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Articles of Confederation
The Continental Congress adopts the Articles of Confederation, the first U.S. constitution -
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Shays' Rebellion
Shays' Rebellion erupts farmers from New Hampshire to South Carolina take up arms to protest high taxes and stiff penalties for failure to pay. -
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Constitutional Convention
The Constitutional Convention occurred made up of delegates from 12 of the original 12 colonies, meet in Philadelphia to draft the U.S. Constitution. -
George Washington is elected.
George Washington was unanimously elected president of the United States in a vote by state electors. -
Constitution
U.S. Constitution goes into effect having been ratified by nine states. -
Congress
U.S. Congress mets for the first time at Federal Hall in New York City. -
Washington inaugurated
Washington is inaugurated as president at Federal Hall in New York City. -
Supreme Court
U.S. Supreme Court meets for the first time at the Merchants Exchange Building in New York City. It Also heard it's first case in 1792. -
Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments to the Constitution are ratified, also known as the Bill Of Rights. -
Wahington's second inauguration
Washington's second inauguration is held in Philadelphia. -
Cotton Gin
Eli Whitney's invention of the cotton gin greatly increases the demand for slave labor. -
John Adams inaugurated
John Adams is inaugurated as the second president in Philadelphia -
Gabriel Prosser
Sometime in the summer or spring of 1800. Gabriel Prosser a African American slave blacksmith, organizes a slave revolt intending to march on Richmond, Virginia. The plot is found out, and Prosser and some of the other rebels are hung. Virginia's slave laws are tightened because of this. -
U.S. capitol moved
The U.S. capital is moved from Philadelphia to Washington, DC. -
Congress in Washington
U.S. Congress meets in Washington, DC, for the first time. -
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson is inaugurated as the third president in Washington, DC. -
Marbury v. Madison
Marbury v. Madison; a landmark Supreme Court decision occurs which greatly expands the power of the Court by establishing its right to declare acts of Congress unconstitutional. -
Louisiana Purchse
Louisiana Purchse occured when the United States agreed to pay France $15 million dollars for the Louisiana Territory, which extends west from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains and comprises about 830,000 sq mi. Which nearly doubles the U.S. in size. -
Lewis and Clark
Lewis and Clark set out from Saint Louis, Missouri, on an expedition to explore the West and find a route to the Pacific Ocean. -
Jefferson
Jefferson's second inauguration. -
Lewis and Clark
Lewis and Clark reach the Pacific Ocean. -
James Madison
James Madison is inaugurated as the fourth president. -
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War of 1812
War of 1812: The U.S. declares war on Britain over British interference with American maritime shipping and westward expansion on June 18, 1812. British capture Washington, DC, and set fire to the White House and Capitol on in August of 1814. Francis Scott Key writes Star-Spangled Banner while he watches the British attack on Fort McHenry at Baltimore on September 13 through September 14, 1815. The Treaty Of Ghent is signed, officially ending the war on December 24, 1814. -
Madison
Madison's second inauguration. -
James Monroe
James Monroe is inaugurated as the fifth president. -
Florida
Spain agrees to cede Florida to the United States. -
McCulloch v. Maryland
McCulloch v. Maryland: A landmark Supreme Court decision upholds the right of Congress to establish a national bank, a power implied but not specified by the Constitution. -
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise: In an effort to maintain the balance between free and slave state, Maine (which was part of Massachusetts) is admitted as a free state so that Missouri can be admitted as a slave state and that except for Missouri, slavery would be prohibited in the Louisiana Purchase lands north of latitude 36º30' -
Monroe
Monroe's second inauguration. -
Denmark Vesey
Denmark Vesey, a slave African American carpenter who purchased his freedom, planned a slave revolt intending to lay waste to Charleston, South Carolina. The plot is discovered, and Vesey and 34 other partners are hanged. -
Monroe Doctrine
Monroe Doctrine: In his annual address to Congress, President James Monroe states that the American continents are from now on off limits for further colonization by European powers. -
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams is inaugurated as the sixth president. -
Erie Canal
The Erie Canal is opened which links the Hudson River to Lake Erie. -
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson is inaugurated as seventh president. -
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Construction begins on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad which is the first public railroad in the U.S. -
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Alamo
Texan defenders of the Alamo are all killed during siege by the Mexican Army. -
Texas
Texas declares its independence from Mexico. -
San Jacinto.
