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Oct 12, 1492
Christopher Columbus discovers America
He actually landed in Cuba, but he was the first European to discover the "New World" -
The English start the first US colony at Jamestown
Jamestown was the first permanent settlement for the English in America. -
The Boston Tea Party
To protest unfair British taxes on Americans, patriots threw British tea into Boston Harbor. -
The Revolutionary War Begins
The United States fought for its independence from Great Britain -
The Declaration of Independence is signed
The Declaration of Independence said that we are our own country, independent from Britain -
Americans win the Revolutionary War
By defeating the British in the Revolutionary War, the United States became an independent country. -
The US Constitution is ratified
The Constitution created the government that we have today. -
The Bill of Rights is signed
The Bill of Rights guaranteed certain rights to Americans, like freedom of speech and the right to a fair trial by jury to name just a few. -
The Louisiana Purchase
Napoleon sold the Louisiana Purchase to the US for $11 million dollars. That's $219 million in today's money. It doubled the size of the United States. -
Lewis and Clark explore the Louisiana Territory
They were the first Americans to see what lie west of the thirteen colonies. -
The War of 1812 Begins
Americans fought the British over freedom of the seas. The British burned Washington DC. -
The Civil War begins
The South had seperated from the Union over the issue of slavery in the West, and the North fought to keep the United States together. -
The North wins the Civil War
Because the North won, the US remained one nation, however, the issue of equality between blacks and whites remained an issue for another century and beyond. -
Susan B. Anthony is arrested trying to vote
She was a leader in the women's rights movement. -
The American Federation of Labor is formed
It was created by Samuel Gompers so working people could have better conditions, fewer hours, and more pay.
