Exploration and Colonization Era- 1607-1754
Dates
1607 –Founding of Jamestown, VA.: First permanent, successful English settlement
1620 - Pilgrims land at Plymouth, MA: Separatist group seeking religious freedom
1620 -Mayflower Compact written by Pilgrims; Established ideas of self-government and majority rule
Reasons for Settlement
Political reasons: expansion of empire; more land = more power
Economic reasons: profit for empire, i.e. mercantilism; natural resources and cash crops such as tobacco
Religious reasons: freedom of worship; escape religious persecution
Social reasons: colonial charters; new beginnings in a new land
Regions
New England- subsistence farming, timber and ship building, fishing and whaling, manufacturing
Middle- farmed wheat, oat, barley and rye, called the “Bread-Basket Colonies”, shipbuilding, some trade
Southern- farmed tobacco, rice, indigo, and cotton, grew “cash crops” on plantations
government Documents / policies
Mayflower Compact:first written example of self-government; civic virtue; majority rule
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut:expanded representative government by allowing non-church member males to vote
Virginia House of Burgesses: 1st representative assembly in the colonies (landowners)
Maryland’s Act of Toleration:guaranteed religious tolerance in government
Salutary Neglect: British policy of avoiding strict enforcement of parliamentary laws
Town meetings: developed in New England were people made laws and decisions for the community
Movements
Columbian Exchange- exchange of plants, animals, and diseases between the Old World (Europe) and New World (Americas)
Transatlantic Slave Trade-millions of Africans were captured, shipped across the Atlantic Ocean, and sold
First Great Awakening: encouraged ideas of equality, the right to challenge authority
Significant People
Pilgrims- Wanted to separate the Church of England
Puritans- Wanted to reform (purify) the Church of England
William Penn- Quaker who founded Pennsylvania
John Locke- Enlightenment philosopher who wrote about natural rights
Anne Hutchison- Preached secretly in her home; Forced to leave Massachusetts; Moved to Rhode Island
John Smith- takes over Jamestown; made physical improvements, built defenses for colony, got colonists working, improved relations with Powhatan Indians
Lord Baltimore- founded Maryland for religious freedom for Catholics
Quakers- religious group that believed in a simple lifestyle and equality for all; lived in Pennsylvania
John Rolfe- arrives with tobacco that will make Jamestown rich
James Oglethorpe- founded Georgia for debtors and prisoners
Roger Williams- founded Rhode Island for religious freedom
Thomas Hooker- led 3 Puritan congregations to Connecticut
Eliza Pinckney- created improved strains of the indigo plant from which a blue dye can be obtained and brought them to the colonies
William Blackstone- famous for his work, Classic Commentaries on the Laws of England. It was a basic textbook for America’s early lawyers.
SECOND QUARTER: Revolutionary Era- 1754- 1783
Dates
1776 - Growth of colonial dissatisfaction; 1st Continental Congress; Declaration of Independence: adopted July 4
1783– Treaty of Paris; Independence recognized
Causes
Proclamation of 1763– anger over restricted settlementeast of the Appalachian Mountains
Mercantilism – economic restrictions of the colonists
Lack of colonial representation in Parliament (“taxation without representation”)
