Turning Points (1754 to 1877)

1754 v. 1763:1754: The French and Indian War erupts as a result of disputes over land in the Ohio River Valley. In May, George Washington leads a small group of American colonists to victory over the French, then builds Fort Necessity in the Ohio territory. In July, after being attacked by numerically superior French forces, Washington surrenders the fort and retreats. First war fought using the colonists and showed their alleigence to the British.

1763: The French and Indian War, known in Europe as the Seven Year's War, ends with the Treaty of Paris. Under the treaty, France gives England all French territory east of the Mississippi River, except New Orleans. American strength is evident. The Proclamation of 1763, signed by King George III of England, prohibits any English settlement west of the Appalachian mountains and requires those already settled in those regions to return east in an attempt to ease tensions with Native Americans. This starts the ball rolling on American independence.

Best Choice: 1763; this is when American's began to resent the English and push against their colonial reign and realized they had changning feelings about themselves as a separate entity from England.

1763 v. 1776:
1763: The French and Indian War, known in Europe as the Seven Year's War, ends with the Treaty of Paris. Under the treaty, France gives England all French territory east of the Mississippi River, except New Orleans. American strength is evident. The Proclamation of 1763, signed by King George III of England, prohibits any English settlement west of the Appalachian mountains and requires those already settled in those regions to return east in an attempt to ease tensions with Native Americans. This starts the ball rolling on American independence.

1776: United States issues the Declaration of Independence, listing their grievances with the British rule and calling for independence. George Washington crosses the Delaware.

Best Choice: 1776; Americans declared their independence for their nation and became united under the goal to win the war against the British; things seemed positive in that respect.

1789 v. 1800:
1789: Congress passes its first tax, an 8.5 percent protective tax on 30 different items, with items arriving on American ships charged at a lower rate than foreign ships. The U.S. Army is established by Congress. The Bill of Rights is added to the Constitution of the United States. George Washington is inaugurated as President.

1800: Jefferson beats Adams in the race for the Presidency; the Federalist party is all but dead. First peaceful transition of power. The Quasi-War ends.

Best Choice: 1789; America is tasked with constructing a new nation after the failure of the Articles of Confederation; the very first president is elected to office; it was the most crucial year for establishing America's success as a thriving nation.

1828 v. 1844:
1828: U.S. President John Quincy Adams signs the Tariff of 1828/Tariff of Abominations into law to protect industry in the North; sparked the Nullification crisis in South Carolina. South Carolina declares right of states to nullify federal laws. Saw the birth of the two-party system, Jackson won the Election of 1828.

1844: Texan envoys sign Treaty of Annexation with the United States. James K Polk elected 11th president of US. Henry Clay loses as a Whig candidate and strongly disagrees with Polk's plans. 

Best Choice: 1844; with the election of Polk, his ideologies such as the Manifest Destiny and continentialism changed the landscape of America forever; his presidency would push for the annexation of California, Texas, and much of the Southwest, as well as the Mexican-American War.

1848 v. 1850:
1848: Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ends Mexican War; US acquires Texas, California, New Mexico & Arizona for $15 million. Zachary Taylor is elected president; gold is found in California. Convention at Seneca Falls is held by Stanton & Mott.

1850: Henry Clay introduces Compromise of 1850 on slavery. California admitted to Union as 16th free state. Fugitive Slave Act was passed. Territories of New Mexico & Utah created. Millard Fillmore is sworn into office.

Best Choice: 1850; set the stage for the beginnigs of tension between the North & South; the Compromise of 1850 would soon be ignored and nonhelpful, and the slavery question would further polarize the two halves of the US.

1860 v. 1865:

1860: Abraham Lincoln elected. South Carolina secedes from the United States of America. Secession for the rest of the South is imminent and Civil War is on the horizon; it will begin. 

1865: Congress passes 13th Amendment, abolishing slavery in America. American Civil War ends with the surrender of the Confederate states. Abraham Lincoln is assassinated. KKK forms. President Andrew Johnson proclaims reconstruction of Confederate states.

Best Choice: 1865; with the end of the Civil War and the assassination of President Lincoln, America was on the edge of a huge change. Reconstruction would bring about numerous changes for America and African-Americans particularly, launching the United States into a struggle for civil rights and economic struggle alike.

1865 v. 1877:

1865: Congress passes 13th Amendment, abolishing slavery in America. American Civil War ends with the surrender of the Confederate states. Abraham Lincoln is assassinated. KKK forms. President Andrew Johnson proclaims reconstruction of Confederate states.

1877: Compromise of 1877 ends the Reconstruction Era. Rutherford B. Hayes is elected as president. 

Best Choice: 1865; with the end of the Civil War and the assassination of President Lincoln, America was on the edge of a huge change. Reconstruction would bring about numerous changes for America and African-Americans particularly, launching the United States into a struggle for civil rights and economic struggle alike.