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Jan 1, 1100
Crusades
The Crusades were holy wars between the Christian's and Muslim's for Jarusalem, ( The Holy Land. ) They wanted the land because it played a huge role in their religion. Importance to U.S:
This was important to us because along the way, crusaders adopted and discovered many new customs. If these hadn't been adopted, our culture may not have been as it is today. -
Period: Jan 1, 1100 to Jan 1, 1532
Pre-Exploration
These voyages occured before exploration was a popular thing. -
Jan 1, 1487
Dias Voyage
Dias believed that he could sail to India by sailing around the tip of Africa. Sadly, he failed to do so. Importance to U.S.
Not much was effected by this voyage, hoever, it did serve as an example that you should always try your best, even if you fail. -
Period: Jan 1, 1487 to Jan 1, 1533
Exploration
These events caused us to find new areas -
Jan 1, 1492
Columbus Voyage
In 1492, Columbus set out to find a quicker route to Asia, and traveled from the west to the East in order to do so. Using the vessels the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria, he did sail west, however, he did not reach Asia, but instead reached the Carribean. Importance to U.S.
After the discovery, the Columbian Exchange took place, and many customs were transferred between Europe and the America's. -
Jan 1, 1497
Vasco de Gama Voyage
Vasco de Gama did what Dias did not; he reached India by sailing around the tip of Africa. Importance to U.S.
New goods and trade routes were established after this voyage. -
Jan 1, 1505
Martin Luther Becomes a Monk
One night, as Martin Luther was attempting to return home on horseback, he found himself stuck amidst a storm. He felt that he would die, so he made a "deal" with God that if he survived, he would become a monk. He survived, and kept his word. Importance to U.S.
If the event didn't happen, Luther may not have become a monk, which would mean that the Protestant Reformation may not have occured. -
Jan 1, 1513
Ponce de Leon Explores Florida
Ponce de Leon had been hired to claim land for Spanish Colonization, so he set our for Florida.However, he was also in search of the Fountain of Youth. He found Florida, but did not find the Fountain of Youth. -
Oct 31, 1517
Posting of the 95 Theses
Martin Luther began to question his loyalty to the lessons taught at his church, so he simply posted 95 theses on the door of the Wittenburg Church, explaining how the problems could be resolved. Importance to U.S
This event partially acted as an example that you have freedom of speech, and also, it would play a huge role in beginning the Protestant Reformation, which later supplied new religious beliefs. -
Jan 1, 1521
Martin Luther is Excommunicated
After having enough "trouble" from Martin Luther when he refused to repeal his thoughts, and continuing to follow his own beliefs, the church excommunicated ( banned ) him from returning Importance to U.S
This event led to the Protestant Reformation, which created the Lutheran religion and served as an example to follow what you believe in. -
Jan 1, 1532
King Henry VIII Establishes Anglican Church
After the Pope refused to let King Henry VIII to divorce his wife Princess Catherine, Henry broke away from the church and created the Anglican Church so he could do so. Importance to U.S.
This event led to the creation of a new religion. -
Jan 1, 1533
De Soto Explores the Mississippi River
De Soto from Spain all the Way to Florida to do some exploration of the land. There he found a body of water which is what is now the Mississippi River. -
Jamestown Established
Due to persecution reasons, some people wanted to leave Europe to fo to the America'. They became the 1st permanent colony. Importance to U.S.
This is important because the colony was established on U.S Soil. -
Period: to
Colonization
Because of persecution, colonists wanted to go to the Americas to create new colonies. -
Plymouth Established
Another case of persecution, the Puritans left Europe to construct a new colony, They turned out to be more successful in keeping thier colony production than Jamestown, due to the fact an Indian tribe helped them survive. Importance to U.S.
This event established a new colony on U.S. soil -
Connecticut Established
A religious teacher, Thomas Hooker, decided that he wanted to establish a new colony for religious freedom of the people, He also believed that everyone should have the right to vote, not just the church. -
French and Indian War
The French and English began to quarrell with each other for land, so they went to war. In the End, the English claimed much land, and most likely would have continued had the Treaty of Paris not been created.The war lasted 9 years. Importance to US.
