-
1492
Christopher Columbus's 1st voyage
Christopher Columbus becomes the first non-viking European to set foot in the Americas, sailing under the Spanish flag on an expedition funded by Queen Isabella, and King Ferdinand. Columbus initially set out in search of the West Indies, but his discovery of the "New World" sparked interest in the Americas among European powers, Columbus landed in the island of Hispaniola. -
1500
Columbian Exchange
The Columbian exchange was the exchange of crops, animals, disease, and technology between Europe and the Americas in the 15th and 16th century. The Columbian exchange introduced crops such as sugar cane to the Americas, while also introducing infectious diseases such as smallpox, which killed significant numbers of natives. -
The Lost Colony
Sir Walter Raleigh led an English expedition to attempt to establish the first permanent colony in North America, the expedition landed on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, however, when a few leaders of the colony, including John Smith, returned from a trip from England for supplies in 1590, they found the colony had disappeared without a trace, save the word Croatoan carved on a post. The first baby of European descent was born to this colony; Virginia Dare. -
Jameston Colony
The first permanent British settlement in North America was settled in Jamestown Va. in 1607 by John Smith. The colony initially failed, with 80 percent of the colonists dying of starvation, disease, or warfare with natives, leading to a near abandonment of the colony in 1610, however the colony flourished after the introduction of cash crops to the economy. -
Introduction of Slaves to America
In 1619 a Dutch trading ship introduced the first slaves into America at the Jamestown colony. Race-based slavery replaced indentured servitude as the main form of unpaid labor in the US, and was first encoded in Virginia statutes by the 1650s. -
The Mayflower
A group of Puritans flees England searching for religious tolerance and freedom, the group of pilgrims land at Plymouth Rock, Ma. and signed the mayflower compact, establishing a written doctrine of government in the colony. -
French and Indian War
The British, and French land claims over the Ohio river valley escalate into conflict involving the French, British, Native Americans on both sides, and some Colonists. This where George Washington first gained war experience as a member of the British army. -
The Treaty of Paris
The signing of the Treaty of Paris signaled the end of the French and Indian war, which granted the northwest territory, Canada, and French lands east of the Mississippi to the British. -
End of Salutary Neglect
Following the end of their conflict with France, Britain turned it's focus toward the 13 colonies, and ended their policy of salutary neglect, reimposing their complete control over the colonies. -
Passage of the Stamp Act
The Stamp Act was the first direct tax placed on the 13 colonies by British parliament, and was received unfavorably in the colonies,as it was passed without colonial representation in parliament. -
Townshend Acts
Parliament passed taxes on everyday items including glass, tea, and documents, the passage of these acts further angered colonists who still held grudges following the passage of the Stamp Act. -
Nonimportation Agrrements
Following the passage of the Townshend acts, many colonists, and the city of Boston adopt nonimportation agreements, and boycotts of British made or imported goods, this essentially brought Boston harbor to a standstill, as colonists protested their lack of representation. -
The Boston Massacre
A mob of colonists armed with sticks, snowballs, and rocks harassed a group of British soldiers in a Boston square, the soldiers opened fire, and killed five colonists. This event significantly accelerated the momentum of the independence movement, angering colonists throughout the 13 colonies. -
Boston Tea Party
A group of members of the pro-revolution movement; The Sons of Liberty, breaks into Boston Harbor on the night of December 16 dressed as Mohawks, and dump over 45 tons of British tea into the harbor, sparking outrage from British parliament, and the crown. -
Passage of the Tea act
Parliament passed a new tax on tea imports to the colonies, while giving the East India Tea company a near monopoly on the sale of tea in the colonies. This move was met with resistance throughout the colonies, as many colonists refused to purchase tea following the passage of this act. -
Passage of the Coercive Acts
British parliament passed a series of laws in response to the Boston Tea Party, one of which closed Boston Harbor until the costs of the riot and vandalism are payed back, colonists were outraged. -
First Continental Congress
The first Continental Congress meets with 56 total delegates in Philadelphia to discuss the issues between the colonies and Britain. The Congress drafts a letter to British parliament in hopes of preventing inevitable war. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
The first shots of the American Revolution are fired at Lexington and Concord, commencing the war for independence in the colonies. The battles took place in Massachusetts, and were short skirmishes between minutemen and British soldiers. -
