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Period: 1491 to
Period 1/2: 1491-1763
Pre-Revolutionary Colonial America -
Aug 3, 1492
Columbus Voyage
Columbus leaves Spain from the port of Palos de la Frontera on his First Voyage -
1499
Vespucci Finds South American Coast
Amerigo Vespucci sets sail and lands along the South American coast. During his first voyage, he explores the northern coast of South America to well beyond the mouth of the Amazon. -
Sep 8, 1565
First European American Colony
Spain Establishes the first European Colony in North America, in St. Augustine, Florida. -
Roanoke Colony
First English settlement in North America, Roanoke Colony is established off the coast of NC. -
Mayflower Compact
The first governing documents of Plymouth Colony is established, first establishing the seeds of self-governance ideology in the New World. -
First Thanksgiving
Three-day harvest between 90 Native Americans, and 53 pilgrims. -
Buying of Manhattan Island
Peter Minuit buys Manhattan from Native Americans for "60 guilders worth of trade." -
New England Outlaws Slavery
New England Colonies officially forbid slavery, ending the slave trade in the northern colonies. -
New Orleans Established
The French establish New Orleans in the modern Louisiana territory. -
French and Indian War Ends
The Treaty of Paris marks the end of the French and Indian War and the start of a period of economic strain placed upon the colonists by the British monarch. -
Period: to
Period 3: 1763-1800
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Sugar Act and Currency Act
The regulation of paper money and a tax on sugar usage in the colonies are established by the British Crown. -
Boston Massacre
British soldiers shoot an kill several colonial protesters in Boston. -
Boston Tea Party
In protest of the British policy of taxation without representation, the Sons of Liberty defiantly dump 342 chests of tea imported by the British East India Tea Company into the Boston Harbor. -
First Continental Congress
The first meeting of 12 delegates from the 13 colonies agreeing to impose an economic boycott on British trade. -
Common Sense
Writer Thomas Paine publishes his popular political pamphlet advocating for independence persuasively, leading to it becoming the most widely distributed and circulated book in American history in proportion to the population. -
Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson's Declaration of Independence is ratified, proclaiming the 13 colonies as 13 sovereign and independent states, and prompting a war with Britain. -
Articles of Confederation Ratified
The Articles of Confederation are ratified and agreed upon by the 13 states and give a great deal of sovereigntry to the individual states. -
Yorktown Victory
The surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown following a nearly monthlong battle prompts Britain to negotiate to end the Revolutionary War. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris marks the official end of the Revolutionary War and the establishment of the United States of America as recognized by England, signed in Paris by representatives from both countries. -
Land Ordinances
The Congress of the Confederation establishes a standardized system for the acquisition of farmland in the underdeveloped American west. -
Shay's Rebellion
An armed rebellion in Massachusettes protesting increased efforts to collect taxes under the Articles of Confederation, which are becoming increasingly unpopular amongst the colonies. -
Constitution Convention
A convention is called in Philadelphia for an attempt to revise the existing Articles of Confederation. In the end, it was decided that the Articles would be dismissed in favor of a new US Constitution, that still needed state support and ratification. -
Federalist Papers
James Madison, John Jay, and Alexander Hamilton write 85 essays in support of the new US constitution. -
Washington Elected
Former General George Washington is elected first President of the United States under the recently ratified US constitution. He is inaugurated on this date in 1789. -
Bill of Rights Ratified
After being ratified by Virginia, the first ten amendments to the US constitution, as advocated by the Anti-Federalists, officially become law in the country. -
Quasi-War
An undeclared quasi-war breaks out between the US and France, whom the nation previously supported, at the beginning of John Adams presidency, following the XYZ affair, and their attacking of American ships. -
Revolution of 1800
Thomas Jefferson is elected President in 1800, marking the first successful peaceful transfer of power from the Federalists to the Democratic-Republicans, even gaining the support of prominent Federalist Alexander Hamilton and marking the beginning of a period of negotiation between the two rivaling parties. -
Period: to
Period 4: 1800-1848
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Marbury v. Madison
A landmark court case that determined the concept of Judicial review, and granted the Judicial branch the power to strike down or eliminate laws that were deemed unconstitutional. -
Lewis and Clark
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark are commissioned by Jefferson shortly following the Louisiana Purchase to begin to explore the new territory. The two leave from Missouri in 1803. -
Louisiana Purchase
