United States History Student Edition

Jewish tradition says the world was created. Muslims date their calendar from the time their prophet, Muhammad, left the city of Makkah for Madinah. This occurred in year 622 C.E. in the Western calendar. Using Time Lines In studying the past, historians focus on chronology , or the order of dates in which events happened. An easy way to make sense of the flow of dates and events is to read or make a time line. A time line is a diagram that shows the order of events within a given period of time. A time line also shows the amount of time between events. Most time lines are divided into sections of time. Events are placed on a time line at the date when the event occurred. Usually, the dates on a time line are evenly spaced. Sometimes, however, a time line covers events over too many years to show. In this case, a slanted or jagged line might be placed on the time line. This shows that a certain period of time is omitted from, or left off, the time line. A time line can be a single line or it can be two or more lines stacked on top of each other. Historians put the events that happened in one part of the world above a stacked time line and those that took place in another part of the world below it. That makes it easy to see what was taking place in different areas at the same time. chronology the order in which events happen time line a tool for studying events over time 7 CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING 1. Describing What is prehistory, and how is it different from ancient history? 2. Explaining What is the purpose of a time line? APPLYING WHAT I LEARNED 1. Argumentative Writing Write a short paragraph to explain why it is important to study history. 2. Collaborating With a partner, create an informative poster that expresses why we study history. Include some of the tools that historians use to measure time on your poster.

1775

1776 Some states adopt first state constitutions 1777 Articles of Confederation adopted

1780

1781 Maryland finally approves the Articles of Confederation, making them the official basis of the government of the United States

1785

1786 Shays’s Rebellion begins 1787 The Northwest Ordinance sets rules for territories to become states 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia begins

1790

1790 Rhode Island is last state to ratify the Constitution

1791 The first ten amendments to the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, are ratified

1795

This time line shows events that happened between 1775 and 1795, during the early years of the United States. Analyzing Visuals Describe the increments used on this time line. To date events that took place before the birth of Jesus, or B.C.E., historians count backward from 1 C.E. There is no year “0.” The year before 1 C.E. is 1 B.C.E. To date events after B.C.E., historians count forward. The year after 1 C.E. is 2 C.E. Other cultures organize years differently. The Jewish calendar begins about 3,760 years before the Western calendar. This is the time when

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