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Delaware becomes a state
An interesting fact about Delaware is that they were the first state to ratify the constitution, making them the first state admitted into the Union. The date that they ratified the constitution (December 7, 1787) is shown on the bottom of their state flag. -
Pennsylvania becomes a state
A fun fact about Pennsylvania is that many important documents, that changed history, were written in Pennsylvania. Among these documents were Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, The Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution of the United States. -
New Jersey becomes a state
Many people don't know this, but New Jersey was home to the first organized baseball game in 1846 in Hoboken. -
Georgia becomes a state
A fun fact about Georgia is that it is home to one of the nation's oldest state parks, Indian Springs State Park. -
Connecticut becomes a state
In Connecticut, there was a period of time, between 1703-1875, it had 2 capitals- New a Haven and Hartford. During this time, sessions of General Assembly met alternately between the 2 state capitals. Since then, the capital has just been Hartford. -
Massachusetts becomes a state
Boston Harbor, which is in Massachusetts, was the home to the first American lighthouse ever built. -
Maryland becomes a state
A city in Maryland, Baltimore, established the first telegraph line in the world between them and Washington in 1844. -
South Carolina becomes a state
A fun fact about South Carolina is that the introduction of tobacco in 1894 rocketed Mullins into the Tobacco Capital of South Carolina. As many as 200 tobacco barns sprang up throughout the community. Warehouses were also constructed and the first tobacco sale took place on August 28, 1895. -
New Hampshire becomes a state
Of the thirteen original colonies, New Hampshire was the first to declare its independence from England, which was a full six months before the Declaration of Independence was signed. -
Virginia becomes a state
An interesting fact about Virginia is that a number of United States Presidents are buried there. These presidents are George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, John Tyler, William Taft, and John F. Kennedy, which makes 7 in all. -
New York becomes a state
New York is home to the nation's oldest running newspaper, the New York Post, that was established in 1803 by Alexander Hamilton. -
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George Washington's Presidency
George Washington was the 1st President of the United States of America, and was also a Founding Father. He was named President unanimously by voters during the Constitutional Convention in 1786, which he helped to organize. One of his greatest accomplishments was joining the states together and creating a federal government. During his presidency, Rhode Island ratified the constitution, becoming the last of the original 13 states to ratify it. -
North Carolina becomes a state
North Carolina is home to the oldest state university in the United States, The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill -
Rhode Island becomes a state
Rhode Island is the smallest state in size in the United States. It covers an area of 1,214 square miles. Its distances North to South are 48 miles and East to West 37 miles. -
Whiskey Rebellion Begins
The growing U.S. government couldn't find a way to pay off the country's debt from the Revolutionary War. Alexander Hamilton proposed a tax on whiskey to create more revenue for the government. It was soon passed, but was proven to be a bad decision. Citizens were angry over having a tax on whiskey. Due to past troubles with taxation, a rebellion began. Militia was sent in to stop them, which was successful. It showed that the growing U.S. government could avoid instability during rough times. -
Vermont becomes a state
Until 1996, Vermont was the only state without a Wal-Mart. Another fun fact is that a city in Vermont, Montpelier, is the largest producer of maple syrup in the U.S. -
Kentucky becomes a state
The Kentucky Derby is the oldest continuously held horse race in the country. It is held at Churchill Downs in Louisville on the first Saturday in May. -
Tennessee becomes a state
Tennessee won its nickname as The Volunteer State during the War of 1812 when volunteer soldiers from Tennessee displayed great courage in the Battle of New Orleans. -
Washington's Farewell Address was Published
After Washington decided not to run for a 3rd term as President, he wrote a farewell address to the citizens of the United States. His message in the farewell was to avoid excessive political party spirit and geographical distinctions. He also warned the country against long-term alliances with other nations. -
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John Adams' Presidency
John Adams was the 2nd President of the United States of America, and was the first Vice President before his presidency. One of John Adams' major accomplishments was adding the 11th amendment to the constitution, and a major event that occurred during his presidency was the undeclared war called the XYZ affair, or the Quasi War. -
