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Oct 12, 1492
The Discovery of America by Columbus
On October 12th 1492, Christopher Columbus was traveling the ocean on a mission to see if he would succeed with making a new route to trading groups. He surprisingly reached land that today would be part of the Bahamas,he went onward with his journey to find the land was huge. After some time him and some others started inhabiting the land. Created “the new world”, America was starting to be formed to what it is today. -
The Settlement of Jamestown
On May 14 1607, the Jamestown settlement was established. It is the first permanent English colony in North America. Located in Virginia, Jamestown played a crucial role in the early development of what would become the United States. -
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The French and Indian war
The French and Indian War lasted from 1754 to 1763. It was part of the larger Seven Years’ War and involved conflict between French and British along with their respective Native American allies. The war ended when the Treaty of Paris was made in 1763, significantly altering the balance of power in North America. -
The Boston Tea Party
On The 16th of December 1773, The Boston Tea Party occurred. American colonists, frustrated by British taxation without representation, boarded ships and dumped 342 chests of British tea into Boston Harbor. This act was a key event leading up to the American Revolutionary War. -
The Battle of Lexington and Concord
The Battle of Lexington and Concord took place on April 19, 1775. These battles marked the beginning of the American Revolutionary War. The confrontations between British troops and colonial militia were significant in the fight for American independence! -
The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was made on July 4, 1776. Drafted primarily by Thomas Jefferson, it declared the American colonies' freedom from British rule. This document is foundational to American democracy and the nation's identity. -
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The Battle of Yorktown
The Battle of Yorktown occurred from September 28 to October 19, 1781. It was the decisive battle of the American Revolutionary War where British General Cornwallis surrendered to General George Washington. This victory effectively ended the war and secured American independence. -
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The Constitutional Convention
The Constitutional Convention took place from May 25 to September 17, 1787. Delegates from the states met in Philadelphia to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. The result was the drafting of the United States Constitution. -
The Invention of the Cotton Gin
Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin in 1793. This machine revolutionized cotton processing by greatly speeding up the separation of cotton fibers from seeds. The invention significantly boosted the cotton industry and had lasting impacts on the American economy and slavery. -
The Alien and Sedition Acts
The Alien and Sedition Acts were enacted in 1798. These laws were intended to strengthen national security but were controversial for limiting freedoms and targeting immigrants. They were enacted under President John Adams and faced criticism for infringing on individual rights. -
The Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase occurred on April 30, 1803. The United States bought 828,000 square miles of territory from France for $15 million. This acquisition doubled the size of the United States and facilitated westward expansion. -
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The War of 1812
The War of 1812 lasted from June 18, 1812, to February 18, 1815. It was fought between the United States and the British Empire, with issues including trade restrictions and impressment of American sailors. The war ended with the Treaty of Ghent and is often considered a conflict with unresolved issues. -
The Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was enacted on March 3, 1820. It was a legislative agreement to balance the power between free and slave states by admitting Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state. It also established a line demarcating future free and slave territories. -
Andrew Jackson’s Election
Andrew Jackson was elected as the 7th President of the United States on November 4, 1828. His election marked a shift towards greater democratic participation and was characterized by his populist appeal. Jackson’s presidency is noted for its controversial policies, including the Indian Removal Act. -
The Panic of 1837
The Panic of 1837 began in May 1837 and was a financial crisis triggered by a sudden collapse in the banking system and economic downturn. It resulted in widespread bank failures, business bankruptcies, and high unemployment. The panic had long-lasting effects on the American economy. -
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The Trail of Tears
The Trail of Tears refers to the forced relocation of the Cherokee Nation from their ancestral lands in the southeastern United States, occurring from 1838 to 1839. The move was a result of the Indian Removal Act signed by President Andrew Jackson. The journey led to the deaths of thousands of Cherokee due to exposure, disease, and starvation. -
The Invention of the Telegraph
Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail developed the telegraph in the early 1830s, with the first successful message sent on May 24, 1844. This invention revolutionized long-distance communication by allowing messages to be transmitted quickly over wires. The telegraph played a significant role in the expansion of the American economy and infrastructure. -
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The Mexican-American War
The Mexican-American War lasted from April 25, 1846, to February 2, 1848. It was a conflict between the United States and Mexico that resulted from disputes over the annexation of Texas and border issues. The war ended with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which significantly expanded U.S. territory. -
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The Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was a series of legislative measures passed between September 9 and September 20, 1850. It aimed to address the tensions between free and slave states, including the admission of California as a free state and the strengthening of the Fugitive Slave Act. It was a temporary measure to stave off civil conflict. -
The Firing on Fort Sumter
The firing on Fort Sumter occurred on April 12, 1861. It marked the beginning of the American Civil War when Confederate forces attacked the Union garrison at Fort Sumter in South Carolina. The attack led to President Abraham Lincoln’s call for troops, escalating the conflict. -
The Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863. It declared that all enslaved people in Confederate-held territory were to be set free. This executive order shifted the focus of the Civil War towards the abolition of slavery. -
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13th, 14th, 15th Amendments
The 13th Amendment, passed on January 31, 1865, abolished slavery in the United States. The 14th Amendment, ratified on July 9, 1868, granted citizenship and equal protection under the law to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S. The 15th Amendment, ratified on February 3, 1870, granted voting rights regardless of race or previous condition of servitude. -
Surrender at Appomattox Courthouse
The surrender at Appomattox Courthouse occurred on April 9, 1865. Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant, effectively ending the American Civil War. This surrender marked the beginning of the process of reunification and Reconstruction. -
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Abraham Lincoln’s Assassination
Abraham Lincoln was assassinated on April 14, 1865. He was shot by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. Lincoln died the following day, on April 15, 1865, which was a significant event in American history as he was the first U.S. president to be assassinated. -
Andrew Johnson’s Impeachment
Andrew Johnson was impeached on February 24, 1868. The House of Representatives charged him with violating the Tenure of Office Act by removing Edwin Stanton from his position as Secretary of War. Johnson was acquitted by the Senate and remained in office, but his presidency was marked by significant conflict. -
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The Invention of the Electric Light, Telephone, and Airplane
Thomas Edison developed the electric light bulb in 1879, with the first successful test occurring on October 21, 1879, and public demonstrations beginning in 1882. Alexander Graham Bell was awarded the patent for the telephone on March 7, 1876, and conducted the first successful call on March 10, 1876. The Wright brothers achieved the first powered, controlled flight with the Wright Flyer on December 17, 1903. -
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The Organization of Standard Oil Trust
The Standard Oil Trust was organized on January 2, 1882. Founded by John D. Rockefeller, it consolidated numerous oil companies under one control, creating a powerful monopoly. The trust was later dissolved in 1911 due to antitrust action by the U.S. Supreme Court. -
The Pullman Strike
The Pullman Strike began on May 11, 1894, and was a nationwide railroad strike led by workers protesting wage cuts and high rents in company-owned housing. The Homestead Strike occurred from July 1 to November 20, 1892, at the Carnegie Steel Company, where workers protested wage reductions and poor working conditions. Both strikes were significant labor disputes that influenced labor laws and union movements in the U.S. -
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The Spanish-American War
The Spanish-American War lasted from April 21 to August 13, 1898. The conflict arose from U.S. intervention in Cuba’s fight for independence from Spain. The war ended with the Treaty of Paris, which resulted in the U.S. acquiring territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. -
Theodore Roosevelt Becomes President
Theodore Roosevelt became the 26th President of the United States on September 14, 1901. He assumed office following the assassination of President William McKinley. Roosevelt’s presidency was marked by progressive reforms and a vigorous foreign policy.