American History Central

An Independent Digital Encyclopedia of United States History

New on American History Central

General Lachlan McIntosh, American Revolution

Battle of the Rice Boats

The Battle of the Rice Boats was fought between the United States of America and Great Britain from May 2–3, 1776, near Savannah, Georgia. Although the outcome of the battle was inconclusive, British forces eventually withdrew, leaving Georgia under the control of the Patriots.

Admiral Samuel Graves, Portrait, Northcote

Burning of Falmouth

The Burning of Falmouth was a British naval attack on the town of Falmouth, Massachusetts — present-day Portland, Maine — that took place on October 18, 1775.

James Beckwourth, Mountain Man, Portrait

James Beckwourth

Famous Mountain Man — trapper, frontiersman, and guide — who is most well-known for being a successful black man in the first half of the 19th century and his reputation for exaggerating stories about his life.

George Grenville, Prime Minister, Portrait

Navigation Acts

The Navigation Acts were a series of laws that controlled trade and shipping between Great Britain and the American Colonies.

Sir Francis Bernard, Governor, Portrait

Sir Francis Bernard

Sir Francis Bernard (1712–1779) served as the Royal Governor of New Jersey (1758–1760) and Massachusetts (1760–1769) during the early years of the American Revolution.

Colonial America and the French and Indian War

Salem Witch Trials, Howard Pyle

Salem Witch Trials (1692–1693)

The famous Witchcraft Crisis took place in Salem Village in 1692–1693.

William Brewster, Painting

Separatists (Pilgrims)

Puritan Separatists — the Pilgrims — left Europe and sailed to America for Religious Freedom.

Battle of Lake George, Johnson Saving Dieskau

Battle of Lake George (1755)

Learn about the intense battle from the French and Indian war that included the Bloody Morning Scout, the Bloody Pond, and the death of King Hendrick.

AmericaN Revolution and the Revolutionary war

General Nathanael Greene, Portrait, Illustration

Nathanael Greene

Greene was a master strategist and a hero who helped lead American forces to a stunning victory in the Southern Theater.

Abraham Whipple, Painting

Gaspee Incident and Affair

The Sons of Liberty nearly started the war with Britain in 1772 when they attacked a British ship, shot a British officer, and burned the ship.

Samuel Adams, Portrait

Boston Massacre (1770)

When British troops fired into a crowd and killed colonists, Samuel Adams called it “The Boston Massacre.”

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Secession, Civil War, and Reconstruction

Philip Sheridan, General

Battle of Fisher’s Hill

The Union victory at the Battle of Fisher’s Hill opened up the Shenandoah Valley and led to “The Burning,” Philip Sheridan’s scorched earth campaign.

John Wilkes Booth, Abraham Lincoln Assassin, Portrait

Lincoln Assassination

On April 14, 1865, John Wilkes struck a blow for the Confederacy when he shot Abraham Lincoln at Ford’s Theater

Abraham Lincoln, Portrait, Gardner

Emancipation Proclamation

Lincoln’s proclamation freed enslaved people in areas that were in rebellion against the United States.