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White House is opened
U.S. President John Adams is the first President to live in the White House, then known as the Executive Mansion and sixteen days later, the United States Congress holds its first session in Washington, D.C. He would be defeated for the presidency by December 3 by Thomas Jefferson. -
Thomas Jefferson is elected President
Thomas Jefferson vs. Aaron Burr. Jefferson won -
Thomas Jefferson is inaugurated
Thomas Jefferson is inaugurated for his first term as President of the United States. -
Thomas Jefferson gives his Second State of the Nation address
Thomas Jefferson gives his Second State of the Nation address to the House and Senate, focusing on peace in the European conflict and payment of the public debt. -
The contexts of the judicial branch are established.
The United States Supreme Court overturns its first U.S. law in the case of Marbury versus Madison, establishing the context of judicial review as they declared a statute within the Constitution void. This established the Supreme Court's position as an equal member of the three branches of the United States government. -
Ohio is admitted to the Union
Ohio is admitted to the Union as the 17th U.S. state. -
Louisiana purchase
President Thomas Jefferson doubles the size of the United States of America with his purchase of the Louisiana Territory from Napoleon's France, thus paving way for the western expansion that would mark the entire history of the 19th century from Missouri to the Pacific Coast. The price of the purchase included bonds of $11,250,000 and $3,750,000 in payments to United States citizens with claims against France. -
12 amendment
Provided the procedure for electing the President and Vice President. -
New Jersey abolishes slavery
New Jersey becomes the last northern state to abolish slavery. -
First steamboat journey
The first practical steamboat journey was made by Robert Fulton in the steamboat Clermont, who navigated the Hudson River from New York City to Albany in thirty-two hours, a trip of 150 miles. This becomes the first commercial steamboat service in the world. -
James Madison is inaugurated
James Madison is inaugurated, succeeding Thomas Jefferson as President of the United States. -
British ships raise a blockade against the United States.
U.S. President James Madison asks Congress to declare war on the United Kingdom. Before the vote could be approved, on June 16, British ships raise a blockade against the United States. -
The Battle of York
The Battle of York (Toronto, Canada) is held when American troops raid and destroy, but do not occupy the city. -
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Star Spangled Banner
September 13-14, 1814 - Francis Scott Key writes the words to the Star Spangled Banner during the twenty-five hour bombardment of Fort McHenry at the head of the river leading to the Baltimore harbor. -
Treaty of Ghent
The treaty stated that all conquered territory was to be returned to America and commissions were set up to determine the boundary between the United States and Canada. -
James Monroe is inaugurated
James Monroe is inaugurated as the President of the United States, succeeding James Madison. His vice president, Daniel D. Tompkins, who would serve alongside Monroe for his entire eight years, was also inaugurated. -
Mississippi is admitted to the United States of America
The United States of America admits its 20th state, Mississippi. -
Andrew Jackson invades Florida
Andrew Jackson and his American army invade Florida in the Seminole War, causing repercussions with Spain as negotiations to purchase the territory had just begun. -
The flag of the United States is officially adopted
The flag of the United States is officially adopted by Congress with the configuration of thirteen red and white stripes and one star for each state in the union. At the time of adoption, with the most recent addition of Mississippi, the flag had twenty stars. -
Illinois is admitted to the Union
The state of Illinois is admitted to the Union, making the U.S.A. a republic with twenty-one states. -
Missouri compromise
Henry Clay compromised Missouri being admitted into statehood as a slave state only because Maine would be admitted as a free state, thus maintaining the balance of slave versus free state -
Florida becomes an official territory
Florida becomes an official territory of the United States. -
ames Monroe announces the Monroe Doctrine
In a speech before Congress, James Monroe announces the Monroe Doctrine, stating the policy that European intervention anyplace in the Americas is opposed and that he would establish American neutrality in future European wars. -
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad is incorporated
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad is incorporated, and would become the first railroad in the United States to offer transportation for people and commercial goods. -
typewriter is patented
William Austin Burt, of the United States, invents and patents the typewriter, at the time called the typographer. -
The Black Hawk War begins
The Black Hawk War begins and would rage from Illinois to Wisconsin through September. It would consequently lead to the removal of Sauk and Fox Indians west, across the Mississippi River. -
The Revolution of Texas begins
The Revolution of Texas begins with the Battle of Gonzales when Mexican soldiers try to disarm the people of Gonzales, but are resisted by local militia. By November, Texas proclaimed the right to secede from Mexico with Sam Houston taking command of the Texas army. His Texas army would capture San Antonio on December 9. -
Patent for the first revolve
The patent for the first revolver is awarded to inventor Samuel Colt. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin, is published
