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Current Class Notes
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Notes as of October 13th
Class Notes – Coach Smith’s U.S. History
Timeline Items
(1215) Magna Carta – guaranteed trial by jury, due process and limited government
(1265) English Parliament – English Government
(1492) Columbus sails to New World – Columbus discovers the New World for Spain
(1607) Jamestown Colony – the first permanent English colony in the Americas
(1619) Virginia House of Burgesses – the first example of representative government in America
(1620) Mayflower Compact – established self-government and majority rule (signed by all the men)
(1689) English Bill of Rights – Listed the basic rights of the people and inspired our own Bill of Rights
(1720) First Great Awakening – a religious movement spread by traveling preachers; focused on the idea that all men were equal under God
(1754) Albany Plan of Union – Adopted by Ben Franklin, the plan called for “one general government” for 11 of the colonies. This was the first attempt to establish a central government. None of the colonies approved it.
(1754) French and Indian War – The British and the Colonists fought against French and Native American forces. George Washington gets his first command.
(1763) Treaty of Paris – Ends the French and Indian War; forces France to give up Canada and most of its land east of the Mississippi River.
(1763) Proclamation of 1763 – Even though the Treaty of Paris gave the British additional land, the colonists weren’t allowed to move into it. England chose to protect Native American lands by keeping the colonists out of them.
(1765) Stamp Act – Required colonists to pay an extra amount of money for every printed piece of paper they used. This included newspapers, playing cards, pamphlets, legal documents, and advertisements.
(1766) Stamp Act Repealed – After colonists began protesting, rioting and even attacking the King’s tax agents, the Stamp Act was repealed or cancelled.
(1774) First Continental Congress – 55 delegates from every colony except Georgia arrive in Philadelphia, Pa. to establish a new government for the colonies.
(1775) Battle of Lexington and Concord – The first battle of the Revolutionary War. The shots fired at Lexington is referred to as the “shot heard ‘round the world.” British troops were on their way to arrest John Hancock and Samuel Adams.
(1777) Battle of Saratoga – An important American victory that convinced the French to assist the colonists in the war against England.
(1777) Valley Forge – Winter campsite of the Continental Army in Pennsylvania. Washington’s greatest challenge; winter cold, smallpox, a lack of shoes, blankets and uniforms almost destroy the Continental Army.
(1777) Articles of Confederation – America’s first Constitution; created a new form of government for the colonies. It gave the states too much power and was replaced in 1787.
(1783) Treaty of Paris – The British recognized The United States as an independent nation and promised to withdraw all troops. U.S. territory now extended from the Atlantic Ocean westward to the Mississippi River.
(1787) Northwest Ordinance – The plan was proposed by Thomas Jefferson; Created a single Northwest Territory of the lands north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi River. The lands were to be divided into three to five smaller territories (states). When a territory reached a population of 60,000, it could apply for statehood. Slavery and involuntary servitude were outlawed.
(1787) Philadelphia Convention – 55 delegates from every state except Rhode Island met in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation; George Washington was chosen to preside over the convention; No meetings could be held unless at least seven of the 13 states were represented.
(1787) New Jersey Plan – The plan called for the Articles of Confederation’s one-house legislature; It gave Congress the power to raise taxes and regulate trade; called for a weak Executive Branch consisting of more than one person; Called for equal representation regardless of population
(1787) The Great Compromise – Suggested by Roger Sherman of Connecticut; Resulted in a two-house legislature with a House of Representatives based on population and a Senate with equal representation for all states.
(1787) U.S. Constitution – Approved on September 17, 1787; the day the government of the United States came into existence; No state can make laws or take actions that go against the Constitution – the supreme law of the land; Divided the government into three branches – legislative, executive and judicial, as described in the first three Articles of the Constitution
(1791) Bill of Rights – The first 10 amendments of the U.S. Constitution. They protect the basic rights and liberties most of us take for granted. Written by James Madison, the idea for them comes from the English Bill of Rights (1689).
