-
The Gatling Gun
The Gatling Gun was the first machiene gun, which was used much in WWI and WWII. The original plans for the machine gun were drawn up by Leonardo Da Vinci but the plans were made a reality untill much later. -
The End of the Civil War
The civil war comes to an end, this brings America into its reconstruction period. -
The End of the Civil War
Robert E. Lee realized there was little choice but to consider the surrender of his Army to General Grant. After a series of notes between the two leaders, they agreed to meet on April 9, 1865, at the house of Wilmer McLean in the village of Appomattox Courthouse. This marks the end of the civil war and the start of the reconstruction time period. -
The KKK is founded
The KKK was founded by veterans of the Confederate Army. This was a hate group who targeted religon and race. The exact date for the founding of the KKK is unkown, but it was sometime between Aug and Dec 1865. -
Radio Envented
In 1866 Mahlon Loomis provided the first demonstration of wireless communication, and then in 1895 Guglielmo Marconi sent the first radio signal. Radio developed from wireless telegraphy towards the end of the 19th century. -
Transcontinental Railroad Completed
The transcontinental railroad allowed people to ship goods from one coast to another. This was so beneficial becuase this made business boom and opened up tons of jobs for people, working on the trains or repairing the railroad. -
The Guilded Age
The era of rapid economic and population growth in the United States during the post-Civil War and post-Reconstruction eras of the late 19th century (1865-1901). Many people believe this era to have started with the election of Rutherford B. Hayes, while others believe it starts with the completion of the transcontonental railroad. -
The Great Chicago Fire
burned from Sunday, October 8, to early Tuesday, October 10, 1871, killing hundreds and destroying about 4 square miles (10 km2) in Chicago, Illinois. -
The Invention of the Telephone
The invention of the Telephone by Alexander Graham Bell was first realized with an accident. Bell was working in his lab and spilled acid on his hand, he then called out to his assistant for help. His voice was carried over the telephone. He later patented the phone on January 30, 1877. -
The Compromise of 1877
The Compromise of 1877 was negotiated Wormley Hotel in Washington D.C. This signified the ending of Reconstruction. Hayes becomes president because of this. -
Sitting Bull
Sioux chief Sitting Bull leads the last of his fugitive people in surrender to United States troops at Fort Buford in Montana. This is important because it is part of many native americans giving up the last of their resistance. -
The Great Pandemic
In 1890, an especially virulent influenza pandemic struck, killing many Americans. The number of Americans who were killed was unrecorded to about 1920 when the death toal was estimated to about 21.5 million people. -
The Invention of the Lightbulb is Passed by a Judge
The electric light, one of the everyday conveniences that most affects our lives, was invented in 1879 by Thomas Alva Edison. He was neither the first nor the only person trying to invent an incandescent light bulb. -
Ellis Island
The first immigrants, Annie Moore a 15-year-old girl from Cork Ireland and her brothers, pass through ellis island on this day. They are the first of thousands to come through into america looking for a new life. -
Two-way Telegraph is Patented
Thomas Edison receives a patent for a two-way telegraph. This leads into America having many more inventions and electronics in the near future. -
Spanish-American War
US sent a battleship Maine to anchor in Havana Harbor, for 3 weeks, then on February 15, 1898, an enormous explosion shattered the Maine. American newspapers immediately blamed Spain. Later it seems the explosion may have been accidental. -
Treaty of Peace
Span and America come togeather to talk peace and draw up a negotiation. Through this Spain relinquishes all claim of sovereignty over and title to Cuba. -
The Purchase of the Panama Canal
The first plans for a canal were drawn up in 1539 by King Charles V of Spain, but the first edvances twards building it were made more than 300 years later! These advances however were in the Panama railway. Later, in 1999, all responsibility for the Canal was transferred to the government of Panama. -
The Airplane is Invented
The brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright were two Americans who are generally credited with inventing and building the world's first successful airplane and making the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight. Their airplane was invented in in Kitty Hawk. -
The Sinking of the Titanic
The Titanic collided with an iceberg just before midnight on April 14th. At 12.15 AM, one of the S.O.S calls from the Titanic reached its sister ship, the Olympic. 1,517 people out of the total 2,223 died during this accident. -
The Start of WWI
America declares state of war on this day, although World War I was triggered in 1914 by the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand. It ended in 1918 with the Treaty of Versailles. -
End of WWI/Armistice Day
Armistice Day (also known as Remembrance Day) is on November 11 and commemorates the armistice signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany at Compiègne, France. This day marks the end of WWI and was declared a national holiday in many allied nations, to commemorate those members of the armed forces who were killed during war. -
Prohibition
The Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, prohibiting the manufacture, sale and importation of intoxicating liquors, was ratified on 16 January 1919. Its provisions went into force a year and a day later, on 17 January 1920. Prohibition remained in effect until the 18th Amendment was repealed by the 21st Amendment, which was ratified on 5 December 1933 with immediate effect.
