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Sep 3, 1215
Magna Carta
This was a document approved by King John in 1215 which guarenteed basic political rights in England. It was also refered to as the "Great Charter". -
Roanoke
Sir Walter Raleigh founded the "Lost Colony" off the North Carolina Coast. The colony's citizens disappeared by 1590. -
Jamestown
This was the first permanant English colony. It was founded by Captain John Smith and his crew of 105 cavaliers who came over in 3 ships. Jamestown is located on the Virgina Coastline. -
House of Burgesses
On July 30th, 1619, the first representative assembly was elected in Jamestown, Virgina. -
Mayflower Compact
On September 16th, 1620, the Pilgrams went aboard the Mayflower, a boat that would carry this group of people in search of religious freedom to the New World. They landed at Plymouth on December 26th. On the way, on November 11th, all the men wrote the Mayflower Compact, the first written form of self-government which estabished majority-rule for soon to be America. -
Rhode Island
The colony of Province, Rhode Island was founded in June of 1636 by Roger Williams. Province was a democratically ruled colony with seperation of church and state. -
Navigation Act
On December 1st, British Parilament passedthe first Navigation Act. This act regulated colonial commerce to fit English needs. -
Bacon's Rebellion
Sir William Berkley of Jamestown, Virgina was a tyrinnical leader, so, on September 19th, Nathaniel Bacon lead a rebellion against him. The rebellion collapsed when Bacon died. Afterwards, 23 of his followers died. -
Pennsylvania
On April 23rd, William Penn signed a treaty with the Delaware Indians. He also made the payment for the soon to be Pennsylvanian lands. -
Philadelphia Settled
The colony of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was settled by the first German colonists in the United States. -
Salem Witch Trials
In Salem, Massacusets, 20 alleged witches were executed by the Special Court during the Witchcraft delusion. -
Poor Richard's Almanac
Written by Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richards Almanac was published for the first time. This Almanac was published annually until 1757. -
Zenger Trial
John Peter Zenger criticized the British governor's conduct in office, but on August 5th, charges that were set against him for doing this were cleared. This trial dealed with the issue of Freedom of the Press. -
Great Awakening
The Great Awakening was a spirital uprising where people once again saw the importance in religion. On July 8th Jonathan Edwards gave the famous sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" in Enfield, MA. -
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War began when the French troops occupied Ft. Duquesnc. The French lost land in Canada and the MIdwest from the war. -
Sugar Act
In order to pay for the French and Indian War, England put a tax on lumber, foodstuffs, molasses, and rum in the colonies. -
Stamp Act
This act made it a requirment to have a stamp on all pieces of paper to help pay for the French and Indian War. The act was repealed in 1766. -
Quartering Act
This was another act passed by British Congress which required colonists to put up British soldiers in their homes. -
Townshend Acts
Thsi was an act passed in 1767 which placed a tax on glass, painter's lead, paper, and tea. By 1770 all of the taxes, except those on tea, were repealed. -
Boston Massacre
On March 5th, British troops fired guns into a mob in Boston. Those gunshots killed 5 people, including Crispus Attucks. -
Boston Tea Party
The Sons of Liberty dressed up like Native Americans and went aboard a British tea ship that was in a Boston Harbor. They dumped hundreds of pounds of tea into the ocean to protest the Tea Act. -
Intolerable Acts
British Parliament stopped the use of the Boston Harbor until tea was paid for. -
First Continental Congress
This was a meeting held in Philadelphia which called for civil disobedience against the British. -
The Midnight Ride
On this night, Paul Rever and William Dawes rode though the night to alert the Patriots that the British were going to Concord to destroy their supply of weapons. -
Battle of Lexington and Concord
These were the first battles of the Revolution. The Minutemen lost 8 soldiers while the British lost 273. "The Shot Heard Round the World" was the shot that started these battles. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
This was a fort near Charlestowm, MA which the Patriots took control of during the Revolution. They kept the British away under General William Howe twice before they reateated on June 17th. -
Common Sense
Written by Thomas Paine, this was a pamphlet that convinced many colonists that a complete break from Britain was nessesary. It sold 100,000 copies. -
Declaration of Independence
This was a list of grievences sent to the British King. It was signed and approved on July 4th. This document was written by Thomas Jefferson. -
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation was America's first written form of government. This document was adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15th, and it took effect on May 1st. -
