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"Common Sense" Published
Thomas Payne published "Common Sense". "Common Sense" was a pamphlet addressed to the American colonists that presented an argument for freedom from British Rule. -
Declaration of Independence
The second continental congress approved the Declaration of Independence, a document declaring the American Colony's freedom from the British Rule and listing the crimes of King George the 3rd. -
The Treaty of Alliance
The Treaty of Alliance, a defensive alliance between France and the U.S. in case of a British attack, was signed. This united France and the U.S. in the Revolutionary War. -
British Surrender at Yorktown
British soldiers surrender at Yorktown after an American seige. -
The Bank of North America
The Bank of North America was chartered, it became the U.S.'s first national public bank. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris is signed and the Revolutionary War comes to an end. -
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The Northwest Indian War
The Northwest Indian War was a war fought between the U.S. and multiple American Indian tribes over control of Notrthwest territory. It ended when the Treaty of Greenville was signed, and the American Indians ceded large parts of what is now Ohio and Chicago. -
United States Constitution
The United States Constitution, the document that states the lay out of our government, is ratified and becomes the supreme law of the U.S.A. -
Inauguration of George Washington
George Washington is inaugurated as the first president of the United States of America. -
The Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights, a list of the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, is ratified. -
Treaty of Greenville
the Treaty of Greenville is signed between the Western Confederacy and U.S. frontiermen, ending the Northwest Indian War. -
Louisiana Purchase
The United States purchased 828,000 miles of France's claim to the territory of Louisiana. -
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Lewis and Clark's Expedition
Lewis and Clark lead the first transcontinental expedition to the Pacific coast. They set out to learn the geography of the land and how to exploit the land economically. The trip is successful and they return on Sept. 23, 1806. -
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The War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a war fought between the Americans and the British Empire over trade restrictions and British support of American Indian tribes. -
Battle of New Orleans
The final major battle of the War of 1812, happened after the Treaty of Ghent was signed before the notification of the Treaty being signed made it to the frontier. -
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise, a bill passed by Congress that allowed Missouri to be a slave state while prohibiting slavery in the rest of the louisiana purchase, and admitting Maine as a free state to kepp the balance between slavery and free states in congress. -
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The Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail came into use. The trail brought settlers from the East to the Pacific Northwest and helped bring in the mass migration to the West Coast. -
Annexation of Texas
The United States annexed Texas and it became the 28th state. Mexico still considered Texas part of it's territory after the annexation, which resulted in the Mexican-American War being fought over Texas. -
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The Mexican-American War
The Mexican-American was a war fought between Mexico and the U.S. over Texas. The U.S. had just annexed Texas, which was still considered Mexican territory by Mexico. The U.S. won the war and kept Texas as it's land. -
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California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush was a mass move to the California by some 300,000 people in the East. People moved to California in order to collect some of the large amounts of gold the land had to offer. The Gold Rush led to the growth of California as a state, with roads, railroads, churches, and schools popping up all over the state. By 1850 most of the easily accessible gold in California had been collected and people had to start digging for gold, this led to many foreigners being emigrated. -
The First Transatlantic Cable
The first transatlantic telegraph communications ocurred between North America and Europe. The Transatlantic Cable ran under the Atlantic Ocean and reduced the communication time between North America and Europe from ten days to a few minutes. -
The Pony Express
The Pony Express, a fast mail service that crossed the Great Plains, Rocky Mountains, and the High Sierra from Missouri to California, was started. The Pony Express became the most direct means of communication between the east and west before the telegrapgh. It was vital to tying the Union and California together before the Civil War. -
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American Civil War
War fought between the Northern Southern states of the U.S.A. over slave rights. The North won the war. The last shots were fired on June 22, 1865. -
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Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg was a battle fought for 3 days in Gettysburg. Pennyslyvania. It was the bloodiest battle of the Civil War, and is considered the turning point in the war in favor of the Northern Union States. -
Robert E. Lee Surrenders
Gen. Robert E. Lee of the Confederate States surrendered at the Appomattox Court House. Can be considered the end of the Civil War. -
Abraham Lincoln Assassinated
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the U.S.A., was assassinated at the Ford Theater by John Wilkes Booth. -
Alaska Purchase
The state of Alaska was purchased from Russia for $7.2 million. -
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The Great Chicago Fire
A large fire burned for two days straight in Chicago, killings hundreds and destroying around 3.3 sq. miles. It was one of the largest U.S. disasters in the 19th century, but the rebuilding helped Chicago develop into a populous and economically important city. -
Civil Rights Act of 1875
The Civil Rights Act of 1875 was signed by President Grant. This act, although rarely enforced, guaranteed that everyone, regardless of race or color was entitled the same treatment in "public accommodations". -
First Working Telephone
Alexander Graham Bell succeded in getting his telephone to work and spoke the first sentence into a telephone, " Mr. Watson, come here. I want to see you."
