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Timespan of American Business and Political Events
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Merchant Era
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Declaration of Independence Signed
A document signed by the 13 colonies that were at war with Britain that they regarded themselves as free countries, no longer under British rule -
Invention of Cotton Gin
in 1794, Eli Whitney introduced the new cotton gin, a machine that sped up the process of separating the cotton seeds from the cotton. It revitalized the South's cotton economy -
Louisiana Purchase
The United States buys the Louisiana Territory From France for 15$ Million, nearly doubling the size of the current United States and being the inspiration for the saying "Manifest Destiny" -
Lewis and Clark Expedition
With the help of Sacagawea, Lewis, and Clark set out to explore the Western part of the United States to find a practical route from East to West and to study the areas plant life and animals -
Slaves Importation Stopped
Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves was passed in 1807, severely crippling the South's economy and planting seeds of resentment towards the North -
America Enters War of 1812
In retaliation for American ships being blocked from reaching France, and arming Native Americans to attack the states, the United States declared war on Britain -
Invention of Mechanical Reaper
Cyrus McCormick creates a device made for farmers in order to cut down on time spent working, transforming the farming business to be much more efficient -
Trail of Tears
The Native Americans begin their long trek west after being forced out of their homes onto reservations in the Southwest, where they would shortly be forced out agian -
Gold Rush
Gold, found at Sutter's Mill in California, prompts a rush West from people along the East Coast as well as people from Asian countries such as China -
Mexican American War
War over the soveriengty of Texas turns out to be an American victory, as the United States defeats Mexico and Texas is ratified as a state that year. -
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Corporate Era
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The Civil War
Confederate States of America (the Confederacy) is established under President Jefferson Davis, leading to the American Civil War that ended in a Nothern victory -
Civil Rights Act
The Civil Rights Act of 1866 stated that all persons born in the United States were now citizens, without regard to race, color, or previous condition. -
Alaska is Purchased
The United States buys Alaska from Russia for 7.2 Million. A gold rush would soon follow, and the abundance of natural resources in the state proved that the purchase was very shrwed -
Invention of the Telephone
Alexander Graham Bell makes his first call on a revolutionary new communication device, and who later would start one of the oldest running phone companies, AT&T -
Invention of Airplane
Ohio brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright fly the world's first airplane in 1903, which would soon change the way people and goods traveled across the world -
Panama Canal Acquired
Panama Canal Zone was acquired in order to transport and export goods from around the world in a much cheaper and more efficient manner then previously -
First Model T Produced
Henry Ford's creation was started in 1908. It became a symbol of efficiency and changed factories across the world when it started being made in large amounts on the assembly line -
Titanic Sinks
The British liner passenger ship, known as the "unsinkable" ship, the Titanic sunk into the Atlantic after hitting an iceberg, killing hundreds of people. -
The United States Enters War World One
After months of pressure, the Zimmerman telegram, and the sinking of the Lusitania, the United States entered WWI and proved to be a tremendous asset -
The Great Depression
With banks over loaning and credit being used for the first time, in 1929 the stock market crashed, and Americans experience the worst depression in their history. -
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Consumer Era
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Pearl Harbor
The United States naval base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii is attacked and completely decimated by the Empire of Japan, prompting the United States to enter War World Two -
Polaroid Cameras are Introduced
Edwin Land introduces the Polaroid Camera, the first of it's kind, that can take color pictures and develop them in 60 seconds or less -
First Commercial Computer Sold
The Eckert and Mauchly Computer Co. of Philadelphia sold the first computer, the UNIVAC 1, to the U.S. government, breaking ground for what would become a massive market -
Bar Code Invented
The patent for the first barcode, which would become recognized as a way to identify certain products nationwide, was given in 1951 to Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver -
Invention of Polio Vaccine
Dr. Jonas Salk makes a successful polio vaccine, reducing the number of cases of the deadly and prominent disease by tens of thousands in only a year. -
Annexation of Hawaii
Pineapple and sugar plantation owners and missionaries stationed in Hawaii staged a coup with the US Navy to overthrow the Queen of Hawaii, and soon after it became the 50th state -
Vietnam War
With more than 900 military advisors arriving in Saigon, the long, arduous, and controversial Vietnam War officially began, and the United States suffered arguably it's most humiliating loss in history -
John F Kennedy Assassinated
The 35th president of the United States, John F Kennedy, was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald while riding a motercade in Dallas, Texas -
Neil Armstrong Walks on the Moon
Neil Armstrong becomes the first human in history to walk on the moon, winning the "space race" for the U.S. between them and the U.S.S.R -
ATM Introduced
In 1969, Chemical Bank took the step to install an Automatic Teller Machine in one of their banks in New York. They have become a staple of banks everywhere since. -
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Global Era
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Microsoft Windows Introduced
Bill Gates introduced the transformative new operating system in 1985, and it is still the most popular system for desktop and laptop computers. -
Challenger Disaster
The Space Shuttle Challenger exploded and plunged into the ocean only seventy-three seconds after takeoff, killing 7 crew members and sending NASA into years of turmoil. -
Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
The tanker Exxon Valdez spilled over 11 million gallons on Bligh Reef, Alaska, prompting swift and harsh backlash and changing many regulations for oil tankers in the United States -
Internet Introduced
The World Wide Web was publicly available on August 6, 1991, and the internet has become possibly the most powerful tool to date, giving information to just about anyone who can access a computer -
Oklahoma City Bombing
The worst act of homegrown domestic terrorism happened in Oklahoma City when a truck full of explosives detonated in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building -
The Invention of the USB
The USB, a small portable interface that allows for digital data transfer, was first sold by IBM in 2000, and has soon become a necessity for many proffessionals -
9/11
In 2001, terrorists from Al-Quida shocked the world by attacking the World Trade Centers and the Pentagon by sending 4 suicide planes flying into these buildings. -
Iphone Introduced
Steve Jobs introduces the first iPhone, a phone that would set off a wave of revolutionary technological change throughout the 00s and 10s in many different forms -
Market Crash
The real estate market crashes, leaving thousands homeless and sending shock waves across the world as global markets crash in response, sending many countries into a recession -
Barack Obama Becomes President
Barack Obama is inaugurated as the 44th president of the United States, and the first African American to sit in the Oval Office, which he was able to stay in for eight years
