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Library of Congress is Founded
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New Cheif Justice
John Marshall is appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. -
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson is elected as the 3rd president of the United States in a vote of the House of Representatives after tying Aaron Burr. -
Supreme Court Milestone
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. -
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. -
Lewis and Clark
Ordered by Thomas Jefferson to map the Northwest United States, Lewis and Clark begin their expedition from St. Louis and Camp Dubois. The journey begins with navigation of the Missouri River. -
Jefferson 2nd Term
Thomas Jefferson wins reelection over Charles Pinckney with 162 to 14 Electoral College votes. -
The Michigan Territory is established.
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Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee is born. Would become a military officer, both with the U.S. Regular Army prior to the outbreak of the Civil War, and afterward, the American Confederate General. -
James Madison
James Madison is elected as the 4th President of the United States, defeating Charles C. Pinckney. -
The Illinois Territory is created.
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Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, is born in a humble Hardin County, Kentucky log cabin to carpenter Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks. -
War of 1812
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. -
Madison's 2nd Term
President James Madison defeats De Witt Clinton in the U.S. presidential election, securing a second term as the United States engages in the War of 1812 by an Electoral College margin of 128 votes to 89. -
Battle of York
The Battle of York (Toronto, Canada) is held when American troops raid and destroy, but do not occupy the city. -
Battle of Lake Erie
The Battle of Lake Erie is won by the American navy when Commodore Perry's fleet defeats the ships of British Captain Robert Barclay. This victory allows U.S. forces to take control of the majority of the Old Northwest and lake region. -
Occupation of D.C.
The White House is burned by British forces upon the occupation of Washington, D.C. -
Treaty of Ghent
A peace treaty is signed between the British and American government at Ghent, bringing to an end the War of 1812. -
James Monroe
James Monroe defeats Rufus King in the United States presidential election, garnering 183 Electoral College votes to 34 for the Federalist King. -
Second National Bank
Second Bank of the United States is chartered, five years after the expiration of the 1st Bank of the United States -
Indiana
The territory of Indiana is admitted into the United States of America as the 19th state. -
Mississippi
The United States of America admits its 20th state, Mississippi. -
Seminole War
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. -
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise bill, sponsored by Henry Clay, passes in the United States Congress. This legislation allows slavery in the Missouri territory, but not in any other location west of the Mississippi River that was north of 36 degrees 30 minutes latitude, the current southern line of the state of Missouri. -
Monroe's 2nd Term
The election of James Monroe to a second term in office comes with a landslide victory in the Electoral College with Monroe defeating John Quincy Adams by a tally of 231 to 1. -
Florida
Florida becomes an official territory of the United States. -
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams is inaugurated as President, with John C. Calhoun as his Vice President after the House of Representatives settle the lack of an Electoral College majority. -
Andrew Jackson
The election for president sees a popular and electoral college vote victory of 178-83 for Andrew Jackson over President John Quincy Adams. -
Indian Removal Act
The United States Congress approved the Indian Removal Act, which relocates Indian tribes from east of the Mississippi River. -
Nullification Crisis
South Carolina convention passed the Ordinance of Nullification, which was against the institution of permanent tariffs. The state also, on this issue, threatened to withdraw from the union of the United States of America. -
The Alamo
The battle for the Alamo is waged in San Antonio, Texas when 3,000 Mexican troops under Santa Ana attack the mission and its 189 defenders. Texas troops lose the battle after a thirteen-day siege. -
Van Buren
Martin Van Buren continues the victories for the Democratic party in the November presidential election, defeating William H. Harrison, a Whig, 170 to 73 in the Electoral College vote. -
Harrison Takes Office
President Martin Van Buren is defeated for reelection by William Henry Harrison. Harrison, a Whig, receives 234 Electoral College votes to 60 and also wins the popular vote contest. -
Oregon Trail
The first major wagon train headed for the northwest via the Oregon Trail begins with one thousand pioneers from Elm Grove, Missouri -
James K. Polk
Democrat James K. Polk defeats Henry Clay for president with 170 Electoral College votes to 105 for Clay. -
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the Mexican War with Mexico relinquishing its rights to Texas above the Rio Grande River and ceding New Mexico and California to the United States. The United States also gained claims to Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and part of Colorado -
Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor, a hero of the Mexican War, defeats Lewis Cass in the presidential election of 1848. Whig Taylor garners 163 Electoral College votes to 127 for the Democratic candidate. -
Millard Fillmore
Millard Fillmore is sworn into office as the 13th President of the United States after the death of Zachary Taylor the day before. His policies on the topic of slavery did not appease expansionists or slave-holders. -
Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce, a Democrat, wins a convincing victory for President, defeating Whig Winfield Scott by a tally of 254 to 42 electoral votes. He also garners the majority in the popular vote. -
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." -
James Buchanan
James Buchanan is sworn into office as the 15th President of the United States. -
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln is elected president, running on the ideas of anti-slavery -
South Carolina Seceeds
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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. -
Emancipation Proclamation
President Abraham Lincoln, fresh on the heals of the Antietam victory, issues the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, stating that all slaves in places of rebellion against the Federal Government would be free as of January 1, 1863. -
Appomattox Courthouse
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. Additional troops under southern command would continue to surrender until May 26. The McLean House is the location for the surrender at Appomattox Courthouse. -
Assassination of Lincoln
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The Thirteenth Amendment, abolishing slavery, takes effect.
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15th Amendment
The 15th Amendment to the Constitution is declared ratified by the Secretary of State. It gave the right to vote to black Americans. Race would officially no longer be a ban to voting rights. -
Little Big Horn
The Battle of Little Big Horn occurs when Lt. Colonel George Custer and his 7th U.S. Cavalry engage the Sioux and Cheyenne Indians on the bluffs above the Little Big Horn River. All 264 members of the 7th Cavalry and Custer perish in the battle, the most complete rout in American military history.
