Main Events of the American Founding

These events represent broad strokes of American history between Christopher Columbus and the ratification of the Bill of Rights.  This is a good place to start; you can probably reason most of these out by carefully reading the clues--if you have a basic knowledge of the American colonial period.  This version is written to be well understood by fifth graders.  If you prefer, you can work with these same events in a set written for adults..

Columbus Travels to America

Christopher Columbus sailed across the Atlantic Ocean for Spain to explore a quicker route to Asia to help Spain’s spice trade. Even though Vikings had reached the Americas hundreds of years earlier, Spain and other European countries had not benefited from those voyages.  Columbus’ trip changed history because of the discoveries he made of islands closer to the Equator. He did not find a faster route to Asia, but after his voyages, Spain became very powerful in exploring and settling lands in the Americas.

1492

 

The Defeat of the Spanish Armada

The Spanish Armada was a large group of ships sent by Spain to attack England. England’s smaller ships fought well, and storms also damaged many Spanish ships. Spain lost the battle. This helped England begin exploring and starting colonies in North America.

1588

 

Jamestown Settlement Begins

Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in North America. Life there was very hard at first. Many settlers faced sickness, hunger, and danger. Powhatan and his people were not happy that the English were there.  Even with these problems, Jamestown survived. In 1619, the colonists started the House of Burgesses, which was an early form of self-government. That same year, women and Africans arrived at Jamestown.

1607

 

The Mayflower arrives at Plimoth

The Mayflower brought Pilgrims and other people from England to America. Many came looking for religious freedom, while others were searching for a better life. Before the passengers were allowed to leave the ship, the men on board all met to sign the Mayflower Compact. This was an agreement to make rules and to promise to work together. It was one of the first steps toward self-government in the colonies.

1620

 

The First Thanksgiving

After a very hard first winter, the Pilgrims had a good harvest. The Wampanoag people, along with Squanto, helped them survive by teaching them how to live in the new world. To give thanks, the Pilgrims, Squanto, and the Wampanoag shared a feast together. This event is remembered as the first Thanksgiving.

1621

 

The French and Indian War

The French and Indian War was fought between Great Britain and France in North America, but they also fought each other all around the world, so it is also called the Seven Years' War. In North America, each side had help from different Native American groups. Great Britain won the war and so got all of the land France had claimed in North America–which included Canada. But the war cost a lot of money. To pay for it, Britain taxed its citizens–including the colonists in America. This made many colonists angry and helped lead to the American Revolution.

1754

1763

 

The Boston Massacre

The Boston Massacre happened when British soldiers shot into a crowd of colonists and killed five people. Tension had been growing between the soldiers and the people of Boston. What started with the people of Boston yelling angry words, throwing snowballs filled with rocks and shells at the soldiers, and hitting them with clubs and ropes, turned into a deadly fight. This event made many colonists more upset with British rule.

1770-03-05

  

The Boston Tea Party

The Boston Tea Party was a protest against the choice Great Britain made to only let a few people in the colonies sell tea without paying the taxes that others had to pay. A group of colonists dressed like Mohawk Indians and boarded British ships in Boston Harbor. They dumped large amounts of tea into the water. They did this because they believed Britain was unfairly making decisions without giving them a voice in government.

1773-12-17

 

The Battles of Lexington and Concord

The Battles of Lexington and Concord were the first battles of the American Revolutionary War. British regulars (as the soldiers were called) went to take the militia’s weapons and arrest leaders. At Lexington, they met the local militia called Minutemen. Fighting began, and some colonists were killed. When the soldiers arrived in the next town, Concord, they faced more fighting from militia members and had to retreat. As they marched back to Boston, colonial fighters attacked them along the way.

1775-04-19

 

Congress Votes to Declare Independence from Great Britain

The Declaration of Independence said that people have rights that the government must protect, such as “life, liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness”. It explained that if a government does not protect those rights, the people have the power to change the form of government. This was an important step in America becoming a free country.

1776-07-02

  

The Siege of Yorktown

The Siege of Yorktown was the last major battle of the American Revolutionary War. American and French troops, led by George Washington, trapped the British army at Yorktown, Virginia. The French navy blocked help from reaching the British. With little food and no way out, British General Cornwallis surrendered.

1781-09-28

 

1781-10-19

 

The Treaty of Paris

The Treaty of Paris officially ended the American Revolutionary War. Great Britain agreed that the United States was free, independent, and no longer under British rule. This treaty made the 13 colonies their own nation.

1783-09-03

  

Shays' Rebellion

Shay’s Rebellion was an uprising by farmers in Massachusetts who were frustrated that they had not been paid for serving in the war, as well as that the Massachusetts State government was raising taxes to help pay off the war debt. It showed that the national government was too weak under the Articles of Confederation. Because of this rebellion and others like it in the other newly formed States, leaders met to create a stronger federal government. This led to the writing of the United States Constitution.

1786-09-29

 

1787-02-04

 

Signing of the U.S. Constitution

The United States Constitution became the plan for the new federal government. It replaced the weaker Articles of Confederation. The Constitution created three branches of the federal government: legislative, executive, and judicial. It also divided power within the federal government as well as between the federal government and the States so no one part of the government would become too strong.

1787-09-17

  

George Washington Becomes President

George Washington became the first president of the United States at a ceremony held in New York City. His presidency helped the new government begin under the Constitution. Washington’s leadership helped the young nation become stronger and more united.

1789-04-30

  

Ratification of the Bill of Rights

The Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments to the Constitution. These amendments protect important freedoms, such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. They also protect people from unfair treatment by the government. The Bill of Rights was added to make sure individual rights were safe.

1791-12-15

  

George Washington’s Farewell Address

As his second term as president was coming to a close, President George Washington chose not to seek re-election. Very aware of the example this decision would set for future presidents, Washington was afraid that if he were to die while in office, Americans would think that the presidency was a lifetime appointment–like a king. So, he decided not to run for president again and return home. His example of only serving for two terms provided the standard of a two-term limit that would eventually become law with the Twenty-Second Amendment to the Constitution. 

1796-09-17