Social Studies 8
STAAR Review
IMPORTANT DATES
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1607 – Jamestown, Virginia
1620 – Mayflower Compact
1776 – Declaration of Independence
1787 – U. S. Constitution
1803 – Louisiana Purchase
1861-1865 – U. S. Civil War
COLONIAL ERA
Christopher Columbus
• “In 1492, Columbus
sailed the ocean blue”
• Accidentally
discovered the
Americas while
searching for a new
route to the East.
• As a result of this
voyage, a new age of
European exploration
and conquests of the
Americas began!
Jamestown – 1607!
The first permanent English settlement in North
America, founded by the Virginia Company of
England.
Capt. John Smith
Pocahontas
House of Burgesses - Virginia
First representative government in the colonies
Dutch ship brings 20 slaves to
Jamestown
1620 – The Pilgrims, on the
Mayflower, land in Plymouth,
Massachusetts
The Mayflower
The Mayflower Compact is
the first form of selfgovernment in the Americas
Puritans land in Massachusetts
and start the city of Boston.
Massachusetts becomes
the 2nd English colony in
North America
Famous Events:
• Salem Witch Trials
• Fundamental Orders of
Connecticut (1st written
constitution in the
colonies!)
• Anne Hutchinson
Maryland is started by
Lord Baltimore as a safe
place for Catholics
Roger Williams starts
Rhode Island
Dutch New
Netherlands colony
becomes the English
colony of New York.
Pennsylvania is
founded by William
Penn, a Quaker.
Quakers were a religious group
that believed in equal rights for
women, religious toleration and
non-violence. They were also the
first anti-slavery society in America.
Georgia, started by James Oglethorpe
as a refuge for debtors, becomes the
last of the 13 original colonies.
Mercantilism
• The economic system used by
European colonial powers, allowed
them to have total control over their
colonies.
• Colonies provide the mother country
with raw materials that the mother
country can make money from.
Raw goods
$$$
$$$
$$$
$$$
People came to America for many different reasons…
PULL FACTORS
PUSH FACTORS
Political oppression
Religious persecution
War
Famine (Irish Potato
Famine)
• Lack of jobs/land
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Religious freedom
Political freedom
Economic opportunity
Abundant land
Between 1607 and
1775, an estimated
690,000 Europeans
and 278,000
Africans come to
live in the colonies.
New England Colonies
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island &
Connecticut
• Made up of small towns that were wellorganized with a church in the center.
Religion was primarily Puritan Christianity.
• Soil = hard and rocky, long winters
• Subsistence farming = just enough to
survive
• Primary industries = fishing, timber,
shipbuilding, whaling and merchant
trade
Middle Colonies
New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania & Delaware
• More fertile soil than New England,
milder winters
• Main crops = grains (“Bread Basket”)
• Industries = carpentry, iron works
• Different groups brought diversity to
the middle colonies. Different religions
existed.
Southern Colonies
Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina & Georgia
• Rich, fertile soil leads to commercial
farming.
• Cash crops = tobacco, rice and indigo
• Slaves = necessary (plantations)
• Maryland, founded by Lord Baltimore,
became a colony where Catholics could
settle (Maryland Toleration Act)
REVOLUTION
By 1732, there were 13 flourishing
English colonies on the east
coast of North America.
After a century of “laissez-faire”
or letting the colonies “do their
own thing”, the British
government tried to gain control
with disastrous results.
French and Indian War
England/Colonists vs. France/Indians
• George Washington serves in the British
army.
• Ben Franklin proposes Albany Plan of
Union (“Join or Die”) to unite the colonies,
it is rejected.
• France finally loses and has to give up all
of its land in North America to the British.
• Treaty of Paris, gave England all land
between the Atlantic Ocean and the
Mississippi.
French and Indian War leaves
the British with a HUGE debt, so
they begin to pass taxes that
anger American colonists.
• Proclamation of 1763 (None shall
pass!)
• Sugar Act
• Stamp Act
• Quartering Act
• Townshend Acts
• Tea Act
The Boston Massacre
• British troops fire on
American protesters,
killing five (Crispus
Attucks = first African
American to die for
independence).
• Sons of Liberty and
Paul Revere use the
incident as
propaganda to
anger Americans.
Boston Tea Party
Sons of Liberty, led by Sam Adams,
dump British tea into the Boston Harbor.
As punishment, Britain passes the Intolerable Acts
(closed the harbor, prohibited town meetings, took
away right to jury, new quartering act, etc.)
“The shot heard ‘round the world.”
1775: Paul Revere rouses the Minute-men to meet the
British at Lexington and Concord, the first battles of the
Revolution.
Second Continental
Congress
Meets in Philadelphia and
selects George Washington
as the Commander of the
Continental Army
“The Olive Branch Petition”
• Written by members of the Second
Continental Congress
• Last attempt at peace between British
and the colonists
• Rejected by King George III
JULY 4, 1776 – Declaration of
Independence!