Political, Economic, Religious and Social Reasons for Establishing the 13 Colonies
• Political – Competition with Spain, France and Portugal
• Economic – Increase trade and markets for English exports; source for raw materials
• Religious – Seeking Religious Freedom
• Social – England was overcrowded; settlers wanted to own land
Slaves during the Colonial Period
Political – No political voice; no rights
Economic – Considered property; Children also considered property and sold with no regard for parents
Social – Not a part of the American identity
Political – No political voice; no rights
Economic – Low wages
Social – Lowest social class; limited education; socially isolated
How Religion and Virtue contributed to the growth of Representative Government
Puritans – people who wanted to reform (change) the English church
The Pilgrims (or Separatists) came over on the Mayflower and settled at Plymouth.
Quakers – believed that all men were equal under God. They left England and came to America seeking religious freedom like the Pilgrims and Puritans.
Three Colonial Regions
New England Colonies – New Hampshire, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island
Middle Colonies – Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey
Southern Colonies – Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia
New England Colonies
Physical Characteristics: Atlantic Ocean; subsistence farming, poor soil, forests
Human Characteristics
Economic factors – raw materials, logging, fishing and shipbuilding
Political factors – representative government
Social factors – small towns; Boston is only major city
Religious factors – Puritans were major religion
Middle Colonies
Physical Characteristics: Atlantic Ocean; rich soil, deep rivers, raw materials
Human Characteristics
Economic factors – large farms (America’s Breadbasket), logging, fishing, shipbuilding
Political factors – more tolerance
Social factors – small towns; but more major cities (Philadelphia and New York)
Religious factors – Quakers and Catholics
Southern Colonies
Physical Characteristics: Atlantic Ocean; rich soil, deep rivers, raw materials
Human Characteristics
Economic factors – plantations (cash crops like tobacco, rice and indigo)
Political factors – more slaves, more class-based society
Social factors – small towns; but more major cities (Baltimore, Savannah and Charleston)
Religious factors – Many religious groups
13 Colonies
Physical/Geographic Factors: Colonial cities were initially close to the Atlantic coastline (transportation)
Human/Geographic Factors: Removal of Native Americans through disease or conflict
Population Factors
New England and Middle Colonies: higher population, bigger cities
Southern Colonies: large plantations for farming, not as many people, more open space
Economic Differences between the 13 Colonies
New England Colonies
Shipbuilding and manufacturing
Middle Colonies
Farming, shipbuilding and cattle
Southern Colonies
Plantations and cash crops
British Colonial Acts
Proclamation of 1763 – Issued by King George IV, the Proclamation of 1763 stated that the colonial border would be the Appalachian Mountains; the colonists were upset because many of them already had land west of the Appalachians.
| Sugar Act (1764) – Passed by the Parliament, the Sugar Act lowered the taxes on molasses that was sold by the colonists and shipped to England. The colonists lost money on their products. Stamp Act (1765) – Passed by the Parliament, the Stamp Act passed a tax on all printed items, i.e. stamps, paper, newspaper, etc., the English pushed for this tax to be issued because they were still in debt from the French and Indian War. |
Quartering Act (1765) – The Quartering Act made Colonial authorities responsible for housing British troops in public buildings (not in private homes).
Declaratory Act (1766) – Stated that Parliament had the right to tax and make decisions for the colonists. Parliament put this into place to regain control after the Stamp Act failed.
Townshend Act (1767) – Parliament declared a set of taxes (on glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea) and laws on imported goods. Eventually, all the taxes were repealed except the one on tea.
