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Washington, D.C. becomes the capital of the United States
The capital city is moved from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C. -
Gabriel Prosser Revolt
A slave blacksmith called Gabriel Prosser organized a slave revolt in Virginia protesting against slavery. The conspiracy was uncovered and the conspirators were hanged. Virginia's slave laws were tightened further. -
Thomas Jefferson is president
Thomas Jefferson is inaugurated as the third president of the United States. -
Louisiana Purchase
The United States pays France $15 million to purchase the Louisiana territory. This made the United States almost double in size. -
Thomas Jefferson reelected
Thomas Jefferson serves another term as US President. -
Louis and Clark set out on their expedition
Louis and Clark set out from St. Louis, Missouri, on a journey to the West to find a possible road to the Pacific Ocean. -
James Madison becomes president
James Madison is inaugurated as President of the United States. -
War of 1812 begins
The United States declares war to the British for interference in their expansion to the west. -
Star Spangled Banner is written
Francis Scott Key writes the poem "Star-Spangled Banner" as he watches the British attacking Fort McHenry. -
The War of 1812 ends
The war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Ghent in which border issues were settled. -
James Monroe becomes president
James Monroe is inaugurated as the fifth president of the United States. -
Spain cedes Florida
Spain agrees to cede the land of Florida to the United States due to issues with resources. -
Missouri Compromise
Maine is admitted as a free state and Missouri is admitted as a slave state. All other lands north of latitude 36º30' are not allowed to be slave states. -
Articles of Confederation
Congress adopts the Articles of Confederation, which is the first constitution of the United States. -
John Quincy Adams becomes president
John Quincy Adams is inaugurated as the sixth president of the United States. -
Andrew Jackson becomes president
Andrew Jackson is inaugurated as the seventh president of the United States. -
Indian Removal Act
President Andrew Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act, which permitted the forced removal of Native American Indians from their lands on the West. -
Nat Turner's Rebellion
Nat Turner, a black slave, initiated a bloody rebellion against slavery that lasted for two days in Southampton County, Virginia. -
Texas becomes independent
Texas declared its independence from Mexico, making it a free land. -
The Alamo
All Texan defenders are killed by the Mexican army laying siege on the Alamo. -
Manifest Destiny
The term Manifest Destiny first appears in a magazine article. It represents the idea that the United States are entitled to expand throughout the continent from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. -
Texas in annexed to the United States
Congress decides to annex Texas to the territories of the United States. -
Mexican War
The United States goes to war with Mexico to obtain the California territory. -
Oregon Treaty
The United States acquires the Oregon Territory through the Oregon Treaty, taking it from the British. -
Mexican War ends
The Mexican War ends with the signing of the Guadalupe Hidalgo Treaty in which Mexico cedes the territories of California, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, and Arizona for $15 million. -
Harriet Tubman escapes slavery
Harriet Tubman escapes slavery and becomes an icon for abolition. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Harriet Beecher Stowe's book, Uncle Tom's Cabin, is published and becomes a pushing force toward abolition. -
Abraham Lincoln elected president
Abraham Lincoln is elected president after receiving public attention in debates. -
South Carolina secedes
South Carolina secedes from the Union due to the cause that its state's rights were not being respected when it came to slavery. -
Confederate States of America is formed
South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana secede from the Union and form the Confederate States of America. -
The Civil War begins
Confederates attack Fort Sumter in South Carolina and begin the Civil War. -
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation frees all slaves in the Confederate States. -
Gettysburg Address
President Abraham Lincoln delivers the Gettysburg Address. -
Confederate surrender
Confederate general Robert E. Lee surrenders to Ulysses S. Grant. -
Lincoln is assassinated
Abraham Lincoln is assassinated by John Wilkes Booth at a theater in Washington, D.C. -
Thirteenth Amendment
The thirteenth amendment, prohibiting slavery, is passed. -
Alaska Territory acquired
The United States acquires the Alaska Territory from Russia for the sum of $7.2 million. -
Chicago Fire
The Chicago Fire killed about 300 people and left hundreds of thousands homeless.
