U.S. History - Key Dates and Eras

European countries like France, Spain, and Britain searched for new lands and competed for control of territory and resources.
http://www.vos.noaa.gov/MWL/apr_08/Images/map3big.jpg

A period of religious revival and evangelism especially in New England led by preachers like Jonathan Edwards. This movement challenged authority and placed salvation in the hands of people and their actions. Sermons argued that people were equal under God and that anyone could be saved.
http://www1.assumption.edu/users/mcclymer/His130/P-H/greatawakening/whitfieldpreaching.jpg

Due to increased resentment towards British policies, colonists begin to protest and revolt. 13 colonies declare they are free from British rule and fight a war for independence.
http://pellcenter.salvereginablogs.com/files/2012/02/Spirit-of-76.jpeg

In anticipation of a vote for independence, the 2nd Continental Congress on June 11 appointed Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston as a committee to draft a declaration of independence that would justify and explain why the United States should be free of British rule.
On July 4th 1776, the 2nd Continental Congress officially adopted the Declaration of Independence.
http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQCk1gUlVPR3m5pJMBl60kt9qV9Ikw1pD8zr1r9HIgXw-i2nK6F:www.history.com/images/media/slideshow/john-adams/john-adams-declaration.jpg

Our nation established a plan of government based on 7 Key Principles: Limited Government, Separation of Powers, Checks and Balances, Republicanism, Federalism, Popular Sovereignty and Individual Rights.
http://teachingamericanhistory.org/images/christy.jpg

The early years of the United States when the new nation under the Constitution had to face issues such as maintaining national security, building a military, and creating a stable economic system. Different ideas for our nation's future arose and political parties began to form.
http://prints.encore-editions.com/500/0/washington-and-his-cabinet.jpg

A growing division within the U.S. developed between North and South over economic differences, social divisions and the issue of slavery. These divisions became polarized with the growing abolition movement and the balance of power in Congress in jeopardy with the addition of new lands. This division reached it's apex with the Election of Abraham Lincoln and resulted in the Southern states seceding and 5 years of Civil War.
http://www.onthisdeity.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/hf-john-brown.jpg

For half a century the United States rapidly acquired lands in order to realize the "Manifest Destiny" of extending from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/12/American_progress.JPG
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/94/U.S._Territorial_Acquisitions.png

With the United States rapidly growing, many people called for improving society by expanding rights and improving the quality of life. The groups included the Temperance Movement, Educational Reform, Women's Rights Movement, Prison Reform, Labor Reform, and the Abolition Movement.
http://qph.is.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-e4cd746e0c1318dcdefa106c48bb93b0

The era of American History dominated by a single figure, Andrew Jackson, lasted from his election in 1828 until his death in 1845 and the Mexican War a year later. This time in U.S. history marked dramatic changes in the country's economic system and increased suffrage. While he was president Jackson faced controversial issues like the Nullification Crisis, the "Bank War", and Indian Removal.
http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT9Jx9wa1FKjAr8h-9Cgk-YOEQ5MiifJ38R9GVAWeoSQEPAcShGIw:famousauthorquotes.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/keyword-image-andrew-jackson.jpeg%3Fw%3D625