The US acquiries 828,000 sq. miles of land in the modern midwestern portion of the country. Under Jefferson's guidance, the territory is acquired from Napoleonic era France 15 million dollars, 18 dollars per square mile. -
Embargo Act
US congress enacts a general embargo on all foreign trade. -
James Madison Victory
Democratic-Republican James Madison is elected and inaugurated on this date, marking the beginning of the end of the Federalist party and another victory for the Democratic-Republicans following a two-term Presidency by Thomas Jefferson. -
Non-Intercourse Act
In the last days of Jefferson's Presidency, Congress passes the Non-Intercourse Act lifting the Embargo Act and allowing foreign trade with all nations except Britain and France. This act proved to be difficult to enforce. -
War of 1812
The last major conflict with England, the War of 1812 breaks out when Britain violates U.S. maritime rights. The British eventually try to infiltrate the country through Canada and destabilize the capital. It was resolved with the Treaty of Ghent 3 years later. -
Misouri Compromise
Missouri is declared a slave state and Maine, a free state. Slavery is restricted in the north. -
Monroe Doctrine
James Monroe states his doctrine at the seventh annual State of the Union, in which he stated his belief that European colonial affairs should not take place in the US or in Latin America, and that the U.S. could get involved in European affairs, ending America's isolationist practice. -
New Harmony
New Harmony, Indiana is purchased by Robert Owen with the intention of creating a utopian community. -
Tariff of Abominations
A protective tariff is passed by congress to protect northern industries. It is considered unconstitutional by South Carolina. -
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson in inaugurated beginning the "age of the common man" in the US. The first democratic President of the US. -
Mormon Church Founding
Self-proclaimed prophet Joseph Smith, after receiving a spiritual revelation, founds the LDS Church. He and his followers would later migrate west and populate the modern state of Utah. -
Indian Removal Act
Indian removal act officially passed, allowing for the Native Americans in the southern regions of the US to migrate west of the Mississippi River while their ancestral lands were settled by white Americans. -
Trail of Tears Begin
The Cherokee were forcibly removed from their land and relocated east of the Mississippi River. Thousands died in the process. -
Black Hawk War
A brief dispute between the US and Sauk leader Black Hawk regarding western territory. -
Whig Party Founded
The Whig Party emerges to counter and contrast the policies of Andrew Jackson and the other Democrats. It, along with the Democratic Party, becomes one of the major contributors to the two-party system until the 1850s. -
Texas Declares Independence
Tensions on the US southern border spark early battles of the Mexican American War. In 1836 Texans won a battle against the Mexican forces at San Jacinto and gained independence for Texas. -
Transcendental Club
First meeting between a Frederic Henry Hedge, Ralph Waldo Emerson, George Ripley, and George Putnam to discuss the formation of the Transcendental Club, which would go on to form the basis of the transcendental movement. -
Period: to
Period 5: 1844-1877
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Mexican-American War
A war between the U.S. and Mexico spans the period from spring 1846 to fall 1847. The war is initiated by the United States and eventually climaxes in Mexico's defeat and the loss of approximately half of its territory in the north. -
California Gold Rush
Gold is found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The news brings 300,000 fortune-seekers called "forty-niners" in 1849 to California. Led to California's statehood -
Compromise of 1850
Introduced by Henry Clay, California is admitted to the union as a free state. The Fugitive Slave Act was amended and the slave trade in Washington, D.C., was abolished. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Harriet Beecher Stowe publishes her anti-slavery novel Uncle Tom's Cabin, which is widely distributed and turns many Americans against slavery. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act is passed, allowing the citizens of the aforementioned states to decide for themselves whether or not to allow slavery in their states. The Act repeals the Missouri Compromise of 1820 which prohibited slavery north of latitude 36°30´. -
John Brown's Raid
An effort by white abolitionist John Brown to organize an armed slave revolt in 1859 by taking over a United States arsenal at Harper's Ferry in Virginia. -
Election of 1860
Abraham Lincoln wins the election, sparking the secession of southern states, believing he was an abolitionist. South Carolina becomes the first state to secede. -
Battle of Fort Sumter
The first battle of the civil war breaks out in Charleston, South Carolina following the south's declaration of war. -
Emancipation Proclomation
Abraham Lincoln issues this proclamation which declares that "all persons held as slaves are, and henceforward shall be free." This remains unenforced unit the passage of the 13th amendment almost three years later. -
Period: to
Period 6: 1865-1898
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Robert E. Lee Surrender
General Robert E. Lee surrenders the Army of Northern Virginia at the McLean House in the village of Appomattox Court House, effectively ending the Civil War. -
