History and Knowing Who We Are - Our Failure, Our Duty
Boston Massacre
March 5, 1770 - Occurring on the King Street of Boston, an altercation between Colonists and British Soldiers erupted due to high tensions regarding unfair taxes set by the British. This was among the most important events that led up to the American Revolution and motivated people to fight. Five Colonists were killed and six were wounded.
George Washington Crossing the Delaware
December 26, 1776 - George Washington and 5,400 Colonial troops crossed the Delaware River to invade an ill-prepared hessian (German mercenary) outpost. They crossed from the night of Christmas and into the next day. Their plans had worked as they had overwhelmed the outpost and secured the first major victory for the colonies.
Constitutional Convention
May 25, 1787 - Occurring 4 years after the victory of the American Revolution, the 55 state delegates meet up to create a new form of government to replace the Articles of Confederation. After 2 years of debates and revisions, our government was born. Our government would change and adapt due to the changing interests of the public over time.
Thomas Jefferson's Monticello
The home of the delegate of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson and his family lived on the property along with his slaves who worked for him on his plantation. Although he was revered as one of the founding fathers, his plantation is a great reminder that all the founding fathers had their flaws.
Children Working with Machinery
This picture was taken during the Industrial Revolution. America had begun using machines in order to create products and goods at a much higher rate. Overall, this time was beneficial for the United States, but it did have a dark side. Often, working conditions were terrible and the machinery could be dangerous in some instances. Above all, children were put to work in these environments.
Mountain of Bison Skulls
One of the most infamous pictures in the history of the United States. During the Industrial Revolution, people decided to move west and start new lives due to the opportunities held there. This meant that land was taken from the natives, through negotiations and/or violence. One method used was to massacre bison, due to the natives' reliance on them as a food source.
California Gold Rush
When people settled westward, they had many opportunities to make money. One method for making money was panning for gold. People would use strainers and sift them through riverbeds in order to collect gold. Ironically, the people who sold the equipment to as such often made more money than those who actually sifted for gold.
Salem Witch Trials
From 1962-1963, there were a large number of witchcraft allegations in Massachusetts Bay. People blamed each other for any mishap or unfortunate event. They would hold trials to figure out if somebody was guilty, using "spectral evidence". Spectral evidence was "evidence" that only the accuser could see. Many were executed due to false rulings and still insisting on innocence. Many died due to the general ignorance and superstitions of the people.
Boston Tea Party
December 1773 -A protest against the Townshend Acts passed by England in the Boston Harbor. The Sons of Liberty, a group of American rebels, dumped over 100 chests full of tea into the water to waste the money of the British, as well as to show discontent of their treatment from the British. This was done to try and halt the taxes on paper, tea, and other goods by the British when their attempts to mediate failed.
The Oregon Trail
A trail that was about 2,000 miles long and led from Missouri to Oregon. People traveling westward would travel in wagons pulled by horses. People who originally traveled along the trail sold everything that they could not carry to financially support their trip. The trip would often take over a year to finish, and there were various dangers along the trail. One could get crushed by the wheels if they fell off the wagon, get injured by the animals, or get shot by bandits.