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Sojourner Truth
Sojourner Truth was an abolitionist and a women's rights activist, and is well known for her "Ain't I a Woman?" speech in 1851that talked about racial inequalities between whites and blacks. She spoke at several anti-slavery rallies and conventions throughout the Midwest in the 1850's that gathered more people into the movement. When she died, she was buried in Battle Creek Michigan, alongside the rest of her family. -
Alien and Sedition Acts passed
In 1798, 4 bills were passed by the Federalists in the U.S. government in response to an undeclared naval war with France. John Adams signed these acts into law. These acts increased the residency requirements for American citizenship from 5 to 14 years. These acts also allowed the President to imprison or depart "aliens" considered dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States. One controversial law prohibited citizens from speaking against the government, violating the 1st Amendment. -
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Thomas Jefferson's Presidency
Thomas Jefferson was the 3rd President of the United States of America, and was also a Founding Father and the principal author of the Declaration of Independence. One of his greatest accomplishments was The Louisiana Purchase, he made it which made our country 2x it's size. This purchase resulted in another major event to occur, known as the Lewis and Clark Expedition. -
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Chief Justice John Marshall
He established the U.S. Supreme Court would have the power to review state courts, state laws, and even federal laws to determine if they were constitutional or not. This continued after his death, and through the modern times. Some of his bigger cases were Marbury v. Madison, Dartmouth College v. Woodward, and Gibbons v. Ogden. -
Marbury v. Madison decision was made
In J. Adams' last months as president, he appointed several men government posts created by Congress. He did this so these people were against the values of Thomas Jefferson. John ordered his secretary (Madison) to deliver appointments to these select people. Some were not delivered before Jefferson was president. The new president ordered Madison to not deliver the last appointments, one was Marbury's. Marbury sued, saying he deserved commission. Madison won, but this created judicial review. -
Ohio becomes a state
A city in Ohio, Cincinnati, is home to the Rock and a Roll Hall of Fame. Another fact about Cincinnati is that it is home to the first professional fire department. -
Louisiana Purchase was signed
Thomas Jeffeeson purchased 828,000,000 square miles of land from the French for $11,250,000 along with another $3,750,000 to pay off any debt the U.S. Citizens may have had with France. This purchase doubled the size of the young nation, becoming one of Thomas Jefferson's greatest accomplishments. This purchase removed France from North America, relieving the growing tension between France and the United States. The United States could now grow without another country breathing down it's neck. -
Lewis and Clark Expedition begins
Thomas Jefferson commissioned an expedition under the leadership of Meriwether Lewos and William Clark to explore the new land purchased in the Lousiana Purchase. (American North West ) Among the many successes of the Lewis and Clark Exoedition, the most important was mapping the interior of the United States. -
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William Lloyd Garrsion
William Lloyd Garrison was an abolitionist that wrote his own newspaper, The Liberator, that grabbed many reader's attentions and made more people join the abolitionist movement. For three decades, from the 1st issue of his weekly newspaper in 1831, until after the end of the civil war in 1865 when the last issue was published, Garrison spoke passionately against slavery and rights for Americas black inhabitants. -
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James Madison's Presidency
James Madison was the 4th President of the United States, and is known as the Father of the Constitution. One major event that occurred through both terms of his presidency was the War of 1812 against Britain because of trading problems. Ending this war and signing a treaty became one of his greatest accomplishments. -
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Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was a network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century slaves of African descent in the United States in efforts to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. Some key people involved were John Fairfield in Ohio, Levi Coffin, and, of course, Harriet Tubman who made 19 trips to the South, and taking over 300 slaves to freedom. One main safe house was John Brown's cabin in Kansas. -
Louisiana becomes a state
