe of $250,000 before they would negotiate but the American diplomats refuse to pay. Americans, angry about the French want war. However Adams avoids war by negotiating peace with Napoleon which was an unpopular move. He also created the U.S. Navy – to protect American trade routes, merchant ships, and defend the coast -
Period: to
Adams Presidency
-
Alien and Sedition Acts
Naturalization Act increased the amount of time immigrants had to live in the U.S. before they could become citizens. Alien Act allowed the president to deport any alien considered dangerous. Sedition Act made it illegal for newspapers to print any material that is critical of the president or congress.
Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions
The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions stated that if the government did something to break the pact of the states could decide that those laws were void. -
Period: to
Jefferson's presidency
-
Marbury v. Madison
James Madison, a member of Jefferson's cabinet finds a letter granting John Marbury a federal judgeship. Jefferson orders Madison not to deliver it
Marbury sues in order to get the position he feels is his, that Adams appointed him. The Supreme Court sides with Madison and refuses to grant Marbury the position based on the fact that they find part of the Judiciary Act unconstitutional and therefore void.
In doing so the Supreme Court claims the right to declare laws unconstitutional. -
Louisiana Purchase
Jefferson worries that the U.S. could lose control of New Orleans and access to the Mississippi River so in 1803 he sent James Monroe to negotiate the purchase of New Orleans for $3 million dollars.
Napoleon isn’t interested unless they take the whole Louisiana Territory for $15 million. Jefferson’s constitutionality of acquiring new land
Jefferson puts aside his own strict views for what he believes is best for the country.
Louisiana Purchase, secures New Orleans and the Mississippi River. -
Embargo of 1807
Great Britain and France are at war again. We have a decent trading relationship with both of them, so Jefferson wants to remain neutral. He imposes an embargo on all foreign trade. The Embargo Act is unpopular among merchants, traders, and the business community. It does great damage to the American economy but it does however encourage the growth of domestic manufacturing. -
The War of 1812
The British Navy is taking American sailors from American ships and forcing them into service on British ships. The British army is supporting Native American resistance against the U.S. providing weapons and training. The United States wants to prove to Britain their competence. Americans demand respect from the world. The military is poorly trained and led. U.S. navy is no match for the British navy
Americans are forced to fight a defensive war against an invading army. -
Impact and Ending of War of 1812
The Battle of New Orleans
The American forces are a multicultural motley band of experienced soldiers and warriors. The British are mauled by American forces hiding behind earthworks and cannons. Andrew Jackson will be associated with winning the war.
A sense of nationalism sweeps America. The nation begins to build a transportation system in the United States.
Native American resistance will be removed from the Ohio River Valley permanently. -
New Developments After the War of 1812
Henry Clay has a vision for "The American System" which has 3 main components:
Strong central bank provides easy and abundant credit Protective tariffs to spur manufacturing
The revenue raised by the tariffs would be used to create a stronger transportation network of roads, railroads, canals, etc.
New Inventions
Interchangeable parts is a remarkable innovation in manufacturing, which makes mass production possible. The Cotton Gin, Steam Engine, Sewing Machine, The Reaper are all created. -
Election of 1824
No candidate received a MAJORITY of the electoral votes. Amendment 12 says the vote goes to the House of Representatives. Henry Clay is the Speaker of the House so he drops out of the race .
So Who Wins?
Adams Clay meet privately and in the days that followed the meeting, Clay publicly supports Adams and the House elects Adams as president
3 days later Adams appoints Clay to become his secretary of State.
Jackson supporters claim it was a ‘Corrupt Bargain’. -
The 1828 Election
The first time voting restriction is removed for people is opened up to a large group, John changed it so that no property restrictions were required for voting
Jackson wanted to recreate the old Jeffersonian coalition of: northern farmers artisans, southern slave owners, farmers with small land holdings.
Created Democrat Party
First modern political campaign, politics became local, mass meetings, parades, picnics, mudslinging on both sides, newspapers; speeches, buttons, etc. -
Period: to
Jackson's Presidency
-
Nullification Crisis
In 1831, still angry about the “Tariff of Abominations”, the South threatened to nullify the law. Jackson believed in preserving the Union and fought nullification.
They said it was oppressive, so the state passed the Nullification Ordinance in 1832.
He claimed secession would be considered treason.
