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Declaration of Independence is ratified
The Declaration of Independence was officially ratified. This severed all political connections to Great Britain, formally declaring the independence of the colonies. -
George Washington
George was elected as president on April 30, 1789, making him the first president of the United States. Washington set the precedent for future presidents of our country and shaped the roles and power that the position holds. -
Washington D.C.
Washington D.C. was founded on July 16, 1790. It established the nation's capital, being distinct from the states. -
The Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase, a treaty signed with France to purchase 828,000 square miles of land, was made on April 30, 1803. Costing roughly 4 cents an acre, this doubled the size of the United States, starting westward expansion. -
Lewis and Clark
Lewis and Clark, the first Americans to cross the continental divide, set out on August 4, 1804. This altered the imperial struggle for control of North America. -
The War of 1812
The War of 1812 began on June 18, 1812. This war left behind many positive and negative effects in its aftermath. Some were the clear establishment of a boundary between Canada and the United States, as well as freedom international trade. -
Texas
Texas was formally admitted as a state on December 29, 1845. This made Texas the 28th state in the United States. -
The first women's rights convention is held
The first women's rights convention, called the Seneca Falls convention, took place on July 19, 1848. This is referred to as the "birthplace of feminism," as it adopted the Declaration of Sentiments. The Declaration of Sentiments was modeled after the Declaration of Independence, asserting that men and women should have equal rights. -
Dred Scott v Sandford
This case stunned the nation, with the Supreme Court decision to uphold slavery in the United States. This case declared the Missouri Compromise as unconstitutional and denied the legality of black citizenship. -
Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln was elected to be the 16th president of the United States. Lincoln did many things in his presidency, most notably issuing the Emancipation Proclamation later in his career, aiming to abolish slavery.