The world famous "Mardi Gras" is celebrated in New Orleans. Mardi Gras is an ancient custom that originated in southern Europe. It celebrates food and fun just before the 40 days of Lent: a Catholic time of prayer and sacrifice. -
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The War of 1812
The Conflict resulted from the clash between American nationalism and the war Britain and its allies were waging against the empire of Napoleonic France. Many Americans believed that England sought to humiliate the United States, limit its growth, and perhaps even impose a quasi‐colonial status upon its former colonies. The result ended in the United States winning, and a treaty being signed. It had a large impact on beginning the "Era of Good Feelings" and ending the Federalist Party. -
Indiana becomes a state
The first long-distance auto race in the U. S. was held May 30, 1911, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The winner averaged 75 miles an hour and won a 1st place prize of $14,000. Today the average speed is over 167 miles an hour and the prize is more than $1.2 million. Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the site of the greatest spectacle in sports, the Indianapolis 500. The Indianapolis 500 is held every Memorial Day weekend in the Hoosier capital city. The race is 200 laps or 500 miles long. -
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James Monroe's Presidency
James Monroe was the 5th President of the United States, and the last Founding Father to become one. A major event that occurred during his presidency was the Missouri Compromise, which split the nation's states into slavery and anti-slavery allowing states. One of his greatest accomplishments was a time period early in his presidency where everything was going right. This was called the Era of Good Feelings. The economy was booming, and Monroe was popular among all states. -
Mississippi becomes a state
In 1963 the University of Mississippi Medical Center accomplished the world's first human lung transplant and, on January 23, 1964, Dr. James D. Hardy performed the world's first heart transplant surgery. -
Illinois becomes a state
Before Abraham Lincoln was elected president, he served in the Illinois legislature and practiced law in Springfield (city in Illinois). Abraham Lincoln is buried just outside Springfield at Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site. -
Dartmouth College v. Woodward decision was made
In 1816, the New Hampshire legislature attempted to change Dartmouth College-- a privately funded institution--into a state university. The legislature changed the school's corporate charter by transferring the control of trustee appointments to the governor. In an attempt to regain authority over the resources of In a 6-to-1 decision for Dartmouth, the Court held that the College's corporate charter qualified as a contract between private parties, with which the legislature could not interfere. -
Transcontinental Treaty was signed
Also called the Adams-Onis Treat, the Transcontinental Treaty was one of the critical events that defined the U.S.-Mexico border. The border between the then-Spanish lands and American territory was a source of heated international debate. In Europe, Spain was in the midst of serious internal problems and its colonies out west were on the brink of revolution. The treaty drew a definite border between Spanish land and the Louisiana Territory. -
McCulloch v. Maryland decision was made
In 1816, Congress chartered The Second Bank of the United States. In 1818, the state of Maryland passed legislation to impose taxes on the bank. James W. McCulloch, the cashier of the Baltimore branch of the bank, refused to pay the tax. This is how the case began. The decision was unanimous, each juror voting with McCulloch's side. It was said that Congress possess powers that are not in the constitution, which helped form the supreme court today. -
Alabama becomes a state
Alabama is the only state with all major natural resources needed to make iron and steel. It is also the largest supplier of cast-iron and steel pipe products. -
Missouri Compromise passed
The Missouri Compromise was a federal statute in the United States that regulated slavery in the country's western territories. The compromise, devised by Henry Clay, was agreed to by the pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions in the United States Congress and passed as a law in 1820. This held the Union together for several years until the Supreme Court determined it unconstitutional during the Dred Scott case. This started to create more tension over the slavery controversy. -
Maine becomes a state
In Maine, The White Mountain National Forest covers nearly 800,000 acres, the forest covers a landscape ranging from hardwood forests to the largest alpine area east of the Rocky Mountains -
Missouri becomes a state
The most destructive tornado on record occurred in Annapolis, Maine. In 3 hours, it tore through the town on March 18, 1925 leaving a 980-foot wide trail of demolished buildings, uprooted trees, and overturned cars. It left 823 people dead and almost 3,000 injured. -
