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Early American History
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Boston Massacre
5 people were killed when people were rioting at the British soldiers, and the soldiers fired at them. This was important in American history because this made American colonists angry, and it was one of the sparks that started the American Revolution. -
Boston Tea Party
American colonists made a protest against the British by boarding British ships in the Boston harbor and destroying many crates of tea. This was important in American history because this was helping to spark the American Revolution. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
The "shot heard 'round the world" was fired, and militiamen fired at the British army in Lexington and Concord. This was important because this is the first battle that started the Revolutionary War. -
Signing of the Declaration of Independence
The members of the Second Continental Congress signed this document written by Thomas Jefferson. This was an important event in American history because this made us independant from Great Britain. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was ratified by all 13 states and was put into place on this day. This was important in American history because this was the first Constitution the U.S. had, and the flaws of it helped create the newer Constituution that replaced it. -
British Surrender at Yorktown
The British surrendered during this battle, ending the Revolutionary War. This was very important in American history because winning this war made the U.S. a new country free from British rule. -
Northwest Ordinance
This ordinance was passed, which created the Northwest Territory. This was important because this made new land in the U.S. and created 6 new states later on. -
New Hampshire ratifies the Constitution
New Hampshire became the 9th state to ratify the U.S. Constitution. This was important because the Constitution is now able to take effect since the 9th state ratified it. -
George Washinton elected President
George Washinton was elected as the 1st President of the United States. This was important in American history because he was the first president of our country, which followed 43 others. -
Bill of Rights ratified
The first 10 Amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, were proposed and later ratified on this date. This was important in American history because this gave the U.S. citizens rights and freedoms we have today. -
Cotton Gin invented
Eli Whitney patented and invented the cotton gin. This was important in American history because it helped America's cotton industry grow a lot, but caused more slaves in the South. -
Louisiana Purchase
President Thomas Jefferson bought the Louisiana Territory from France for about $15 million. This was important in American history because this added a lot of land to the U.S. -
War of 1812 Begins
The U.S. declared war on Great Britain on this day. It was important in American history because if the U.S. lost, they could've went back to being a British colony. -
End of the War of 1812
On this day, the Treaty of Ghent was signed, which officially ended the War of 1812. This was important because the U.S. won this war, and they proved that they were an independant nation in that war. -
Battle of the Alamo
This was an important battle in the Texas War for Independence. This was an important part of American history because this battle gave the Texan army inspiration and time to build up a larger army to defeat Mexico so they could have independence. -
First Telegraph Message
Samuel Morse sends the first telegraph message from Baltimore to Washington. This was important because this was a great advancement in communication. -
Mexican War
This war was started when the Mexican army attacked the U.S. army in Texas. This war was important because the U.S. wanted the annexation of Texas. -
California Gold Rush
A man named James Marshall discover gold in California. This was important in American history because this started a massive migration to the West in search of gold. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
This treaty ended the Mexican War. This was important because this established the U.S.-Mexico border as the Rio Grande and the Nueces River, the U.S. got land near California, and Mexico recognized the U.S.'s annexation of Texas. -
Abraham Lincoln elected President
Abraham Lincoln was elected the 16th President of the United States. This was important in American history because he was an important president, but this also caused South Carolina to secede from the Union, which eventually led to other states seceding and starting the Civil War. -
Battle at Fort Sumter
Confederate forces fired on Fort Sumter, which is in South Carolina. This was important in American history because this battle started the Civil War. -
Emancipation Proclamation was signed
President Abraham Lincoln signed and issued the Emancipation Proclamation. This was an important part of American history because this freed the slaves in the South. -
Gettysburg Address
President Abraham Lincoln made a speech at the battlegrounds of the Battle of Gettysburg, which was fought from July 1-3, 1863. This was important because this was the bloodiest battle in the Civil War and the speech was very important about how bad the war was. -
General Lee surrenders at Appomattox Courthouse
General Robert E. Lee of the South surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant of the Union at the Appomattox Courthouse. This was important in American history because this ended the Civil War. -
First Telephone Call
Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone, made the first telephone call to his assistant Thomas Watson. This was important because this was another great advancement in communications.
