American History 1492-1877 History Research Paper Essay

AMERICAN HISTORY 1492-1877
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Course
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American History 1492-1877
October 12, 1492- The Discovery of the Americas
Christopher Columbus first lands in the Americas. He and his companions plant the flag of Spain on the island. Columbus discovered the New World for Europeans. He named the island San Salvador, although the natives already had a name for it; Guanahani. The event is important in American history because the exploration of the Americas by the Europeans had certain impacts on Native Americans, as well as the trade across the Atlantic Ocean. Also, studying Columbus as a person and his contribution in introducing Europeans to the Americas is important as it sheds light on some fundamental aspects of American history, such as migration of people from different cultures, and how such migrations affects the inhabitants even today. Further, Columbus's discovery of the Americas is an important event that is celebrated each year on 12th October in the United States (US).[. Robert Hume, Christopher Columbus and the European Discovery of America. (Leominster: Gracewing, 1992), 38.] [. Leah Shafer and Bari Walsh, “The Columbus Day Problem,” Harvard Graduate School of Education, October 5, 2017, /news/uk/17/10/columbus-day-problem (accessed July 23, 2020).]
May 14, 1607- Founding of Jamestown
This was the year that people from England established their first permanent settlement in the Americas. On this particular day, Jamestown, Virginia was founded. Virginia was named in honor of Elizabeth I. This event is of importance in American history because it explains the origin of one of the states in the US, Virginia State. It is also important because not only did it shape the colonial era in the US but also the revolutionary era, in some way. Virginia is one of the thirteen original colonies that participated in the Revolutionary War, although it had remained a royal colony until then. By studying this event, students get a better understanding of what came out of Jamestown, which is now a historic site National Park Service and Preservation, Virginia.[. America's Library, “Colonial America: Jamestown was Established May 14, 1607,” America's Library, n.d., /jb/colonial/jb_colonial_jamestwn_1.html (accessed July 23, 2020).] [. Sarah Stebbins, “A Short History of Jamestow,” National Park Service, February 26, 2015, /jame/learn/historyculture/a-short-history-of-jamestown.htm (accessed July 23, 2020).]
March 5, 1770-The Boston Massacre
On this day, a tragic event occurred in Boston, one of the thirteen colonies. One of the soldiers guarding the Boston Customs establishment was attacked by colonists, who were against the soldiers’ presence in Boston. Other soldiers came to the rescue of their fellow soldier and instead of restoring order they lost control and fired at the crowd. Three people were killed on the spot while others were injured. This event angered the colonists and since the soldiers did not have the order to shoot, they were taken to trial. This event heightened the tension between the colonists and the British government and was one of the factors that accelerated the American Revolution. This event should be studied because it illuminates some of the issues that aggrieved the colonists and pushed them to fight for their independence.[. Library of Congress, “Today in History- March 5: The Boston Massacre,” Library of Congress, n.d., /item/today-in-history/march-05/ (accessed July 23, 2020).]
April 18, 1775-The First Shots of War
Under the leadership of General Thomas Gage, 1,000 British troops were sent to Concord where colonists had collected and stored guns and powder, ready to defend themselves against an attack by British soldiers. This was on the night of April 18, 1775, and General Gage was hoping to catch the colonists unaware. However, the colonists were ready for an attack and this is when the first shots were fired, marking the beginning of the Revolutionary War. Many colonists supported the patriots on the war against the British soldiers and advocated for independence from the British government. This event of the first shots marked the beginning of the road towards independence. This event is fundamental in the history of the US because it was the first-ever official military engagement between the colonists and British soldiers.[. Library of Congress, “First Shots of War, 1775,” Library of Congress, n.d., /teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactivities/presentations/timeline/amrev/shots/ (accessed July 23, 2020).]
July 4, 1776- The Adoption of the Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence is an important event in American history. On this day, the Continental Congress issued the Declaration of Independence, which was adopted by the thirteen colonies and ended their political association with England. This declaration also allowed the thirteen colonies to get support from the French government, who were their allies in the war against the British government. It also allowed the US to be recognized as an independent state by other foreign states, although some took longer than others. The Declaration of Independence not only outlined the colonists’ grievances but also highlighted the reasons why they wanted independence from the British government. The adoption of the final draft of the Declaration of Independence is an important event in American history since it laid the foundation of a democratic government.[. U.S. Office of the Historian, “The Declaration of Independence, 1776,” U.S. Office of the Historian, n.d., https://history.state.gov/milestones/1776-1783/declaration (accessed July 23, 2020).]
April 30, 1789- Inauguration of George Washington as the First US President
On this day, the first-ever elected president of the US took an o...