U.S. History A Timeline

  • Oct 12, 1492

    Columbus Discovers America

    Columbus lands in America
  • Jamestown is Settled

    English men land in America and start a settlement. They name it after King James the First.
  • French and Indian War

    A seven year war between the American Colonies and the French.
  • Boston Tea Party

    A political act of defiance against Britain and taxes.
  • Battle of Lexington and Concord

    The battle with the famous 'shot heard around the world' that marked the start of the American Revolution
  • Declaration of Independence

    The Declaration of Independence is signed.
  • Battle of Yorktown

    The British troops surrendered to the Continental Army and the French allies
  • Invention of the Cotton Gin

    Eli Whitney is patented for his machine the Cotton Gin
  • The Alien and Sedition Acts

    The Alien Act granted the President authority to deport non-citizens who were deemed 'foreign enemies.' This was because of the anticipated war with France
  • Louisiana Purchase

    America purchased 828,000 square miles of land west of the Mississippi River from France.
  • War of 1812

    War between The United States and Great Britain.
  • Missouri Compromise

    A line drawn from east to west splitting the nation into half.
  • Andrew Jackson Election

    Andrew Jackson is elected the 7th President of the United States
  • The Trail of Tears

    The forced displacement of about 60,000 people of the 'Five Civilized Tribes.'
  • Panic of 1837

    A major recession in the U.S. economy that lasted 3 years
  • Invention of Telegram

    The first telegraph message was sent
  • Mexican-American War

    The War between Mexico and the United States.
  • Compromise of 1850

    Amended the Fugitive Slave Act and abolished salve trade in Washington D.C.
  • Attack on Fort Sumter

    Confederate soldiers fired on Fort Sumter. This battle is usually considered the start of the Civil War.
  • The Emancipation Proclamation

    The proclamation said that all slaves in the rebellious States were free.
  • 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments

    13th, 14th, and 15th amendment were passed.
  • Surrender at Appomattox Courthouse

    Lee's formal surrender at Appomattox Courthouse. It ended the War in Virginia.
  • Abe Lincoln Assassination

    President Lincoln was assassinated.
  • Andrew Jackson Impeachment

    President Jackson was impeached
  • Invention of the Telephone

    The telephone is invented.
  • Invention of the Lightbulb

    The Lightbulb is invented.
  • Organisation of Standard Oil Trust

    Standard Oil enters into a trust.
  • Homestead Strike

    A labor dispute with Carnegie Steel Company and its workers.
  • Pullman Strike

    The workers at Pullman walked off because of low wages, high rent, and terrible working conditions.
  • Spanish-American War

    the U.S. intervened in the Cuban War of Independence and ended up in a war against Spain.
  • Theodore Roosevelt Election

    Theodore Roosevelt Election
    Theodore Roosevelt is elected President.
  • Invention of the Airplane

    The Wright brother create the first successful powered airplane.