American History Timeline Quiz

The Early Years of American History

• The Declaration of Independence was written in 1776, stating "All men are created equal."
• The US Constitution was written in 1787 and ratified in 1788.

Slavery in the United States

• The importation of slaves was banned in 1807.
• The Missouri Compromise of 1820 allowed Missouri to enter the Union as a slave state and Maine as a free state, maintaining a balance between slave and free states.
• The 36°30' line was established as a boundary between slave and free territories.
• The Dred Scott decision in 1857 ruled that slaves were not citizens and had no right to sue in court.

The American Civil War

• The American Civil War took place from 1861 to 1865.
• Abraham Lincoln, who was elected in 1860, issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, freeing slaves in the Southern states.
• The war ended in 1865, leading to the abolition of slavery.

The Reconstruction Era

• The 13th Amendment to the US Constitution, ratified in 1865, abolished slavery.
• The 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, granted citizenship to former slaves.
• Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19, commemorates the day when slaves in Texas were informed of their freedom in 1865.

The Debate over Slavery

• The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 allowed new states to decide whether to allow slavery, leading to pro-slavery and anti-slavery conflicts.
• The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 required the return of escaped slaves to their owners.
• The Compromise of 1850 allowed California to enter the Union as a free state.