Colonial America to Reconstruction 8 th Grade Review

1607-Settlement of Jamestown First permanent English settlement in North America Faced several hardships that made settlement difficult Attacks from Native Americans Diseases Starvation Success  supplies, cultivation of tobacco, & temporary peace with Native Americans

Battles of Lexington and Concord First battles of the American Revolutionary War. Tensions had been rising between the unfair treatment of the colonist by the King of England. “No taxation without representation!”

July 4, 1776 Thomas Jefferson writes the Declaration of Independence This document established American independence from Great Britain and created the United States of America.

Battle of Yorktown Last major military conflict of the American Revolutionary War. Basically ends the war in America’s favor.

1781-Articles of Confederation First Constitution of the United States Major problem: Very weak  federal gov’t had too little power

1783-Treaty of Paris Treaty between United States and Great Britain Official document that ended the American Revolutionary War.

1787-U.S. Constitution Supreme Law of the Land Details the framework of the gov’t Guarantees citizens certain rights

1832- Nullification Crisis “Null and Void” Establishes state sovereignty States can void a federal law

1861-Civil War Begins 7 States secede from the U.S. after Abraham Lincoln is elected president. First shots of the war were fired at Fort Sumter

1863- Emancipation Proclamation Issued by Abraham Lincoln Official document that outlawed slavery in the United States.

1865- Civil War Ends General Robert E. Lee & the South surrender to the Union at the Appomattox Courthouse Southern states are admitted back into the Union.

1877- End of Reconstruction and the 13 th, 14 th, & 15 th Amendments Reconstruction Amendments 13 th –Abolishes slavery (FREE) 14 th –Establishes citizenship rights (CITIZENS) 15 th –Gives all male citizens the right to vote (VOTE)