US History until 1861 - timeline

Question 1

10000 BC?

Answer 1

The Bering Strait is frozen over, allowing people to migrate to North America from Siberia.

Question 2

1492?

Answer 2

Christopher Columbus lands in the Americas and ‘discovers’ the new world.

Question 3

1513?

Answer 3

Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon lands in Florida and claims it for Spain.

Question 4

1607?

Answer 4

A group of 104 English men and boys found the first permanent settlement in Jamestown, Virginia.

Question 5

1620?

Answer 5

The Pilgrim Fathers come to North America from Plymouth. Their spirit of self-reliance as Puritans paved the way for ‘American’ values.

Question 6

1637?

Answer 6

The Pequot War - first wat between English colonists and indigenous peoples.

Question 7

1664?

Answer 7

The English take possession of New Amsterdam from the Netherlands, renaming it New York.

Question 8

1763?

Answer 8

The Seven Years’ War ends with Britain defeating France and establishes English hedgemony in North America.

Question 9

1775-83?

Answer 9

The American Revolutionary War results in the 13 colonies overthrowing British rule to establish the USA.

Question 10

1776?

Answer 10

The Declaration of Independence approved by the Continental Congress. This formalised the intent of independence for the 13 colonies.

Question 11

1783?

Answer 11

Signing of the Treaty of Paris ends the War of Independence.

Question 12

1787?

Answer 12

Philadelphia Convention - meeting established a new frame of government outlined in the constitution of the United States. George Washington becomes the first President.

Question 13

1794?

Answer 13

Eli Whitney’s invention of the Cotton Gin increases demand for cotton. This gave Southern planters a justification for expanding slavery.

Question 14

1803?

Answer 14

The USA purchases the Louisiana territory from Napoleon’s France (828,000 sq miles) for $15 million. This ignored indigenous rights in the area.

Question 15

1812?

Answer 15

War with Britain over British violations of U.S maritime rights - British troops march into Washington and set fire to the White House.

Question 16

1823?

Answer 16

US President James Monroe declares the Monroe Doctrine of US foreign policy. This is created to protect US influence. The US will not interfere in Europe in accordance with this doctrine.

Question 17

1828?

Answer 17

President Andrew Jackson becomes the first ‘Democrat’ President of the USA.

Question 18

1834?

Answer 18

The permanent ‘indian frontier’ is drawn up. It was an act to consolidate the division between Whites and Indians. Whites were banned from settling west of the Mississippi.

Question 19

1845?

Answer 19

‘Manifest Destiny’ is used for the first time, the idea that God has and will allow Americans to settle across the North American continent. Later used to justify territorial expansion and removal of indigenous people.

Question 20

1846-48?

Answer 20

The Mexican Wars: victory over the Mexican Empire grants US much land near the Pacific, causing debate between free and slave states over whether slavery would be allowed.

Question 21

1849?

Answer 21

California Gold rush brought approximately 300,000 people to California from America and abroad. The sudden population increase only further ignited manifest destiny feelings.

Question 22

1853?

Answer 22

The present mainland borders of the US are established.

Question 23

1854?

Answer 23

Republican Party created in response to the Kansas-Nebraska Act which allowed slave or free status to be decided in territories won from Mexico by settlers themselves.

Question 24

1856?

Answer 24

Caning of Sumner- pro-slavery Senator (Preston Brooks) used a walking cane to attack an abolitionist Republican Senator (Charles Sumner) in response to a speech heavily criticising Southern slve plantation owners.

Question 25

1857?

Answer 25

Dred Scott ruling. US Supreme Court ruling that living in a free state or territory as an African-American did not entitle an enslaved person to freedom. This meant formerly enslaved people like Dred Scott were seen as property not citizens, enraging Republicans and abolitionists.

Question 26

1861?

Answer 26

American Civil War Breaks out between free northern states (the Union) and 11 mainly slave states (the Confederacy) in response to Abraham Lincoln’s election as the first Republican president.