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AP ENGLISH 1001420 02.01 Historical Context Writers React
02.01 Historical Context: Writers React
On your timeline, provide
... [Show More] the date, a description of the event, and an explanation of the
event's impact on citizens, the country, or life in general. Include at least three images
on your timeline.
Event: Salem Witch Trials
Date: 1692-1693
Description: The Salem Witch Trials took place in Salem Village, Massachusetts, when
some women were accused of being possessed by the devil and performing witchcraft.
The women accused were tried, and if found guilty, executed.
Impact on citizens, country, or life in general: The Salem Witch Trials negatively
impacted the citizens as people were being falsely accused of witchcraft, and wrongly
arrested and executed. After the trials ended, many people were upset about them, and
the community was left bitter.
Event: Boston Massacre
Date: March 5, 1770
Description: British soldiers were being harassed and attacked by a mob of U.S.
citizens, as the soldiers had orders to not retaliate. However, as the crowd continued to
burden the soldiers, the British soldiers fired on the crowd. 3 people died immediately,
and 2 more later died of injuries. The soldiers were arrested, however only 2 were found
guilty.
Impact on citizens, country, or life in general: The Boston Massacre helped unite
colonies against Britain.
Event: Louisiana Purchase
Date: 1803
Description: The United States purchased 828,000,000 square miles of land from
France for $15,000,000.
Impact on citizens, country, or life in general: This positively impacted the United States
as it expanded it, giving citizens more land to live off of.
Event: Trail of Tears
Date: 1831-1850
Description: The Trail of Tears was when the United States government required all
Native Americans to move to designated “Indian Territories.” To move, they were forced
to walk for thousands of miles, after President Andrew Jackson signed the Indian
Removal Act.
Impact on citizens, country, or life in general: This impacted the Native Americans
negatively, as they were forced from their homes. About 8,500 Native Americans died
during the trip, leaving them bitter towards the United States government, as well as
white people.
Event: Civil War
Date: 1861-1865
Description: The Civil War started due to the North and South conflicting over slavery.
The North was against slavery, while the South favored it. As a result, the South wanted
to secede from the United States. Through the Civil War, over 620,000 soldiers were
killed. The North won, and the South stayed a part of the United States while slavery
was banned.
Impact on citizens, country, or life in general: The Civil War was very costly, both in
terms of supplies, money, and lives, however it positively impacted black people, as
they could no longer be slaves, and positively impacted the country as it united America [Show Less]