Adoption of the Declaration of Independence
The second Continental Congress adopts, and signs the Declaration, as drafted by Thomas Jefferson, on July 2nd. The colonies are now officially in a state of rebellion under the Continental Congress against Britain. -
British Surrender
The British army surrenders to George Washington, and the Continental Army at the Battle of Yorktown, unofficially ending the Revolutionary War. -
Articles of Confederation
The passage of the Articles of Confederation was the institution of the first government in the united Stats, the established federal government was weak, and states acted as individual nations. -
Treaty of Paris
British, American, and French delegates sign the Treaty of Paris, officially ending the American Revolution, and granting the colonies their official independence from Britain. -
Shay's Rebellion
Ma. war veteran Daniel Shay led a small rebellion of farmers against high taxes, inability to ward off this rebellion proved the ineffectiveness of the week government as built under the Articles of Confederation. -
Constitutional Convention
A group of distinguished political leaders met in Independence Hall in Philadelphia Pa. to draft the new Constitution of the US in secret, in order to establish a more capable government. The US constitution was passed with the promise of a Bill of Rights, and the 3/5 compromise, and provisions ensuring states were equally represented. -
Election of 1788
George Washington was elected the first POTUS under the newly drafted constitution, and ran unopposed, voters however were limited to white, land owning, adult males. -
Whiskey Rebellion
A rebellion sprung up, and was defeated in 1791 by the Washington administration, proving the capabilities of the newly formed federal government to maintain order. -
Ratification of the Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments to the Constitution were passed, as guaranteed during the Constitutional convention, the Bill of Rights provided basic provisions to ensure the natural rights of citizens of the US. -
Election of 1792
George Washington was re-elected president of the United States unanimously in the electoral college, this would be Washington's second, and final term in office. -
Election of 1796
The election of 1796 was the first election with significant competition; the two main candidates were Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. John Adams won the election of 1796 with running mate Thomas Pinckney. -
Election of 1800
In the election of 1800 Thomas Jefferson ran against incumbent candidate John Adams, Jefferson won the election and the presidency with running mate Aaron Burr as his vice president. In the two elections between Jefferson and Adams, the first U.S. party system was founded, as Jefferson was a democratic-republican, and Adams was a federalist. -
Marbury v. Madison
The Marbury versus Madison Case In 1803 was the first Supreme Court case to establish the precedent of judicial review, establishing that the Supreme Court had the power and authority to declare any law passed by Congress unconstitutional. -
Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was the sale of the portion of land that went west from the Mississippi, as formerly owned by the French, including the City of New Orleans, which was purchased by Thomas Jefferson in 1803 for 15 million dollars. -
Lewis and Clark expedition
The Lewis and Clark expedition was an expedition to set out to explore and map the Louisiana Territory, following its purchase by Thomas Jefferson. The expedition was led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, and provided Vital Information about new species, native Americans, and Wildlife of the Great Plains region, the group gained vital help from a native woman named Pocahontas during the trek. -
Election of 1804
The election of 1804 was held between Thomas Jefferson, who represented the Democratic Republican party, and Charles Pinckney, a federalist. Jefferson the incumbent won re-election for his second term which would also be his final term. -
Embargo of 1807
The Embargo of 1807 was passed by Thomas Jefferson in an effort to deter the impressment of American sailors by the British Fleet. The Embargo restricted trade with all countries outside of the United States and placed a high tariff on all imported goods. -
End of Slave trade
In 1808 the US officially ended all slave trade with Africa as promised during the ratification of the Constitution, while this did not outlaw slavery within the United States, it prevented any further importation of slaves into the United States from Africa. -
Election of 1808
The election of 1808 featured James Madison representing the Democratic Republican party, and Charles Pinckney of the Federalist party. James Madison won his first term and became the fourth President of the United States. -
The war of 1812
The War of 1812 was a declared naval war between the United States, and Britain following the incessant impressment of American sailors by the British Navy. The war technically ended in a draw however Britain sacked the city of Washington and burned the White House. The US's ability to fend off Britain a second gained the respect of larger European powers around the world. -
