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Settlement in Jamestown
The English made their first permanet settlement in Jamestown. Virginia. -
Africans to America
The Europeans brought Africans to America to work as slave laborers on cotton and tabocco plantations in the south. -
Pilgrims arrive at Plymouth
The PIlgrims arrive at Plymouth, Massachusetts and sign the Mayflower Compact aboard the Mayflower in 1620. The document provided for self government based on majority rule; ideas which were echoed by other colonies and later embodied in the United States Constitition. -
War Between England and France
A war between England and France, called The French and Indian War in America. The Native Americans choose to fight on the side of the French. The French are defeated and lose their lands in Canada and the American MIdwest. -
End of French and Indian War
The war between England and France ends. The French are defeated. -
Boston Massacre
During the Boston Massacre. British soldiers fired into a crowd of unarmed colonists, killing ex-slaves Crispus Attucks, the first casualty in the cause for American independence from British rule. -
Boston Tea Party
In protest of the recent Tea Acts, Boston civilians dress as Indians to dump the taxed, and over-priced British tea into Boston harbor. This cam to be known as the Boston Tea Party. -
Shot heard around the world
Fighting at Lexington and Concord. Massachusetts. marks the beginning of the American Revolution- "the shot heard around the world"
(George Washington is appointed the Commander-in-Chief) -
Declaration of Independence
On July 4,1776, America adopted the Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson. -
British Surrender
British General Cornwallis surrenders to the Americans at Yorktown, Virginia, ending the fighting in the Revolutionary War. -
The Constitution
The Constitutional Convention meets to write a Constitution for the U.S. Most of the great founders of America attended including George Washington, James Madison, and John Adams. They met to form a new government that would be strong and, at the same time protect the liberties that were fought for in the American Revolution. The Constitution they created is still the law of the United States -
Constitution approved
The new Constitution is approved by the states. George Washington is chosen as the first president. -
Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights consists of the first ten amendments to the Constitution. It guaramtees individual freedoms that were not included in the Constitution. The Bill of Rights includes the amendments most often named when questions arise about individual rights and freedom. -
Cotton gin invented
The cotton gin is invented by Eli Whitney. It removed the seed from cotton, making cotton production quicker and more efficient - fifty times more cotton could be produced per day. Therefore, more slaves were needed to keep up with the increased production. The South's livelihood depended on cotton, and thus slavery. -
National Capital
Nation's Capital moved to Washington, D.C. -
Louisiana Purchase
The U.S. makes the Louisiana Purchase from France. The Purchase doubled the area of the U.S. -
War of 1812
War of 1812 with Great Britain forces burn Capitol and Whitw House. Francis Scott Key writes the words to "The Star-Spangled Banner." -
End of war of 1812
The end of the war of 1812 -
Flordia new territory
Flordia acquired from spain -
Erie canal
Erie canal opens linking New York City with the Great Lakes. -
The Trail of Tears
The Cherokee Indians livig in Georgia were forced by the state of Georgia, to leave in 1838. They were sent to Oklahoma. On the long march, thousands died because of disease and the cold weather. It is called the "The Trail of Tears." -
War with Mexico
U.S. war with Mexico: Mexico is defeated and the United States takes comtrol of the Republic of Texas and of Mexican territories in the West. -
Gold rush
The discovery of gold in California leads to a "rush" of 80,000 people to the west in searchof gold. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin id bublished.Harriet Beesher Stowe's novel about the sufferings of slaves was an instant besteller in the North and banned in most of the South. When Pesident Abraham Lincoln met Stowe, he called her "the little lady who started the war" (the civil war) -
Pearl Harbor
Japan attacks Pearl Harbor , Hawii. The United States enters world war 2.
