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Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition
The world's fair is hosted in Philadelphia to celebrate one hundred years of independence for the United States of America. For six months, America displays her inventions and wealth to the world, establishing herself as a world power to be reckoned with. -
Battle of Little Bighorn
The Sioux and Cheyenne Indians decimate American troops led by Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer near the Little Bighorn River in Montana. -
Rutherford B. Hayes inuagurated as the 19th U.S. President
Republican Rutherford B. Hayes leads his Democratic opponent Samuel J. Tilden by one electoral college vote in the 1876 presidential elections. Disputes over the validity of votes in a couple of states lead to Congress convening on March 2, 1877, to make a final decision. Hayes is declared the official winner and is inaugurated two days later. -
Thomas A. Edison and Joseph Swan develop the lightbulb
Edison worked in America while Swan worked in Great Britain. Though they independently developed the lightbulb, they later joined forces to create a lightbulb manufacturing company. -
James A. Garfield becomes the 20th U.S. President
Republican Garfield beats Democratic Winfield S. Hancock with a majority of electoral votes but only by a margin in the popular vote. -
President Garfield is shot by Charles J. Guiteau
Guiteau believed killing President Garfield would revive the Republican party. Lacking knowledge of aseptic technique, doctors stick their fingers in the chest wound looking for the bullet. -
Sitting Bull Surrenders to American troops at Fort Buford, MT
The Sioux tribe under the leadership of Sitting Bull end their long war against American troops in Montana. -
Vice President Chester Arthur succeeds James A. Garfield
President Garfield dies on this day, two months after he was shot by Charles Guiteau. His Vice President, Chester Arthur, completes his term as president and wins the following election to become the 21st U.S. President. -
The Immigration Act of 1882
Congress prohibits immigrants who cannot support themselves (e.g. those with mental illness) from entering America. -
U.S. Supreme Court declares Civil Rights Act of 1975 unconstitutional
The Supreme Court distinguishes between state discrimination (which they declare illegal) and private corporations and individual discrimination rights (which they allow). With the Civil Rights Act of 1975 in the rearview, racial discrimination flourishes in America, especially in the South. 'Jim Crow South' is a place of segregation, KKK rallies, and lynching. -
Grover Cleveland becomes 22nd U.S. President
Democratic Cleveland beats the Republican James B. Lane. -
AT&T is created under the American Bell Telephone Company
AT&T stands for American Telephone and Telegraph. -
Haymarket Riot and bombing in Chicago
The union-organized riot promoted eight-hour workdays. Union members were convicted of throwing the bomb at police without sufficient evidence. The riot radicalized unions in the eyes of the American population; the convicted rioters encouraged union members to more action. -
Benjamin Harrison is inaugurated as the 23rd U.S. President
Harrison, a Republican, loses the popular vote to Cleveland but wins the electrical vote. -
Genenral Electric (GE) forms from the merge of Edison GE Company and Thomas-Houston Company
J.P. Morgan, who financed Edison's research, helped merge between both companies. -
'The Significance of the Frontier in American History' is published by Frederick Jackson Turner
Turner's thesis claims that America's desire for expansion will not be satisfied by the American west. This is confirmed when the U.S. stretches overseas to countries like Panama and the Philippines. -
Grover Cleveland returns to the White House as the 24th U.S. President
Cleveland beats incumbent Benjamin Harrison to become the only U.S. President to serve two non-consecutive terms. -
William McKinely is inaugurated as the 25th U.S. President
Republican McKinley defeats William J. Bryan, a Democratic and People's Party candidate. -
Open Door Policy with China established
Secretary of State John Hay opens China to international free trade, hoping to eliminate domination of the Asian markets by other countries. American troops are later used to squash Chinese opposition to foreigners. -
USS Maine explodes off the shores of Havana, Cuba
Two hundred and sixteen sailors die. Many Americans blame Spain for the explosion; tension rises between the U.S. and Spain. -
The Spanish-American war begins
The United States declares war on Spain and her territories, Guam, Philipines, and Cuba. -
Spanish-American war ends
Spain signs peace with the U.S in Paris and handover Guam, the Philippines, and Puerto Rice. Cuba is declared independent from Spain but American forces remain in the country for a couple more years.