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Jun 10, 1215
Magna Carta signed
The Magna Carta was adocument made in ENgland in 1215 that King John was forced into signing. THe document gave English citizens rights. http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/magna-carta.htm -
Mayflower Compact signed
More infoThe Mayflower Compact was created in 1620 in New Plymouth by the settlers. It was to grant equal rights to everyone for tyhe good of the settlement. -
Formation of New England Confederation
More infoThe Formation of New England Confederation was in 1643 in which representatives from the four colonies drew up 12 articles of confederation, all in response to Dutch expansion. -
French and Indian War Begins
more info The French and Indian War started on May 28, 1754 and started because of land conflicts between Britian and France. The war began, two years later Britian declared war on France and that began the Seven Years War in which countries like Prussia, and Austria took part in. -
Albany Plan of Union announced
more infoBrtiain asked for the governers send a message to the colonies for the local leaders to assemble for a meeting in Albany New York becuase of the thought that there would be war with France Franklin and Hutchinson called for colonial union if war were to happen with France. -
Treaty of Paris (1763)
more info The Treaty of Paris ended the French and Indian War (Seven Years War in Europe). In the treaty France lost territory in Canada to Britian and Spain took Florida after losing Cuba. Britian controlled almost all of the land east of the Mississippi River -
Royal Proclamation (1763)
more infoThe king of Britian issued the Royal Proclamtion after the French and Indian War ended. It stated that the colonists could not spread out into their new territory that they won in the war from New France. This was issued so they would not harm the Indians and take their land. -
Sugar Act
more infoThe Sugar Act would lower the tax on molasses from six pence to three pence per gallon. It also listed more goods to be taxed such as sugar, coffee, export of iron and lumber, and more. With the tax on molasses lowered, the rum industry was nearly wiped out in the colonies. -
Stamp Act
more infoThe purpose of the Stamp Acts was to raise 60,000 pounds per year to support British soldiers in the colonies. The Stamp Act would tax paper goods that would require a seal: newspapers, playing cards, and other official documents. The people rebelled, and would tar and feather tax collectors. -
Stamp Act Congress
more infoThe Stamp Act Congress was convened in October of 1765 to deal with the Stamp Act which was put into effect months earlier. The delegates there came up with the Declaration of Rights which did help to get the Stamp Act repealed. -
Townshend Acts
more info The Townshend Acts, created by Charles Townshend, were acts to generate income for the king for defending the colonies and pay for governors and judges. Some taxable items were: paint, lead, tea, and paper. -
The Boston Massacre
more infoThe Boston Massacre started when a mob of people started to harass a British soldier on duty. The town bell in Boston rang and more colonists and British soldiers ran to the scene. One soldier fell and then got up and fired a shot into the crowd. More soldiers jumped in. In the end only five colonists were killed. -
Boston Tea Party
more infoThe Boston Tea party occured in November of 1773 and was started by Sam Adams and the Sons of Liberty. They dressed up as Mohawk Indians and threw 15,000 pounds of tea into Boston Harbor. -
First Continental Congress
more infoThe First Continental COngress was organized to try and deal with the Intolerable Acts. The delegates met in Philadelphia. Some wanted independence. -
Patrick Henry says "Give me liberty"
more info on Patrick HenryPatrick Henry says this famous quote on March 23, 1775. -
Midnight ride of Paul Revere
more infoGeneral Warren of the American militia told Presscott, Dawes, and Revere of the news that the British were coming. Revere along with the others went to spread the word that the British were coming. At Lexington he warned John Hancock and Samuel Adams. He met up with the other two riders and was eventually caught on his way to Concord. Presscott escaped, Dawes escaped as well, Revere was taken by the British but then let go. That next day would start the American Revolution. -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
more infoThe day after Samuel Presscott, William Dawes, and Paul Revere's rides began the battles of Lexington and Concord. One side fired the first shot at Lexington Green, which side fired is unknown. The Americans fled to Concord but eventually pushed the British soldiers back to Boston and took Bunker Hill and Charleston. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
