APUSH Periods 4-7 Timeline by Norbert Bdzoch

The Monroe Doctrine (1823)

norbertbdzoch2 — 2025-01-13 02:11:24 UTC

The Monroe Doctrine was created in 1823 by President James Monroe and warned European countries not to interfere in the Americas or try to colonize more land. It also promised that the United States would stay out of European conflicts. This policy aimed to protect the independence of new nations in Latin America and keep European influence out of the Western Hemisphere.

Indian Removal Act (1830)

norbertbdzoch2 — 2025-01-13 02:12:30 UTC

The Indian Removal Act, signed by President Andrew Jackson in 1830, allowed the U.S. government to relocate Native American tribes from their lands in the Southeast to areas west of the Mississippi River. This was done to make more land available for white settlers. The act led to the forced removal of many tribes, most famously the Trail of Tears, which caused great suffering and loss of life.

The Missouri Compromise (1820)

norbertbdzoch2 — 2025-01-13 02:15:58 UTC

The Missouri Compromise was an agreement to keep the balance between free and slave states in the U.S. It allowed Missouri to join as a slave state and Maine as a free state while banning slavery in Northern Territories. This was a temporary fix to slavery but eventually wasn't enough to stop the slavery debate or the start of the civil war.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852)

norbertbdzoch2 — 2025-01-13 02:18:03 UTC

Uncle Tom’s Cabin was a book written by Harriet Beecher Stowe in 1852 that talked about the cruelty of slavery. The book became a bestseller and inspired abolitionists in the North while angering pro-slavery supporters in the South. It played a significant role in increasing tensions that eventually led to the Civil War.

Bleeding Kansas (1854–1859)

norbertbdzoch2 — 2025-01-13 02:19:39 UTC

Bleeding Kansas was a violent conflict between pro-slavery and anti-slavery groups in Kansas. It started after the Kansas-Nebraska Act allowed settlers to decide whether to allow slavery, leading to clashes and bloodshed. The fighting showed the deep divisions over slavery in the U.S. and was another sign that the Civil War would start.

Dred Scott Case (1857)

norbertbdzoch2 — 2025-01-13 02:21:22 UTC

The Dred Scott Case was a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1857 that said African Americans, whether free or enslaved, were not U.S. citizens and had no right to sue in federal court. The Court also declared that Congress had no authority to ban slavery in U.S. territories. This decision deepened national tensions over slavery and pushed the country closer to the Civil War.

The Compromise of 1850

norbertbdzoch2 — 2025-01-13 02:22:20 UTC

The Compromise of 1850 was a series of laws passed to ease tensions between free and slave states. It allowed California to join the Union as a free state, while other territories could decide on slavery through popular sovereignty. The compromise also included a stricter Fugitive Slave Act, which angered many in the North and increased divisions over slavery.

Lincoln’s Election (1860)

norbertbdzoch2 — 2025-01-13 02:25:07 UTC

Lincoln was elected as the 16th President of the United States on November 6, 1860. Lincoln believed many anti-slavery policies and the fact that the South had no voting power led several Southern states to secede from the Union, which ended up starting the Civil War.

Emancipation Proclamation (1863)

norbertbdzoch2 — 2025-01-13 02:26:51 UTC

The Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln and declared that all slaves in Confederate-held territory were to be set free. Though it didn't immediately free all slaves, it marked a turning point in the Civil War by transforming the fight into a struggle against slavery. The proclamation also allowed for the enlistment of African American soldiers in the Union Army.

Gettysburg Address (1863)

norbertbdzoch2 — 2025-01-13 02:32:09 UTC

The Gettysburg Address was a speech by Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War. In the speech Lincoln honored the soldiers who had died at the Battle of Gettysburg and restated the Union's commitment to preserving the nation. He emphasized the importance of unity, democracy, and freedom, famously stating, "government of the people, by the people, for the people."

Civil War (1861–1865)

norbertbdzoch2 — 2025-01-13 02:33:46 UTC

The Civil War started between the North and South because of the issues of slavery and states' rights. It began after several Southern states seceded from the Union following Abraham Lincoln’s election as president. The war caused immense loss of life and destruction, ultimately leading to the abolition of slavery and the preservation of the United States as one nation.

Reconstruction Acts (1867–1868)

norbertbdzoch2 — 2025-01-13 02:36:06 UTC

The Reconstruction Acts were a series of laws passed between 1867 and 1870, designed to rebuild and reorganize the Southern states after the Civil War. They required Southern states to adopt new constitutions that included provisions for the civil rights of former slaves, such as granting them the right to vote. The acts also led to the establishment of military districts to oversee the process, aiming to ensure the implementation of Reconstruction policies and the reintegration of the South into the Union.