Election of 1816
The election of 1816 followed two straight terms by Democratic Republican James Madison, and featured James Monroe as the Democratic Republican nominee, and Rufus King as the nominee for the Federalists. James Monroe won the election, and became the fifth president of the United States. -
Adams Onis treaty
In 1824 the Adams Onis Treaty established Florida as a territory of the United States away from Spain, Andrew Jackson led campaigns to attempt to eradicate Seminoles from Florida in order to make the land inhabitable for white settlers from the north. -
Election of 1828
The election of 1828 featured Tennessee war hero Andrew Jackson who was elected as the seventh president of the United States following John Quincy Adams. Andrew Jackson became known for his opposition what's the Federal Bank of the United States, and his treatment of native peoples. -
Second Great Awakening
The Second Great Awakening was a religious revival movement beginning in 1830 and continuing through the 1830s which brought moral and ethical questions into the political sphere through increased awareness and involvement of religion in politics, widening the extent of democracy. -
Nat Turner's Rebellion
Nat Turner's rebellion was a four-day-long rebellion led by a former slave in Northern Virginia in an attempt to liberate slaves in the northern Virginia area, led by Nat Turner former slave, and extremist abolitionist. -
Rejection of the second Bank of the US
In 1832 Andrew Jackson rejected the Second Bank of the United States Charter effort to gain a political foothold for his upcoming campaign and to establish his position at a democratic Republican and an anti-federalist. -
Trail of Tears
the passage of the Indian Removal Act by Andrew Jackson sparked a great forced migration of Southern American Indians into reservations Across the Western United States this movement became known as the Trail of Tears as many natives were treated completely inhumanely during this process and thousands died. -
Election of 1836
In the election of 1836 Martin van Buren was elected president following Andrew Jackson's second term, no vice president was decided during the election, however Richard M Johnson was selected by the House of Representatives to become the Vice President. Van Buren became the eighth president of the United States. -
Mexican American war
In 1846 the Mexican-American War begins under the presidency of James K Polk, Polk was adamant that Westward Expansion was necessary and was a large proponent of the idea of manifest destiny at the end of the Mexican-American War calipoke time the Guadalupe Hidalgo treaty which granted the United States large portions of the American southwest. -
Dredd Scott v Sanford
The Dred Scott vs. Sandford case was a Supreme Court case, in which a slave sued for his freedom (Dred Scott) after the family that claimed to own him had moved to a free state. Scott lost the case and set a judicial precedent that established that slaves could not sue for their freedom and they could not gain independence if the owning family moved to a free area, because they were property and not individuals. -
Westward expansion
In 1849 a gold rush in San Francisco California sparked the greatest Western Migration in American history, as thousands upon thousands of Americans flocked Westford and the hope of new land and new opportunity on the Oregon Trail. Migrants were fueled by the idea of manifest destiny, that it was God's purpose for the white man to inhabit the West. -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was passed in the presidency of Millard Fillmore, and included clauses about free and slave states, and included the highly controversial Fugitive Slave Law, which allowed Southern slaveholders to track down runaway slaves even if they were living in free states, which was previously illegal.This compromise severely angered Northern abolitionists who felt this violated the gained freedom of a runaway slave in a free state. -
John Brown's Raid on Harper's ferry
John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry was an extremist abolition attack on a federal battery, and Munitions Depot in Maryland, and the execution of John Brown afterwards lead to extreme unrest among circles of abolitionists, growing the already immense tension between it's slave South and abolitionist North. -
election of 1860
The election of 1860 featured a 4-man race, with Abraham Lincoln winning the election as a senator from Illinois, with only 39% of the vote, Lincoln's election was the Tipping Point for many in the south, as he openly expressed abolitionist ideals although he was initially not completely abolitionist. -
Secession of SC
South Carolina seceded from the Union even before Abraham Lincoln's inauguration following his election in 1860, as the state was highly proslavery. -
Mi. Secedes
Mississippi became the second state to secede fro the Union on Jan 9 1861. -
Mass Southern Secession
9 more states secede from the union by the beginning battles of the Civil War, all pro slavery states.