Monroe Doctrine given
During the state of the Union addreess, James Monroe delivered an annual message to Congress for a bold assertion. The main message was that James Monroe warns European nations that the U.S. Would not tolerate further colonization or puppet monarchs. -
Gibbons v. Ogden decision was made
A New York state law gave to individuals the exclusive right to operate steamboats on waters within state jurisdiction. In this case Thomas Gibbons -- a steamboat owner who did business between New York and New Jersey under a federal coastal license -- challenged the monopoly license granted by New York to Aaron Ogden. The verdict supported Gibbons. his opinion, Chief Justice John Marshall developed a clear definition of the word commerce, which included navigation on interstate waterways. -
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John Quincy Adams' Presidency
John Quincy Adams was the 6th President of the United States, and was also in the House of Representatives. He followed in his father's footsteps, John Adams, who was also president. One of his greatest accomplishments was finishing the Erie Canal which linked the Great Lakes to the East Coast. This allowed a flow of products to travel in and out of the United States. One major event that occurred during his presidency was that his father and Thomas Jefferson, both former presidents, die. -
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Andrew Jackson's Presidency
Andrew was the 7th President of the United States, and is known for founding the Democratic Party and for his support of individual liberty. He was the first president to invite the public to attend the inauguration ball at the White House, which earned him popularity quickly. One major event that occurred during his presidency was the Trail of Tears, which he supported. One of his greatest accomplsihemts was lowering the country's debt to the lowest it had been since 1790. -
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Abolitionist Movement
The goal of the abolitionist movement was the immediate emancipation of all slaves and the end of racial discrimination and segregation. Abolitionist ideas became increasingly prominent in Northern churches and politics beginning in the 1830s, which contributed to the regional animosity between North and South leading up to the Civil War. One of the movements main leaders was Frederick Douglas. -
Nat Turner's Rebellion
Nat Turner's Rebellion (also known as the Southampton Insurrection) was a slave rebellion that took place in Southampton County, Virginia, during August 1831. Led by Nat Turner, rebel slaves killed anywhere from 55 to 65 people, the highest number of fatalities caused by any slave uprising in the American South. In the end, Nat was captured, he was sentenced to death. He was skinned, then hung. -
Trail of Tears begins
In 1838 and 1839, as part of Andrew Jackson's Indian removal policy, the Cherokee nation was forced to give up its lands east of the Mississippi River and to migrate to an area in present-day Oklahoma. By the end of the decade, very few natives remained anywhere in the southeastern United States. Working on behalf of white settlers who wanted to grow cotton on the Indians’ land, the federal government forced them to leave their homelands and walk thousands of miles to a designated area. -
Arkansas becomes a state
Since the 1830s the area now known as Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas has bathed notables as diverse as Franklin D. Roosevelt, Babe Ruth, and Al Capone. The park is entirely surrounded by the city of Hot Springs, the boyhood home of President Bill Clinton. -
Michigan becomes a state
In 1817, the University of Michigan was the first university established by any of the states. Originally named Cathelepistemian and located in Detroit, the name was changed in 1821. The university moved to Ann Arbor in 1841. -
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Martin Vanburen's Presidency
Martin Van Buren was the 8th President of the United States, and was also Vice President and Secretary of State, both senior roles. One of his greatest accomplishments was introducing independent treasury, in hopes of pulling the United States out of an economic depression. While it did not pass during his presidency, it did pass during the late 1840's. One major event that occurred during Martin's presidency was the Panic of 1837, which resulted in additional debts and unemployement. -
Horace Mann's Campaign for free compulsory public education begins
Mann saw education as the means to achieve equality. He believed that once equality was achieved poverty and crime would decrease.
During his twelve years as Secretary, Mann turned around the course of public education.
-He established training schools for teachers.
-Lengthened the school year to six months.
-Raised funds to pay for teachers’ salaries, school books, and schoolhouses. -
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William Henry Harrison's Presidency.