• Written by Jefferson and approved by
the Second Continental Congress.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident,
that all men are created equal, that they
are endowed by their Creator with certain
unalienable rights, that among these are
Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of Independence 1776
Battle of Trenton
• Washington
defeats the
Hessians
(German
mercenaries)
at Trenton on
Christmas Day
• Crossing the
Delaware
River
Battle of Saratoga
Turning Point of the War!
American victory that convinces France
to join the American cause.
Valley Forge
• Winter camp for the Continental Army,
joined by Marquis de Lafayette and
Baron von Steuben.
• Becomes a symbol of the hardships of
war.
Battle of Yorktown
Final Major Battle of the War!
• The Americans and the French win!
George Washington
Gen. Cornwallis
Cornwallis’ Surrender at Yorktown
“The World Turned Upside Down”
Treaty of Paris – 1783!
British finally recognize the United States
as an independent nation.
Articles of Confederation
America’s First “Constitution”
An agreement by the states to work together.
Most power belongs to the states, forming a
very weak central government.
Weaknesses
• No judiciary
• No executive branch (President)
• One legislature with little power
• Each state has one vote
• No power to tax
• No power to regulate trade between the
states
EARLY REPUBLIC ERA
Successes of the Articles of
Confederation
• Kept the country united during the
Revolution
• Negotiated the Treaty of Paris of 1783,
ending the war
• Passed the Northwest Ordinance, set
the rules on how a territory becomes a
state, no slaves in the territory,
education is a priority
Shays’ Rebellion
• Daniel Shays, Revolutionary War veteran
and farmer
• Occurred in western Massachusetts
• Small farmers angered by crushing state
debts and taxes go on a riot – 4 get killed
• Made people realize that the Articles
needed to be improved!
Constitutional Convention
1787!
Delegates from the 13 states meet in Philadelphia to
rewrite the Articles of Confederation, but instead
create a whole new constitution.
• Virginia Plan – proposed by larger populated states
(representation in Congress based on population).
• New Jersey Plan – proposed by less populated
states (representation in Congress based on
equality).
• The southern slave states want their slaves counted
for representation purposes, but not for taxation.
Compromises of the
Constitutional Convention
• Great Compromise – created a House
of Representatives based on the
population of each state and a
Senate with two senators for each
state.
• Three-Fifths Compromise – every 3 out
of 5 slaves would be counted in terms
of representation.
1787
The
Constitution of
the United
States is
approved by
the delegates.
Preamble to the Constitution
“We the People of the United States, in
order to form a more perfect union,
establish justice, insure domestic
tranquility, provide for the common
defense, promote the general welfare,
and secure blessings of liberty to
ourselves and our posterity, do ordain
and establish this Constitution for the
United States of America.”
7 Principles of the Constitution
• Federalism – SHARING is caring!
• Popular Sovereignty – the people rule through
their vote.
• Republicanism – People vote for representatives.
• Separation of Powers – Three branches of
government.
• Checks and Balances – Each branch checks over
one another.
• Limited Government – Everyone, including
powerful leaders, must obey laws.
• Individual Rights – Personal freedoms, liberties and
privileges are guaranteed by the law.
Yeah! The Constitution is ready
for approval! Or is it?
FEDERALISTS (J. Adams, A. Hamilton, J. Madison)
– supported a stronger federal government,
wanted the Constitution ratified without a Bill of
Rights.
ANTI-FEDERALISTS (G. Mason, A. Burr, P. Henry) –
feared a strong central government, wanted
stronger states and a Bill of Rights added before
they would support it.
Federalist Papers
Essays written by the Federalists to
convince people that a stronger federal
government was needed and to ratify
the Constitution without a Bill of Rights.
James Madison
Alexander Hamilton
John Jay
Bill of Rights
First 10 Amendments to the Constitution
1st – Freedom of speech, press, religion, petition and right to
assemble
2nd – Right to own guns
3rd – No quartering of soldiers
4th – Protection against unreasonable search and seizure
5th – Right to due process, right to remain silent, no doublejeopardy
6th – Right to jury in criminal trial, speedy trial, lawyer
7th – Right to jury in civil suits
8th – No cruel and unusual punishments
9th – These aren’t your only rights
10th – Powers not given to the national government go to the
state governments
Separation of Powers
LEGISLATIVE
EXECUTIVE
JUDICIAL
Congress
President
Writes the
laws
Carries out
laws
Supreme
Court
Interprets
the laws
Checks and Balances
LEGISLATIVE
• Controls
money
• Overrides
vetoes
• Power of
impeachment
• Approve
appointments
EXECUTIVE
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Veto power
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Make
appointments •
Power to
pardon
Issues
executive
orders
JUDICIAL
Judicial
Review
Serve for life
Federalism
George Washington
1st President
Main Events:
• Whiskey Rebellion
• Wars with Indians
• Farewell Address
– Stay neutral (don’t
get involved in other
nation’s affairs)
– Stay away from
political parties
John Adams
2nd
President
Main Events:
• XYZ Affair
• Alien and Sedition Acts
• Jefferson and Madison
respond with the Virginia
and Kentucky Resolutions,
introduce states’ rights.
