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Oct 12, 1492
Columbus arrives in Bahamas in 1492
Columbus's arrival in the Bahamas in 1492 marked a significant moment in world history, establishing widespread and lasting changes across multiple continents. This event considered the official discovery of the Americas by Europeans, set the stage for the Age of Exploration, a period characterized by extensive overseas exploration that resulted in European colonization and the establishment of trade networks across the globe. Photo Credit: https://www.christopher-columbus.eu/landfall.htm -
The English settled Jamestown in 1607
The settlement in 1607 holds a crucial place in American history as the first permanent English settlement in North America. Its establishment marked the beginning of sustained European colonization and paved the way for future settlements and the expansion of English influence in the region. The Jamestown settlement has influential meaning not only to the people in the previous time, the English settlers and the Natives but also to the American people today. -
French and Indian War in 1754-1763
The French and Indian War (1754-1763) was a conflict between Britain and France in North America, part of a more significant global conflict known as the Seven Years' War. The war was fought primarily over control of territory and resources in the Ohio River Valley. Native American tribes often allied with the French, while the British received support from some other tribes. Photo Credit: https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/french-indian-war -
The Treaty of Paris in 1763
The French and Indian War ended with the Treaty of Paris in 1763, which resulted in Britain gaining control of Canada and Florida, significantly expanding its territory in North America. However, the war also left Britain in debt, leading to increased taxation of the American colonies and ultimately contributing to the American Revolution. Photo Credit: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/treaty-of-paris-signed -
Stamp Act in 1765
The Act of 1765 was a law imposed by the British Parliament that required American colonists to pay a tax on a wide array of printed materials. These included newspapers, legal documents, licenses, and playing cards, which necessitated the purchase of a special stamped paper produced in London. Photo Credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stamp_Act_Congress -
Boston Tea Party in 1773
A group of colonists, disguised as Mohawk Indians, dumped all the tea into the harbor, destroying goods worth almost $1 million in today's dollars. The protest was against the Tea Act, which allowed the British East India Company to sell its tea at a reduced rate, effectively undercutting local merchants and maintaining a tax on tea that the colonists opposed. However, not all colonists supported this dumping of the tea. Photo Credit: https://www.britannica.com/event/Boston-Tea-Party -
Common Sense in 1776 by Thomas Paine
“Common Sense," published in January 1776 by Thomas Paine, is a pamphlet advocating for American independence from British rule. It argued for the necessity of breaking away from monarchy and establishing a republic, presenting clear and compelling arguments that resonated with the colonists. Paine criticized colonial allegiance to the British crown and highlighted the injustices faced under British governance. Photo Credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Paine -
Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776
The Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, marked a significant moment in American history. The document formally declared the thirteen American colonies' intent to separate from British rule. It articulated the principles of individual liberty, democracy, and the right to self-governance, emphasizing that governments derive their power from the consent of the governed. Photo Credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signing_of_the_United_States_Declaration_of_Independence -
The Battle of Saratoga in 1777
The Battle of Saratoga fought in 1777, marked a turning point in the American Revolutionary War. It comprised two engagements in September and October, during which American forces, led by General Horatio Gates and Benedict Arnold, achieved a decisive victory against British General John Burgoyne's troops. This victory convinced the French to recognize American independence and form a military with the new nation.
Photo Credit:https://www.news10.com/news/saratoga-county/the-battles-of-saratoga/ -
Lord Cornwallis surrendered to American and French forces at Yorktown in 1781
Lord Cornwallis's surrender to American and French forces at Yorktown in 1781 was a moment in the American Revolutionary War. This event marked the decisive victory for the Continental Army, led by General George Washington, and the French forces under General Rochambeau. It effectively ended significant combat operations in the war and led to the negotiation of the Treaty of Paris in 1783. Photo Credit:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Yorktown -
Continental Congress ratified Articles of Confederation in 1781
The Congress ratified the Articles of Confederation in 1781, establishing the first official governing framework for the United States. The Articles aimed to unify the thirteen newly independent states, granting limited powers to the central government while preserving state sovereignty. However, individual states struggled to comply. Their deficiency of power paved the way for the Constitutional Convention in 1787. Photo Credit: https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/articles-confederation -
The Treaty of Paris in 1783
The Treaty of Paris, signed on September 3, 1783, marked the end of the American Revolutionary War. This agreement recognized the independence of the thirteen American colonies from British rule. It established significant territorial boundaries, granting the United States land east of the Mississippi River, north of Florida, and south of Canada. Photo Credit: http://www.benjamin-franklin-history.org/treaty-of-paris/ -
The Shay’s Rebellion in 1786-1787
Shay’s Rebellion was an armed uprising in Massachusetts from 1786 to 1787, led by Revolutionary War veteran Daniel Shays. The rebellion protested these injustices and sought to prevent the state government from seizing farms for unpaid debts. Armed confrontations occurred, notably at the Springfield Armory. Photo Credit: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/us-history/road-to-revolution/creating-a-nation/a/shayss-rebellion -
Philadelphia Constitutional Convention draft plan for federal government in 1787
The new federal government aimed to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. Delegates proposed a strong central government with a bicameral legislature, including a House of Representatives and a Senate, to ensure fair representation. The plan established separate executive and judicial branches to create a system of checks and balances. Photo Credit: https://www.constitutionfacts.com/us-constitution-amendments/the-constitutional-convention/ -
Francis Cabot Lowell found Boston Manufacturing Company in 1813
Lowell introduced innovative water-powered machinery and implemented a workforce primarily composed of young women known as "Lowell girls," who enjoyed better working conditions than typical. His vision not only transformed textile manufacturing but also played a crucial role in the rise of factory-based industrialization in the United States, contributing to the economic growth and development of the nation's manufacturing sector. Photo Credit:https://www.charlesrivermuseum.org/fcl-bmc -
Congress passed the Indian Removal Act in 1830
The legislation facilitated negotiations and treaties that often resulted in harassment and unfair practices during President Andrew Jackson's presidency, leading to the displacement of thousands of Native Americans. This relocation process culminated in the infamous "Trail of Tears," where many tribes faced harsh conditions during their forced march westward, resulting in widespread suffering and significant loss of life.
Photo Credit: https://www.knowitall.org/photo/trail-tears-photo-gallery -
Henry Clay Brokers Compremise of 1850
Henry, a prominent American statesman and political leader, played a crucial role in brokering the Compromise of 1850, a series of legislative measures aimed at easing tensions between free and slave states after the Mexican-American War. Clay's efforts sought to maintain the fragile balance between North and South, postponing civil war and fostering a temporary peace. Photo Credit: https://www.britannica.com/event/Compromise-of-1850 -
The Dred Scott Decision in 1857
The Supreme Court's decision that enslaved people were not citizens and that Congress lacked the power to prohibit slavery in the territories effectively nullified the Missouri Compromise, fueling abolitionist outrage and deepening national divisions. Photo Credit: https://www.ushistory.org/us/32a.asp -
The Attack on Fort Sumter in 1861
This event was widely considered the start of the Civil War. The Confederate attack on the Union fort triggered President Lincoln's call for troops and solidified the division between the North and South, making peaceful resolution impossible. It marked the transition from a political crisis to outright armed conflict. Photo Credit: https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Fort-Sumter -
The Surrender at Appomattox Court House in 1865
General Robert E. Lee's surrender to General Ulysses S. Grant marked the war's end. This event signaled the definitive defeat of the Confederacy and the preservation of the Union. It concluded the major fighting of the war and allowed for the beginning of the process of reconstruction and bringing an end to the Civil War. Photo Credit: https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/surrender-of-lee-to-grant-appomattox-court-house/