more infoThe Battle of Bunker Hill took place on June 17, 1775 where the Britsh took a victory over the colonists. General Howe of the British was the first to start an assault. Throughout the battle it had seemed the colonists would end up winning the battle, but in the end they were unorganized thus leading to defeat. In total there were 1034 casualties. -
" Common Sense" published
more info"Common Sense" by Thomas Paine was published on January 10, 1776. In the story Paine wants the colonies to break away from Britian and says that the relationship with Britian will become forced through time and be unatural. -
British evacuate Boston
more info The Continental Army set up cannons on Dorchester Heights and the British were forced to evacuate Boston and sailed to Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Americans regained control of Boston after eight years of British control. -
Second Continental Congress
more info The Second Continetal Congress met after the Revolution ahd started. On May 15, the delegates decided to put the colonies on the defense and break away from Britain. Washington was also appointed Commander in Chief of the army. Congress would also start to print their own money as well. -
Declaration of Independence announced
more info The earliest call for independence was in early June 1776 and later that month a Committee of Five was to draft a declaration of independence. -
The Crisis Published
more infoThe Crisis is a series of essays written by Thomas Paine. The first was published on December 23, 1776 and the first line of the essay is his famous quote "these are times that try men's souls." -
Washington captures Trenton
more infoAt the end of the battle, Washington only lost four men and had only eight wounded. General Howe of the British army was stunned by the Americans victory and sent Cornwallis to take down Washington. -
Fort Ticonderoga
more infoThe battle of Fort Ticonderoga took place on July 6, 1777. There were 3,000 colonists against 7,213 British soldiers, 150 Canadians, and a large amount of Natives. Fort Ticonderoga was initially taken by the British in 1759. General St. Clair who commanded the Americans, and left the fort on July 6th with more colonists to back his withdrawl while troops of the British shot at them. There were only a few casualties. -
British defeated at Saratoga
more infoThe British lost the Battle of Saratoga in October 1777. At the Battle of Brandywine the Americans were defeated but here due to this victory it gave the Americans hope once more. -
Winter at Valley Forge PA
The Americans entered Valley Forge on December 19, 1777. Before there were problems with obtaining supplies for the soldiers and when winter came it became even harder. There were many shortages. Even Washington had described the terrible conditions. The soldiers had to scavenge whatever they could. 2,000 soldiers were sent to nearby hospitals in the end. -
John Paul Jones defeats the Serapis
more info John led his naval ship the USS Bonhomme Richard against the fifty gun British ship called the Serapis. Jone's ship was struck but he continued to fight after being given the chance to surrender and the Serapis admitted defeat. -
Benedict Arnold plans found out
more infoBenedict Arnold's plans were found out after one of his British contacts was captured by the Americans. His name was John Andre. He had documents on him that showed Arnold was a traitor. -
Articles of Confederation signed
More infoThe Articles of Confederation was the first government of the United States. It was signed on March 1st 1781, however it was created the in November of 1781. The Articles created a weak central government with the states having the power. -
Cornwallis surrenders
more infoThe battle of Yorktown started in early September and ended with the surrender of Cornwallis on October 19, 1781. In the end Cornwallis found his army outmatched and surrounded by the enemy and had no choice but to surrender. This was the last battle of the American Revolution. -
Newburgh Conspiracy
more infoIn 1783 George Washington faced a threat to his leadership. In Newburgh, New York after a meeting was xalled because of tired soldiers, The U.S was being accused of abusing soldiers rights. Washinton eventually resolved this issue soon after. -
Treaty of Paris signed
more infoThis treaty ended the American Revolution and the U.S. became an independent country. The three negotiators for this document to be ratified were John Jay, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams. -
Land Ordinance of 1785
more infoCongress wanted to expand their land ownership in the U.S.