Defended the federal government’s power to impose tariffs and chastised South Carolina for violating federal law because a state had no right to declare any national law null and void. -
More people Recognize Amemirca
First Wave of Immigration (German Irish 1830's - 1850's) and high birth rate contribute to a very high population growth. By 1850 half of all Americans live outside the 13 original states, and over 2 million now live west of the Mississippi (Westward mobility). The rising population leads to more urbanization and new technologies. Many factors give rise to an emerging middle class (social mobility). -
New Transportation and Communication
Canal System, Steamboats, Rail roads. Samuel Morse creates the telegraph, which allows messages to be sent through a wire, spreads throughout the country. The U.S. postal system links every area of the nation and is the envy of the world. This allows not only commercial communication but also facilitates personal correspondence. -
Texas Independence
They threw an opportunity to be invited to Texas but you have to become a Mexican citizen and have to be catholic.
They don't like how there are a lot of white people so they get rid of the invasion, but there is still a flood of Americans.
Texas declares independence from mexico. Mexico doesn't see them as an independent nation
The American government didn't want to get involved in war.
Because of this the government says that if they were to become annexed they would help them in the war. -
Missouri Compromise
Missouri compromise 1850 made much harsh slave laws, California entered as a free state, Slave trade is abolished in Washington.
1820s Missouri Compromise was any state above the 36 longitude was free and any below was a slave. -
Bleeding Kansas
In applying for statehood, Kansas must hold an election to decide if they will enter the union as a free state or a slave state, in accordance with popular sovereignty.
Both the north and the south try to entice migration into the territory in order to sway the vote in their direction. The Pro-slavery side wins the vote and takes action to pass pro-slavery laws. Abolitionists refuse to acknowledge the new government as illegitimate, and they create a 2nd state government under the -
The Dred Scott Case
The U.S. Supreme Court had ruled against Dred Scott in his landmark case. Scott, a slave, moved with his owner into a free state. He argued that, if slavery is illegal in that state where he and his owner reside, then he can not be a slave because it would violate law for him to be held. However, the Supreme Court disagrees. They ruled in favor of Scott's owner, and Scott must remain in a condition of servitude. -
Period: to
Lincoln's Presidency
-
Anaconda Plan
The navel will be near the major cities to block South from selling goods (cotton) or buying
Second they would sail troops down the Mississippi and up the Mississippi to weaken the southern economy. It inflates prices by about %10. -
Period: to
Civil War
-
The Pacific Rail Act of 1862
Lincoln signed it and it creates the first transcontinental railroad, to combine the west and east.
No one thought it was possible and it had never happened before. Very expensive
He has two companies work
They are racing each other to get as much land as possible creating a lot of competition to make it the fastest. Says they have 10 years to finish the railroad and if they don't get it done the federal government will take back all of the money and land back -
The Homestead Act of 1862
In the west land isn't being used so they want it to be productive.
In urban areas there's so many people, Exploding with poverty, Exploding with crime.
They really want to move people out of urban areas and move them to the west.
So they give 160 archers of federal land for their private use
Have to earn by 1 moving to it, 2 had to improve the land, 3 Farm it for five years.
They want to see you are seriously trying, and it leads to a lot of people getting opportunities. -
The South's Plan
Robert E Lee wanted to invade the Union instead of being defensive.
The largest battle of the war and communication was bad for Lee leading to a 3 day long battle in Gettysburg the single bloodiest battle for America. It brings Lee forces down -
The Emancipation Proclamation
Commonly thought to end slavery but Lincoln abolished slavery in the South but not the Union Slave states because he can't have them secede.
He basically says that if the South returned peacefully they can keep their slaves and that any territory they conquer that they will free the slaves. -
Period: to
Andrew Johnson Presidency
-
Lincoln's %10 Plan
Lincoln felt that the nation could only be unified again if there were no feelings of animosity.
His plan was the Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction (1863).
Pardons would be given to any Confederate leader who swore an oath to the Union and Constitution, and that also agreed to emancipation.
Any state could be readmitted once at least 10% of its voters had sworn loyalty oaths.
States also had to form new state constitutions that outlawed slavery. -
Wade-Davis Bill (1864)
Most Republicans in Congress, many of them Radicals, felt that Lincoln’s plan was too lenient on the Southern Rebels and they had there own…
50% of a state's voters had to swear oaths of loyalty to the Union
Only non-Confederates were allowed to vote and hold political offices
Lincoln refused to sign the bill stating that it was too harsh on the South…but then he was assassinated. -
Appomattox and Surrender
After Battle
Grant keeps chasing Lee down, so Lee tries to go to Appomattox where he could resupply.
SO Grant slows Lee down while he sends another force that goes to the Appomattox.