Texans defeat Mexicans at San Jacinto. -
Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren is inaugurated as the eighth president. -
Trail Of Tears
Month and Day Unkown. More than 15,000 Cherokee Indians are forced to march from Georgia to Indian Territory in present-day Oklahoma. Approximately 4,000 die from starvation and disease along the “Trail of Tears.” -
Wiliam Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison is inaugurated as the ninth president. -
Harrison's death
He dies one month later and is succeeded in office by his vice president, John Tyler. -
U.S. Annexes Texas
U.S. annexes Texas by joint resolution of Congress. -
James Polk
James Polk is inaugurated as the 11th president. -
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Manifest destiny.
Exact days unkown The term “manifest destiny” appears for the first time in a magazine article by John L. O'Sullivan. t expresses the belief held by many white Americans that the United States is destined to expand across the continent. -
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Mexican War
Mexican War: U.S. declares war on Mexico in effort to gain California and other territory in Southwest. The War concludes with signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Mexico recognizes Rio Grande as new boundary with Texas and, for $15 million, agrees to cede territory comprising present-day California, Nevada, Utah, most of New Mexico and Arizona, and parts of Colorado and Wyoming. -
Oregon Treaty
Oregon Treaty fixes U.S.-Canadian border at 49th parallel; U.S. acquires Oregon territory. -
Wilmot Proviso
The Wilmot Proviso, introduced by Democratic representative David Wilmot of Pennsylvania attempts to ban slavery in territory gained in the Mexican War The proviso is blocked by Southerners, but continues to enflame the debate over slavery. -
Gold
Gold is discovered at Sutter's Mill in California. The gold rush reaches its height the following year. -
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Women's rights convention
Women's rights convention is held at Seneca Falls, N.Y. -
Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor is inaugurated as the 12th president. -
Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman escapes from slavery and becomes one of the most effective and celebrated members of the Underground Railroad. -
Taylor dies
President Taylor dies and is succeeded by his vice president, Millard Fillmore. -
Compromise of 1850
The continuing debate whether territory gained in the Mexican War should be open to slavery is decided in the Compromise of 1850: California is admitted as a free state, Utah and New Mexico territories are left to be decided by popular sovereignty, and the slave trade in Washington, DC, is prohibited. It also establishes a much stricter fugitive slave law, than the original, passed in 1793. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin is published. It becomes one of the most influential works to stir anti-slavery sentiments. -
Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce is inaugurated as the 14th president. -
Gadsden Purchase
Gadsden Purchase treaty is signed; U.S. acquires border territory from Mexico for $10 million. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Congress passes the Kansas-Nebraska Act, establishing the territories of Kansas and Nebraska. The legislation repeals the Missouri Compromise of 1820 and renews tensions between anti-slavery and proslavery factions. -
James Buchanan
James Buchanan is inaugurated as the 15th president. -
Dred Scott v. Sanford
Dred Scott v. Sanford: Landmark Supreme Court decision holds that Congress does not have the right to ban slavery in states and, furthermore, that slaves are not citizens. -
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Lincoln Douglas debates
Abraham Lincoln comes to national attention in a series of seven debates with Sen. Stephen A. Douglas during Illinois state election campaign. -
John Brown
Abolitionist John Brown and 21 followers capture federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Va. (now W. Va.), in an attempt to spark a slave revolt. -
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln is elected president. -
South Carolina
South Carolina secedes from the Union. -
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Southern states
Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana secede. -
Confederate
Confederate States of America is established. -
Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis is elected president of the Confederacy. -
Texas
Texas secedes. -
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln is inaugurated as the 16th president.