William Henry Harrison was the 9th President of the United States, and was the last President born as a British subject. His presidency lasted a mere month due to his sudden death in office. One of his greatest accomplishments, which turned out to be deadly for him, was having the longest inaugural speech ever and delivered it in freezing temperatures without wearing a hat or coat. Within that month, nothing major happened other than William dying because of his speech. -
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John Tyler's Presidency
John Tyler became the 10th President of the United States when William Henry Harrison died, making him the first Vice President to take over as president due to death of the president. One of his greatest accomplishments during his presidency was signing a treaty that gained America the right to trade in Chinese ports. One major event that took place during his presidency was that a boundary was settled between America and Great Britain that separates Maine and Canada. -
Florida becomes a state
Gatorade was named for the University of Florida Gators where the drink was first developed. Another fun fact about Florida is that a city in Florida, St. Augustine, is the oldest European settlement in the United States. -
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James K. Polk's Presidency
James K. Polk was the 11th President of the United States, he is known for expanded the nation's territory during the Mexican-American War. This became on of his greatest accomplishments during his term as President. Many events occurred during his presidency that involved borders between Canada and the United States. Polk and the British government didn't want war, so Great Britain agreed to the 49th parallel (border between United States and Canada). -
Manifest Destiny begins to spread
Manifest Destiny is a term for the attitude prevalent during the 19th century period of American expansion that the United States not only could, but was destined to, stretch from coast to coast. This attitude helped fuel western settlement, Native American removal and war with Mexico. -
Texas becomes a state
The first suspension bridge in the United States was the Waco Bridge, which is located in Texas. Built in 1870 and still in use today as a pedestrian crossing of the Brazos River. -
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Mexican-American War
The Mexican-American War marked the first U.S. armed conflict chiefly fought on foreign soil. It pitted a politically divided and militarily unprepared Mexico against the expansionist-minded administration of U.S. President Polk, who believed the United States had a “manifest destiny” to spread across the continent. A border skirmish along the Rio Grande started off the fighting and was followed by many U.S. victories. Mexico lost 1/3 of its land, including present day Arizona and other states. -
Iowa becomes a state
In Iowa, Cornell College is the only school in the nation to have its entire campus listed on the National Register of Historic Places. -
Wisconsin becomes a state
Wisconsin visitors and residents enjoy the state's 7,446 streams and rivers. End-to-end they'd stretch 26,767 miles. That is more than enough to circle the globe at the equator. -
Susan B. Anthony
In 1856 Anthony became an agent for the American Anti-Slavery Society, arranging meetings, making speeches, putting up posters, and distributing leaflets. She encountered hostile mobs, armed threats, and things thrown at her. She was hung in effigy, and in Syracuse her image was dragged through the streets. 1863 Anthony and Stanton organized a Women's National Loyal League to support and petition for the Thirteenth Amendment outlawing slavery. -
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Elizabeth Cady Stanton was an early leader of the woman's rights movement, writing the Declaration of Sentiments as a call to arms for female equality. With Lucretia Mott and several other women, Elizabeth Cady Stanton held the famous Seneca Falls Convention in July 1848. At this meeting, the attendees drew up its “Declaration of Sentiments” and took the lead in proposing that women be granted the right to vote. She continued to write and lecture on women's rights and other reforms of the day. -
Seneca Falls Resolution
Stanton took the task of writing the document that would be debated and signed by the attendees. She based the Declaration of Sentiments on the Declaration of Independence, listing 18 grievances and 11 resolutions demanding the recognition of women as equal members of society. It specifically asked for voting rights and for reforms in laws governing marital status. -
Seneca Falls Convention
Under the leadership of Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, a convention for the rights of women was held in Seneca Falls, New York in 1848. It was attended by between 200 and 300 people. Its primary goal was to discuss the rights of women—how to gain these rights for all, particularly in the political arena. The conclusion of this convention was that the effort to secure equal rights across the board would start by focusing on suffrage for women. It was the first women's rights convention -