Harriet Beecher Stowe's masterpiece of American slavery, Uncle Tom's Cabin, is published. Stowe wrote this work of anti-slavery in response to the Fugitive Slave Act. It sold 300,000 copies in its first years of publication. -
The Kansas-Nebraska act
The Kansas-Nebraska act becomes law, allowing the issue of slavery to be decided by a vote of settlers. This established the territories of Kansas and Nebraska and would breed much of the rancor that culminated in the actions of the next years of "Bleeding Kansas." -
Two companies of the 1st Cavalry arrive at Fort Scott,
Two companies of the 1st Cavalry under Captain Samuel Sturgis arrive at Fort Scott, Kansas to attempt to bring the disorder of "Bleeding Kansas," the slavery versus anti-slavery battle, in check. -
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Lincoln Douglas debates
A series of seven debates between politicians Stephen Douglas and Abraham Lincoln occur in Illinois. -
Abraham Lincoln is sworn in as president
Abraham Lincoln is sworn in as president of the United States with Hannibal Hamlin as Vice President. -
Lincoln calls for 75,000 volunteers
President Lincoln calls for 75,000 volunteers to fight the secessionist activities in the Confederated States of America, which rose to eleven southern states in secession by May. -
The first Battle of Bull Run
The first Battle of Bull Run at Manassas, Virginia occurs with the repulsion of Union forces by the Confederacy. Led by generals such as Stonewall Jackson, the overwhelming defeat by the Confederate forces of the Union, seen by onlookers who viewed the battle as nothing more than an exercise that would be easily won, showed vibrant indication that the Civil War would not be over quickly or without much cost. -
First major successes of the Union army in the west.
The Army of the Tennessee, under General Grant, repulses the Confederate advance of the day earlier at the Battle of Shiloh, Tennessee, one of the largest battles of the western theatre in the U.S. Civil War. This battle, along with the unconditional surrender of Fort Donelson to General Grant on February 16, signaled the first major successes of the Union army in the west. -
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Gettysburg
After three days of battle surrounding the tiny town of Gettysburg , including over 150,000 troops, Union defenders of Cemetery Ridge turn back General Pickett and Pettigrew during Pickett's Charge. With over 51,000 dead, wounded, or missing, the Battle of Gettysburg, on the farm fields of central Pennsylvania, proved to be the "high water mark of the Confederacy" and the last major push of Confederate forces into Union territory. -
Vicksburg surrenders
The city of Vicksburg surrenders to General Grant after a two month siege. The Vicksburg campaign included major battles from May 19, including the sinking of gunboats on the Mississippi River by Confederate defenders. This major accomplishment in the western theatre, plus the actions of Meade at Gettysburg one day earlier with the repulse of Pickett's Charge, prove to be the two most important victories of the Civil War. -
Gettysburg Address
"Four score and seven years ago," began what many perceive as the best speech in American history, delivered by President Abraham Lincoln in the town cemetery overlooking the fields of Gettysburg. The Gettysburg Address, only 272 words long and taking about two minutes to speak, captured the essence of the Civil War as both sacrifice and inspiration. -
Chattanooga
Union General George Thomas scaled the heights of Chattanooga during one of the most arduous military charges in history. This charge caused Confederate forces to abandon the area, leaving Chattanooga and the majority of Tennessee under Union control. -
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Battles of the Wilderness and Spotsylvania
At the Battles of the Wilderness and Spotsylvania, General Grant, now the first three star lieutenant general since George Washington and in charge of the U.S. Army, marched against the forces of General Lee in a remarkable series of clashes within the dense forests of Virginia. Union casualties alone numbered nearly 3,000 dead, 21,000 wounded, and 4,000 missing -
Attempt to cut of the railroad
In an attempt to cut the railroad supply route and stop General William T. Sherman's march on Atlanta, Lt. General Nathan Bedford Forrest engaged Union forces in the Battle of Tupelo, Mississippi. -
Confederate realignment
Union forces, including black Union soldiers, capture the Confederate Fort Harrison, south of Richmond. This caused a Confederate realignment of their southern defenses. -
General Robert E. Lee surrenders
General Robert E. Lee, as commander in chief of Confederate forces, surrenders his 27,000 man army to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, effectively ending the four years of Civil War conflict. -
The impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson begins
The impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson begins in the Senate. Johnson was charged with violating the Tenure of Office Act by trying to remove the Secretary of War, Edwin M. Stanton. The President is acquitted by one vote. -
First national park
The world's first national park is established when President Grant signs legislation enabling the establishment of Yellowstone National Park in the states of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. -
Minor clash of the Indian War.
The Seventh Cavalry under the command of Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer, protecting a railroad survey party in Montana, engage the Sioux for the first time near the Tongue River in one minor clash of the Indian War.