John Paul Jones
While in British North Sea waters, John Paul Jones, who was originally aboard the Bonhomme Richard before it sank, went aboard his opponent's ship, the Serapis, and defeated its passengers that way. At this battle he also said the famous quote,"I have not yet begun to fight." -
Battle of Yorktown
The last major battle of the Revolution. -
Treaty of Paris of 1783
The American Revolution was ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris on April 3rd, 1783. This treaty recognized American Independence. This document was ratified by Congress January 14th, 1784. -
Shays's Rebellion
In Massacusets, a group of farmers in debt rebelled against the government. The rebellion failed. -
Constitutional Convention
This was a convention hosted in Philadelphia, Massacusets, where delegates started out wanted to revise the Articles of Confederation, and ended by writing the Constitution. Washington was the preciding President over this meeting. -
Northwest Ordinance
This document, which was adopted by the Continental Congress July 13th, 1787, set the orderly pattern of growth for the United States. It set some rules for statehood, and guarenteed freedom of religion, support for schools, and no slavery. -
Federalist Papers
The Federalist Papers were essays written by Federalists arguing and defending the Constitution. These papers first apperared in the NY Independent Journal in 1787. -
George Washington & John Adams
George Washington is elected President and John Adams is elected Vice-President. -
First Congress
At Federal Hall in New York City, the First Congress declared the Constitution would go into effect. -
President's Cabinet
Congress established the U.S. State Department July 27th and named Thomas Jefferson the first Sceretary of State February, 1790. On August 7th the War Department was made and Henry Knox was elected secretary. Alexander Hamilton was elected secretary of the Tresury Department, which was created September 2nd. These departments were all a part of the President's Cabinet. -
Supreme Court
On September 24th, The Supreme Court was created by the Federal Judiciary Act. On September 26th, Congresselected John Jay as the first Supreme Court Justice. -
Bill of Rights
On September 25th, 1791, the Bill of Rights was submitted to the states and went into effect on December 12th, 1791. -
U.S. Neutrality
President George Washington declared the United States neutral in the war between Britain and France in 1793. The U.S. could not help one without hindering the other, and since Britain was a major trading partner and France had helped the young country during the Revolution, the U.S. needed to stay friends with both. -
Cotton Gin
Eli Whitney, a great inventor of his time, invented the Cotton Gin to make cotton production easier and more efficient. This invention revived slavery in the South. -
Whiskey Rebellion
Farmers growing wheat in western Pennsylvania protested the liquor tax of 1791 during the Whiskey Rebellion. In September of that year the federal militia suppresed the rebels. -
Washington's Farewell Address
One of the many precedents that George Washington set as the first President of the United States was giving a farewell address. This was given September 17th and in it Washington warned against big public debt, permanant alliences with other countries, large military establishment, and devices of, "small, artful, enterprising minority". -
Alien and Sedition Acts
These were four acts or laws, passed by Federalists, giving recent immigrants to the United States less political power. -
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson is elected President of the United States with Aaron Burr as his Vice-President. -
Judicial Review
During the case of Marbury v. Madison, Judicial Review was established which said the Supreme Court had the final say in interpretting the Constitution. -
Corps of Discovery
Following the Lousiana Purchase, President Thomas Jefferson ordered Meriwether Lewis and William Clark on an expedition to explore the new land. The adventureres began their exploration at St. Louis on May 14th, 1804, and finished September 23rd, 1806. -
Alexander Hamilton's Death
In the town of Weehawken, New Jersey, Vice-President Aaron Burr shot Alexander Hamilton in a duel in which Hamilton had vowed not to fire at. Hamilton passed the following day. -
Embargo Act
In 1807 the Embargo Act was passed, which made all trade with foreign countries illegal. It also forbode ships to sail for foreign ports December 22nd, 1807. -
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was the American War with Britain for the following reasons:
1. Impressment of U.S. ships
2. Interference with American shippign
3. British support of Native-American resistance Congress declared war with Britain June 18th, 1812.
There was no victor for this war, nor any gain or loss of land for either country. -
Battles of the War of 1812
- American soldier Oliver H. Perry defeated a British fleet on Lake Erie September 10th, 1813.
- On October 5th the Unioted States won the Battle of Thames in Ontario.