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Zachary Taylor's Presidency
Zachary Taylor was the 12th President of the United States, and served for a little over a year until his death in 1850. A major event that occurred during his presidency was The Compromise of 1850, which appeared that he would veto it until he couldn't do so because of his death. If he had not died and had vetoed it, the events in the mid-19th century would have been very different. One of his greatest accomplishments was agreeing to the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty made between the U.S. & Britain. -
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Millard Fillmore's Presidency
Millard Fillmore took over as the 13th President of the Unites States when Zachary Taylor died. He was the last president to not be affiliated with either the Democratic or Republican parties. One of his greatest accomplishments was passing the Compromise of 1850, which consitsted of 5 different laws, one which admitted California as a free state. One major event that occurred during his presidency was California entering the Union as the 31st state. -
California becomes a state
California's Mount Whitney measures as the highest peak in the lower 48 states. Its most famous climb is Mount Whitney Trail to the 14,495 feet summit. Wilderness permits are required. -
Frederick Douglass gives "What to a slave is the 4th of July?" speech
On July 5, 1852, Douglass gave a speech at an event commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence, held at Rochester's Corinthian Hall. It was biting oratory, in which the speaker told his audience, "This Fourth of July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn." And he asked them, "Do you mean, citizens, to mock me, by asking me to speak to-day?" Frederick Douglass travelled the states, giving speeches at different conventions, moving people to join the movement. -
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Franklin Pierce's Presidency
Franklin Pierce was the 14th President of the United States. He entered as president in a time of growing tension between the North and South, and he soon was behind a crucial piece of legislation in American History. The Kansas-Nebraska Act was the legislation that he encouraged, and this piece of legislation would set the nation on its path to civil war. This was a major event that occurred during his presidency. His greatest accomplishment was in the Gadsen Purchase, making the nation larger. -
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James Buchanan's Presidency
James Buchanan was the 15th President of the United States, serving immediately prior to the American Civil War. One major event that occurred during his presidency was the Dred Scott decision, which determined that slaves were not citizens, regardless what state they lived in. He didn't have many accomplishments, and was later determined the worst U.S. President, which is an accomplishment but not a great one. -
Dred Scott v. Sandford
Dred Scott was a slave in Missouri. From 1833 to 1843, he resided in Illinois (a free state) and in an area of the Louisiana Territory, where slavery was forbidden by the Missouri Compromise. He then went federal court. Scott's master maintained that no pure-blooded Negro of African descent could be a citizen in the sense of Article III of the Constitution. Under Articles III and IV only Congress could grant citizenship, which Scott didn't have. The compromise was then cut because of this. -
John Brown and the armed resistance
John Brown was a radical abolitionist who believed in the violent overthrow of slavery. During the Bleeding Kansas conflicts, Brown and his sons led attacks on pro-slavery residents. Justifying his actions as the will of God, Brown soon became a hero in the eyes of Northern extremists. By early 1858, he had succeeded in enlisting a small “army” of insurrectionists whose mission was to foment rebellion among the slaves. He was later captured and hung, but not before becoming an anti-slavery icon. -
Minnesota becomes a state
The first Automatic Pop-up toaster was marketed in June 1926 by McGraw Electric Co. in Minneapolis(city in Minnesota) under the name Toastmaster. The retail price was $13.50. -
Oregon becomes a state
Oregon's state flag pictures a beaver on its reverse side. It is the only state flag to carry two separate designs. A city in Oregon,Portland, is an example of outstanding urban planning. The city is known as The City of Roses. -
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Abraham Lincoln's Presidency
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, and is known for his tall hats and tall figure. Abraham was assassinated during April of 1865 when he was attending a play. One of his greatest accomplishments was beginning the process (Emancipation Proclamation) which ended slavery in the states that were under control of the Union. One major event that occurred during his presidency was the Civil War, which caused his death.