Surrender at Appomattox
Grant and Lee had deep respect for each other and Lee gives Grant his sword and Grant gives it back and tells Lee to tell his men it's over. -
Black Codes
The Southern states also began passing black codes to regain control of freed blacks.
The codes were meant to restrict the freedoms of the freed blacks.
Freed blacks could not rent or borrow money to purchase land. Freedmen were forced to sign labor contracts that were illegal to break.
Blacks were not allowed many legal rights, such as testifying against whites in court. -
Life in the Reconstruction South
Many southern whites turned to violence in efforts to regain control of their governments.
These violent acts were meant to intimidate freed blacks and also white Republicans from voting.
The most famous of these was the Ku Klux Klan
Their efforts centered around the idea of 'Redemption', the end of Reconstruction. -
14th Amendment
The 14th Amendment
All people born in the US were full citizens
All people that were naturalized were full citizens
All US states were required to protect US citizens with full protection through the laws and the legal process.
Former Confederate leaders could no longer hold state or federal offices.
If a state denied people their voting rights, they lost representation in Congress. -
Johnson’s Reconstruction
To the surprise of all Johnson issued a Reconstruction plan very similar to that of Lincoln’s original plan.
It had the 10% clause for returning to the Union
It had the abolition of slavery clause for state constitutions.
Johnson also forgave the Confederate states of the war debts that they had incurred
There was a difference in Johnson’s plan
It took political rights away from Southerners who were
1) former leaders of the Confederacy
2) owned more than $20,000 in taxable property -
Period: to
Grant's Presidency
-
The Transcontinental Railroad Impact
Very good for the economy
It would take about 6 months to travel and 10 thousand dollars per person.
Down to 7 days for about 100 bucks.
Increase industrial, farming, ex…
The standard of living goes up, the cost of living is going down.
Switching stations where there's one big railroad and splits then goes on a side track then back on the main one are made, suddenly timing becomes very important. -
The 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.
The 15th Amendment was actually incredibly unpopular in the North and won the Democratic party much needed northern support. -
Sharecropping
The Civil War destroyed Southern land, economy, transportation.
Recovering meant finding a new labor system to replace slavery.
The South tried a contract-labor system but it was ineffective.
Sharecropping “solved” the problem; black farmers worked on white planters’ land, but had to pay ¼ or ½ of their crops. -
Reservation Movement
Government plan is to attack and round up the tribes and confine them on reservations
The Indians don't like to be held back which added to pressure
The Indian Wars
Over 3 decades long and was between separate tribes/nation.
They began to limit the reservation because settlers wanted to use the land productively causes them to be distrustful of the government.
Also moved the reservation to somewhere else if they had to much desirable land
If they try to push back the military would get involved. -
Civil Rights Act of 1875
Congress passes Grant signs the Civil Rights Act of 1875.
The act banned discrimination in public accommodations.
However, the act was not enforced by presidents after Grant, when military occupation ended. Leading the South to go back to restricting blacks. -
Election of 1876
It would seem as though 100% of the South voted for Tilden
The North questioned the validity of the results given the known intimidation of republicans and freedmen
A recount was initiated in South Carolina, Louisiana, and Florida
After the recount all three states went to Hayes. The Constitution did not account for this type of crisis
An election commission was created with 5 Democrats, 5 Republicans, and 5 Supreme Court Justices
-Military oversight of the South was, end of Reconstitution -
Jim Crow laws
"Jim Crow" laws: a system of laws ensuring social segregation in transportation, accommodations, schools, courts, etc. which arose in every Southern state. Redeemer Democrats systematically exclude black voters.
Jim Crow laws legalized segregation and restrict black civil rights.
By 1910 the process was complete.
The North and the federal government did little or nothing to prevent it. -
Dawes Act of 1887
After most Natives were confined they passed this act which was the Homestead act for Native Americans.
It was intended to be this and weakened the tribes
Wanted to Americanized the Indians
Some Schools were designed to kill the Indians but save the man
They got rid of children's language, songs, games, traditional foods, names, hair styles, religion, clothing, contact with family and tribe.
If they were caught they would severely punish them and they had to stay to about 6-18 years. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
In 1896, the United States Supreme Court ruled, in a 7-1 vote, that "separate but equal “accommodations on railroad cars conformed to the Fourteenth Amendment's guarantee of equal protection.
That decision was used to justify segregating all public facilities, including schools. Most school districts, ignoring Plessy's "equal“ requirement, neglected their black schools.