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Constitutional Convention
This is the story of the delegates to that convention and the framing of the federal Constitution. -
When the Constitution went into Effect
The US Constitution was ratified by the required 9 states of June 21, 1788, but the new United States of America government did not open for business until March 4, 1789. -
George Washington is Elected President
Taking office (Apr. 30, 1789) in New York City, Washington acted carefully and deliberately, aware of the need to build an executive structure that could accommodate future presidents. Hoping to prevent sectionalism from dividing the new nation, he toured the New England states (1789) and the South (1791). -
The bill of rights was ratified
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. -
Bill of Rights was Passed
Congress of the United States
begun and held at the City of New-York, on
Wednesday the fourth of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine. -
The Bill of Rights was Ratified
During the debates on the adoption of the Constitution, its opponents repeatedly charged that the Constitution as drafted would open the way to tyranny by the central government. -
War of 1812 Begins
The War of 1812 was fought between the United States and Great Britain from June 1812 to the spring of 1815, although the peace treaty ending the war was signed in Europe in December 1814. The main land fighting of the war occurred along the Canadian border, in the Chesapeake Bay region, and along the Gulf of Mexico; extensive action also took place at sea -
Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo takes place near the Waterloo, Belgium on June 18, 1815. In this battle, the forces of the French Empire under the leadership of Michael Ney and Napoleon Bonaparte were defeated by the Seventh Coalition and a Prussian Army, which was commanded by Gebhard Von Blucher. The forces were also defeated by an Anglo-Allied Army commanded by the Duke of Wellington. -
Michigan Becomes a State
Say "Ojibwa" (O-'jib-way) quickly and it might just sound a little like "Michigan." Michigan derived its name from the Indian word "Ojibwa" which means "large lake." Four of the five Great Lakes, the largest lakes in the United States, border Michigan. Even before Michigan became a state, large towns grew up along the edge of the lakes. -
Civil War Begins
On this day in 1861, the American Civil War began with artillery fire on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. The shots fired on April 12 were the culmination of a months-long standoff between the newly formed government of the seceded southern states and those states still loyal to the Union. Following Fort Sumter, more southern states joined the Confederacy - and the American Civil War was on. The Civil War remains the bloodiest war ever fought on American soil. -
Civil War Ends
1865 - Civil War ends. General Lee's troops were surrounded and on April 7, Grant called upon Lee to surrender. The two commanders met on April 9, and agreed on the terms of surrender. -
13th Amendment was passed
On December 18th 1865, the 13th amendment to the Constitution was officially ratified. This amendment stated that neither slavery, nor involuntary servitude could exist in the United States. -
13 amendment is passed
On December 18th 1865, the 13th amendment to the Constitution was officially ratified. This amendment stated that neither slavery, nor involuntary servitude could exist in the United States -
the 15th amendment if proposed
Following House and Senate approval of the Fifteenth Amendment on February 25 and 26, 1869, respectively, it was sent immediately to the states for ratification or rejection. A three-quarters majority of states (28 of 37) was needed for adoption. In April, Congress approved an amendment submitted by Senator Oliver P. Morton of Indiana to the Reconstruction bill for Mississippi, Texas, and Virginia, requiring those states to ratify the Fifteenth Amendment before being readmitted to Congress. -
The Date 15th Amendment is Ratified
The 15th Amendment to the Constitution granted African American men the right to vote by declaring that the "right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude." Although ratified on February 3, 1870, the promise of the 15th Amendment would not be fully realized for almost a century. Through the use of poll taxes, literacy tests and other means, Southern states were able -
colorado becomes a state
It took sixteen years, four Colorado votes, three suggested state constitutions, and many attempts in Congress, for Colorado to FINALLY become the 38th state on Aug. 1, 1876, following a proclamation by President Ulysses S. Grant. -
Louisiana Purchase was signed
Robert Livingston and James Monroe closed on the sweetest real estate deal of the millennium when they signed the Louisiana Purchase Treaty in Paris on April 30, 1803. They were authorized to pay France up to $10 million for the port of New Orleans and the Floridas.
