Historical events

French and Indian War

Conflict between Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763.

XYZ Affair

Diplomatic incident in 1797-1798 where French agents demanded bribes from American envoys.

Embargo Act

1807 law banning trade with all foreign nations, enacted by President Thomas Jefferson.

Stono Rebellion

Slave uprising in South Carolina in 1739 seeking freedom in Spanish Florida.

Shay’s Rebellion

Armed uprising (1786-1787) by Massachusetts farmers protesting economic injustices.

Whiskey Rebellion

1794 protest against the excise tax on whiskey, suppressed by federal troops.

Nat Turner’s Rebellion

Slave rebellion in Virginia in 1831 led by Nat Turner, resulting in stricter slave laws.

Proclamation of 1763

Issued by King George III to prevent colonial expansion west of the Appalachian Mountains.

Louisiana Purchase

U.S. acquisition of French Louisiana Territory in 1803, doubling the size of the U.S.

Continental Congress

Meeting to coordinate colonial resistance from 1774-1789, managing the Revolutionary War.

Texas Annexation

Incorporation of the Republic of Texas into the U.S. in 1845, contributing to the Mexican-American War.

The Great Compromise

1787 resolution that established a bicameral legislature during the Constitutional Convention.

Constitutional Convention

1787 meeting in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation and draft the Constitution.

Salem Witch Trials

Series of trials and executions for witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts in 1692.

Battle of Bunker Hill

Early Revolutionary War battle (1775) that boosted American morale despite British victory.

The Missouri Compromise

1820 agreement allowing Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, setting a slavery boundary.

The Treaty of Paris (1763)

Ended the French and Indian War, ceding French territories in North America to Britain.

The Treaty of Paris (1783)

Ended the American Revolutionary War, recognizing American independence and establishing borders.

Battle of Yorktown

Last major battle of the Revolutionary War in 1781, leading to British surrender.

Lexington and Concord

First battles of the Revolutionary War in 1775, marked by the 'shot heard 'round the world'.

Monroe Doctrine

1823 U.S. policy opposing European colonization in the Americas, declaring the hemisphere off-limits.

Boston Massacre

1770 clash between British soldiers and Boston colonists resulting in five deaths, fueling anti-British sentiment.

Boston Tea Party

1773 protest by the Sons of Liberty against the Tea Act, involving the dumping of British tea into the harbor.

Battle of Saratoga

Turning point of the Revolutionary War in 1777, leading to French alliance with the colonies.

Trail of Tears

Forced relocation of Cherokee Nation from 1838-1839, resulting in significant suffering.

Stamp Act

1765 British tax on printed materials in the colonies that sparked widespread protests.

Quartering Acts

1765 and 1774 laws requiring colonists to house British soldiers, contributing to growing frustration.

The Great Awakening

Religious revival movement in the 1730s and 1740s emphasizing personal faith.

The Enlightenment

17th-18th Century intellectual movement emphasizing reason and individualism, influencing revolutionary ideas.

Adams-Onis Treaty

1819 agreement between the U.S. and Spain ceding Florida to the U.S.