Founding Fathers Timeline

  • Boston Tea Party

    Boston Tea Party
    American colonists dumped 342 chests of tea into the sea in response to the Tea Act of 1773.
  • The Battles of Lexington and Concord

    The Battles of Lexington and Concord
    They were the first battles of the war for American independence.
  • The Declaration of Independence is Signed

    The Declaration of Independence is Signed
    The Declaration of Independence was signed by Thomas Jefferson and John Adams and it was a letter of the 13 colonies severing themselves from Great Britain.
  • The Death of George Washington

    The Death of George Washington
    George Washington died at Mt. Vernon with his last words being "I feel myself going. I thank you for your attention, but I pray you to take no more trouble about me". His death allowed Americans from diverse backgrounds to unite.
  • The Winter at Valley Forge

    The Winter at Valley Forge
    It was the activity that helped unify the American fighting force against the British.
  • The Battle of Yorktown

    The Battle of Yorktown
    The Battle of Yorktown stalled Union Major General George B. McClellan's Peninsula Campaign for four weeks, enabling the Confederacy to shore up its defenses of Richmond, Virginia.
  • The Constitution is Ratified

    The Constitution is Ratified
    Written in 1787 ratified in 1788 and in operation since 1789 the Constitution is the longest-standing form of written government.
  • Presidential Inauguration of George Washington

    Presidential Inauguration of George Washington
    With the Presidential Inauguration of George Washington, the executive branch of government was fully established.
  • Marbury vs. Madison

    Marbury vs. Madison
    The U.S. Supreme Court case Marbury v. Madison made it to where the supreme court could declare legislative and executive acts unconstitutional.
  • Washington’s Farewell Address

    Washington’s Farewell Address
    The Senate started the tradition of reading Washington’s Farewell Address in the chamber as a morale-boosting gesture during the darkest days of the Civil War.