| The Tea Act (1773) – This act gave a monopoly on tea sales to the East India Company. In other words, American colonists could buy no tea unless it came from that company. Why? Well, the East Indian Company wasn't doing so well, and the British wanted to give it some more business. Intolerable Acts (1774) – (Also called the Coercive Acts) British reaction to the Boston Tea Party; consisted of four different acts (see class notes) Strengths of the Articles of Confederation • States’ Rights (result of a fear of a tyrannical leader) • Confederation of States • Congress had the power to make war and peace, sign treaties, raise an army and navy, print money and set up a postal system Strengths of the Articles of Confederation · The Government could not require the states to pay taxes · Debt from the American Revolution · Arguing among the states · No unity among the states Shays’ Rebellion – Led by Revolutionary War veteran Daniel Shays in 1786; They forced courts in western Massachusetts to close so judges could not take their farms Shays and 1,000 others tried to take over a federal building before they were chased away by Army troops The U.S. Constitution Federalists – Argued for a stronger national government because the weak government under the Articles of Confederation set the United States up for failure Key supporters – James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and John Jay (Ben Franklin and George Washington supported them) Key Publication – The Federalist Papers: a series of 85 articles or essays supporting the ratification of the Constitution Anti-Federalists – Argued that states’ rights should remain powerful over key issues. They felt we fought the Revolution to get away from a strong central government; they wanted to protect individual rights Key supporters – Patrick Henry; George Mason Key Publication – The Anti-Federalist Papers, which wasn’t as popular as the Federalist Papers. Roots of the U.S. Constitution Magna Carta (1215) – Limited the powers of the king English Bill of Rights (1689) – Provided a model for our own Bill of Rights Mayflower Compact (1620) – established the idea of self-government and majority rule John Locke – Believed that all people had “natural rights,” (the ones in the Magna Carta and English Bill of Rights); In his book, “Treatises on Government,” (1690) he wrote that government is based on an agreement, or contract, between the people and their ruler. Baron de Montesquieu – declared that the powers of government should be separate and balanced against each other (System of Checks and Balances) Federalist Papers – Supported ratification of the Constitution with a focus on the need for a strong central government Anti-Federalist Papers – Anti-federalists opposed ratification of the Constitution because it lacked a Bill of Rights Article I – Legislative Branch – Establishes the Legislative, or lawmaking branch of government. Congress is composed of the House of Representatives and the Senate Article II – Executive Branch – Establishes the Executive Branch, which is headed by the President and carries out the nation’s laws and policies; The President serves as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces (military). Article III – Judicial Branch – Judicial power resides in “one supreme court” and any lower federal court Congress might establish; The Supreme Court and federal courts hear cases involving the Constitution, laws passed by Congress and disputes between the states. |
Vocabulary
Era – A period of time characterized by particular circumstances, events, or people
Chronology – The science of arranging events in their order of occurrence in time, such as the use of a timeline
Absolute Chronology – Exact dates
Relative Chronology – Eras or time periods
Exploration – searching for the purpose of discovery
Charter – a document that gives the holder the right to organize settlements
Colonize – To form or establish a colony or colonies
Representative Government – government founded on elected individuals representing the people
Indentured Servant – a person who came to America and was placed under contract to work, usually for seven years
Plantation – A large estate or farm on which crops are raised, often by resident workers. (Cash crops)
Ohio River Valley – The British and French attempted to move into this territory near modern-day Pittsburgh, Pa. The Native Americans felt it was their land.
Militia – a group of civilians trained to fight in emergencies (reserves)
Mercantilism – A system by which a nation increases its wealth and power by obtaining gold, silver and other raw materials from its colonies.
British Economic Policies – The British enacted laws to raise money to pay off the debt from the French & Indian War
Unalienable Rights – Rights guaranteed to the people naturally instead of by law (life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness).
Patriots – Colonists who favored separation from England and becoming an independent nation
Neutralists – Those who chose not to take sides
Loyalists – Colonists who remained loyal to the British and disagreed with the Declaration of Independence
Minutemen – Colonial militia; stated they’d be ready to fight in a minute’s notice.
Confederation – a union of states in which each member state retains some independent control
Constitution – the fundamental law; written or unwritten that establishes the character of the government
Ratification – the process of approving the Constitution
Compromise – an agreement between opposing parties to reach an agreement
Important People
Charles de Montesquieu – French writer and philosopher whose ideas on freedom helped inspire the American Revolution
John Locke – English writer and philosopher whose “Treatise on Government” helped inspire the American Revolution
William Blackstone – Wrote “Commentaries on the Laws of England” which influenced the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Federalist Papers.
Ben Franklin – One of our Founding Fathers and signers of the Declaration of Independence. Created bifocals (glasses) and formed the first lending library in America.
George Washington – Will go on to lead our country through the American Revolution and become our first president. A Virginia farmer, slave owner and representative in the Virginia House of Burgesses
Abigail Adams – Wife of John Adams, who attended the Continental Congress; reminded her husband to watch out for the rights of women in a letter written in March 1776, “remember the ladies, and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors.”