This was important because it changed the relationship between the U.S, the French and the Indians. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris simply ended the French and Indian War. Importance to U.S
Had the treaty not been created, someone else may have claimed land, changing how everything is today. -
Creation of the Sons of Liberty
The Sons of Liberty was a group created by Isaac Sears. They demostrated their dislike of new taxation. Importance to U.S
The group influenced others to want to fight for independence -
Quartering Act
The Quartering Act claimed that residents in the colonies were required to house and feed Redcoats if necessary -
Period: to
Road to Revolution
These events led to the Revolutionairy war -
Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre occured after a group of colonists began harassing a group of Redcoats. The harassing notions weren't taken well, so the Redcoats shot five colonists dead. Importance to U.S
This event definitely fueled the fire for independence, making many colononsists want freedom. -
1st Continental Congress
The 1st continental congress consisted of 55 delegates from the 12 colonies at the time that wrote the Declaration of Rights and Greivances. They agreed to meet a year later to debate independence from England. Importance to U.S.
These delegates would eventually declare our independence from the British. -
Period: to
Revolution
The colonists wanted to break away from England. These events caused it to happen. -
Battle of Lexington Concord
On April 19,1775, British soldiers arrived in Lexington. They wanted to take a militia supply depot from the colonists. However, Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott warned the colonists before this happened. Importance to U.S.
This was important because it was the first battle in the American Revolution. This would start a long lasting war between America and England. -
The Declaration of Independence
On July 4th, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was officially signed by 12 of the 13 colonies. Thomas Jefferson drafted the document, listing the reasons we wanted freedom from England, and explaining how we were breaking away from them. Importance to U.S
This document lists the reasons we wanted independence and the reasons we were at war. -
Treaty of Paris
On September 3rd, 1783, the Treaty of Paris was created. This document officially ended the American Revolution, making the U.S free! Importance to U.S
This officially made us independent, need I say more? -
Louisianna Purchase
In 1803, Thomas Jefferson purchased a large amount of land from the French. This purchase nearly doubled the size of the U.S. In total, the U.S. gained 828,000 square miles of land, which would make up a total of 15 current day states. Importance to U.S
This was important because it supplied us with a vast amount of land for numerous possibilities. -
Period: to
Westward Expansion
After buying a large amount of land, many new areas were created in the west. -
Lewis and Clark Expedition
In 1804, Thomas Jefferson requested that Merriwether Lewis explore the newly purchased land. He agreed, and requested that a great friend of his William Clark co lead the expedition. Jefferson agreed. For about two years the men traveled and explored, documenting important information during their expedition, such as landmarks, and life. The trip lasted for two years. Importance to U.S.
From this expedition, we gained important knowledge about the newly purchased lands. -
Indian Removal Act
The Indian Removal Act of 1830 stated that all Native American tribes had to relocate to unsettled lands west of the Mississippi. If they did not, they would be forcefully moved. Importance to U.S.
We did gain land from this act, however, it was very unfair how we did so. We caused the deaths of Native Americans on the Trail of Tears. -
Texas War for Independence
In the Texas War of Independence, obviously, Texas was fighting for Independence from Mexico. Several battles took place, all ending with hundreds of deaths. After a year of war, Texas gained it's independence. Importance to U.S
Texas earning it's independence from Mexico meant that it was free from Mexican rule. Therefore, they were annexed into the U.S, becoming one of our fifty states. -
Oregon Trail
In the 19th century, many men, women, and children were searching for new homes in the west, so they used the Oregon Trail to establish these new homes. It stretched 2,000 miles from Missouri to Oregon. Importance to U.S.
The Oregon Trail led many people to discover many new lands and contribute more to westward expansion. -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 is exactly what it sounds like; a compromise. It stated that California was a free state, new terrirories could choose whether they were free or slave, slave trade was outlawed in D.C., even though slavery was allowed there, and intoduced the fugitive slave law. Importance to U.S
This compromise prevent the North and South from fighting, ( at least temporarily. ) -
Period: to
Civil War
This era consists of the events that took place while the North and South were fighting each other. -
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was a series of paths slaves used to escape to freedom. Many traveled on it, and sadly, some died during the trip, or were captured by bounty hunters. Importance to U.S.
The Underground Railroad allowed many slaves to become free, slowly increasing the progress towards the abolitionists goal of ending slavery. -
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was an act created by President Lincoln. It freed all of the slaves in the rebel states. Importance to U.S.
This was important to the Northern half of the U.S. because it freed some of the slaves, supplying them with soldiers to defeat the South. -
Surrender at Appomattox
General Robert E. Lee surrendered to the Union General Ulysses S. Grant on April 8th, 1865. He did this because the South had little chance of winning the war. Importance to U.S.
This was important because the war was officially ended. -
Assassination of Lincoln
While watching a play at Ford's Thatre, John Wilkes Booth shot Abraham Lincoln in the head. Many procedures were followed to save him, but sadly, they didn't work, therefore we lost our 16th president. Importance to U.S.
This event caused the U.S to lose one of the greatest presidents that have served, sending the U.S. into dismay during a chaotic events that took place during the time.