1764 Sugar Act – tax/economic burden; colonial anger over “Taxation without representation is tyranny!”
1765 Stamp Act-tax/economic burden: colonial boycott of British goods
1765 Quartering Act –invasion of privacy/economic burden
1767 Townsend Act – tax/economic burden, new boycott
1770 Boston Massacre-use as propaganda
1773 Tea Act – tax/monopoly; colonial response: Boston Tea Party
Boston Tea Party- citizens unhappy with Tea Act. Resulted in British passage of the Intolerable Acts, thereby, limiting the rights of citizens of Boston
1774 Intolerable Acts – punishment for the Boston Tea Party
1774 First Continental Congress-voted to ban all trade with Great Britain until Intolerable Acts repealed/delegates determined to uphold colonial rights
Sons of Liberty-Colonial protest group
Battles
Shot Heard Around the World – Start of the American Revolution-Battles of Lexington and Concord
Turning Point – Battle of Saratoga (victory encourages French and Spanish to help the Americans)
Battle of Valley Forge – The American Crisis-self-sacrifice-training
Last Battle – Battle of Yorktown-Cornwallis defeated by American on land, and French by sea
Effects/Documents
Common Sense -by Thomas Paine – convince Americans to break away from Britain
The American Crisis – by Thomas Paine – written to encourage support for troops and encourage troops to keep fighting (read at Valley Forge)
Declaration of Independence-unalienable rights, grievances against the British
Articles of Confederation-First official government of the new nation-Created by the Continental Congress in Philadelphia (had many weaknesses)
Treaty of Paris 1783- ended the war; set new boundaries: Mississippi River to the west, Canada to the north, and Spanish Florida to the south
TEAM ROSTER
Abigail Adams -“Remember the Ladies”-wife of John Adams/early advocate for women’s rights in America
John Adams-vocal member of First Continental Congress/convinced that only outright resistance would gain liberty for America
Wentworth Cheswell-Black Revolutionary era patriot/member of the Committee of Safety
Samuel Adams-Leader of the Sons of Liberty-urged colonists to resist British controls
Mercy Otis Warren-American woman who wrote about the Revolution using prose, plays, and poetry
James Armistead- slave who served General Lafayette as an American spy. After the war, Lafayette helped Armistead obtain his freedom, and in return Armistead added the name “Lafayette” to his own
Benjamin Franklin-signer of the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Paris 1783, and later the U.S. Constitution-long time American leader-spent the Revolution in France and helped convince them to come to American aid. Great inventor.
Bernardo de Galvez-Spanish governor of Louisiana-captured Natchez, Baton Rouge, and Mobile/prevented British from attacking the U.S. from the southwest
Crispus Attucks-sailor of American Indian and African American ancestry, was an early hero of the Revolution who lost his life in the Boston Massacre
King George III-King of Great Britain during the American Revolution
Haym Solomon-Polish native-Jewish Revolutionary hero-American spy and member of the New York Sons of Liberty-prime financier of the Americans during the Revolution
Patrick Henry-Vocal Virginian who urged the Americans to resist British tyranny-Famously said “…as for me, give me liberty or give me death”
Thomas Jefferson-writer of the Declaration of Independence
Marquis de Lafayette- 19 yr. old French nobleman who volunteered to serve in Washington’s army. Led his own division.
Thomas Paine –Writer of Common Sense (written to convince Americans to break with Britain) and The American Crisis (written to encourage Americans to keep fighting)
George Washington-commander of the Revolutionary Army
THIRD QUARTER: Confederation, Convention, and Constitution- 1783- 1787
Dates
1777- 1789: Confederation Era- designed in response to British rule of colonies: central government was too weak to govern the nation after the war ended.