John Adams – Lawyer and politician from Massachusetts; Strong supporter of independence and assisted Thomas Jefferson in writing the Declaration of Independence (1776); Husband of Abigail Adams
Wentworth Chesswell – African-American Patriot; Like Paul Revere, he made a midnight ride to warn of the British invasion in 1775; Served in the army and fought at the Battle of Saratoga
Mercy Otis Warren – One of the first women to write on political matters during the Revolutionary Era; Wife of a Massachusetts Patriot; wrote several articles supporting independence (1772)
Bernardo de Galvez – A Spanish military leader and governor of Louisiana who led Spanish troops against the British in the Revolutionary War (1781). Galveston, Texas is named after him
Crispus Attucks – First man to die in the American Revolution; killed in the Boston Massacre (1770)
King George III – King of England during the French & Indian War and the American Revolution (1775-1783); Feared that losing the 13 Colonies would cause the British to lose others; led to aggressive stance toward the colonists
Haym Salomon – One of the main financiers (money) of the Continental Army during the American Revolution (1776-1781); Member of the Sons of Liberty
Patrick Henry – Famous for his “Give me Liberty or Give Me Death” speech (1775); spoke out against the Stamp Act (1765); Member of the Virginia House of Burgesses; served in the Continental Army
Thomas Jefferson – Principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776); Member of the Continental Congress
Marquis de Lafayette – French nobleman who paid his own way to America; believed in liberty, freedom and constitutional government; Helped Washington at Valley Forge (1778) and Yorktown (1781)
Thomas Paine – Influential writer; Published “Common Sense” (1776) and “Rights of Man.”
John Paul Jones – Father of the American Navy and Naval hero of the American Revolution; Famous quote: “I have not yet begun to fight!”
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Class Notes August 29-September 2
Overview of the Major Eras (August 29th)
Vocabulary
Era – A period of time characterized by particular circumstances, events, or people
Chronology – The science of arranging events in their order of occurrence in time, such as the use of a timelineAbsolute Chronology – Exact dates
Relative Chronology – Eras or time periods
Major Eras
Era of European Exploration – Why European countries (specifically England, France and Spain) sent explorers to the New World
Era of Colonial Settlement – How the 13 Colonies were formed and how the idea of Independence began
Revolutionary War Era – How we gained our independence from the British and who helped us get it
New Republic Era – How we set up our government based on compromise and the one thing we couldn’t compromise on
Era of Westward Expansion – How the United States as we know it today came to be
Civil War and Reconstruction Era – How the country tore itself apart over slavery and states’ rights and how it got put back together
Era of European Exploration (August 30-31)
Vocabulary
Exploration – searching for the purpose of discovery
Charter – a document that gives the holder the right to organize settlementsColonize – To form or establish a colony or colonies
Timeline Items
(1215) Magna Carta – Influenced both the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and guaranteed the people three things:
-- Trial by Jury-- Due Process
-- Limited Government
(1265) English Parliament – English government
(1492) Columbus reaches the New World – Columbus discovers the New World while searching for a faster route to Asia
- Why did Europeans explore?
B. Demand for goods from Asia (spices)
C. Competition with other countries for trade ($)
- Columbus “discovers” America
B. Spain was in competition with Portugal
C. Portugal began the African slave trade in 1400’s
D. Columbus was looking for a faster route to India
E. Columbus represented Spain
Era of Colonial Settlement (September 1-2)
Vocabulary
Representative Government – government founded on elected individuals representing the peopleIndentured Servant – a person who came to America and was placed under contract to work, usually for seven years
(1607) Jamestown Colony – the first permanent English colony in the Americas
(1619) First Africans arrive in America – the first Africans were not slaves; they were indentured servants
(1619) Virginia House of Burgesses – the first example of representative government in America
(1620) Mayflower Compact – established self-government and majority rule (signed by all the men)
Updated Timeline for 2011-12 School Year
Important Dates
1607 – Jamestown Settlement1620 – Pilgrims' arrival & Mayflower Compact
1776 – Declaration of Independence
1787 – U.S. Constitution
1803 – Louisiana Purchase
1861-1865 – Civil War
Timeline
Era of European Exploration
1215 – Magna Carta1265 – English Parliament
1492 – Columbus sails to New World
Era of Colonial Settlement
1607 – Jamestown Settlement1619 – Virginia House of Burgesses
1619 – First Africans arrive in America
1620 – Mayflower Compact
1639 – Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
1689 – English Bill of Rights
1720 – First Great Awakening
1754 – Albany Plan of Union
1754 – French and Indian War
1763 – Treaty of Paris
1763 – Proclamation of 1763
American Revolutionary Era
1764 – Sugar Act1765 – Stamp Act
1766 – Stamp Act Repealed
1766 – Declaratory Acts
1767 – Townshend Acts
1770 – Boston Massacre
1773 – Tea Act
1773 – Boston Tea Party
1774 – Coercive Acts
1774 – First Continental Congress
1775 – Lexington and Concord
1775 – Second Continental Congress
1776 – Thomas Paine’s Common Sense
1776 – Declaration of Independence
1777 – Articles of Confederation
1777 – Saratoga
1778 – Valley Forge
1781 – Yorktown
1783 – Treaty of Paris
New Republic Era
1787 – Northwest Ordinance1787 – Philadelphia Convention
1787 – Three-fifths Compromise
1787 – U.S. Constitution
1789 – First U.S. President (George Washington)
1789 – Origin of Political Parties
1791 – Bill of Rights
1791 – First Bank of the U.S.
