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Oct 12, 1492
Columbus finds America
The finding of America in 1492 was a significant event, not only because it paved the way for a new country, but also because of the role that that new country would play in the hundreds of years to come. -
The Settlement of Jamestown
Jamestown was the first successful colonization attempt. It also paved the way for more settlements and colonies. -
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French and Indian War / Seven Years War
Because of many wars between the French and British in Europe, the Seven Years War, as known in Europe, eventually carried over to the New World. The battle in the Americas became known as the French and Indian War. The war ended with the Treaty of Paris on February 10, 1763, with Great Britain as the victor. -
Boston Tea Party
"Taxation without representation!". In an act that helped spark the American Revolution, an organization of young men called the 'Sons of Liberty' dumped many crates of tea from British trading ships into the water below. -
Declaration of Independence
Signed on July 4th, 1776, the Declaration of Independence helped unite the small British Colonies together, against their powerful motherland, Great Britain. -
The Battle of Lexington and Concord
In what later became known as 'The shot heard 'round the world', the battle of Lexington and Concord was the battle that triggered the American Revolutionary War. -
Battle of Yorktown
After several months of sieging Yorktown, the British Army finally surrendered. General Washington and his Continental Army had won a decisive battle that resulted in the birth of a new country. -
Constitutional Convention
The Constitutional Convention was an important convention, where delegates from the thirteen colonies met and discussed ideas for a new government. Finally, the Constitution of the United States of America was ratified, signaling the beginning of a new era in history. -
Invention of the Cotton Gin
Eli Whitney was the inventor of the cotton gin. The cotton gin changed the way that cotton was harvested in the south. It meant that there was less time separating the seeds from the cotton fibers, but it also meant more slaves to keep up with the higher demand for cotton, also. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
The Alien and Sedition Acts were passed by congress in 1798. These were important acts, because they removed several rights, including freedom of the press, and freedom of speech. These acts were later revised, and became part of the U.S. War and National Defense Statutes. -
Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase gave the United States almost 830,000 square miles of land. This helped the United States expand their territory, and it also kept France from colonizing in North America. -
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War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a war that was fought as part of the Napoleonic War in Europe. This war proved that the young country was powerful enough to support and defend its borders. This also included important battles such as Fort McHenry, and the Battle of New Orleans. -
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise allowed Missouri to become a state, so long as all the rest of the territories in the Louisiana Purchase would become non-slave states. -
Andrew Jackson is Elected
Andrew Jackson defeats incumbent president John Quincy Adams to become the seventh president of the United States of America. -
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Trail of Tears
The Trail of Tears was part of a plan to carry out the Indian Removal Act of 1830. The U.S. Government forced thousands of Native Americans across the rugged western plains to their Indian Reservations. However, the local tribes had never agreed to the Indian Removal Act of 1830. Over 4,000 Cherokee people died on the Trail of Tears -
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Panic of 1837
The Panic of 1837 was started shortly after President Andrew Jackson vetoed a bill on the recharter of the Second Bank of the United States (BUS). He then issued a bill called the Specie Circular that forced state banks to accept only gold and silver, instead of paper money. If the BUS had been re-chartered, it would have had enough power to stop the Specie Circular. The Panic of 1837 taught the United States an important lesson on economics. -
Invention of the Telegraph
On May 24th, 1844, Samuel F. B. Morse sent the message, "What hath God wrought?", from Washington to Baltimore. He had invented the Telegraph. -
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Mexican - American War
The Mexican-American War was a war between the United States and Mexico. It was started because the US and Mexico could not agree on the border of Texas. After two years of fighting, US troops finally reached Mexico City, the capital of Mexico. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo resulted in the US acquiring 525,000 square miles of land. -
Compromise of 1850
Henry Clay introduced several resolutions, which are now known as the Compromise of 1850. These compromises postponed a war between the North and South. These compromises basically stated that several new territories would be added, with half of them as slave states, and the other half as free states. -
Battle of Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter was attacked by Confederate Forces on April 12, 1861. This attack triggered the start of the Civil War, which was a bloody 4-year war. -
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was a document that freed the slaves in the southern states. This was important because President Abraham Lincoln didn't lose the support of Northern slaveholders, and he also gained support of abolitionists in the South, along with any slaves that managed to escape North. -
Surrender at Appomattox Courthouse
As soon as the surrender at Appomattox was signed, the Civil War was over. The North proved victorious after 4 years of fighting. -
Abraham Lincoln's Assassination
Just 6 days after the end of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth. Had Lincoln been alive during the reconstruction of the South, things might have turned out differently. -
13th Amendment is Ratified
Ratified 7 months after the end of the Civil War, the 13th Amendment was the amendment that finally abolished slavery in the United States of America. -
Andrew Johnson's Impeachment
Andrew Johnson's impeachment was an important moment in the history of the USA. To begin, he was the first president to be impeached, however, he was not removed from office. It also reminded people that the president does not have full power. -
14th Amendment is Ratified
The 14th Amendment grants citizenship to all men 'born or naturalized' in the United States of America. -
Organization of the Standard Oil Trust
John D. Rockfeller became one of the richest men in the world after he founded the Standard Oil Trust (SOT). The SOT was a multi-national Oil refinery, and not only was it that, but it was also a monopoly on oil. Rockfeller also owned the majority of the shares of the company, so that he was always in charge of it. The SOT created a lot of interesting problems for the government, on what the government could and could not do. -
15th Amendment is Ratified
The 15th Amendment allows any citizen of the United States of America to vote, regardless of race, color, or ethnicity. -
Alexander Graham Bell invents the Telephone
The Telephone has become the most common way of communicating with other people. Invented by Alexander Graham Bell, the Telephone has become an important part of everyday life. -
Thomas Edison Invents the Lightbulb
Consisting of a tungsten filament trapped inside a glass bulb with no air in it, Thomas Edison created the first lightbulb. This invention would become one of the most important inventions of all time. -
Homestead Strike
The Homestead Strike was caused as a result of the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers (AA) trying to avoid signing a contract that would ban employees from joining labor unions. This strike happened at the Homestead Steel Works. Eventually, the strike started getting violent, but, in the end, the AA proved victorious. This proved to people that labor unions can be very powerful. -
Pullman Strike
The Pullman Strike was when George Pullman, owner of Pullman Palace Cars, reduced the wages of his employees, but kept the rent of his employees houses the same. Because of this, the workers went on strike. This is an important event because it shut down the railways in the United States for its duration. -
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Spanish - American War
The Spanish-American War was started when a mysterious explosion sank the USS Maine off the coast of Havana Harbor, Cuba. Thinking this was a declaration of war, the US Government declared war on Spain. For about 4 months, the US constantly harried the Spanish troops, and eventually a treaty was signed. The treaty gave the US Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines, for $20,000,000. This was a great success for the US. -
Theodore Roosevelt becomes President
Theodore Roosevelt became the 26th President of America following William McKinley's assassination. As president, he would increase America's power abroad, introduce new progressive ideas, and strengthen America's military dominance. -
Wright Brothers invent the Airplane
On December 17th, 1903, the Wilbur and Orville Wright invented the first airplane. Their first flight was just 12 seconds long, and covered only 120 feet on its own power. Since that day, however, many technological advances have been made which have resulted in higher-flying and faster-flying aircraft. Airplanes today are used for commercial use, transporting, and military use.