An ordinance was passed on May 20 which secured American land until the Homestead act in 1862. -
Ordinance of religious freedom
more infoJefferson came up with the idea that everyone is subject to practice their own religion or that anyone needs to attend church. -
Annapolis Convention
more infoThis convention was a meeting of 12 delegates from 5 states in Annapolis, Maryland. They were to work out the defects in the Articles of Confederation. Washington called for a stronger central government here, something the people had set out to get away from, but he believed it would all fail if not. -
Shay's Rebellion
more infoDaniel Shay was an officer in the American Revolution. On his farm in 1786 he gathered up 1,400 followers to go against the government in Springfield Masschusetts. He attacked the arsenal in the city and attacked the courthouse within the city as well demanding a new Constitution. -
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Northwest Ordinance of 1787
more infoA government was established by the Confederation Congress for the northwest. This guaranteed that the new states would all have equal rights to the already established states. -
The Great Compromise agreed to
more infoThe Great Compromise eventually led to all states having one vote in the Senate which was proposed by Roger Sherman and agreed to by Ben Franklin. The compromise was agreed to on July 16th by only one vote. -
Constitution sent to states for ratification
more infoThis was the date in which 39 of 55 delegates signed the Constitution at the Constitutional Convention. Months later it was sent to the states with Delaware being first to ratify. -
Anti-federalist articles appear
more infoThe first anti-federalist articles were written by Brutus and Cato in response to the federalist papers. -
Federalist papers appear
more infoThe Federalist papers appeared in 1787 in the form of 85 articles published in The New York Packet and The Independent Journal. -
Delaware ratifies Constitution
more infoDelaware was the first state in the U.S to ratifiy the Constitution. The vote was unanimous, 30 wanted the Constitution and 0 did not. Thomas Collins who was Delaware's Convebtion president attested to the document. -
Massachusetts raties Constitution
more infoIn Massachusetts, the first real test occured when the state was ratifying the Constitution. The people wanted a bill of rights as well, and they would think the Constitution would be complete. -
New Hampshire raties Constitution
more infoNew Hampshire was the 9th state to ratifie the Constitution on June 22nd 1788. After their ratification, the Constitution became in effect. -
Congress meets for the 1st time
more infoCongress met in Federal Hall on Wall Street in New York CIty for the first time in March of 1789. Some consider it the most important meeting of Congress yet. The people within Congress had to solve the remaining problems of the Constitutional Convention, They would also pass future laws. -
George Washington is elected as the 1st president of the U.S.
more infoOn this day Washinton swore the presidental oath in Federal Hall on Wall Street in New York CIty. Washington is the first president of the United States. -
Bill of Rights sent to states for ratification
more infoThe Bill of Rights was sent to the states and only ammendments three through twelve were ratified. -
Bill of Rights ratified
more infoThe Bill of Rights consisted of 10 ammendments/ rights that were given to the people. It gave citizens rights. -
Spain closes Mississippi river
more infoThis conflict was resolved in 1795. The treaty of San Lorenzo absolved the conflict between the Spanish and the Americans, opening the river to American trade once again. -
Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions written
more info These resoultions were made to try and denounce Congress' authority to excersize power that wasn't delegated to them in the Constitution. It was in response to the Alien Sedition Acts of 1798. -
Hartford Convention meets during War of 1812
more infoThe convention was made for a treaty to the War of 1812. -
Missouri Compromise
more info The Missouri Compromise admitted Maine as a free state and Missouri as a slave state. The 36 30 line was also created which formed off of Missouri's southern border. Slavery could not exist above the line and slavery could exist below the line. -
Tariff of Abominations passed
more info The Tariff of Abominations was passed on April 22 1828. It was made to protect New England Manufacturing interests. -
South Carolina tries to nullify