1793 – Eli Whitney’s Cotton Gin
1796 – Washington’s Farewell Address
1798 – Alien and Sedition Act
1798 – XYZ Affair
1800 – Industrial Revolution and Free Enterprise
1801 – Interchangeable Parts
1803 – Marbury v. Madison
1803 – Second Great Awakening
Era of Westward Expansion
1803 – Louisiana Purchase1809 – James Madison
1812 – War of 1812
1815 – Battle of New Orleans
1816 – Second Bank of U.S.
1817 – Reform Movement: Disabilities
1819 – McCulloch v. Maryland
1820 – Missouri Compromise
1823 – Monroe Doctrine
1824 – Gibbons v. Ogden
1826 – Reform Movement: Temperance
1828 – Election of Andrew Jackson
1828 – Rise of Modern Democrats
1830 – Indian Removal Act
1832 – Nullification Crisis
1832 – Jackson challenges Second Bank of U.S.
1832 – Worcester v. Georgia
1837 – Reform Movement: Education
1838 – Trail of Tears
1840 – Oregon Country
1841 – Reform Movement: Prisons
1845 – Texas is annexed as the 28th state
1846 – Mexican-American War
1848 – Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
1848 – California Gold Rush
1848 – Mormons in Utah
1848 – Seneca Falls Convention
Civil War/Reconstruction Era
1850 – Fugitive Slave Act
1852 – Uncle Tom’s Cabin
1854 – Kansas-Nebraska Act
1854 – Bleeding Kansas
1857 – Dred Scott v. Sandford
1859 – Raid on Harper’s Ferry
1861 – Lincoln’s Inaugural Address
1861 – Davis’ Inaugural Address
1861 – Civil War begins at Fort Sumter, SC
1861 – First Battle of Bull Run
1862 – Battle Hymn of the Republic
1862 – Homestead Act
1862 – Morrill Act
1862 – Battle of Antietam
1863 – Emancipation Proclamation
1863 – Battle of Gettysburg
1863 – Battle of Vicksburg
1863 – Gettysburg Address
1865 – Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address
1865 – Lee surrenders at Appomattox
1865 – President Abraham Lincoln is assassinated
1865 – 13th Amendment
1867 – 14th Amendment
1870 – 15th Amendment
1886 – Statue of Liberty
1887 – Dawes Act
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Timeline for Students -- Know the Timeline!!!
