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John Marshall
John Marshall is appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. -
3rd President
Thomas Jefferson is elected as the 3rd president of the United States. -
Tripoli declares war
Tripoli declares war against the United States. The United States had refused to pay additional tribute to commerce raiding corsairs from Arabia. -
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. -
Steamboats
The first practical steamboat journey was made by Robert Fulton in the steamboat Clermont. -
4th president
James Madison is elected as the 4th President of the United States. -
Declare war
U.S. President James Madison asks Congress to declare war on the United Kingdom. -
White House down
The White House is burned by British force during the War of 1812. -
End of the War of 1812
A peace treaty is signed between the British and American government at Ghent, bringing to an end the War of 1812. -
Second bank of the U.S.
Second Bank of the United States is chartered. -
5th president
James Monroe is inaugurated as the President of the United States -
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise bill passes in the United States Congress. -
Monroe Doctrine
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. -
6th president
John Quincy Adams is inaugurated as President. -
internal combustion engine
The internal combustion engine named the "Gas Or Vapor Engine" is patented by American Samuel Morey. -
Slavery in New York
In New York State, slavery is legally abolished. -
7th president
Andrew Jackson, now in the Democratic party, is inaugurated as President. -
Indian Removal Act
The United States Congress approved the Indian Removal Act. -
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Trail of Tears
The six year campaign known as the Trail of Tears begins. -
American Whig Party
The first convention of the American Whig Party is held in Albany, New York. -
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The Alamo
The battle for the Alamo is waged in San Antonio. -
The revolver
The patent for the first revolver is awarded to inventor Samuel Colt. -
Battle of San Jacinto
The battle of San Jacinto is waged with Sam Houston leading the Texas army to victory over Mexican forces. -
8th president
Martin Van Buren is inaugurated into office. -
Women can own property
In Jackson, Mississippi, the first state law allowing women to own property is passed. -
9th president
President William Henry Harrison, sworn into office. -
11th president
Democrat James K. Polk defeats Henry Clay for president with 170 Electoral College votes to 105 for Clay. -
Manifest Destiny
U.S. President Polk invokes the concept of Manifest Destiny, announcing to Congress that the Monroe Doctrine should be strictly enforced and that the settlement of the West should be aggressively pursued. -
Gold
Gold was discovered in California by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill. -
End of the Treaty of Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the Mexican War with Mexico relinquishing its rights to Texas. -
13th president
Millard Fillmore is sworn into office as the 13th President of the United States after the death of Zachary Taylor the day before. -
14th president
Franklin Pierce, a Democrat, wins a convincing victory for President. -
15th president
James Buchanan is sworn into office as the 15th President of the United States. -
Dred Scott
The United States Supreme Court rules in the Dred Scott decision, 6-3, that a slave did not become free when transported into a free state. It also ruled that slavery could not be banned by the U.S. Congress in a territory, and that blacks were not eligible to be awarded citizenship. -
Pony Express
The Pony Express begins. -
16th president
Abraham Lincoln is sworn in as president of the United States. -
Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina harbor is bombarded for 34 hours by Confederate forces. -
Battle of Bull Run
The first Battle of Bull Run at Manassas, -
Lincoln's famous speech
"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. -
End of Civil War
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. -
Lincoln's death
Abraham Lincoln is assassinated in Ford's Theatr by John Wilks Booth. -
13th ammendment
The Thirteenth Amendment, abolishing slavery, takes effect. -
Civil Rights Act of 1866
The Civil Rights Act of 1866 is passed by Congress, the first federal law protecting the rights of African Americans. -
Electric Vote recorder
Thomas Edison applies for his first patent for the electric vote recorder. -
15th amendment ratified
The 15th Amendment to the Constitution is declared ratified by the Secretary of State. It gave the right to vote to black Americans. -
Women's Crusade
The Women's Crusade of 1873-74 is started when women in Fredonia, New York march against retail liquor dealers, -
The Civil Rights Act
The Civil Rights Act, giving equal rights to blacks in jury duty and accommodation, is passed by the United States Congress. -
19th president
Samuel J. Tilden, Rutherford B. Hayes, but reverses the outcome in the Electoral College by one vote. The presidential election, however, would not be decided until March 2, 1877. Congress declared Hayes the victor.