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Founding of Jamestown
Jamestown was founded by men sent to the New World by the Virginia company. It was the first permanent settlement in the British colonies. -
Proclamation of 1763
Following the French and Indian War, Britain was in great debt. In order to save money and resources on defending the colonists, they issued a proclamation forbidding colonists to move into the western territory. Colonists resented the Proclamation of 1763 and it would be one of the eventual causes of the American Revolution. -
Lexington and Concord
Lexington and Concord was a skirmish between British troops and American colonists. This would mark the beginning of the Revolutionary war. -
Signing of the Declaration of Independence
Many American leaders signed a document declaring their independence from Britain. The United States become their own nation, despite still being in a war for independence. -
Constitutional Convention
Representatives from twelve of the thirteen states came together in order to amend the Articles of Confederation. After important internal struggle, they were able to come to an agreement on congressional representation, as well as compromising to create a balance between the power of the States and the National government. Rather than amending the Articles, they wrote a whole new constitution by which the country still functions today. -
Presidential Election of 1800
John Adams is defeated in the presidential election. Thomas Jefferson becomes the third president of the United States. -
Louisiana Purchase
Thomas Jefferson purchased land west of the then current territory of the United States for 15 million dollars. The Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the United States, but in order to justify his purchase of this land, Thomas Jefferson stated that it was under the Necessary and Proper Clause of the Constitution that he was able to make a purchase of land from another nation. This caused controversy as Thomas Jefferson was a strict constructionist and historic critic of the elastic clause. -
The War of 1812 begins
Following the Revolutionary War, the United States was still finding its identity. It was not yet a world power, but on their journey to establish trade with nations overseas, United States sailors were being impressed by the British. The British were also stirring conflict with Native Americans and United States residents west of the Appalachian Mountains. This would lead to the second war between the United States and Britain. -
The Battle of New Orleans
Two weeks after the War of 1812 had ended, news had yet to travel far enough south to reach the generals . Major General Sir Edward Pakenham believed that the capture of New Orleans would give the British control over a majority of the Louisiana Territory. The British used a fog for protection so they could ambush the Americans, but it lifted before they made it all the way and the Americans opened fire. Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Mullins also forgot the ladders needed for the British to win. -
Missouri Compromise
Amidst the growing tension regarding the issue of slavery, there was a severe conflict over whether or not newly admitted states would be slave states or free states. This was important because congress was equally divided between slave and free states. Under the Missouri Compromise Missouri would enter the union as a slave state, Maine would enter the union as a free state, and every state below the southern border of Pennsylvania to enter the union following the compromise would be free. -
Nullification Crisis
South Carolina nullified a law passed by the federal government, which would lead to a large conflict over states rights. Andrew Jackson would threaten to use military force in order to maintain the union. This conflict would worsen and eventually lead to the civil war. -
Battle at Fort Sumter
Tensions grew after the south seceded from the union. The South Carolina Militia fired on United States troops at Fort Sumter, forcing an eventual surrender by the United States army at the battle. This would be the first battle of the American Civil war. -
The Battle of Gettysburg
Confederate forces invaded Union territory and the two sides engaged in a battle that included the most casualties in American history. The south would lose this battle. The battle of Gettysburg is considered to be the turning point in the civil war in favor of the North. -
General Lee surrenders
After a long and brutal war, Lee and his troops were trapped near the Appomattox Courthouse. Lee surrendered to Grant and his men and the American Civil War ended shortly afterward. -
President Lincoln is Assassinated
After the Civil War ended there were mixed feelings among Americans. Many supporters of the Southern war effort were bitter with the result of the war. John Wilkes Booth, a supporter of the south, shot Lincoln in the back of the head, leading to his death hours later. -
13th Amendment is ratified
During the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln passed the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed all slaves in confederate held territory. This meant there was still slavery in the border states and New Orleans. The 13th Amendment permanently outlawed slavery everywhere in the United States. -
President Andrew Johnson is impeached
Following the death of Abraham Lincoln, Vice President Johnson took the presidential office. At the time, Congress was largely republican and Johnson held views in opposition to the radical republicans. He pardoned many confederate leaders and gave them high government positions. After violating a congressional act to protect Edwin Stanton, the secretary of war, congress charged President Johnson with violation of the Tenure of Office Act. President Johnson missed conviction by only one vote.