Important Dates
1607 – Jamestown Settlement
1776 – Declaration of Independence
1787 – U.S. Constitution
1803 – Louisiana Purchase
1861-1865 – Civil War
Timeline
Era of European Exploration
1215 – Magna Carta – trial by jury, due process, limited government
1265 – English Parliament – English government
1492 – Columbus sails to New World – looking for the route to Asia; discovered the New World
Era of Colonial Settlement
1607 – Jamestown Settlement – First Permanent English Colony
1619 – Virginia House of Burgesses – first example of representative government
1619 – First Africans arrive in America – Indentured Servants
1620 – Mayflower Compact – self-government
1639 – Fundamental Orders of Connecticut – First written Constitution
1689 – English Bill of Rights – Inspired our own Bill of Rights
1720 – First Great Awakening – First religious revival; equality; traveling preachers
1754 – Albany Plan of Union – Ben Franklin’s plan for the colonies to defend themselves against the French
1754 – French and Indian War – the colonists and the British vs. the French and the Indians; Ohio River Valley
1763 – Treaty of Paris – ended the French and Indian War
1763 – Proclamation of 1763 – the colonists could not go past the Appalachian Mountains
American Revolutionary Era
1764 – Causes for American Revolution – debt from the French and Indian War; various taxes
1774 – First Continental Congress – colonies form their own militias
1775 – Lexington and Concord – first battles of the Revolution
1775 – Second Continental Congress – George Washington is chosen to lead the army; the colonies will declare independence
1776 – Thomas Paine’s Common Sense – the pamphlet encourages colonists to declare independence
1776 – Declaration of Independence – written by Thomas Jefferson, it declares our independence from England
1777 – Articles of Confederation – America ’s first Constitution; the main weakness was that the states had too much power
1777 – Saratoga – the turning point of the Revolution; encourages the French to help us
1778 – Valley Forge – Washington ’s greatest challenge; the Continental Army has to defeat the cold and smallpox before they can fight the British
1781 – Yorktown – the last battle of the Revolution
1783 – Treaty of Paris – ends the Revolution; the U.S. now extends from the Atlantic to the Mississippi River
New Republic Era
1787 – Northwest Ordinance -- established the Northwest Ordinance; provided an orderly way to settle the West
1787 – Philadelphia Convention -- delegates gather to fix the Articles of Confederation; end up with a new Constitution
1787 – Three-fifths Compromise -- slaves are counted as 3/5 of a person for the purpose of representation
1787 – U.S. Constitution -- the Supreme Law of the Land
1789 – First U.S. President (George Washington) -- Washington is only president to win 100% of the electoral vote
1789 – Origin of Political Parties -- Alexander Hamilton founds the Federalist Party; Thomas Jefferson founds the Anti-Federalists (Democratic-Republicans) after disagreements over Federal and States' rights
1791 – Bill of Rights -- the first 10 amendments of the Constitution; protect individual liberties
1796 – Washington’s Farewell Address -- Washington warns against the evils of political parties and foreign alliances
1798 – Alien and Sedition Act -- four bills passed to limit the activities of aliens (foreigners) during an undeclared war with France
1798 – XYZ Affair -- three French agents demand a loan and a bribe from the US
1800 – Industrial Revolution and Free Enterprise -- a dramatic change in manufacturing (factories; new technology; steam power; child labor; pollution; urban slums) and the right to buy and sell anything
1803 – Marbury v. Madison -- increases the power of the Supreme Court; establishes the concept of judicial review
1803 – Second Great Awakening -- a second religious revival that leads to the Reform Movements
Era of Westward Expansion
1803 – Louisiana Purchase -- doubles the size of the country; the US pays $15 million to France
1809 – James Madison -- Father of the US Constitution; President during the War of 1812
1812 – War of 1812 -- known as the second American Revolution; fought against England
1815 – Battle of New Orleans -- ended the War of 1812; made Andrew Jackson a national celebrity
1816 – Second Bank of U.S. -- anti-federalists felt the bank was unconstitutional; originally founded by Alexander Hamilton; chartered for 20 years
1817 – Reform Movement: Disabilities -- Braille and Sign Language are developed to aid the disabled
1819 – McCulloch v. Maryland -- The Second Bank of the US is headquartered in Maryland; the state expects the government to pay them taxes. The Court rules in favor of the federal government
1820 – Missouri Compromise -- keeps the balance of slave and free states equal; Missouri (slave state) and Maine (free state)
1823 – Monroe Doctrine -- No new colonies in the Western Hemisphere; no interference in our politics
1824 – Gibbons v. Ogden -- The Court determines the federal government will regulate interstate commerce
1826 – Reform Movement: Temperance -- reformers blame alcohol for poverty, crime and mental illness
1828 – Election of Andrew Jackson -- Jackson becomes the first President from the frontier and the first democratic candidate
1828 – Rise of Modern Democrats -- Jacksonian Democracy defends the rights of the "Common Man"
