APUSH timeline and effects 1607-1775

1607

Founding of Jamestown by the Virginia Company in search of Gold; led to a starving time due to a lack of gold, not meant to be a permanent settlement

1612

John Rolfe in Virginia perfected tobacco cultivation; industry boom, economic savior

1619

-House of Burgesses established in Virginia- elected representatives as elite planters

-Dutch ship brings African slaves to colonies for the first time

1620

Mayflower compact- civil, majorital government

1639

Fundamental orders of Connecticut- shaped democratic ideas; first constitutional document in colonies

1651

Navigation Act enforced under salutary neglect; gave colonies opportunity to self-govern, and also allowed them to recognize a desire for commercial freedom/independence

1675

Metacom’s War- last attempt at Native Americans regaining their cultural identity and stopping further European encroachment

The English crushing of this rebellion led to shaky peace and an improbability of future rebellion

1676

Bacon’s Rebellion- poor, previously indentured farmers outraged at Native American attacks on their frontierland, House of Burgesses refused to represent them to try to uphold good relations, Bacon gathers people and Jamestown is burned

-Leads to a fear of indentured servitude and an implementation of chattel slavery (no future freedom means no future rebellion)

AND leads to racial lines being fully drawn, as poor farmers wanted a distinction from slaves or servants of any kind

1693

Salem Witch Trials- based in religious anxiety (from lack of zeal), economic strains, and inexpressible intoleration of other beliefs

This led to the accusation of witchcraft being taken advantage of to get rid of differing religious views

1730-1740

The Great Awakening: provided American with a separate identity from Britain based in self representation, religious toleration/diversity, and a lack of social hierarchy

all of these rights would later be applied to their political systems

1739

Stono Rebellion- Spain, in an attempt to create chaos, promised English slaves freedom if they marched to Florida; this revolt was led by a man named Jemmy, and was crushed

Slave codes were enforced more harshly, especially in literacy to avoid common conspiracy, as a result of this war

Much later did England outlaw the Transatlantic Slave Trade, but not the practice itself

1754

French and Indian War

Albany Congress- Albany Plan of Union proposed, but failed due to non-cooperative colonies in giving up any sovereignty

1763

Peace of Paris-End of salutary neglect; no trust in colonies + debt to be paid off

Native Americans have fewer trading opportunities, Britain gains territory, and wants to encroach further

Pontiac’s Rebellion- Native revolt against non-hospitable British imperial policy

The Paxton Boys- Scots-Irish and frontier revolt against elite policies that protect/ally with Native Americans

Proclamation of 1763- Law passed by Parliment that denied colonists the right to move westward; colonists were outraged and openly defied these laws

→ People thinking parliment was going against natural rights of lans

1764

Sugar Act- made sugar tax lower, but actually gained more profit because they were actually enforced

Colonists evading this law were sent to the admiralty courts, violating the principle of trial by jury

1765

Stamp Act- first direct tax; taxation without representation

Stamp Act Congress- intercolonial unity against tyrannical movements

Sons/Daughters of Liberty/non importation- Boycotts of British textiles and harassment of tax collectors

1766

Stamp Act repealed- colonial morale boost and victory

Declaratory Act- reestablished English sovereignty over colonies

1767

Townshend Acts- tax on textiles/goods; provided money for salaries of British officials, meaning colonists could no longer manipulate wages to counteract corruption- nonimportation did not work because smuggled goods became more expensive under strict british policy enforcement

New York Legislature closed for not abiding by Quartering Acts

1770

Boston Massacre- first sign of ensured British tyranny

Townshend Acts repealed, but tea tax still present; used so that BEIC could keep its’ monpoly and made tea cheaper than ever

→ colonists refused the tax because it seemed like manipulation

December 1773-1774

Boston Tea Party- Sons of Liberty dumped gallons of tea into the Boston Harbor in retaliation for Thomas Hutchinson refusing to leave the BEIC ship with tea

Intolerable Acts- Punished the colonies by stripping away rights 

→ revoked the Massachusetts Bay charter

→ Closed Boston Port until tea was paid off

→ could limit certain colonial legislatures, but not entirely

Quebec Act- allowed colonist resented views within the colonies

→taking land that they had won/the right to via war

→Instituting non-representative governments and trial without jury

→ presence of Catholicism  

1774

First Continental Congress- Attempt to revert back to pre-1763 Colonial life in response to the intolerable acts (colonial unity)

Drew up the petitions for reform, and these were rejected

→the association formed, boycotting all British trade

Colonial Army told to prepare themselves

1775

Lexington and Concord; Shot heard round the world- Britain believed that by seizing aggressors against it, control of the colonies would be easier and without need of war; they went to Lexington to find these rebels and weapons, and then to Concord, where they were defeated

Minitemen vs Gage

→ Got Britain prepared for total Colonial destruction; wanted colonies to be destroyed, for reverting to pre-1763 life would be a success for them

1775-1781

Second Continental Congress- appointed George Washington as the leader of the Colonial Army for both his experience and his origins of the south

→people in the south were reluctant to help the war effort because they had been long ruled by Anglican methods, and most fighting occur in the Northern New England region

George Washington was a symbol of patriotism, representing a non-tyrannical, civil, and devoted ruler 

1776

Olive Branch Treaty- Final attempt from colonies for peace, but Britain rejected it entirely, severing all hopes of non-violent reformation