more infoSouth Carolina immediatly opposed the Tariff of Abominations. The movement to try and get this nullified was led by John C. Calhoun. -
Abolition of Slavery Act
more infoTHis Act was passed by the British parliament ending the slave trade in Britian and it's territories. SLaves could not be bought nor sold in any of these places. A slave could not be owned in these places either. -
Texas breaks away from Mexico
more info Texas officially declared independence from Mexico on March 2nd 1836. Texas became the Republic of Texas. -
James Polk elected as President
more info Polk became the United States 11th president on Nov. 5th 1844 against candidate Henry Clay. He was not expected to win the election. -
Mexican War
more infoThe Mexican first started over territory disputes in Texas. War was declared by President Polk soon after a battle between the Americans and the Mexicans at the Rio Grande. American troops would go on to win the war in 1848, and lands such as modern day California, New Mexico, Kansas, etc. -
Wilmot Proviso
more info The Wilmot Proviso was written by David Wilmot. It said that slavery will not be permitted in the new territories gained from Mexico. It was passed in the HOuse of Representatives but not in the Senate,, in the end it was not passed. -
California enters the Union
more info The area of California was won from Mexico after the Mexican war. It entered the Union as a free state on Sep. 9th 1850. -
Fugitive Slave Law encated
more infoThe Fugitive Lsave Acvt was a part of the Compromise of 1850 and allowed slaveholders to hunt down their slaves if they escape into free territories. Northerners had to help them or they would be fined and jailed. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin Published
more infoHarriet Beecher Stowe's Unlce Tom's Cabin was published on June 5th 1851. The book showed the nation that slavery is not something the nation should keep around. -
Kansas Nebraska Act passed
more infoThe Kansas- Nebraska Act was passed on May 30 1854. It repealed the Missouri COmpromise, and the people of the territories could decide if it wanted to be pro or anti- slavery through popular sovereignty. -
Border Ruffians attack Lawrence
more infoLawrence was the center of anti-slavery in Kansas. On May 21 1856 a group of 800pro slavery forces go to Lawrence and try to arrest free soliers. The pro-slavery men burned the city down, looted builings and destroyed the Free State Hotel. -
Mass. Senator Charles Sumner attacked
more info Charles Sumner was attacked by Preston Brooks in the senate house on May 22 1856. Preston Brooks immediatly resigned from the senate and Sumner's seat in the senate was left empty, awaitinghis return. -
Pottawottamie Creek
more infoJohn Brown took part in the Pottawatomie killings where the victims where proslavery men. Kansas erupted into a battlefield of guerilla tactics. -
Republican Party formed
more infoIn Philadelphia Pennsylvania the Republican Party was formed on June 17th 1856. Meeting for a new political party went back gtwo years previously in 1854. People like Charles Sumner wanted this new party. -
Dred Scott decision
more infoRoger B. Taney, Sumpre Court Judge said that all blacks whether free or slave could never be citizens in the US. Dred Scott was denied his freedom by the SUmpreme Court. -
Lecompton Constitution
This document was written by proslavery supporters. It said slavery could exist in Kansas. Free black men could not live in Kansas and that only men could vote on wheter or not this would be passed. -
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
more info The Lincoln Douglas debates took place in fall of 1858 when both were running for senator in Illinois. These debates sparked Lincoln's career as a politician. -
Raid at Harpers Ferry
more infoThe raid led by John Brown into Harpers Ferry was to free slaves there first, then the enitre south. Brown had a group of followers and they seized the U.S Federal Armory. Soon US marines showed up ,trapped Brown and his group, and eventually caught him. -
Formation of Constitutional Union Party
more infoThe Constitutional Union Party was formed solely for the 1860 election and was formed mainly by southern whigs. The party formed in May of 1860 and it's first meeting was in Baltimore where they nominated John Bell as their candidate for president. -
Democrats split in 1860
more infoDemocrats were divided over the issue of slavery. Northern democrats opposed while southern democrats wanted slavery. During the election, there were two democratic candidates, Stephen DOuglas for the norht, and John Breckinridge in the south. -
Election 1860
