Major Events In American History

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Many major events that happened during the American history have helped to the evolution of the United States as a nation/state from 1776 to 1877. One of the major events was the signing of the Declaration of Independence July 4, 1776. The idea for the document came about when America was trying to leave the British Empire which resulted in the start of the Revolutionary War. Even before the start of the war Britain and the Colonies relationship was strained, but severely escalated when the war started. The relationship between France improved Britain and France were not allies, so when the colonies declared that they wanted their freedom France supported them generously. So the First Continental Congress was the first gathering of chosen …show more content…
The document announced that the 13 colonies would be independent states, that were separated from the British Empire. These independent states would come together and form a nation. This was the official beginning of the United States. During the signing of the Declaration of Independence the colonies were still under control by Britain till the signing on the Treaty of Paris on Sept. 3, 1783 till then was America free of Britain. With the signing of the Treaty of Paris by representatives of King George III of Great Britain and representatives of the United States of America had the Revolutionary War ended. With this treaty, America was separated from the British Empire and free to do as they wished. This treaty was the start of building a nation. The treaty set the boundaries between the British Empire and the United States, details included fishing rights and restoration of property and prisoners of war. Protection from pirates and such on the seas were taken away and other rights were as …show more content…
From his election sparks many different events. Lincoln's victory prompted seven southern slave states to form the Confederate States of America by leaving the Union even before he moved into the White House. A Confederate attack on Fort Sumter inspired the North to enthusiastically rally behind the Union, which was the start of the Civil War. Lincolns primary goal was to reunite the nation, keeping the union intact. He also made major decisions on Union war strategy, including a naval blockade that shut down the South's normal trade, moves to take control of Kentucky and Tennessee, and using gunboats to gain control of the southern river system. As the war progressed, his complex moves toward ending slavery included the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863; Lincoln used the US Army to protect escaped slaves, encouraged the border states to outlaw slavery, and pushed through Congress the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which permanently outlawed slavery. This declared that in the rebelling states, slaves were declared free. This freed 3.1 million out of 4 million of the slaves in America at the time. The Proclamation was only applied to slaves in Confederate lands. Lincoln pushed a moderate view of Reconstruction, seeking to reunite the nation again through a speedily policy of generous reconciliation in the face of lingering and bitter disagreement. On April 14, 1865, five days
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