1830 – Indian Removal Act -- Jackson signs legislation that will require the removal of all Native Americans west of the Mississippi
1832 – Nullification Crisis -- a sectional crisis involving a state's right to nullify (cancel) a federal law; protested the Tariff of 1832
1832 – Jackson challenges Second Bank of U.S. -- Jackson believed the bank was unconstitutional; he destroyed it by withdrawing the country's money
1832 – Worcester v. Georgia -- the Court rules that only the federal government could intervene in Cherokee affairs
1837 – Reform Movement: Education -- Horace Mann's reforms result in free public education and better-trained teachers
1838 – Trail of Tears -- the forced removal of all Native Americans to Indian Territory (Oklahoma)
1840 – Oregon Country -- The US and England avoid a third war and agree to split the Oregon Country
1841 – Reform Movement: Prisons -- Dorthea Dix's reforms result in better prison conditions and the end of the imprisonment of the mentally-ill
1845 – Manifest Destiny -- Newspaper columnist John L. O'Sullivan first uses the term; the belief America should go from the Atlantic to the Pacific (from sea to shining sea)
1845 – Texas is annexed as the 28th state -- starts the Mexican-American War
1846 – Mexican-American War -- US provokes a war to gain territory in the West
1848 – Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo -- ends the Mexican-American War; US gains the Mexican Cession and Texas
1848 – California Gold Rush -- 300,000 people come to California searching for gold; helps to populate the state
1848 – Mormons in Utah -- Brigham Young leads the Mormons to Utah; establishes the Utah Territory
1848 – Seneca Falls Convention -- produced the Declaration of Sentiments, which is modeled on the Declaration of Independence (all men and women are created equal)
Civil War/Reconstruction Era
1850 – Compromise of 1850 -- five bills that delayed the beginning of the Civil War; made California a state; changed the Texas border; ended the slave trade in Washington DC, let Utah and New Mexico decide on their own about slavery and Fugitive Slave Act
1850 – Fugitive Slave Act -- required that all citizens assist in returning fugitive slaves
1854 – Kansas-Nebraska Act -- established the Kansas and Nebraska Territories and repeals (cancels) the Missouri Compromise
1857 – Dred Scott v. Sandford -- The Court rules that slaves were not citizens and were not protected by the Constitution
1861 – Civil War begins at Fort Sumter, SC -- Confederate forces attack a Union fort; Civil War begins
1863 – Emancipation Proclamation -- frees slaves in Confederate territory
1863 – Battle of Gettysburg -- 1st turning point in Civil War; Lee's Army of Northern Virginia threatens Washington, DC, Philadelphia and Baltimore, but is defeated; never able to attack the North again
1863 – Battle of Vicksburg -- 2nd turning point; Grant's victory gives the Union control of the Mississippi River
1863 – Gettysburg Address -- Lincoln's speech at the dedication of a former battlefield explains the sacrifices made by Americans for the Union
1865 – 13th Amendment -- abolishes slavery in the US
1865 – Lee surrenders at Appomattox -- Last major battle of the Civil War
1865 – President Abraham Lincoln is assassinated -- John Wilkes Booth shoots President Lincoln at Ford's Theatre in Washington, DC
1867 – 14th Amendment -- gives freed slaves citizenship
1870 – 15th Amendment -- gives freed Black men the right to vote
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee (info for Character Maps)
Jefferson Davis – Davis was a senator from Mississippi before resigning in 1861 to become the first and only President of the Confederate States of America.
Davis was a much less effective leader than Lincoln and failed to find a way to defeat the Union. His capture on May 10, 1865 officially ended the Civil War.
After the war, he was banned from holding public office.
Robert E. Lee – Lincoln actually offered Lee command of the Union army before he (Lee) decided to fight for the Confederacy.
Widely respected as one of the greatest generals in history, Lee lost few battles, often defeating Union forces. But he ended up losing the war to a larger, better supplied army.
Major Battles of the Civil War
Beginning, Middle and End
Secession – The withdrawal of 11 Southern states from the Union in 1860-1861, precipitating the U.S. Civil War.
Beginning – The South secedes
• December 1860 – South Carolina becomes the first state to secede from the Union
• February 1861 – Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and Georgia join South Carolina and form the Confederate States of America
Civil War begins at Fort Sumter, SC – April 12, 1861 – Confederate forces attack Fort Sumter before Union supplies could arrive. This attack starts the war and helps to convince people in North that war was necessary.
Middle (Turning Points)
The Battle of Gettysburg – Fought over the course of three days in Pennsylvania, it was the largest battle of the war. Lee’s army wanted to threaten Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and Baltimore. After Pickett’s Charge failed, the Rebels were forced to retreat.
The Battle of Vicksburg – Ulysses S. Grant wins this battle and gives the Union control of the Mississippi River. It also cuts off Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas from the rest of the Confederacy.
End
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