- U.S. failed an attempt to invade Canada
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"The Star Spangled Banner"
During The Battle of Ft. McHenry, Francis Scott Key was a prisoner on a British boat when he was inspired to write the words for the "The Star Spnagled Banner". -
The End of the War of 1812
Great Britain signed the Treaty of Ghent on December 24th, 1814, ending the War of 1812. -
Florida
On February 22nd, 1819, Spain ceded Florida to the United States. -
Monroe Doctorine
Enunciated by President Monroe, the Monroe Doctorine established the U.S. as the protector of the Americas. -
Webster-Hayne Debate
This was a famous States' Rights debate over the Doctorine of Nullification. The Doctorine said that it was a state's right to be able to reject, or nullify, a law it deems unjust. This debate argued whether this was right or not. -
Indian Removal Act
This act, signed by President Jackson, forced Indians to relocate to land in the West. -
Turner's Rebelion
Turner's Rebellion was led by Nat Turner, a slave in Virgina. 57 white people were killed and 100 slaves were killed as a result. Turner was captured and hung November 11th, 1831. The rebellion caused fear in the South and for the chains on slavery to tighten. -
Trail of Tears
The Cherokee Indians, living in Georgia, were forced to travel to Oklahoma starting in October of 1838. The traveling was long, brutal, and full of disease and hardship. Their journey became known as the trail of tears. -
Telegraph
Samuel F.B. Morse is the inventor of the telegraph, a device that enabled communication over long distances through a series of long and short beeps. The first message was sent from Washington to Baltimore with the words, "What has God wrought!' -
Mexican-American War
When President Polk ordered General Taylor to take control of controversial Texan land settled by Mexican citizens, the Mexican War started. After a clash between border lines, the U.S. declared war on May 18th, while Mexico declared war on May 23rd. The war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo on February 2nd, 1848. In the treaty Mexico recognized that Texas was part of the United States and that the Rio Grande River was the new border between the two countries. -
Gold Rush
On January 24th, 1848, gold is discovered in California. In the next year 80,000 prospectors emigrate to California. -
Seneca Falls Convention
In Seneca Falls, New York, Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton led a Women's Rights Convention July 19th and 20th. -
Compromise of 1850
Senator Henry Clay, the main mind behind the Compromise of 1850, admitted California as a free state for the North, made the Fugitive Slave Act harsher for the South, made Utah and New Mexico territories, and ended the Distict of Columbia slave trade. -
"Uncle Tom's Cabin"
"Uncle Tom's Cabin", written by Harriet Beecher Stowe, described the cruelty of slavery. This book raised awarness in the North of the injustice that was occuring in the South, while it angered Southern citizens who claimed that it was an exaggerated account of slavery. In reality, however, it was really true to the practice and told it how it was. -
Rebublican Party Formed
At Ripon, Wisconsin, on February 28th, the Rebublican Party was formed. The political party was against the Kansas-Nebraske Act, which said the issue of slavery was to be decided by popular soveringty, or vote. Abraham Lincoln was from the Republican Party. -
Dred Scott v. Sandford
Dred Scott was a slave whose owner had died while they were living in free territory. Dred Scott then sued for his freedom in the Dred Scott v. Sandford case on May 6th. The court ruled against Scott and said that he was not free because slaves were not citizens. From that case the court also ruled that Congress could not bar slavery from a territory. -
Harper's Ferry
John Brown was a radical abolitionist who thought it was right to kill people to fight against slavery. He and 21 other men took the U.S. arsenal Harper's Ferry to arm slaves and get them to revolt. In the end, Marines captured the raiders and on December 2nd, John Brown was hanged for treason. -
Abraham Lincoln's First Election
Abraham Lincoln is elected President from the 4-way 1860 election. The two candidates from the North were Lincoln and Douglas and the two Southern candidates were Breckinridge and Bell. -
The Civil War Beins
In the year 1861, eleven Southern states seceed to form the Confederate States of America. Jefferson Davis was the Confederacy's President. The Civil War officially began with the Battle of Fort Sumter. On April 19th, Lincoln had blockaded Southern ports which made living difficult for the South without vital resources. On July 21st, the Condederate Army held off the Union at the Battle of Bull Run. -
Homestead Act
This was a law that offered 160 acres of land to anyone who promised to live and improve the land for 5 years. -
Battle of Antietam
This was the bloodiest battle of the Civil War. It was only one day and each side lost over 2,000 men. -
Emancipation Proclamation
Abraham Lincoln freed all the slaves in "areas still in rebellion" with the Emancipation Proclamation. Lincoln did this as a military action. -
Battle of Gettysburg
This was a major Union victory. Later November 19th, Abraham Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address in honor of the battle. -
Civil War Ends
Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to the Union General, Ulysses S. Grant, at the Appomattox Court House in Virgina on April 9th. This ended the Civil War. -
Lincoln's Assasination
In Ford's Theater, Washington D.C., Abraham Lincoln is assasinated by John Wilkes Booth on April 14th, 1865. The President passed away the next morning. -
13th Amendment
This amendment to the Constitution abolished slavery. It was ratified December 6th, 1865. -
14th Amendment
This amendment gave all persons born or naturalized in the United States citizenship. It was ratified July 9th, 1868. -
15th Amendment
This amendment said that citizens could not be stopped from voting,"on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude." It was ratified February 8th, 1870. -
American Red Cross
On May 21st, 1881, Clara Barton established the American Red Cross.
