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French and Indian War Begins
British Forces in the Colonies tried to drive out the French in the Ohio River Valley after the French tried to claim the territory by building forts. The British were crushed by the French, thus starting the French and Indian War. -
Pontiac's Rebellion Begins
Native Americans, led by Pontiac, who were angry at the British conspired to storm British forts and other forms of rebellion. Their first plan was to invade a fort in Detroit. The Natives were upset with the arrogant ways of the British and how they unfairly stole their land. -
The Treaty of Paris is Signed
The signing of the Treaty of Paris ended the French and Indian War. British Parliament ratified the Treaty with a majority of 319 to 64, and it went into effect on February 2, 1763. It was signed in Paris by representatives of Great Britain on one side and France and Spain on the other. -
The Virginia Resolves
The Virginia House of Burgesses adapted a series of resolutions to undo what taxes the British had imposed. One of the Resolves cancelled the British Stamp Act, which put a tax on every paper good colonists bought. The group agreed that Americans should only be taxed for what they approve of through representation and voting. -
Lexington and Concord
British Troops marched to Concord with plans of seizing an arms cache. The Colonial Militia was warned of the attack and prepared to fight the troops. The two armies met in Lexington, Massachusetts where fighting began. The Colonial Men pushed back the British. This marked the beginning of the Revolutionary War. -
Declaration of Independence is Adopted
Using ideas from John Locke and other great minds, Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration claimed America's independence from Great Britain. It consisted of all the reasons why America was splitting from Britain, including the violation on American's "natural rights." The Continental Congress approved of the Declaration in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. -
The Constitutional Convention First Meets
In the Summer of 1787, delegates from all but one of the states met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to amend the Articles of Confederation. They addressed the weak central government system and looked to reform it. From this the group created the three-branch government that we still follow today. -
The Lewis and Clark Expedition Begins
After the Louisiana Purchase, President Jefferson recruited Lewis and Clark to survey the newly purchased land. Over two years, Lewis and Clark, along with their team, explored over 8,00 miles. The group successfully made maps of the territory, as well as identifying new plant and animal species and forming relations with Native Americans. -
The War of 1812 Begins
After the Battle of Tippecanoe, many Native Americans felt they needed assistance from the British to stop Americans from pushing them out of their land. Meanwhile, Americans were frustrated with Britain for their activities of impressment and the controlling of trade. So, on June 18, 1812, the United States declared war on Britian. -
The Treaty of Ghent
Representatives from Britain and the United States met in Ghent, Belgium to sign the Treaty of Ghent, which ended the War of 1812. The Treaty came after the American victory at Lake Champlain. It also opened up the Great Lakes to the United States, an important factor in commerce and transportation. -
The Panic of 1819
After the War of 1812, the American economy flourished. So many people bought land in the United States, and the government allowed it to be bought on credit. The economy crashed in 1819 and banks lost great deals of money from the loans they were giving, and in turn a large number of farmers lost their land. -
The Missouri Compromise
Conflict began when Missouri applied to be a slave state in the Union. This threw off the balance of slave and free states in America. To solve the problem, Congress passed the Missouri Compromise. The Compromise granted Missouri in as a slave state, but it also granted Maine in as a free state, which kept the balance of both sides. -
Monroe Doctrine Issued
President James Monroe became the founder of America's foreign policies when he issued the Monroe Doctrine. In a letter to Congress, Monroe stated that the Old and New Worlds are vastly different and therefore most remain separate, closing the New World to any future colonization. The Doctrine mainly came from the concern that some nation would attempt to restore Spain's colonies. -
The First Treaty of Prairie du Chien
The American government was becoming increasingly active in promoting the expansion of the frontier. Native American presence in this area disrupted the settlers and their trade, creating conflict. In response, representatives from each tribe met at the Prairie de Chien to from a peace treaty and set up boundaries with white settlers. -
First U.S.A. Railroad Construction Begins
Construction on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad began in order to provide transportation for freight and passengers. The B&O Railroad Company began the construction project in Baltimore. Although the track was only 13 miles long, it opened up a new world of transportation. -
Indian Removal Act Passed
The Indian Removal Act gave the president the power to give Native Americans land in the West in trade for their desirable territories in the East. Although intended to be a peaceful act, Americans began using force to get the Natives out of their land. The act was signed into law by President Andrew Jackson. -
Texas Becomes Independent from Mexico
Texans fighting for independence finally won in 1836. An army of Texans led by Sam Houston captured Santa Anna which forced Mexico to recognize them as independent. Texas was an independent republic for about a decade before joining the United States. -
The First Battle of Bull Run
The Battle of Bull Run is seen as the first major battle of the American Civil War. It was fought in northern Virginia. Confederate and Union troops met here. The Union Army was made up of volunteers and was undertrained. As a result, the Confederacy won. After this loss, the Union gathered more troops and resources to prepare for the long war ahead. -
Emancipation Proclamation Issued
President Lincoln used the Emancipation Proclamation as a military strategy. The Proclamation announced that all slaves in the rebellious states “shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.” The Union then had the upper hand morally and in the army as well, for many freed slaves came to fight in the Union Army. -
The Appomattox Court House Surrender
Union and Confederate forces met at the Appomattox Court House in Virginia. Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to the Union, therefore ending the Civil War. Lee had intended to rally his troops in North Carolina and gain a victory, but instead was crushed at Appomattox, leading to the Union victory and the end of the war of four years.