Black Codes
Black Codes are passed by Southern states following the Civil War, with the intent to inhibit African Americans' freedom, compelling them to work in an unfair labor economy based on low wages or debt. -
KKK
The Klu Klux Klan is officially founded in Pulaski, TN. -
Freedman's Bureau
An agency established by Congress to help former black slaves and poor whites in the South in the aftermath of the U.S. Civil War. An early attempt at reconstruction. -
Reconstruction Acts of 1867
Four statutes enacted by Congress that lais out the process for readmitting Southern states into the Union. -
Impeachment of Andrew Johnson
For violation of the Tenure of Office Act, President Johnson is impeached by Congress. -
Wyoming Grants Suffrage
More than 50 years before the rest of the country follows behind, Wyoming becomes the first state to grant women voting rights in the hopes of leading by example and bringing more women to the state. -
Knights of Labor
The first major labor union in the US, the Knights of Labor organized skilled and unskilled workers alike and campaigned for 8-hour workdays, with the eventual goal of laborers owning the industries which they currently worked for. This labor organization was more inclusive of female and black workers. -
Standard Oil
John D. Rockefeller dominates the shrinking oil industry by starting his Standard Oil Company, which will eventually become monopolistic in the coming years. -
Boss Tweed Scandal
"Political Boss" William Tweed robs millions from NYC. Despite serving time in jail for his crimes, he still maintained a great deal of power over his followers. -
Panic of 1873
As a result of over-expansion in the railroad industry and a drop in European demand for American agricultural products as well as an end to European investments in the US, a financial crisis triggers an economic depression that lasts until 1877 in the US, and longer in Europe. -
Great Sioux War
Following the US desire to obtain possession of the Black Hills mountain range, a series of battles and negotiations spark between the Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne, and the US government. -
Election of 1876
One of the most controversial presidential elections in American history. Samuel J. Tilden of New York wins over Ohio's Rutherford B. Hayes in the popular vote, and had 184 electoral votes to Hayes' 165, while 20 votes were left uncounted. -
Compromise of 1877
An allegedly informal, unwritten agreement ended the Reconstruction Era by resolving the heavily disputed 1876 U.S. presidential election and pulling federal troops out of state politics in the Southern states. -
Inauguration of Rutherford B. Hayes
The inauguration of Rutherford B. Hayes as the 19th President of the United States takes place. The inauguration marks the beginning of the single-term of Rutherford B. Hayes as President and William A. Wheeler as Vice President. -
Railroad Strike of 1877
Following the Panic of 1873, railroad workers' wages are cut by 10%, sparking this unsuccessful strike, which caused the labor movement, which was currently ununionized, to rethink their organizational methods. -
Lightbulb Invented
Thomas Edison invents the electric lightbulb, boosting the industrial revolution and contributing to an increase in productive efficiency across the country. -
Haymarket Square Bombing
8 anarchists set off a bomb during a labor demonstration in Chicago, killing several police officers and civilians. The Knights of Labor became falsely associated with this bombing, stunting the rapid growth of the labor movement. -
Sherman Anti-Trust Act
The first federal act that prohibited monopolistic business practices and prohibited trusts. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
Supreme Court case upholding the constitutionality of racial segregation laws in public areas, setting up the "separate but equal" doctrine. -
Period: to
Period 7: 1898-1954
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Maine Sunk
USS Maine was sent to Havana Harbor to protect U.S. interests during the Cuban War of Independence, sinking on this date. The trending Yellow Press accused Spain of the attack -
De Lome Letter
Written by Spanish Ambassador to the United States Enrique Dupuy de Lôme, this letter criticized American President William McKinley. -
Spanish-American War
An armed conflict breaks out between Spain and the United States in the aftermath of the internal explosion of USS Maine in Havana Harbor in Cuba, which lead to U.S. support in the Cuban War of Independence, fighting against its Spanish occupation. The war left the US with significant territory in the Caribbean. -
Hawaii Annexation
Urged by the nationalism aroused by the Spanish-American War, the United States annexed Hawaii in 1898 at the plea of President William McKinley. Hawaii was made a territory in 1900, and Sanford B. Dole became its first governor. -
Boxer Rebellion
A Chinese secret society known as the Boxers embarked on a violent campaign to drive all foreigners from China. US troops are sent to help ease the issue. -
Roosevelt Inaugurated
Popular and progressive President Theodore Roosevelt is inaugurated on this date in 1901. -
Panama Canal
Congress decides on Panama route, the Colombian Senate rejected $10 million for a six-mile zone. Panamanians on the verge of a rebellion because they wanted the alleged peace the construction would bring.