Thomas Jefferson
3rd President and Main Author
of the Declaration of
Independence
Main Events:
• Louisiana Purchase (1803!)
• Marbury v. Madison
establishes Judicial Review
• Lewis and Clark Expedition
• Embargo Act
James Madison
4th President and Father
of the Constitution
Main Events:
• War of 1812 vs. Great Britain
• Star Spangled Banner,
written by Francis Scott Key
• Battle of New Orleans makes
Andrew Jackson a war hero
• Stoppage of manufactured
imports leads to Industrial
Revolution
James Monroe
5h President
Main Events:
• Era of Good Feelings
• Adams-Onis Treaty (U. S. gets
Florida)
• Missouri Compromise of 1820
• The American System
• Monroe Doctrine (warning to
European nations)
• War hero from War of 1812
(Battle of New Orleans)
• First President from the deep
South
• Created the modern
Democratic Party
• Introduced Jacksonian
Democracy (increased voting
to more citizens)
• Represented the common man
• Jackson vs. Bank of the U. S. –
vetoed charter for the Bank of
the U. S. to continue operating
• Jackson vs. Native Americans –
Indian Removal Act passed,
ignored Worcester v. Georgia
ruling, led to the Trail of Tears
• Jackson vs. John C. Calhoun –
Nullification Crisis
Andrew
Jackson
7th President
“The Big Three”
• John C. Calhoun: Former Vice President and
Senator from S. Carolina; became the voice for
the South regarding issues such as states’ rights
and slavery; Jackson’s political enemy during the
Nullification Crisis.
• Henry Clay: Known as the “Great Compromiser”;
wrote the Missouri Compromise, the American
System, Compromise of 1833 and the
Compromise of 1850.
• Daniel Webster: Firmly against secession by any
state, supported industrial economy and became
Calhoun’s political enemy.
The Industrial Revolution
Era of Reform
Steps to the Civil War
1. Declaration of Independence
2. Constitutional Convention (3/5
Compromise)
3. Missouri Compromise
4. Difference in economies and growth of
Northern cities and industry
5. Tariff of Abominations
6. Nullification Crisis
7. Wilmot Proviso
Steps to the Civil War
8. Compromise of 1850
9. Fugitive Slave Act
10. Uncle Tom’s Cabin
11. Kansas-Nebraska Act
12. Dred Scott v. Sanford
13. John Brown’s Attack on Harpers Ferry
14. Election of Lincoln as President in
1860
THE CIVIL WAR
1861-1865
Civil War (1861-1865)
• 1861: Southern states secede and form
the Confederate States of America. They
elect Jefferson Davis as their President.
• President Lincoln called for 75,000 men to
“put down the insurrection”.
Confederate forces fire on Fort
Sumter in Charleston, South
Carolina. The Civil War begins!
Famous Civil War Generals
CONFEDERACY
Robert E. Lee
“Stonewall”
Jackson
UNION
Ulysses S. Grant
William T. S
herman
Important Civil War Battles
• Fort Sumter – 1st battle of the Civil War
• Battle of Antietam – Single bloodiest day in
the war (23,000 casualties combined)
• Siege of Vicksburg – Union forces led by Grant
capture Vicksburg, Mississippi, giving the North
control of the Mississippi River
• Battle of Gettysburg – Robert E. Lee’s army
invades the north and meets Union forces in
Gettysburg, PA. Lee’s forces lose, making the
battle the turning point of the Civil War.
The Emancipation Proclamation
Issued by Abraham Lincoln in 1863
This proclamation announced that all
slaves in the rebelling states were to be
free.
Yet, because the war was still being
fought, not a single slave was freed. Still,
many slaves knew about the
Proclamation and began to do their
part to see that the Confederacy was
defeated.
Gettysburg Address
President Lincoln gives a speech to
dedicate a cemetery to the men who died
and to encourage Americans to finish the
war.
“Four score and seven years ago our
fathers brought forth, on this continent, a
new nation, conceived in Liberty, and
dedicated to the proposition that all men
are created equal.”
Civil War is Over!
General Robert E. Lee surrenders to Ulysses
S. Grant at Appomattox Court House,
Virginia.
Lincoln is assassinated in a theater
shortly after by John Wilkes Booth.
Reconstruction Amendments
• 13th – Ended slavery in the U. S.
• 14th – Gave citizenship and due
process to anyone born in the U. S.
• 15th – Gave black men the right to
vote
• 19th – Women have the right to vote