more info Northern democrats chose Stephen Douglas as their candidate, southern democrats chose John C. Breckinridge and Abraham Lincoln was the Republican's candidate. In the end Lincoln had 180 electoral votes and became the president. -
Abe Lincoln announces Reconstruction plans
more infoLincoln started his plans for Reconstruction as early as 1863 and wanted to put the nation back together. states would have to write new state constitutions. -
Wade-Davis bill receives pocket veto
more infoThis bill would've helped Confederate states enter the union again. It was passed by COngress but vetoed by President Lincoln. -
Lincoln re-elected
more infoLincoln was re-elected as President in the election of 1864 and won 212 electoral votes to his opponents 21. -
Formation of the Freedmen's Bureau
more infoThe Freedmen's Bureau was formed on March 3rd 1865 to help refugees,freed slaves, and poor farmers. It also looked over all of the former Confederate states. -
Lincoln's Assassination
more infoPresident Lincoln was killed by John WIlkes Booth shortly after the end of the Civil War in a theater in Washington D.C. Lincoln's plans of Restoration had died with him. -
President Andrew Johnson announces plan for Reconstruction
more infoPresident Johnson's plan for reconstruction started as early as May of 1865. His plans were similar to Lincoln's and that he would forgive the south. -
Ku Klux Klan created
more infoThe Ku Klux Klan formed in Tennessee in 1865, created by former Confederates. The group would soon become the United States' first terrorist organization. -
Black codes created in Mississippi
more infoThe Black codes in Mississppi were passed in November of 1865, something that Northerners saw as an almost revival of slavery. -
Ratification of the 13th amendment
more infoThe 13th amendment was ratified on December 6, 1865 and abolished slavery in the United States. -
Civil Rights Act 1866 enacted
more infoThis act was passed on April 9, 1866 and gave everyone in the United States citizenship -
Reconstruction Acts enacted
more infoThe first Reconstruction Act was passed on March 2nd 1867 overriding President Johnson's veto and it applied to every southern state except Tennessee. It split the South into military districts. -
Andrew Johnson impeached
more infoPresident Andrew Johnson was impeached by the House of Representatives on February 24 1868. There was a trial held to find if Johnson was guilty or not by the Senate soon after. -
Ratification of the 14th amendment
more infoThe 14th amendment granted everyone in gthe United States citizenship and equal protection under the law. This amendment was ratified on July 28 1868. -
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Ratification of the 15th amendment
more infoThe 15th amendment was ratified on February 3, 1870 and allowed everyone of any race, color, or previous condition of servitude the ability to vote. -
Hiram Revels elected to Senate
more infoHiram Revels was the first African-American senator of Mississippi. -
Ku Klux Klan Act enacted
more infoCongress passed this act in order to act against terrorism, however it became harder to enforce this act later on. In 1882 it was proved to be unconstitutional. -
Freedmens Bureau abolished
The Freedmens Bureau was able to help many in the United States however it could not provide for people forever and was disbanded in 1872. -
Civil Rights Act 1875 passed
more infoThe Civil Rights Act of 1875 was passed on March 1, 1875 which protected everyone when they used public accomadations. -
Rutherford B. Hayes elected President
more infoRutherford B Hayes was elected just before a new president was supposed to give their inaugural address because of the controversy behind the election. -
Jim Crow enters American Cultural language
more infoJim Crow Laws started to be put in place in the South even before the Civil Rights Act was declared unconstitutional. -
Last national troops leave South Carolina
more infoRutherford B. Hayes agreed to take the last remaining federal troops out of the SOuth in 1877. Reconstruction was over. -
Civil Rights act overturned 1883
more infoCongress declared the Civil Rights Act of 1875 unconstitutional in 1883. They said that it was not authorized by the 13th or 14th amendments. -
Florida requires segregation in public accommodation
Florida began to require segreation in 1883. -
Plessey v Ferguson
more infoHomer Plessey sat on a train car for whites only and was charged with violating the Separate Car Act in Louisiana. His case went to the Supreme Court and was found guilty. The Supreme Court found that separation was okay as long as it was equal.
