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Period: Oct 12, 1492 to Oct 12, 1492
Discovery of America by Columbus
Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer sponsored by Spain, lands in the Caribbean, marking the beginning of European exploration and colonization in the Americas. -
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Settlement of Jamestown
The English establish Jamestown in Virginia, the first permanent English settlement in North America. -
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French and Indian War
A conflict between France and Britain in North America, part of the larger Seven Years’ War, leading to significant changes in territorial control. -
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Boston Tea Party
American colonists, protesting British taxation, dump 342 chests of British tea into Boston Harbor. -
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Battle of Lexington and Concord
The first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War, marking the start of the conflict between Great Britain and the American colonies. -
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Declaration of Independence
The Continental Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence, announcing the American colonies' separation from Britain. -
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Battle of Yorktown
The decisive victory by American and French forces over the British, leading to the end of major fighting in the American Revolutionary War. -
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Constitutional Convention
A meeting in Philadelphia where the U.S. Constitution was drafted, establishing the framework for the American government. -
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Invention of the Cotton Gin
Eli Whitney invents the cotton gin, revolutionizing cotton processing and boosting the cotton industry in the U.S. -
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Alien and Sedition Acts
A series of laws passed by the Federalist-controlled Congress aimed at restricting the activities of foreigners and limiting free speech. -
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Louisiana Purchase
The United States acquires approximately 828,000 square miles of land from France, doubling the size of the country. -
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War of 1812
A conflict between the United States and Britain, largely over maritime rights and territorial expansion. -
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Missouri Compromise
An agreement allowing Missouri to enter the Union as a slave state while Maine entered as a free state, attempting to balance the power between free and slave states. -
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Andrew Jackson’s Election
Andrew Jackson is elected the 7th President of the United States, representing a shift towards greater democracy and the “common man.” -
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panic of 1837
A financial crisis that led to a severe economic depression in the United States, marked by bank failures and high unemployment. -
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Invention of the Telegraph
Samuel Morse invents the telegraph, allowing for rapid long-distance communication and revolutionizing information exchange. -
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trails of tears
The forced removal of the Cherokee Nation from their ancestral lands in the southeastern U.S. to present-day Oklahoma, resulting in significant suffering and death. -
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Mexican-American War
A conflict between the United States and Mexico that results in significant territorial gains for the U.S., including present-day California, Arizona, and New Mexico. -
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compromise of 1850
A series of laws intended to ease tensions between free and slave states, including the Fugitive Slave Act and the admission of California as a free state. -
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firing on fort Sumter
The first battle of the American Civil War, where Confederate forces attack a U.S. military garrison in South Carolina, leading to the start of the war. -
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Emancipation Proclamation
An executive order by President Abraham Lincoln declaring the freedom of all enslaved people in Confederate-held territory. -
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Surrender at Appomattox Courthouse
General Robert E. Lee surrenders to General Ulysses S. Grant, effectively ending the American Civil War. -
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Lincoln’s Assassination
President Abraham Lincoln is assassinated by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. -
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13th, 14th, 15th Amendments
13th Amendment (December 6, 1865): Abolishes slavery in the United States. 14th Amendment (July 9, 1868): Grants citizenship and equal protection under the law to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S. 15th Amendment (February 3, 1870): Prohibits the denial of the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude. -
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Andrew Johnson’s Impeachment:
President Andrew Johnson is impeached by the House of Representatives primarily over his opposition to Radical Reconstruction policies, but is acquitted by the Senate. -
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Invention of the Telephone
Alexander Graham Bell invents the telephone, revolutionizing communication by allowing people to speak to one another across long distances. -
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Invention of the Electric Light
Thomas Edison invents the practical electric light bulb, transforming lighting and enabling extended work and leisure hours. -
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Organization of Standard Oil Trust
John D. Rockefeller establishes the Standard Oil Trust, a large-scale oil company that would come to dominate the industry and face antitrust legal challenges. -
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Pullman and Homestead Strikes
Pullman Strike (May 11, 1894): A nationwide railroad strike that turns violent and leads to federal intervention.
Homestead Strike (July 6, 1892): A labor strike at the Carnegie Steel Company’s Homestead plant, resulting in a violent clash between strikers and private security agents. -
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Spanish-American War
A conflict between the United States and Spain, leading to the U.S. acquiring territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. -
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Theodore Roosevelt Becomes President
Theodore Roosevelt becomes the 26th President of the United States following the assassination of William McKinley. -
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Invention of the Airplane
The Wright brothers achieve the first powered, controlled flight in an airplane, marking the beginning of the aviation industry.