Purchase of Alaska (1867)

norbertbdzoch2 — 2025-01-13 02:37:38 UTC

The Purchase of Alaska happened in 1867, when the United States bought the territory from Russia. Secretary of State William H. Seward negotiated the purchase for $7.2 million also known as "Seward's Folly" by critics who doubted its value. Alaska ended up being rich in natural resources, including gold, oil, and fish, making it very important to the U.S.

Haymarket Bombing (1886)

norbertbdzoch2 — 2025-01-13 02:39:01 UTC

The Haymarket Bombing happened in Chicago during a labor rally organized by workers fighting for an eight-hour workday. The peaceful demonstration turned violent when a bomb was thrown at police, leading to several deaths and injuries. The event resulted in the execution and imprisonment of several anarchists, and it became a symbol of the struggle for workers' rights and the fight against repression.

Telephone Invented (1876)

norbertbdzoch2 — 2025-01-13 02:40:12 UTC

The telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell. The phone allowed people to communicate over long distances using electrical signals. It revolutionized communication by making it faster, more accessible, and more widespread, shaping modern society in countless ways.

Dawes Act (1887)

norbertbdzoch2 — 2025-01-13 02:41:52 UTC

The Dawes Act aimed to assimilate Native American tribes into American society by allotting them individual plots of land. The act divided communal tribal lands into small parcels that were given to individual Native American families, with the goal of encouraging farming and integrating them into mainstream U.S. culture. However, it resulted in the significant loss of tribal lands, as large portions were sold off to settlers.

Pullman Strike (1894)

norbertbdzoch2 — 2025-01-13 02:43:19 UTC

The Pullman Strike was when workers at the Pullman Company protested against wage cuts and high rents in company-owned housing. The strike, led by the American Railway Union, led to widespread disruption of rail traffic across the country. It turned violent after federal troops were sent in to break the strike, resulting in the death of several workers. The strike showed the growing tensions between labor and management during the industrial era.

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

norbertbdzoch2 — 2025-01-13 02:44:33 UTC

The Plessy v. Ferguson case was a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1896, that legalized racial segregation under the "separate but equal" doctrine. The court ruled that as long as facilities for African Americans and whites were equal, segregation did not violate the Fourteenth Amendment. This decision legitimized segregation laws across the South, leading to decades of racial discrimination and inequality.

4o mini

Annexation of Hawaii (1898)

norbertbdzoch2 — 2025-01-13 02:45:26 UTC

The Annexation of Hawaii was when the United States officially annexed the Hawaiian Islands. After the overthrow of Queen Liliʻuokalani in 1893 by American settlers and business interests, the U.S. government signed a treaty to annex Hawaii. The islands became a U.S. territory, later leading to Hawaii’s statehood in 1959. This marked the expansion of U.S. influence into the Pacific region.

Spanish-American War (1898)

norbertbdzoch2 — 2025-01-13 02:46:06 UTC

The Spanish-American War began because of the U.S.'s support for Cuban independence from Spain and the explosion of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor. The war lasted only a few months and resulted in a decisive victory for the United States. As a result, the U.S. gained control of key territories, including Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, marking the emergence of the U.S. as a global imperial power.

McKinley Assassination (1901)

norbertbdzoch2 — 2025-01-13 02:47:41 UTC

President William McKinley was shot by anarchist Leon Czolgosz while attending the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. McKinley died on September 14, 1901, and Vice President Theodore Roosevelt became the 26th President of the United States. The assassination had a profound impact on U.S. politics and marked a shift in the country’s approach to domestic and foreign affairs.

Construction of Panama Canal Begins (1904)

norbertbdzoch2 — 2025-01-13 02:48:28 UTC

The construction of the Panama Canal began in 1904, following the U.S. acquisition of the rights to build it after negotiating the Panama Canal Treaty with Colombia. The canal was a crucial project for connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, significantly shortening sea travel and boosting global trade. The project faced numerous challenges, including difficult terrain, diseases like malaria, and engineering feats, eventually opening in 1914.

Teddy Roosevelt Wins Nobel Peace Prize (1906)

norbertbdzoch2 — 2025-01-13 02:49:59 UTC

Theodore Roosevelt was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in negotiating the end of the Russo-Japanese War. Roosevelt’s efforts to mediate between Russia and Japan, leading to the Treaty of Portsmouth, helped bring peace to a conflict that had global implications. His win solidified his reputation as a key figure in international diplomacy.