1787: Constitutional Convention: debate and writing of the U.S. Constitution
1787: Constitution written: elements of accord and conflict; compromises
1788: U.S. Constitution is ratified
1791: Bill of Rights is added to the Constitution
Territories
13 Original States
Northwest Territory
Compromises
Virginia Plan v. New Jersey Plan:Counting population (V) to determine representation: Counting equality (NJ) to determine representation
Great Compromise: House of Reps by population, Senate is equal (2 per state)
Three-Fifths Compromise: slaves are counted as 3/5 of a person when determining a state’s # of representatives
Political Parties
Federalists for Constitution; Supported removing some powers from the states and giving more powers to the national government; Favored dividing powers among difference branches ; Supported single Executive (led by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay)
Anti-federalists against Constitution; Wanted more important political powers to remain with the states ; Wanted legislative branch to be more powerful than executive ; Feared a strong executive might revert to tyranny ; Believed that a Bill of Rights needed to be added to the Constitution to protect people’s rights (led by Thomas Jefferson)
Documents
Land Ordinance of 1785: asked surveyors to measure out townships in Northwest Territory
Northwest Ordinance: established how territory was to be government and how states could be added. Also established settler’s rights
Magna Carta: No man is above the law; importance of individual rights
English Bill of Rights: basic tenets were adopted and extended by the U.S. Bill of Rights, including: the right of petition, freedom from a peace-time standing army, freedom to bear arms for their defense, freedom to elect representatives
Articles of Confederation: Strengths:Governed nation through the Revolutionary War; Negotiated Treaty of Paris; Passed Land Ordinance of 1785; passed the Northwest Ordinance
Weaknesses: Lacked power to enforce laws; lacked power to levy taxes; Lacked power to negotiate trade among the states; required all 13 states to approve chances in the Articles
Constitution: the supreme law of the United States of America. The first three Articles of the Constitution establish the rules and separate powers of the three branches of the federal government: a legislature, an executive branch, and a federal judiciary; the last four Articles frame the principle of federalism
Bill of Rights: addresses colonial grievancessuch as lack of individual rights, the right to bear arms, quartering of soldiers, due process of law, rights of accused, how a trial is conduced, limits on punishments, rights of the people and powers of states and people
Principles
Popular Sovereignty- Ultimate power and final authority is held by the citizens
Republicanism- People EXERCISE their power by voting for their political representatives
Limited Government- Government’s power is limited by the Constitution
Federalism- Power is divided between the national and state governments
Separation of Powers- Power is divided between 3 branches
Checks and Balances- Each branch has certain controls (checks) over the other 2
Individual Rights- Personal liberties or privileges guaranteed to the citizens
TEAM ROSTER
George Washington- delegate at Convention; nominated for presidency
James Madison- Federalist who supported a strong executive
Ben Franklin- delegate at the Constitutional Convention
Patrick Henry- Anti-Federalist who insisted on a Bill of Rights
Thomas Jefferson- leader of the Anti-Federalist party
John Adams- not present at Convention but wrote in support of the delegates
Alexander Hamilton- Federalist leader who supported a strong executive
George Mason- Anti-Federalist who insisted on a Bill of Rights
FOURTH QUARTER: Early Republic and Industrialization- 1789- 1825
Washington
Federal Judiciary Act of 1789- 6 member court; Created lower federal courts
Precedents set- paying war debts, neutrality, and cabinet system
Hamilton’s Financial Plan- protective tariffs to pay back the war debt; national bank; government would pay state AND national debt
National Security-Federal troops fight British backed Native Americans in Northwest Territory, Whiskey Rebellion
Jay’s Treaty- Britain agreed to leave the Ohio Valley and pay us back for our stolen ships; this helped reduce awkward tension between the U.S. and Britain
Pinckney’s Treaty- U.S. got the freedom to travel on the Mississippi and store goods at New Orleans
Adams
XYZ Affair: French agents (known as X, Y, and Z) demand a $10 million loan and a bribe before they will discuss a treaty; U.S. refused to give a cent
Alien & Sedition Acts: Increased time for immigrants to become citizens from 5 to 14; Made saying or printing “false or hateful” writing about the govt illegal
Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions: In response to the Alien and Sedition Acts; Jefferson and Madison drafted a set of statements declaring that states can nullify a federal law if the state believes it to be unconstitutional
Jefferson
1803 Louisiana Purchase- U.S. purchases Louisiana Territory from France for $15 million; doubled our size
1803 Marbury v. Madison- the Supreme Court ruled that it had the power to abolish laws by declaring them unconstitutional: Judicial Review
Lewis and Clark Expedition
Embargo Act of 1807- Forbid American ships to sail into foreign ports and closed U.S. ports to British ships; hurt the economies of each region; however, the South and the West took the largest hit because of dependence on trade with Europe
Madison
War of 1812- Causes: Great Britain was taking U.S. ships and interfering with U.S. trade, British arming American Indians to attack settlers in Northwest Territory, Impressment of U.S. citizens
Results: Increased American Patriotism, Weakened American Indian resistance; U.S. manufacturing grew
Monroe
Era of Good Feelings- Period characterized by lack of political disruption and economic growth
Clay’s American System- Wanted the U.S. to be economically self-sufficient
Missouri Compromise- debate over admission as slave or Free State would upset the “balance of power” between slave and Free states in Congress
Kept the balance of power by admitting Maine as free and Missouri as slave and banning slavery north of the parallel 36°30’
Sectionalism developed as a result of the slavery issue
McCulloch v. Maryland-Could not tax federal government
Gibbons v. Ogden-Promoted economic growth, Interstate commerce
Factory System- brought together workers and tools under one roof, increasing urbanization and changing the way of life
Rivers, transportation benefits, and workers increased factories in New England (Lowell Mills)
Inventions
Cotton Gin/Growth of slavery-westward expansion
Steamboat/Growth of transportation
Interchangeable parts-cottage industry to growth of factories
Canal systems
National Road
Telegraph
OVER-TIME: Age of Jackson, Westward Expansion, Reform- 1825-1861
Age of Jackson
Tariff of Abomination-1828 law that raised the tariffs on raw materials and manufactured goods; it upset Southerners who felt that the North was being favored. North supported tariffs and generally opposed the spread of slavery. South opposed tariff and supported the use of slaves and the growth of slavery into Western Territories (King Cotton)
Bank War- Jackson vetoed the renewal of the 2nd Bank of the U.S. because he felt the bank had too much power/influence over Congress/public policy. The bank leadership fought back, creating economic troubles and forcing people to take sides.
Sectionalism- Jackson supported strong central government, Southern states wanted State’s Rights; differences in economics systems and support for tariffs and other public policy
Nullification Crisis- South Carolina threatened to secede over tariff issue, Jackson at odds with Calhoun
States’ Rights- theory that said that states had the right to judge when the federal
Jacksonian Democracy- idea of spreading political power to all the people, thereby ensuring majority rule
Era of the Common Man
White man’s suffrage
Spoils System-practice of winning candidates giving government jobs to political backers or supporters
Indian Removal Act
Worcester v. Georgia- Supreme Court upheld Cherokee land rights/Jackson ignored court’s decision
Westward Expansion
Manifest Destiny- The belief that America should spread from coast to coast
U.S. Mexican War-Causes: Border dispute over the Rio Grande, Manifest Destiny, Annexation of Texas
Effects: Texas recognized as part of U.S., Mexican Cession, From sea to shining sea
A- Original 13 Colonies, 1776 (Dec. of Ind.)
B- Western Lands, 1783 (Treaty of Paris)
C- Louisiana Purchase, 1803
D- Florida Cession, 1819 (Adams-Onis Treaty)
E- Texas Annexation, 1845
F- Oregon Territory, 1846
G- Mexican Cession, 1848 (Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo)
H- Gadsden Purchase, 1853
TEAM ROSTER
Abolitionists- movements to abolish slavery in the U.S.
Women’s Rights Movement- movement to gain rights for women, especially suffrage (the right to vote)
Temperance Movement- movement to end American’s dependency on alcohol; some reformers wanted to prohibition (ban on alcohol)
Educational Reform Movement- movement that promoted public schools as a way to equalize society; also worked for improved conditions in schools
Prison Reform/Care of the Disabled- movement to improve treatment of prisoners and separate the mentally ill from prisoners
Susan B. Anthony- women’s rights
Frederick Douglass- abolitionist movement
Elizabeth Cady Stanton- women’s rights
Sojourner Truth- abolitionist movement
Harriet Tubman- abolitionist movement
Grimke Sisters- abolitionist movement
Dorothea Dix- prison reform/care of the disabled
Horace Mann- education
Declaration of Sentiments- women’s rights
Seneca Falls Convention- women’s rights