Page 126 - 100 Events That Made History
P. 126
And also… were dumped into
340 tea chests
Here are some more big events, all of which Boston harbor
helped to shape the UNITED STATES
c.15,000 years ago First humans 1773 Boston Tea Party
Archeologists believe prehistoric humans Trouble brewed in Britain’s American colonies
entered North America from Eurasia across the when settlers objected to paying sky-high
land bridge that once linked Alaska to Siberia. taxes on goods. When shiploads of imported
Hunters and plant gatherers, they were on the tea arrived in BOSTON, the locals wouldn’t pay
move because of food shortage or climate the duty. Disguising themselves as Native
change and looking for a place to SURVIVE. Americans, they dumped the tea into the
harbor. This act of defiance against British
1000 CE First European visitor rule led directly to the American Revolution.
Some old Norse SAGAS (long stories) tell two
different tales of a Viking explorer who sailed 1803 Louisiana Purchase
off-course and hit North America, probably At the beginning of the
Newfoundland. The lost voyager named his 19th century, a huge chunk
landing place Vinland because the area was of America belonged to
smothered with wild grape vines. France, about 800,000 sq miles
Louisiana
(2 million sq km) called the territory
c.1570 Iroquois Confederacy LOUISIANA TERRITORY.
In New York State, before European settlers The French emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte,
arrived, five Native American tribes banded losing interest in it, sold Louisiana to President
together to give each other support. They were Thomas Jefferson for $15 million dollars,
the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and doubling US territory.
Seneca, all of whom spoke the IROQUOIAN
LANGUAGE. Later, the Tuscarora people joined 1836 Battle of the Alamo
them, too. The group grew powerful and stayed In 1836, Texas belonged to Mexico and
together until 1775, when the tribes took different was fighting for independence. During this
sides in the American Revolution. key battle, about 200 Texans holed up in the
Alamo, an empty church in San Antonio.
1692 Salem Witch Trials Outnumbered by thousands of Mexican
When some LITTLE GIRLS in Salem Village, troops, they defended their position for 13
Massachusetts, had strange fits, their illness was days. None came out alive. “REMEMBER THE
attributed to witchcraft. This started a ALAMO” was taken up as a rallying cry. Texas
period of fear and suspicion in which gained independence a few weeks later.
more than 200 people were accused
of using black magic. During 1848 Mexican Cession
the trials that followed, 19 After Texas became part of the United States
“witches” were found guilty in 1846, the USA and Mexico fought a war over
and hung, and one was the state’s boundary lines. The quarrel ended
crushed to death with stones. with the TREATY OF GUADALUPE HIDALGO,
under which the borders were agreed. Mexico
The “witches’” fits may have been also agreed to give the USA another $15 million
worth of territory. This handover, or cession,
caused by a bread fungus
124 included what would later be called California.
